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A number of those adventurers are still pouring into India from 

 Arabia and Tartary, who for a time preserve the hardy character 

 and manly virtues of their country; but, from the enervating cli- 

 mate, and tender pampered education of the southern Moguls, 

 their native character gradually subsides, and they blend into the 

 common mass: these adventurers frequently bring with them a 

 horse and arms, and enter into the service of the Indian princes, 

 who prefer them according to their merit. There are some corps, 

 styled nujceb, or men of good family; originally formed by Sujah 

 Dowlah, arid subsequently introduced into the Mahratta armies: 

 these are foot soldiers, invariably armed with a sabre and match- 

 lock, and having adopted some semblance of European discipline, 

 are much respected : as are also the rajepoots, poorbeas, or eastern- 

 men, and many other soldiers of fortune, who enlist under their 

 banners, and are highly esteemed for fidelity and regularity. 



The rajepoots are all of a high caste, or clan; proud of being 

 nobly born, and bred to arms, they display a magnanimity, cou- 

 rage, and virtue, uncommon in the Indian character: renowned 

 for fidelity and attachment to the prince whose salt they eat, they 

 are esteemed among the best soldiers of the east; these warlike 

 tribes chiefly inhabit Ajmere, Chetere, and the provinces north of 

 the Nerbudda, a country in many respects resembling the habit- 

 able mountainous tracts of Switzerland, and, like that once free 

 and happy country, may be considered, more than any other ori- 

 ental region, the nurse of liberty and independence. The rajepoot 

 governments have never been entirely subdued by Mahommedan 

 invaders; in the dreadful scenes which marked their conquests, the 

 fastnesses and strong-holds, on mountains accessible only by diffi- 



