The Sun.
London, England, 1818-09-19 00:00:00

LITERARY REVIEW.

ORIGIN Of the PINDARIES ; preceded by Historical Notes
on the Rise of the diff,rent Mahratta States.—By au OF-
FICER in the Service of the Honourable EAST INDIA

COMPANY.

The People whose predatory warfare has occa-
sloned so much disturbance in the East, and who,
of course, have excited much turiosity through-
out Europe, are of so extraordinary a desct
that we bad resolved to take particular notice of
the Work helot e us in this department of our
JOurnal„ but as the last Number of The Quarterly
Review has been able, from its own resouices,
which we have reason to believe are in every re-

bpvct authentic, to add much to the knowledge
which the IVork imparts, we shall avail ourselves
of the arl:cle on the subject which that valuable
treasury of criticism contains, persuaded that we
could offer nothing equally entitled to the atten-
tion of our Readers

" The rise and progress of the Mahratta States
have been fully detailed by us, in the coarse of our
critical labour, from more elaborate works than
the little voiume before us, which, though com-
piled with praiseworthy diligence and accuracy,
possesses not sufficient novelty of research to in-
duce us to resume their history. We pass, thet e-
fore, to a topic of nearly equal importance, of
much greater originality, and, perhaps, under ex-
isting circumstances, of no secondary consequence
either in the struggle afoot or in the future fate ut
Hindostan.

" The Pindaries, or rather Pindarries, arc a
singular race ; singular in their formation, in their
habits, in their physical qualities, in their moral
attributes, and in their social system. Chance
made them a people ; plunder and robbery consti-
tute the bands of their union ; cunning awl cou-
rage arc their patents of nobility, and superior ta-
lent for intrigue and military skill the sole title to
command.

" The name of Pindarrie occurs as early as the
beginniog of the last century in the Indian annals ;
several bands of these freebooters are mentioned
by Ferishta as having Followed the Mahrattas in
their early wars in Hindostan, and fought against
Zoolfeccer Khan, and the other Generals of Au-
rengzvbe. One of their Chiefs, Flout Sewar,
commanded 15,000 horse in the battle of Paniput,
and under him they assumed a more regular or-
ganization. They were divided into dhurrahs,
(n tribes, commanded by Sirdars ; natives of every
country were promiscuously enrolled in their
community, and he was welcomed as a worthy ci-
tizen who to a stout heart added a horse to carry
him on his foray, and a sword to levy contribu-
tions. They are, however, all of the Moslem per-
suasion, and the other castes whom they admit to
astir association are distinguished by the name of
Ogirra, or strangers, while they address each other
by the appellation of Sara cy,' (brother). Ar
first, probably, they were less national ; but as
they acTiired wealth and renown in the Mahratta
contvsts, the vanity, natural to man, induced
ever' these banditti to pride themselves on being
what they were, and therefore to draw a line be-
tween themselves, plunderers by descent through
several geoerations, and their accessaries, who
could only boast of circumstance, and not of li-
ticage, to entitle them to the latrociaiary honour.
in their history we find the names of Heeroo and
Barran mentioned as leaders of considerable note,
and also Dost Mahummud and Ryan Khan, the
sons of the former. Their dignities are generally
ephemeral, and genius and enterptiZe often, in a
very few years, raise a person from obscurity to
the highest consideration.
In the rapidity of their movements, their en-
durance of fatigue, their attachment to their
horses, their want of discipline, and their pre-
datory mode of warfare, the Piudarries strikingly
resemble the least civilized of the Cossacks. Their
number is stated to amount to between thirty
and forty thousand ; but in a community liable to
such fluctuations it is not easy to form any very
accurate idea of their real strength. A year of
plenty reconciles many to peaceful habits, and a
season of scarcity multiplies the horde of free-
booters beyond the powers of common calcula-
tion. But whatever may be their force they
chiefly inhabit the country north of the Nerbud-
dah, round Nimba war, Kantapore, Goonass, Bere-
sha, and part of the Bilsa and Bopaul territory.
Unless when united on incursion, they live toge-
ther in societies of one or two hundred, which, as
is the case in most irregular combinations, are go-
vereed by him who possesses the greatest personal
influence. These Chiefs are called ' horladar '
or Thokdar front mhorla ' or thok,' the
name of the party, and when several of these are
united the aggregate body is called toll ; all de-
tached parties are called buzzacks ;' the main body
lubbur ,' and the leader or principal commander,
' lubbreea _ _

