138 



MAHRATTA WAR. 



every opportunity of obtaining these much-desired cessions. 

 I he Bombay government, on receiving the application 

 irom Kagoba for aid to restore him to supreme power, de- 

 termined to employ it as the means of accomplishing their 

 own purposes. It was contrary, indeed, to the directions 

 and policy of the company to interfere in the internal dis- 

 putes of the native powers ; and the support of a usurper 

 and assassin was no very creditable mode of realizing their 

 objects. But these considerations were overlooked 5 - and 

 indeed on this last point their defenders assert that' they 

 were very imperfectly informed, and really believed Raaoba 

 innocent of the murder, and the peishwa illegitimate. 

 Even that prmcc, however, started when he heard the 

 enormous conditions which his new allies attached to their 

 assistance, particularly the cession of Bassein and Salsette 

 But, seeing that Sindia and Holkar, on whom he placed 

 much dependence, had been gained over by his enemies, he 

 felt the necessity of submitting to every demand of 'the 

 English, who, in the mean time, had taken the liberty of 

 possessing themselves of Salsette and its dependencies. 

 In respect to their requisition, indeed, of a large sum of 

 money, he was obliged to profess, what his circumstances 

 rendered exceedingly probable, an absolute inability to fur- 

 nish it ; but deposited jewels to the value of six 'lacks of 

 rupees, and stipulated the cession of an extent of terri- 

 tory from which the sum demanded might afterward bo 

 drawn. 



With a view to the fulfilment of this treaty, Colonel 

 Keating landed at Cambay with a force which was raised 

 to 2500 men. Having begun his march, he was joined by 

 au army, or rather mob, under Ragoba, amounting to about 

 20,000, bearing a very martini appearance, though quite in- 

 capable of acting with effect in combination with regular 

 troops. The Indian chief was inclined to delay offensive 

 operations ; but the English urged the propriety of advancing 

 upon Poonah as the only course by which the war could be 

 brought to a decisive issue. They proceeded, accordingly, 

 as far as Arass, where they were attacked by a large Mah- 

 ratta force, composed chiefly of cavalry. The enemy made 

 several desperate charges, and the battle continued long 

 with various and even doubtful fortune, but at length ended 

 m the complete repulse of the enemy. Colonel Kcating's 



