The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1822-08-29 00:00:00

IIIST01.)- or IHNLoosrittv.

We have already taken occaeion to express our-
selves warmly commendi: -n of this elegant
work. The following (street is an interesting ac-
count of the Witold' tribe, who some time ogo
were inveterate and formidable opposers of the
British Government in Indus. The episode (if the
expression may be allowed) which we introduced,
presents a noble and perhaps unparalleled instance
of sisterly affection. It is at bright example of that
disinterested and purr feeling which is never found
to glow with more intense ardour than in a female
bosom. and winch endured' all things" to alle-
viate the nnhoppiness of the cherished object :
"The Pd threats Smell form • kind of military republic,
the elisions Members of which are independent arm') other,
though they all at knowledee the Peishwa, who reside. •t
Pnonah as their supreme head. The Prishwa is supposed to
be the Prime Minister to the Rajah; but the latter is wierely
the nominal sovereign, who, though I.e is treated with re-
spect by the other Chiefs is in fact a close prisoner, and has
a moderate pension ..signed to him for his support. The
power of the Makes' ea., erhoee territo.ii a are very extensive,
was extremely formidable, till it sr is effectually broken soil
seduced during she able Administration of the Guverument
of British India by Marquis Wellt airy.
.111 The Mahratias may be divided into two great classes.
Ouse of these is comprised of grunion only, and the other
minapeehende almost all the inferior esstes of the Nimbus,
but is chi. fly formed, of the where* (herdsmen). and AOltrileel '
(linstmodmrsi). The Brunet's are alt of the sect of Vishnu,
and consequeally eat so animal food. Testy see distiaguish-
' ed by their turbans, which are in g I white, and folded
in a particular way above the heed. They wear mush. pear
!Moms, which reach down to the heels; a white rube, called
soap., which descends to the knees; and a shawl, or in sum.
err • goose or amens se arf, aimed seta, which falls bmmly
over the shoulders; for sone of the Mrehrattas ever wear any
thing fastened round the wsiat, is which paint they differ
from all the other inhabitants of Hoodoos:eau. The different
subdivisions of the second class have sot the same prejudices
in regard to food as the other Hindoos, with the exceptios
of beef, Meat any kind of animal food they elm procure.
They are very food of poultry and mining, which the rest of
the H Medias hold in •bhos rence, bat their ordinary diet ens.
silts of cakes, made of a species of grain called bajrow,
which are bard on iron plates, sod eaten wish did (a name
given Indiscriminately to various kinds of split pease), boiled
with salt and pepper, or carry, which is a mixture of pease,
meal, and curds. . _ _

" The persons belonging le this itcond class, wear a A it
turban that fn. close to the head, • sea throw• over the
shoulder., and short tight breeches,catled goilfwar, which
teach to the homes. In the rainy males they sometimes
wear over them • abort jitekrt of coarse stuff, in g I of an
oli►e colour. They are fond of adorning their ears with
smell gold rings, and such as po the means wear silver
chains, twisted together i■ the form of a mard, rowed their
seeks.
" The two climes of the hialnatias are Not kss
distia-
gnished by their personal finalities thar by their caste sad
dress. The Bruning are in g I well shaped, of good
Maisie, mod have pleasing countenances; the others are
short sod squat, ill looking, and have broad flai fac.s, and
■mall features : they are rapaciaast cheats, liars, and traitors.
The hl•hr.illa, ea far from being ashamed of these vices,
conceives that their combination constitutes perf.etiet.
Accordingly, when his Government is reproached with false.
hood, teem berg, rutsbery, kr. he has no ether reply to make
than—' It is a Mabritts Court.'

