A History of the Mahrattas v1.c9.63

v1.c9.63

The condition of the Mahrattas, in the early part of those dynasties, continued much the same as it had been under the Bahminee kings. The hill forts seem generally to have been garrisoned by Mahrattas¹: they were sometimes in the immediate pay of government, and sometimes in charge of the Jagheerdars and district Deshmookhs: a few places of great strength were always reserved by the king, by whom the Killidars or governors were appointed; but to this we shall again more particularly revert. A certain rank depending on the number of a body of horse under an individual’s command, and which rank is termed by Mahomedans munsub, was frequently conferred on Mahratta chiefs,² and military jagheers, or lands given for the purpose of maintaining a body of troops, were granted for their support. The quota of troops so furnished was very small in proportion to the size of the jagheer. Phultun Desh, for which in the time of the Mahratta Peishwas three hundred and fifty horse were required, only furnished fifty to the Beejapoor government, at a very late period of that dynasty; but the Mahratta chiefs could procure horse at a short notice, and they were entertained or discharged at pleasure: a great convenience to a wasteful court and an improvident government. Titles were conferred upon many of the Mahrattas, but under the Deccan dynasties, such titles were generally ancient Hindoo appellations. Raja, Naik, and Rao were the most common, and though bestowed by their Mahomedan conquerors, the distinction was always exceedingly gratifying to the Mahrattas, especially as they invariably obtained with the title the means of supporting their new rank.