The Military System of the Marathas, with a Brief Account of Their Maritime Activities c18.17

c18.17

Once we recognise the lack of national unity and patriotism on the part of the Marathas, it is not difficult to understand why men of all nationalities were indiscriminately employed in the Maratha army. Maratha soldiers were generally averse to prolonged service in distant parts and the feudal force was slow to mobilise. Every chief of any importance therefore decided to maintain a standing army, and Sikhs, Arabs, Rohillas and Rajputs, who had no objection to serving throughout the year, were naturally preferred. If these men had been recruited directly by the State, punctually paid and placed under strict discipline, the mercenaries from other parts of India might have proved a source of strength instead of being a danger to the empire, but, as we have already seen, they were attached to the recruiting officers of their own race, and discipline among them was conspicuous by its absence. Had they been well disciplined, remarks the Portuguese Viceroy, the Marquis of Alorna, they would form the most invincible army in the world. They possessed courage and hardihood, but as they had no common interest with their employers and were very irregularly paid, they were easily accessible to bribery and corruption, and they had no scruples in changing masters as often as it was convenient for them or their recruting officer.