Shivaji and His Times c17.s4.14

c17.s4.14

The actual work of State correspondence was conducted by Kayasthas, of whom two were famous, *viz.*, Balaji Avji the *chitnis* and Niloji (Nilkanth Yesaji) the *munshi* or Persian secretary. The muster-rolls of the army were written and the pay-bills drawn up by a class of officers called *sabnises*, who corresponded to the *bakhshis* or paymasters of the Mughal army, but occupied a much lower rank.†