MORATTOES, Mahrattahs, a considerable Hindoo tribe in Hindustan. Their army is chiefly composed of cavalry and they excel in the management of their horses. The weapon principally used by them in war is a sabre, extremely well tempered, and carefully chosen. Their dress, when accoutred for action, consists of a quilted jacket of cotton cloth, which descends half way down their thighs, and of a thin linen vest, which is fitted close to the body, and is always worn under the jacket. They wear upon their head a broad turban, which is made to reach the shoulders, for the double purpose of covering the neck from the heat of the sun, and of shielding it against the enemy’s sabre. Their thighs and legs are covered with a loose kind of trowsers, or cotton overhose. They are extremely temperate, and pay the most minute attention to their horses.
It is now more than a century that the Mahrattahs first made a figure, as the most enterprising soldiers of Hindustan; as the only nation of Indians, which seems to make war an occupation by choice; for the Rajpouts are Hindus, soldiers by birth. The strength of their armies consist in their numerous cavalry, which is more capable of resisting fatigue than any in India; large bodies of them having been known to march fifty miles in a day. They avoid general engagements, and seem to have no other idea in making war, but that of doing as much mischief as possible to the enemy’s country.
MOREAU, Fr. A species of bag which the drivers of mules use to carry their hay. It is likewise the name of a celebrated French general, who by his able retreat out of Germany, during the most disastrous period of the French revolution, acquired a reputation, as a general, superior to Xenophon.
MORGLAY, a deadly weapon.
MORTIER, Fr. See [Mortar].
MORION, Fr. Donner sur le morion. This was a species of punishment which was formerly inflicted upon French soldiers for crimes that were not capital. They were shut up in a guard-house, and received a certain number of strokes with a halbert. The gantelope was substituted in its stead; but neither one or the other are practised in the present French army.
MORISON. See [Helmet], [Casque], &c.
MORT d’Eau, Fr. Low water.
MORTARS, are a kind of short cannon, of a large bore, with chambers: they are made of stone, brass, or iron. Their use is to throw hollow shells, filled with powder; which, falling on any building, or into the works of a fortification, burst, and their fragments destroy every thing within reach. Carcasses are also thrown out of them. These are a sort of shells, with 5 holes, filled with pitch and other combustibles, in order to set buildings on fire; and sometimes baskets full of stones, the size of a man’s fist, are thrown out of them upon an enemy, placed in the covert-way during a siege. The very ingenious general Desaguliers contrived to throw bags, filled with grape-shot, containing in each bag, from 400 to 600 shot of different dimensions, out of mortars; the effect of which is extremely awful and tremendous to troops forming the line of battle, passing a defile, or landing, &c. pouring down shot, not unlike a shower of hail, on a circumference of above 300 feet. They are distinguished chiefly by the diameter of the bore. For example, a 13-inch mortar is that, the diameter of whose bore is 13 inches. There are some of 10 and 8-inch diameters; and some of a smaller sort, as cohorns of 4.6 inches, and royals of 5.8 inches.
Weight and Dimensions of English Mortars.