Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. The Pindaris or Free Companions were dispersed throughout the Maratha states and were countenanced and protected by the Maratha chiefs to whom they were invaluable as agents for supplying all the commissariat required by their armies They were composed of Pathans, Rajputs and Jats etc, who congregated together solely for purposes of plunder. Predominantly comprising of Hindu, Sikh and Muslim rebels, they came into existence during the 18th century when the Mughal Empire was breaking up. The Pindaris were loosely organized under self-chosen leaders, and each group was usually attached to one or other of the Maratha leaders. Their special characteristic was that they received no pay, but rather purchased the privilege of plundering on their own account