The Military System of the Marathas, with a Brief Account of Their Maritime Activities c5.69

c5.69

Let us now see how the contrast impressed two European contemporaries, an English Doctor of Medicine and an Italian Doctor of Law. John Fryer gives the following estimate of the merits and demerits of the rival armies, ‘Seva Gi’s Men thereby being fitter for any Martial Exploit, having been accustomed to Fare Hard, Journey Fast, and take little Pleasure. But the other will miss of a Booty rather than a Dinner; must mount in State and have their arms carried before them, and their women not far behind them, with the Master of mirth and jollity; will rather expect than pursue a Foe; but then they stand it out better; For Seva Gi’s men care not much for a pitched Field, though they are good at Surprizing and Ransacking; yet agree in this, that they are both of stirring Spirits’.² Francis Gemelli Careri visited India in 1695 and the Shivaji he speaks of was Ram Raja or Ram Rao as he calls him. ‘This Shivaji,’ he writes, ‘whom his Subjects call Raja, which signifies petty King, is so Powerful, that he maintains war at once and the same time with the Great Mogul, and the Portuguese. He brings into the Field 50,000 Horse, and as many or more Foot, much better Soldiers than the Moguls, for they Live a Day upon a piece of dry Bread, and the Moguls will March at their Ease carrying their Women, abundance of Provisions, and Tents so that their Army looks like a moving City.’³