Page:Aurangzíb and the Decay of the Mughal Empire.djvu/160

Rh interest, for a point of honour. This difference of sentiment effects the outward appearance of the two nations: there is something noble in the carriage even of an ordinary Rájput, and something vulgar in that of the most distinguished Maráthá.'

The vulgar Maráthá, nevertheless, gave more trouble to the rulers of Hindústán, whether Mughal or English, than even the proud dynasties of the Rájputs. The King of Bíjápúr was responsible for the disastrous policy of educating this hardy race for their career of rapine. They formed a large proportion of his subjects, and their language, a peculiar offshoot of Sanskrit, became the official script of the revenue department of his kingdom. Gradually they came to be employed in his army, first in garrison duty, and then in the light cavalry, a branch of service for which they displayed extraordinary aptitude. Some of them rose to offices of some importance at Bíjápúr and Golkonda. One of the most distinguished of those officers, Sháhjí Bhósla, governor of Poona and Bangalore, was the father of Sivají, the founder of the Maráthá power.