" Mr. Broughton, who, in 1909, commanded the escort of
the British !Tektite' at the Coati of Santis, furnishes • lively
picture of • Maltratta camp, or rasher town.
" marcittng days t►e beenamata, or quartre-master-
general, moves of at an early hoar, and o• reimburse the
ground where she army Is to encamp he plants a moan
white Sag, to mark the spot where the tents of she
Maths raj, or Pilate, are to be pitched. The Sags of
the dir rent bazars or minket* are these bard as they arrive,
always it the same relative envenom to each other, and genes
rally is as straight a lime as the ground will admit. The
shops, ratted dolma, are Mailed Mt*o lineseuuning parallel
to each other, and thus farm ore greed street Gum the freest
to the rear of s he army. This street often extends from three
to four miles; the divorce, or Prince's teats, brag Wedded
about ihrrei.four the of the ',hole lengi h from the front, having
only the market called Assorts barer in the rear. The die-
trent Chiefs encamp to the eight and left of the priacipal
street; generally, however, it the neighbourhood of some
particular bazar.
"Their respective encampments are made without the
smallest stigmatise to regularity, eleanlictess, or couvroieiree;
men, horses, and bullocks, are all jumbled together its a mass,
which is surrounded on ■II sides by others of • similar ors-
tore, is • continued series of comfortless confusion. This
forms what is termed bureetushber, or main army; and is
generally shoat as weeny hundred yards is breadth—that is,
Gum Link to Beek, as it is miles in length from front to
rear; shies exactly
ft obtains he the disciplined armies of Europe.
" The shops which compose the boxers, are mayfly formed
of blankets or Mane cloth, stretched over a bamboo, or some
tether stick fors ridge pule, rupporlrd is either end by • forked
stick axed in the ground. The habitations are called pate,
and are of allows, from three to eight or nine t et high, and
proportionably wide and lung according to the circumstances
of the owner. Under these miserable coverings Out only are
the goods exposed for sale, but she family of the shopkeeeer
►aides throughout the year, and for many years together.
At the door of every tent is a tire, the amoke of which
being too heavy to ascend, spreads throughout the whole
camp, where it *Wes to keep the people warm, to drive the
'!,Fes away from the cattle, mad to put out the eyes of all
those who are unused to so gross an element. A Mabratta
army in a match exhibits an assemblage of the most gre-
league objects and groups imaginable. Women are later-
mined with she men; auch as possess the means accompaey
the army on horsiebsch,galloppreg among the crowd as fear-
lessly as the meo, and taking nu more care than the latter so
emberst their faces. Is is common enough to see a woman
riding astride behind her hasband, and keeping her seat with
equal gracefuloru and ease, while he urges the hone to tire
height of his speed.
nroughtuu, in ►is letters just quoted, gives an interesting
account of • young female, who served in the Sindia's army,
usidascovertd, fur two or three years, desisg which she bad
acquired the favour of her superior., and the retarder her
comrades, by her quiet and inoffensive behaviour, and regular
■tteralins to the duties of her toothier. It was observed, that
she always dressed her owe drafter, and ate it, sod performed
bee aWutioes by herself; but not the slightest ausp;cioe of
bee sex was entertained, till it was discovered by the ca-
✓iosity of • yarn comrade, who followed her when she went
to bathe. After this, she cootieued to serve fur some months,
✓esolutely declaprog the petronege of Sludia's consort, who
proposed to receive her into her own family, as wr II as the
offers of that Prince to promote her io the corps to which she
Waived. The affair sow became the •abject of general
••aversaliun in t►e ramp; and. as Mr. lirou.,ehion expressed
a suns; desire to Me Juornor Singh, the name by which she
went, s►e was brought to his tent. She appeared to be
about to years of ago, was very fsie, and, though mot baud-
some, possessed a must iuteresting countenance. She spoke
freely of her profession, aid of bee immediate situation, bet
betrayed neither sloe effreied bashfulness aor the forward
bedtimes which troche situation was likely in have produced.
To the hamster of every party concerned be it recorded, that
WWII her sex was revealed she experienced wily interned
respect sod atiensitm from her comrade.; mot as individual
presuming to utters word that might insult her, or breath-
ing a doubt that could affect her reputation. It was at
length discovered that she had an only brother confined fur
debt at Propel, sod that this afreliereate creature had the
ceureee to carol herself as • common soldier, and to persist
in expiring Ler petiole to the dooms and difficulitea of a
military life, with the generous idea of raisin mousy ►uf.
Beirut to procure his libeentlea. Mee Minds& was informed
of this circumstance, ►e ordered her checker!, to be made
out, sad furnished her with • lesser to the Nabob of Bopsl,
warmly recommeudiog &dim herself and Ler brother to his
favourable notice and protection.
Mahratla semen arc mostly 'cry rlsist, and have

• bold look, wbieh emelt be mid of tlinse of oriv other
nation in illfuloottlms. 1 heir drew consists of a long piece
of printed cotton, of a dark colour, called sort, wee half of
which, sifter h•ing twisted round the hody, is lurked up be.
swum She legs, while the ostler Is earelessly thrown over the
head and shoulders. The rich have a sari of strong gauze.
with • gold border; underuenth it !Ivy wear a Ault, or silk
theycor throw overseff"coltlp all a kad
remlleiehooiglor7; and when they ge abroad
or large veil, end sometimes
• shawl, which covers their whole person. The poor tle
their children in • bag, which they throw over their @boul-
ders, and with this load Miry will follow the march for •
whole slay, without appearing to be at all Ifsligued. The
Itlahralian have a particalsr religion, which varies consider.
ably from that of the Hoodoos. They 'admit among them
persona of • different faith. They wear estisiachios, allow
the begirt to grew, sad make • white spot on the forehead.
Their
a carbinearmss sad re,thep ftisbiorel.,..he* aid arrows; something' they
ha