A History of the Mahrattas v2.c45.1

v2.c45.1

A.D. 1794.—The details in the last chapter, together with much of the preceding narrative, may tax the patience of the reader, but are for the most part absolutely necessary to elucidate our subject, and to afford a just view of the numerous authorities and interests which existed at this period among the Mahrattas. The empire founded by Sivajee now covered a vast space; and had it been possible to combine its powers, to direct advantageously the peculiar genius of its people, and to render its various parts subservient to its general strength, the Mahrattas might still have extended their conquests, and a persevering predatory warfare would probably have arrested the rapid rise of the British nation in India. But the causes which drove the Mahrattas to predatory habits, and the circumstances which allured them to conquest, no longer existed, nor had they any chief whose authority was sufficient to unite them. They now lived under governments of their own, which were generally mild; the executive authorities, even if administered by persons tyrannically disposed, were not so powerful as to become arbitrarily oppressive, but they were at the same time too feeble to call forth the resources which smaller states, better organized, could have commanded. The Mahrattas were still a military people; some member of every peasant’s family, and sometimes the fourth or fifth of a whole village had carried arms. Persons, once employed, were generally ready to return to the service when required, but pitched battles and regular warfare were unsuited to their genius¹; the Mahratta cavalry when accustomed to depend on regular infantry and cannon, lost their former surprising activity and confidence on distant enterprises; even their courage, which as a national virtue was never very conspicuous, had fallen below its ordinary level, and whilst some among them admired the wisdom of Mahadajee Sindia and extolled the advantages to be attained by disciplined armies and artillery, others, as we have already mentioned, more justly predicted from the same cause the certain overthrow of the Hindoo power.