the German princes to the emperor, merely nominal at any time; and, in some cases, an opposition of interests begets wars, not only between the members of the empire themselves, but also between the members and the head. In fact, they are seldom confederated but on occasions that would unite the most discordant states; that is, for their mutual defence: for few occasions of foreign conquests, or plunder, are of magnitude enough to induce them to unite their armies.

Was I inclined, I want ability, to particularize the possessions and situations of all the chiefs that compose this Mahratta state. I shall therefore attempt only to mention the principal ones, commonly styled jaghiredars, or holders of jaghires:* their titles to their possessions, being nominally during their life time only; although they have long since become hereditary.

The paishwah, or nominal head of the western empire, resides at Poonah, which is situated at the south-west extreme of the empire, and about 100 miles from Bombay. There are three principal jaghiredars on the north of Poonah; and two on the south: the first are, Madajee Sindia, Tuckajee Holkar, and Futty Sing Gwicuar; and the latter, Purseram Bow, and Rastah, who is more commonly styled the Meritch Wallah (or Meritch man) from his having established his capital at that city, previous to the conquest of it, by Hyder Ally. Before I proceed to particularize the different partners, or sharers, in the several provinces, it will

Jaghire, means a grant of land from a sovereign to a subject, revokable at pleasure; but generally, or almost always, for a life rent.

+ The exact geographical position of this important fortrefs and city, is not ascertained; but it is with great reason supposed to be the same with Mirje, or Merdji, of Mandesloe's route, drawn by P. du Val: which is situated near the north bank of the Kistna river, about 70 road miles SW from Visiapour; and 130 from Poonah. It is also, most unquestionably, the same place with Merrick; a place of consequence in Aurungzebe's wars with Sambajee. In the Select Committee's reports, it is named indifferently, Merrick and Meritz. It may be collected from those reports, and from Mr. Orme's Historical Fragments, that this place is situated on the north bank of the Kistnah; on the NW of Sanore-Bancapour, and on the SW of Visiapour; and its distance from the former ought to be very considerable, for part of the circars of Nourgal, Azimabad, and Raibaug, intervene, between those of Bancapour and Meritz. And this is the case with Mirje on the map, which is about 108 G. miles from Bancapour. There is also a fortress of great note in Aurungzebe's, and Hyder Ally's wars, named Darwar.

Since the first edition was printed, the communications made by Capt. Reynolds, of the Bombay establishment, have enabled me to correct this, as well as other parts of the map.

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be necessary to observe that the Mahratta dominions have in some places, been portioned out among the different chiefs, after a method that appears the most confused and intricate imaginable. For not only the purgunnahs, or grand divisions of provinces, are divided, in some instances, among three different powers; but even the revenues of particular villages, are divided in like manner; and in consequence, distinct officers are appointed for the collecting the respective shares.*

purpose of

The province or soubah of Malwa (to which this account particularly applies), one of the most extensive, and the most elevated and highly diversified in Hindoostan, is divided among the paishwah, Sindia, and Holkar: as is also the small soubah of Candeish, adjoining to it, on the south; and which contains the fine city of Burhanpour, in the possession of Sindia.

The province of Agimere, has only in part been possessed by the Mahrattas, and that part is now entirely in Sindia's hands. What is here expressed, relates only to what may be termed Agimere proper; and not to the whole soubah of that name, according to its geographical definition in the Ayin Acbaree; since the three great Rajpoot principalities, Oudipour, Joodpour, and Joinagur, as well as Rantampour, are there included in it. These Rajpoot principalities (of which more will be said hereafter) have long been held tributary to the Mahrattas; and now by the ascendancy of Sindia, and by virtue of his local situation, he converts the whole of the tribute to his own use.

The largest, as well as the finest part of Guzerat, is divided between the paishwah, and Futty Sing Gwicuar (or Gwicker); the latter holds his share chiefly in the northern part of it.

The provinces on the south of Poonah, are divided between the paishwah, and the jaghiredars, Purseram Bow, and Rastah. So little is known in Europe concerning the geography of this part

It is probable that this irregular division arose from some accidental circumstances at the time when the conquest was made; and which cannot now be traced: but as it has the appearance of an expedient, calculated to check and restrain the power of the different jaghiredars, it is generally supposed to be the effect of policy and design. A.

of the country, that the map of it is almost a blank. I am by no means certain where to place the common boundary of the Mahratta and Tippoo's countries, in this quarter.

The paishwah, or his representatives, pofsefs also many other districts in the NE, and east, parts of Malwa, &c. for the Poonah territories, or those of his jaghiredars, close on the river Jumnah, opposite to Calpy: and also extend along the northern bank of the Nerbudda river, almost to its source; encroaching also very deeply on the SW side of Bundelcund; according to its ancient limits. The districts of Sagur, and Mundella, are situated in this quarter. Thus it appears, that the territories subject to Poonah, are separated, or rather insulated, in an extraordinary manner; and this circumstance alone, must influence the domestic as well as the foreign politics of this state: since any considerable jaghiredar may easily withhold the government's share of the revenues, and convert it to his own use.

