The Military System of the Marathas, with a Brief Account of Their Maritime Activities c8.36

c8.36

A document, dated 1744-45, gives details about the composition of a cavalry force in the Peshwa's service and the terms of its payment.² The commander of this force was Ranoji Bhonsla and its fighting strength was 700, but of these only 90 were *Bargirs* of the *Khase paga* or men equipped by the State; forty-four of these *Bargirs* were musketeers and the rest spearmen. The remaining 610 seem to have belonged to the ordinary *Silhedar* type. These men were to be paid 2 Rupees per head per week, but it was laid down that as soon as the plundering raids began, their allowance was to be entirely stopped, with the exception of that of 124 musketeers, who were granted a reduced allowance of 2 Rupees and 8 as. to be paid every six weeks. This shows a direct and important departure from Shivaji's rule of not permitting his soldiers to have any share in the spoils of the war. The 90 *Bargirs* were to be paid 413 Rupees only every six weeks, but it seems that their *rojmura* or allowance was not to be stopped even when the campaign began and their saddle bags were full of loot.