The Military System of the Marathas, with a Brief Account of Their Maritime Activities c20.1

c20.1

*Aftabgir* (or *Aftabgiri*, *Aftagir*) — ‘This sun screen (*aftab*, sun; *gir*, root of *giriftan*, to take), shaped like an open palm-leaf fan, was also called *suraj-mukhi* (Hindi, literally, sun-face). By the Moghul rules it could only be granted to royal princes (*Mirat-ul-Istilah*, fol. 3). In the eighteenth century, however, the Mahrattas adopted it as one of their commonest ensigns, and even the smallest group of their cavalry was in the habit of carrying one.’ Irvine, *The Army of the Indian Moghuls*, p. 34.