What was the significance of the bundle Kashiram was carrying, and what happened after he defended it?

The bundle Kashiram protected so fiercely did not contain treasure, but rather powdered sugar. Chapter 0 explains that this bundle was very dear to him because a saint named Janakidas Baba had advised him to feed sugar to ants, and he was committed to this practice. Despite being outnumbered, Kashiram fought the thieves, and for this brave act, he later received a sword as a gift from the Bombay government. He refused hospital treatment after being injured, instead placing his faith in Sai Baba and traveling to Shirdi, where he recovered under the care arranged by Maharaj.