MARATHAS.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,—Surely there is one error in General Pilcher's fascinating Pathan story, " In the Andaman Islands," in the Spectator of August 9th. He makes the hero sneer at " Bengalis and Mahrattas." Now the Marathas are and always have been a military race, and have gloriously vindicated their title to honour, if any denied it, in the recent war. No doubt General Filcher is making the common mistake of thinking of the (so-called) " Maratha Brahmins " as Marathas. The former are an utterly different race, and are a caste who are or were priests to the Marathas. Almost to a man (with a few honour- able exceptions) they refused the call to arms, their excuse being that they were not allowed to become officers. " Maratha Brahmins," if the phrase is used (Deccan Brahmin is better, though not quite correct), means only the Brahmins of the country of the Marathas. From these " Maratha Brahmins " have sprung so many politicians whom the Pathan contemns, not from the real Marathas, a brave, loyal, and hitherto silent race.—I am, Sir, he., MAHARASHTRA. Dharwar, India, September 5th.
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