Fall of the Mughal Empire v3.c39.s5.30

v3.c39.s5.30

It was a grand victory but barren of results. Mahadji boasted of this success to his arms, but here his success ended, and indeed the Maratha position grew steadily worse as the campaign was prolonged, Apa's funds were exhausted and his soldiers mutinied for their long unpaid salary, while the Bundelas recovered spirit and unity in the face of a common foe. The Maratha general had much ado to save himself. Even at the time of this conquest, his position is thus described by the British Resident with Sindhia: "Apa had before been involved in such distress that Sindhia had lately sent him the most positive order to conclude a treaty upon any terms he could procure and return with his detachment to Gwalior, as it was utterly impossible for him to afford him any reinforcement." [PRC. i. 21.] But Apa clung to Kalinjar in the hope of getting more tribute and seizing the treasure reputed to be hoarded in that fort. The result was that in six months his position became untenable. As De Boigne wrote from his camp before Kalinjar on 3rd July 1786: "The tributes are not finished with any of the Rajahs. The troops are very much tired of Apa, as no pay is to be got from him,......the troops are starving. Mr. Taylor's troops have been, for eight or ten days, very mutinous for their pay......Good God! What a kind of man [is Apa],......a miser and mean to excess." [PRC. i. 53.]