From what has been said, it will appear impossible to discriminate the possessions of the paishwah, any more than those of his jaghiredars, on the map. All that can be done, is to mark the body of each tract of land, in which the paishwah and the particular jaghiredars participate. It is understood that the paishwah possesses a larger share in the western part of the Deccan, than elsewhere. This tract is naturally very strong, particularly on the west side towards the sea, where a stupendous wall of mountains, called the Gauts, rises abruptly from the low country, called the Concan (or Cockun), supporting, in the nature of a terrace, a vast extent of fertile and populous plains, which are so much elevated, as to render the air cool and pleasant (see Index, article Gauts). This elevated tract is continued not only through the Mahratta territories, but extends through the peninsula, to the southern extreme of Mysore; and is named Balla-Gaut, throughout its whole extent; meaning literally, the higher, or upper Gauts: or perhaps more correctly the countries lying

ABOVE or BELOW the Gauts.* In the peninsula, it is applied in contradistinction to Payen-Gaut, or the lower Gauts: but in the Deccan, it appears to be used only as a proper name, and not as a correlative: we having never heard of the Deccan, Payen-Gaut.

Nor is it lefs difficult to ascertain the sum of the revenue of this state, then to particularize the extent of the districts, from whence it is collected. The most intelligent and best informed persons that I have consulted on the occasion, will not venture to give an opinion on it. One person (a native of India) has stated the revenue at 12 crores of rupees, or 12 millions sterling: and the net receipts, jaghires deducted, at five crores. The same account makes the military establishment in the field, to be 200,000 troops, foot and horse; besides an equal number in garrison. Another account of the revenue, by an European gentleman, reckons 7 crores for the net revenue. If the provinces possessed by this state, were to be rated in the same proportion as in the time of Aurungzebe, the net revenue would be about 8 crores of rupees, or 8 millions sterling.

Sindia is unquestionably the most powerful jaghiredar within this state; and ought to be regarded as a sovereign prince. Since the Mahratta peace (1783), he has extended his frontier from Malwa towards the Jumnah; swallowing up most of the petty states that heretofore existed there: and in particular, that of Gohud, including the celebrated fortress of Gwalior (see page 234 of the Memoir). He has also carried his arms northward to Delhi, and into the provinces of Mewat and Jyenagur; reducing many fortresses, and a considerable tract of country, which were heretofore succefsively pofsefsed by the Jats, and Nudjuff Cawn. In fine, he possesses the person of the nominal Great Mogul, and all that can

Gaut, or Ghaut, signifies either a pafs through mountains, or a landing-place on the bank of a river. In the former sense, the term has been applied to the Peninsula which is divided by ridges of mountains, abounding with passes and defiles.

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be accomplished by virtue of his name. It would appear that Sindia's plans embrace too great a variety of objects at one and the same time: for, not long ago, his troops were compelled to retire from Bundelcund, in which they pofsefsed most of the open country, the fruits of a very recent conquest. He seems bent on extending his conquests on the north and west: but time alone can discover whether he will succeed in establishing a permanent empire, on that side. The revenue of his paternal, or original dominions, in Malwa, &c. has been estimated at one crore of rupees per anIt is difficult to ascertain what the value of his new acquisitions are, in their present state: for those portions of Agra, Delhi, &c. which he holds, having been so long subject to the depredations of contending armies, little benefit can be derived from them, at present.* Gohud, one of these acquisitions, is estimated at 20 or 30 lacks per annum. Holkar is supposed to pofsefs 80 lacks per annum, in his share of Malwa. Sindia's capital city is Ougein, near the ancient city of Mundu, the capital of the Chilligi kings of Malwa: and Holkar's capital is Indore, situated about 20 cofses south or SE of Ougein.

The Berar or Nagpour rajah, Moodajee Boonslah (or Bonsola) possesses the principal part of Berar, together with the province of Orifsa. The remainder of Berar is held by the Nizam, or Soubah of the Deccan, who pays a chout, or fourth part of its clear revenues to Moodajee. On the west and south, the Berar dominions border on, or are intermixed with, those of the Nizam: on the NW and north, are the provinces of Bopal, Gurry-Mundella, &c. tributaries of Poonah; together with the territories of Adjid Sing. On the east, the Nagpour territories thrust themselves between the

These territories have formerly yielded 3 or 4 crores per annum: but they are now in a state of desolation, which it is impofsible to form any idea of, without having actually beheld them. A. [This note is by a gentleman, who has been on the spot. ] See also page lxxviii.

+ Orissa, is nominally one of the British provinces, but we have observed in another place, that only a very small part of it is subject to the Bengal government.