Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 717

THE POLIGARS
677
of India placed most reliance on their
formed the fourth division of their armies, and
was numerically larger than the other three. It formed, in
At the
fact, the main strength of the combined forces.
present day, too, it constitutes the principal, and indeed
The ancient kings
infantry.
It
almost the only, force of the smaller native princes who are
known by the name of Poligars l These Poligars rarely
have any cavalry, the smallness of their revenues and the
character of the country they inhabit rendering it almost
impossible to maintain them.
The Poligars in many respects resemble the European
barons of the Middle Ages, who from their strongholds ven-
tured boldly to defy the royal authority. They are fairly
numerous in the various districts of the Peninsula, and they
were much more numerous before the great European Power
extended its dominion over the territories in which they
were established and subdued the greater number of them.
These petty despots waged almost incessant war against each
other.
Safely ensconced in deep jungles or on inaccessible
mountain-tops, they were able to defy the princes whose
and the latter, unable to
territories surrounded them
suppress these turbulent vassals for fear that they would
pillage and devastate their own states, tried to live amicably
with them.
These Poligars or self-styled princes made war according
The use of cannon was unknown
to methods of their own.
their only arms being arrows, pikes, and flint-
to them
locks.
They never risked a pitched battle. When attacked
by a superior force they took refuge in their jungles or on
their mountains.
Their object would be to surprise the
advancing enemy in some defile. Lying in ambush behind
trees or thick brushwood, they would pour well-directed
volleys upon their opponents, forcing them to retire in
disorder with considerable loss.
It was in the midst of
their jungles or on the tops of their mountains that the
English, after much labour and the loss of many men,
managed to lay hands upon these brigand chiefs and their
lawless followers.
Only by these means were the newcomers
able to restore peace and tranquillity in provinces which
had previously been the scene of perpetual outrages.
.
;
;
1
These inhabit the southern
districts of the Peninsula.
Ed.