The Military System of the Marathas, with a Brief Account of Their Maritime Activities c9.36

c9.36

Shivaji generally had his forts well stored with provision and ammunition, but the reduction of Panhala by Sidi Johar made him more careful. In 1671-72 he decided to have a reserve fund of one lakh and twenty-five thousand Hons, or nearly five lakhs of Rupees, to meet the extraordinary needs of beleaguered forts. This reserve fund was not to be touched if money was available from the ordinary sources. The paper that announced this decision runs as follows: ‘Rajashri Chhatrapati Saheb has decided to raise money from each mahal in his provinces and watans. This money should form a (reserve) fund and should be spent only when war with the Mughals would break out, and the Mughals would lay siege to forts, and money would not be available from any other source; otherwise this money should not be spent for any other government work. So has the Saheb (His Majesty) decided and it has been settled that a sum of one lakh and twenty-five thousand Hons should constitute the reserve fund, and should be raised from the following mahals and personages at the following rate:—