Page:The Tamils Eighteen Hundred Years Ago.djvu/151

Rh swords which were broad in the blade and about a yard long. The cavalry carried lighter arms and shorter bucklers than those supplied to the infantry. Those who rode on chariots or elephants were the generals who led the army and were invariably men of noble birth. They carried lances or swords, and shields adorned with gold and wore coats of mail. The war chariots were light cars raised on two low wheels with a railing of stout rattan round the stand, which afforded room for only, two men, the charioteer and the warrior. Each chariot was drawn by a pair of horses. Large and heavy chariots drawn by four or seven horses were used only in processions or festive occasions. When attacking an enemy, the archers discharged their arrows aiming at the elephants in the opposing army and at the generals who rode on them. If the men were skilful archers and sufficiently strong in number, the first shower of arrows compelled the enemies’ elephants to beat a retreat and threw their army into confusion: but if the elephants withstood the attack, the mounted soldiers threw their javelins at them and the infantry also attacked them with their long spears; and then engaged the enemy at close quarters fighting with their swords and battle axes. The elephants always formed the most formidable part of an army and hence, to cut down a soldier or any number of soldiers was not esteemed so great a feat of valour as to kill or disable an elephant. To fly, from the battlefield or to receive a wound on the back was considered a great disgrace.

The fighting men who belonged to the military caste among the Tamil were very loyal to their kings. “Thou Lord of the handsome chariot and troops of elephants,” says a bard to his chief, pointing to a young warrior, “share with this youth the toddy thou drinkest, for his father’s father gave up his life to save thy father’s father in a fierce fight: and this youth so full of valour, will throw himself between thee and thy foes, when they aim their lances against thee.” Even the women of the fighting classes were animated by the same martial spirit which the soldiers possessed. “Alas! how bold is she, the worthy matron of the warrior tribe!” exclaims a hard, “It was only the day before yesterday that her father cut down an elephant on the