The Military System of the Marathas, with a Brief Account of Their Maritime Activities c14.41

c14.41

These seldom had any firearms but carried the ordinary weapons of offence like the sword, spear, bow and arrow. There was a scarcity of expert gunners, who were much in demand, and we may reasonably surmise that they were mere mercenaries and readily transferred their services from one master to another. Sidi Kasim seduced a number of gunners from Bombay by offering them higher pay, and when the English expostulated, he wrote to them: 'You write me concerning a gunner and I would faine know what service you want by him, but if you have need of him and will content him, by paying him what is his due you may send for him. I have taken severall gunners from our enemys (i.e. Shivaji) and have many others, therefore by that reason I shall not be revenged and besides you have one of my gunners in your service, who if he be contented to come to me, you may give him leave and send him to me.'²