' The lubbreea has no hereditary claim to pre-
eminence, hut owes his power entirely to popular
opinion ; Military talent is the only passport to
stftion. Thus raised, the obedience of the
11,.•ct is not much to be relied upon. Men wild
,!1(1 independent are not to be restrained within
',rounds by voluntary submission ; and as the Chief
can neither punish disobedience, nor compel a due
regard to his authority, it is frequently set at
nought, .and is, indeed, rarely more than
nomi-
nal, except in the hour at peril in the field.—
Policy and address are therefore required to go-
vern' the lawless and licentious multitude, and
coHliation, as well as artifice, are indispensable
rp6llifications in a lubbreea. The hope of plan,
oeris the only inducement to follow him, and so
lobg as lie can lead the way at booty his instructions
are willinrly listened to, and his orders punctually
obeyed. The farther he advances into an enemy's
country, the more firmly consolidated does his
sway become. Ms followers feel their depend-
ence upon him for immediate safety, and, per-
haps, for their eventual return to their own coun-
tr. Should the danger increase;the Lubbreca is
clothed with dictatorial power, and the most blind
Subjection takes place of merely nominal subor-
di:„tt but, the trial over, the Pindarry speedily

relaxes into individual responsibility, and almost
ceases to be a member of the community.
" The tract of country to which the l'indarries
are principally confined of a wild anti barren de-
scription; and it will readily be conceived that
such a people, recruited as they are by fugitives,
vagabonds, and outlaws from other parts, are not
likely to imprbve it much by cultivation. Want
is the natural consequence of this state of things,
and in addition to their long-established propen-
sities, necessity often compels them to issue forth
in desperate hands, in search of the means of sub-
sistence. When art enterpriziag leader has deter-
mined on a plundering expedition, he sends VA..
keels to the neighbouring Thokdars, to engage
them in his interest, awl to reconcile, for the
moment, any private animosities which may exist
among them. I-Javing formed hi,s league, he ap-
points a time and place of meeting. He then de-
velopes his ultimate designs, and points out the
districts nhiCh be Inca ils to invade. Those who
approve of the plan join the confederacy, while
those who do not acquiesce in its expediency, or
doubt its success, at e.'at liberty to withdraw and
consult their own inclinations, either by remain-
ing at rest, or by seizing another opportunity to
carry on their favourite vocation.
" The. mode of conduct bug their marches is in
general as follows :—When the Lnhbreca is ready
to move, he mounts ii is horse, without Making
any one acquainted with his intention, and, pro-
ceediug to some distance, he causes his trumpet
to be sounded. On the instant every man quits
his employment, whatever it may be, and prepares
to follow with the utmost speed. The Lulthreea
moves in front, accompanied by his standard and
trumpets. 1-le waits for nobody, but allows them
to join him as well as they can, and by this me-
thod he keeps his troop in a constant stare of
readiness. This they are the better enalded to be,
as the climate and their hardy habits reinter tents
or baggage an unnecessary incumbrance. Each
person carries merely a few days' provision for
himself, and provender for his horse, and thus
they travel for weeks together, at the rate of 30
or 40 miles a-day, over roads and countries im-
passable for a regular force. They usually march
about half an hour after clay-break, anti continue
in motion till near noon, when they halt for two
or three hours; they again move forward, stop-
ping to refresh at sunset ; at nine at night they
change their ground, and again at twelve, remov-
ing about two or three coss each time : each of
these halts is denominated a " tun," and when
they think much precaution necessary, they some-
times make even a third change of position during
the night.

