which had already accomplished so much, now impaired its efficiency, and Munro was powerless to continue his victorious advance, until Pritzler joined him; he then had a force of 4,000 men under him, with which he pushed to Sholápur, to undertake the reduction of that important fort. Sholápur, the Peshwá's principal military depôt, was garrisoned by 1,000 men, and was covered by an army of 6,000 Maráthás, of whom 1,200 were Arabs; notwithstanding the resistance of this army, the enemy were very soon put to flight (10th of May), and the town carried by escalade, the citadel falling five days later. This event completed the conquest of the south of the Peshwá's dominions.
In the north, the invasion of Khándesh began in the middle of May, before Doveton and Smith had returned from their chase after Bájí Ráo. It was more than ordinarily desirable to subdue that province, since it was the home of the Arabs, — a turbulent people who not only supported the Maráthás, but promoted disorder for its own sake; in some respects they were not unlike the Patháns, for having established themselves in the country they usurped all authority, tyrannised over the inhabitants, and opposed the introduction of even the semblance of regular government. Málegáon, the principal stronghold in the district, was the point to which the first military operations were directed, and its reduction proved a more difficult task than was at first anticipated. It was not until the 14th of June, — the enemy's
