पान:आंग्ल प्रभा.djvu/13

l without leaders and without any knowledge of military science except the drill, were as ineffective as the Pendharis who accompanied them. It was this change which paralyzed the nation towards the end of the last century. A few remarks on the Navy may not be out of place here. The sea Navy. has always been a more or less strange element to the Marathas, except on the Western Coast. Though Shivaji had the strength of mind to organize a navy and place it under a Mahomedan Commander, who plundered far to the south on the Malabar coast and fought with the Siddis, it was not till the Angrias rose to power that the Marathas were able to dominate the sea-coast, and hold the Moghul admiral in check. Under the Peishwas, the Subha Armar was a part of the regular establishment, with its headquarters at Vijayadurg and a subordinate establishment at Bassein, which was also called the second Subha Armar. Mention is frequently made of the struggles carried on by the fleet of the Angrias with the English, till at last the Peishwa Balaji Bajirao co-operated with the English and helped them to crush Angria's power on land and sea in 1756. Balaji Bajirao had organized a plan by which the mercantile vessels, which traded from port to port, might be utilized for defensive purposes by enlisting the Tandels and Sarangs in private employ on increased pay when their services were wanted by the Government. Nothing came of this proposal. Anandrao Dhulap and his son Janirao continued to be the Peish wa’s admirals in charge of the navy at Vijayadurg, but no great use was made of this force, except for the protection of commerce and the occasional over-throw of pirates from the Cutch and Gujarath side. Altogether, in assisting the English to put down Angria's power, the Peish was dimi. nished the importance of their own navy for defensive and offiensive purposes. To turn next to the Forts. In the best times of the Maratha rule, more than 200 forts were garrisoned in all parts TForts. of the country. Shivaji understood the duties of a king to include the preservation of the forts as a matter of special concern, and elaborate regulations were made for the garrisons stationed in the forts. The defenders of the forts had lands assigned to them for their maintenance, and room was found for the employment of all classes, Brahmins, Marathas, Ramosis, Mahars, Mangs &c. These latter performed outpost duties. Besides the garrisons specially attached to the forts, detachments of regular Infantry were stationed in the larger forts for protection, Later on, Portuguese artillery-men were employed, and