OR CUTTACK. 201 



subject to the performance of military and rude police duties whenever 

 called upon by their chiefs. Abulfazl states the number of Paiks or zemin- 

 dari militia (in the original, Sipah-i-zemindari) liable to be required for the 

 service of the state according to the conditions of the tenure of the zemin- 

 dars, at about 1,55,000 for the present districts of Cuttack and Midnapore, 

 which probably formed but a small part of the entire force maintained by 

 those chiefs. The Paiks of this part of the country are divided into three 

 ranks distinguished by names taken from their occupations, or the weapons 

 which they use chiefly, viz. 



1st. The Pahris, who carry a large shield made of wood covered with 

 hides and strengthened by knobs and circles of iron, and the long straight 

 national sword of Orissa, called the khanda. They are stationed chiefly 

 as guards. 



2nd. The Banua, win? use the matchlock principally now (in lieu of 

 their old missile weapons), but have besides a small shield and sword. 

 It was their duty to take the field principally and go on distant expeditions. 



3rdly. The Dhenkiyas who are armed with bows and arrows, and a sword, 

 and perform all sorts of duties. 



The war dress of the Paiks consists, or did consist, of a cap and vest 

 made of the skin of the tyger or leopard ; a sort of chain armour for the 

 body and thighs ; and a girdle formed of the tail of some wild animal. Be- 

 sides the terror inspired by these unusual habiliments, they farther height- 

 ened the ferocity of their appearance by staining their limbs with yellow 

 clay, and their countenances with vermillion, thus exhibiting altoge- 

 ther as savage and fantastic an air, as one can well conceive to invest the 

 national army of any country or people. However wild and motley their 

 appearance and composition, they certainly did not fight badly, when en- 

 couraged at least by the proximity of their jungles, since we find them con- 



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