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under great privations; when loaded his pace never exceeds three 

 miles an hour, nor will severity make him quicken his pace any 

 more than increase his load. The Mahratta chiefs keep a few 

 light camels and dromedaries, called sadnies, to carry dispalches, 

 which travel with great expedition. In the southern part of Hin- 

 dostan the camel is of more show than service, and is seldom seen 

 but with the army, or in state processions: but in the north-west 

 provinces, intersected by few navigable rivers, and abounding with 

 extensive deserts, trade is chiefly conducted by means of this 

 valuable animal. 



A Mahratta's state generally consists in elephants, horses, and 

 camels: his wealth in jewels, particularly rows of pearls, valued 

 at forty or fifty thousand rupees a necklace: their diamonds are 

 seldom well cut, and usually table-diamonds; the rubies and eme- 

 ralds are sometimes cut and polished, but oftener set as they come 

 from the mines, in bracelets, rings, and an ornament for the turban, 

 called serpech. A Mahralta is not ambitious to make a figure in 

 his house, furniture, or apparel; his elephants, horses, and jewels, 

 are what he most esteems; if possessed of the finest Persian and 

 Arabian horses, he seldom rides them; preferring for service the 

 fleet mares from his own country, of the Bhimra Tuttee breed. 



When a Mahratta expects a battle where there is a chance of 

 beino- defeated, he mounts a Bhimra mare, and girds himself with 

 a broad belt round the loins, the better to enable him to bear the 

 fatigue of a forced march: this girdle is generally made of strong 

 leather, covered with velvet, and divided into small compartments, 

 containing his most valuable papers and precious jewels: the se- 

 lected companions of his flight, and a sure resource in adversity. 



