Wikipedia
The Pindaris (also spelled Pendharis) or Free Companions ( ; Hindi piṇḍārī, पिण्डारी / पिंडारी) were irregular horsemen that plundered and foraged with the Maratha armies in central India during the 18th century. They were dispersed throughout the Maratha states and were countenanced and protected by the Maratha chiefs to whom they acted as agents for supplying all the commissariat required by their armies. They were composed of different tribes who congregated solely for purposes of plunder. 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 main characteristic was that they received no pay, but rather purchased the privilege of plundering on their own account.
Usage examples of "pindari".
So the Dewan sent for Ajeet, Hunsa and Sookdee, and declared that if the Bagree contingent of murder did not start at once for the Pindari camp he would have them taken up for the decoity.
But they were now at their camp, and the jamadars, standing together for a little, settled it that the omens being favourable, and the wrath of the Dewan feared, they would take the way to the Pindari camp next day.
CHAPTER XIX Dewan Sewlal had warned Hunsa and Sookdee against their natural proclivities for making a decoity while travelling to the Pindari camp, as the mission was more important than loot--an enterprise that might cause them to be killed or arrested.
Resident that would contain offers of an alliance with the Pindari Chief.
And this same hovering menace of the Pindari force was causing Nana Sahib unrest.
Sahib, we be men as brave as Bhart--we are of the same caste, but there is a difference between such an one as he took the head of and a Pindari Chief.
Hunsa had ridden with the Pindari Chief and he knew that he was well guarded, and that it would be impossible to bring his head in a basket, so we refused to go on this mission.
Rajputs, Bundoolas, Patans, men of Oudh, Sindies--men who have the lust of battle and loot, all flock to the Pindari Chief.
If the Rana would sign this paper also as an assurance of friendship, to be shown the Pindari Chief, it would help greatly.
The very fact that all he did in preparation for his journey to the Pindari camp had been done with his own hands, held under water, out of sight, had increased the strain upon him.
And now Ajeet is trapped through the decoity and Bootea is going to the Pindari camp.
If the Pindari horde had left the territory of Sindhia and crossed the border into Saugor they were closer to the British.
Suddenly Barlow remembered Bootea had spoken of another reason for going to the Pindari camp.
Also he wanted to get the Bagrees away to the Pindari camp before the Resident made a move.
As had been planned, some of the decoits had come as recruits to the Pindari standard.