Administrative System of the Marathas c21.s3.15

c21.s3.15

The policy of the Maratha rulers accentuated the hardships of war instead of mitigating it. Over and above the regular soldiers, Pendharis in large number were allowed to accompany the army on every expedition,—in return of a tax called *Palpatti*. These Pendharis were authorised robbers, and plunder was their only profession. They shared their spoils with the government (the tax amounted to 25 p. c. of their booty) and had no consideration for their friends or fellow-countrymen. Sometimes even Hindu temples were not spared. One instance of their sacrilegious depredation will suffice. Nilkanth Appaji wrote to Bala Saheb of Miraj on the 23rd April of 1791 during the second expedition against Tipu:—"The Lamans and Pendharis of Dada Saheb's army plundered the temple of Shri Shankaracharya at Shringeri, and took elephants and other property worth several lakhs of rupees in all; and yesterday brought their spoils to a place about two miles from the camp."²³ When Shri Shankaracharya's temple was not secure from the Pendharis of the Peshwa's army, we may easily guess what little security private property of ordinary people had. The Brahmans were sometimes protected by Sardars of high position, but we do not think that their protection had much effect against these professional robbers. The Siddis of Janjira also sent "chortas" or authorised thieves to rob the Peshwa's subjects, and although these were ruthlessly punished when caught, the Peshwa's government could afford but little protection against depredations of the feudal army. This, and not the corruption of the Maratha officers, was the weakest point in the Maratha government. The whole situation has been so nicely summarised by Tone, that an extract from his letter will bear quotation here. "In a country such as this where revolutions are so common, the great spur to industry, that of security is taken away; the Rayat who cultivates his grounds this year, is by no means sure of possessing them the next, or if he should, it is highly probable that in a Government that holds its supremacy only by sword, some large detachment may be quartered by the neighbourhood; than which a greater blow cannot be given to industry; for a Maratha army are more indefatigable and destructive than myriads of locusts. The property of friends and enemies falls equally a prey to their indistinguishing depredations.