A History of the Mahrattas v2.c57.87

v2.c57.87

demanded the absolute submission of Appa Sahib, requiring of him to disband his troops, to place his territory at the disposal of the British Government, and to surrender himself as a hostage for the performance of these conditions; but he was at the same time given to understand that upon compliance, no harder terms should be enforced than a cession of territory equal to meet the expenses of the subsidiary force, and as much control in his internal government as should prevent similar treachery in future. Till four o’clock on the following morning was the time allowed for his acceptance of the terms. At six o’clock it was intimated that the troops would not permit Appa Sahib to come to the Residency as he wished; a respite of three days was requested, but three hours only were granted. When the time expired the troops advanced; Appa Sahib then came in, and the army was halted, in hopes that his force would be disbanded, and his guns given up. Such of the latter as were in the arsenal were surrendered, but on advancing to take possession of the others, a cannonade was opened upon the British troops. The line was in consequence immediately formed, and the guns were stormed and taken, but with the loss of one hundred and forty-one men in killed and wounded. Two of Appa Sahib’s officers, Gunput Rao and Mun Bhut, were the persons who maintained this resistance; and it was supposed, without their master’s orders. Gunput Rao afterwards went off towards the Peishwa’s territory, and joined Bajee Rao, as already mentioned, near Sholapoor; but Mun Bhut, with the Arabs, retired to the fort of Nagpoor, where an attempt was made to storm one of the gates on the 24th December, and repulsed with the loss of two hundred and sixty-nine men in killed and wounded. The Arabs afterwards offered to surrender, on being permitted to march out with their property, families, and arms; terms which were admitted, because time was of importance, and there was no efficient battering train on the spot.