A History of the Mahrattas v2.c43.11

v2.c43.11

The force of De Boigne was now gradually augmented to 18,000 regular infantry, 6,000 irregulars, Nujeebs and Rohillas, 2,000 irregular horse, and 600 Persian cavalry. This last body was mounted, clothed, armed, and disciplined by De Boigne, to whom all the horses of it belonged. Districts in the Dooab yielding twenty-two lacks of rupees of net revenue were assigned for the support of this force, and the fortress of Agra was given up as a depôt of small arms and cannon; of the latter De Boigne had upwards of two hundred serviceable pieces.³ Sindia affected to consider this force as part of the Emperor's establishment, and denominated them the imperial army; but such a flimsy veil was not calculated to deceive the watchful eye of his rivals, and Holkar in particular saw the growth of this power with rancorous jealousy. He retired across the Chumbul, and entertained in his service the Chevalier Dudrenec,⁴ a Frenchman, who raised and disciplined four battalions, the first troops of that description which the family of Holkar had ever used.