PINDARA or Pindari, who ravaged India from the middle of the 18th to the earlier part of the 19th century, were of every origin, but the term was taken from the Beder race, who extend from the Kistna southwards into the Mysore country, where they hold lands. A small body of them dwell on the platform of Raman Malay, 37 miles west of Bellary, and there are two small princi palities of the Beder race at Zorapore and Ghur gunta, on the north bank of the river Kistna. It is from this race, the Baidara Wanlu of the Teling, that the name Pindara comes.
Pindara are mentioned in Indian.history as early as the commencement of the 18th century; several bands followed the Mahratta armies in their early wars in Hindustan. Coleman tells us that they were early arranged into durrah or tribes, com manded by sirdars or chiefs, and people of every country and of every religion were Indiscriminately enrolled in this heterogeneous community, a horse and sword being deemed sufficient qualifications for admission. A common interest kept them united. Some of the chiefs acquired wealth and renown in the Mahratta wars ; they seized upon lands, which they were afterwards tacitly per mitted to retain, and transmitted, with their estates, the services of their adherents to their descendants. The Pindara were a sort of roving cavalry, coeval with the earliest invasions of Hindustan by the Mabrattas. When the Brahman Peshwa rulers ceased to interfere personally in northern politics, and that part of the Mahratta affairs became transferred to Sindia and Holkar, the Pindaras ranged into two parties, the Sindia Shahi and Holkar Shahi. The horde was called a Luhbur, and out of 1000 about 400 might be well mounted. Their favourite weapon was a spear with a light bamboo shaft, and from 12 to 18 feet long. They had no baggage, and could therefore move with a speed which no regular troops could accomplish. They were guilty of every outrage that barbarity could suggest on the villages through which they passed. The Pindara attached themselves as a distinct class to native armies, which they followed without receiving pay or being actuated, by patriotism ; and so far from wishing to be distinguished for theirprowess as fighting men, they never sought even fOr plunder, their sole occupation, but where it could be obtained without danger.
When first known to the British, they were in two bodies, the Sindia Shahi, of 18,000 horse and 1300 foot, with 15 guns, and the Holkar Shahi, of 3000 horse, 1500.foot, and 18 guns. The Sindia Shahi were under several leaders, of whom Chetoo, Karim Khan, and Dost Muhammad were the principal. They moved through the country at their pleasure, and levied contributions at will upon their sovereign's subjects and de pendents, or carried their bands into Rajputana, and plundered both friends and foes. They threatened Mirz.apore, plundered Masulipatam, Ganjam, Guntur, and the Northern Circars. Central India was disorganized, the princes of Rajputana were helpless, the Maharaja of Udaipur was bearded in his capital by military adven turers, and robbed *of his domains by his own feudatory chiefs and clansmen. His palace on the banks of the lake was besieged, and his servants bringing up water were plundered ; and on the suppression of the Pindara, the British Government, in 1818, allowed him Rs. 4000 a month until his country should yield some revenue. Rajputana had then become wholly disorganized. The raja of Jodhpur had abandoned the reins of government to the hands of a dissolute prince, who was soon after assassinated. The raja of Jeypore, infatuated by a Muhammadan dancing girl, preserved only a portion of his hereditary possessions by the sufferance of Amir Khan. The Marquis of Hastings, then Governor-General, took the field against them in 1817, with the combined forces of the Bengal, Madras, and Bombay armies, which, including irregular horse and contingents, amounted to 116,464 men and 295 guns. It was the strongest British army which had been seen in India. One-half operated from the north, the other half from the south. The forces of the native powers which might be brought into the field were estimated at 130,016 horse, 87,316 infantry, and 589 guns, including the Pindara.