" This perpetual change of position confuses
their pursuers.; and the suddenness with which
they appear in a place diametrically opposite
to that in which they were last seen, and in
a contrary direction to their apparent line of
march, gives an air of magic to their motions, or
inspires a belier that they al'e more numerous anti
in separate bodies, when in truth they form but
one " toll ;" yet their Common. m arches are only
about five or six cuss a-ttay, and their longest sel-
dom exceed fifteen or sixteen. From the extended
manner in which these expeditions are performed,
they cover an inimeuse space of ground ; their
line is frequently more than a cuss iu breadth, and
nearly as much in depth, so that their multitude
appears incalculable, and always accumulating, as
they carry off young lads from the villages in
their route, whom they compel to assist in the
care of their cattle. In this way they collect a
vast quantity of spoil of every kind, though the
objects ofiheir greatest cupidity are horses; these
they seize wherever they meet them, and not only
mount their followers and load their booty, but
have sometimes two or three led for each indivi-
(oal in the camp. Marty stories are current in
India of their adroitness in stealing these animals;
and it has happened that the best guarded picquets
of the cavalry, in pursuit of them, have in the
morning missed several horses, which the Pindar-
ries had found means to purloin from their stakes,
within a few yards of the sentinels, daring the
night. To accomplish this exploit, which ob-
tains great eclat among their companions, the
robbers crawl upon their bellies like serpents,
stopping whenever the face of the sentinel is
towards them, and pushing on when his back is
turned ; baring reached the horse, they cut the
cords by which he is confined,. and placing their
own black limbs in such a position as not to be
distinguishable from his, they back him out as
near the piCtitletS as possible without discovery,
watch their opportunity to atomic, anti suddenly
gallop oil among the bushes, through paths with
which they, are acquainted, taking the chance of
the random shot which the startled soldier dis-
charges after them.
" Their hivotiack at night offers a singular con-
trast to the stillness of a disciplined army, with
its brief, solemn, and iegalar interruptions. When
it is difficult to keep together on account of the
darkness, they are continually calling to each
other by name, and, from the noise occasioned
by their clamour, the general direction of the
march is easily kept. 11 the Lubbreea changes his
course be sounds his tramper, and the word is
also passed from one to another ; so that although
much confusion ensues, they never so completely
disperse but that they can again unite in a short
time. Should they be attacked at such a moment,
it is sauce qui peui ; they fly at full speed towards
every point of the compass, and trust to chance
to bring them together again ; yet, with great
apparent disorder, there is still some degree of
regularity among them, and sonic general princi-
ples by which they shape their conduct. Each
" think " has its distinguishing " Inggee" or
standard, and proceeds in as organized a state as
circumstances admit ; and though a thok some-
times sep-arates from a lubbur, individuals seldom
abandon their thok. The buzzacks, or divisions,
headed by some resolute and aspiring matt, detach
themselves in bodies of ten and twenty, and
sour the country to the extent of six or seven
cuss, either in advance or on the flanks of the
lubbur. When attacked, they invariably endea-
vour to lead their adversaries into au ambush, or
draw them, inadvertently, upon the main body ;
their practice beilg never to fight unless under
great advantage.—Flight is accounted no disgrace
with them ; but when the rear is hard pressed, the
most courageous and best mounted volunteer to
defend it. Should the toll,. however, l c dis-

persed, by defeat or otherwise, the lubbreea's
trumpet is sounded to keep the fugitives toge-
ther ; and, as this signal may not reach the ears
of the more distant parties, be sets fire to some
stock of straw or stubble, as an indication of the
spot where he is posted, and a rallying summons
to his men. It sometimes happens that indivi-
duals lose the toll for several days ; but, such is
their acuteness, from long custom, that they will
readily, discover the track of their party, when
those unaeplainted with their habits would be
utterly at a loss."
[To be continued.]