History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v5.c78.s3.1

v5.c78.s3.1

But this decentralisation of authority was exactly suited to the situation in Maharashtra. The Maratha captains, each acting on his own account, carried on a guerilla warfare (as described in Chitnis, ii. 43-45) and caused the greatest loss and disturbance to the Mughal territories. The imperialists did not know what point to defend, nor where to find a vital enemy position for their attack. The extremely mobile Maratha bands covered long distances and delivered attacks at the most unexpected quarters; and such roving bands were countless. The result was universal unrest throughout the Deccan. "In addition to the (regular) divisions under the three generals (totally 60 to 70 thousand cavalry), and the king's own contingent of 10,000,—there were roving bands of 15 to 20 thousand, who fought their way to Maharashtra, levied *chauth* from the provinces, drove out the imperial outposts, and strengthened their own strategic points (*nake jaga*) and forts.