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mopcRTY or
Mum^
«8»7
ARTES SCIENTIA VlRITAS
TF'
THE HISTORY
OK
HYDUR NAI K,
OTHKRWISB STYLKD
SHUMS UL MOOLK, AMEER IJD DOW LA.
NAWAUB HYDUR ALI KHAN BAHADOOR. HYDUR JUNG ;
NAWAUB OF THE KARNATIC BALAGHAUT:
WKITTEN BY
MEER HUSSEIN ALI KUAN KIllMANI.
V1 _^^
TRANSLATED
FROM AN ORIGINAL PKRSIAN MAMJSCRin\
IN TEiE LIBR\RY OF
HER MOST GRACIOUS M.UESTY,
HY
COLONEL W. MILES,
OF THE HON. EiVST INDIA COMPANY'S SEHVICK.
■ I
I
LONDON :
PRINTED FOR THE ORIENTAL TRANSLATION FUND
OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND.
SOLD BY
W^. II. Allkn & Co. Leadenhall Strkbt ;
}\. DuFUAT, Paris.
M DCrC.XLII.
Ano
■HI
*' '■' " • '■ ^" '!'>»■«. XRI I-U,... ,..,u ,,A...
^^./vojSl
TO THE QUEEN'S
MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY.
Madam,
I venture to offer my humble and most
grateful thanks for the permission granted me to
dedicate to Your Majesty the following Trans-
lation of a Manuscript, placed in the hands of
the Royal Asiatic Society by the favour of Your
Most Gracious Majesty.
Upon this occasion K cannot approach Your
Majesty, the Daughter of my Brother's early
patron, the illustrious Duke of Kent and Stra-
THERN, to whose condcscensiou and kindness, I
and my family are indebted for many lasting
obligations, without the expression of the deepest
feelings of acknowledgment and gratitude.
That long and happy may be Your Majesty*s
Reign is the sincere wish and prayer of Your
Majesty's
Most obedient,
and devoted Subject, and Servant,
WILLIAM MILES,
Colonel^ Indian Army.
CONTENTS.
translator's dedication and prbfacb.
The Prbfacs p. xzv
CHAPTER I.
A concise account of the Ancestors of Hydur Ali Khan
Bahadtir p. 1
CHAP. 11,
The birth of Tippoo Saltan, the Martyr, (may God's mercy
rest upon him) ; with other details. A. Hijri 1163. Nov. 29,
1749 p. 28
CHAP. III.
The encreasing prosperity of Hydur Ali Khan Bahadur, with
other occurrences of the year 1 165, H., A. D. 1751. . . p. 31
CHAP. IV.
The march of an army, under the command of Nundi Raj,
agreeably to the request of Muhammad Ali Khan, Sur&j ud dowla,
towards Nuthur Nuggur, otherwise caUed Trichinopoly, and
the display of that innate courage in the course of the expedi-
tion, which marked the character of the Khan ; in the year
1160, H p. 34
VI
CHAP. V.
An account of the defeat of the Mahrattas under Gopal Rao,
in the vicinity of Bangalore, by the bravery of Hydur Ali Khan,
and the recapture of the Talookas, and Forts, taken by the
Mahrattas; with other occurrences of the year 1168, Hijri —
A. D. 1754 p. 49
CHAP. VI.
The quarrel between Nundi Raj and his son-in-law, and his re-
tirement to the fort of Mysore. Also, his contention with Hydur,
the Sipahsalar, and at length his being taken prisoner. Also, the
acquisition of the Talookas of Ani Kul, and the district of Barh
Mahl, by the Khodadaud Sirkar (Hydur,) with other events of
the year 1169, Hijri.— A. D. 1755 p. 61
CHAP. VII.
An account of the treachery of the Chiefs of the Mysore state,
and the base ingratitude of the proud and fooHsh Brahman, Khun-
di Rao, to his patron ; and his arriving at the punishment due to
his bad actions. Also the invasion, or incursion, of Esajee Beenee
Mahratta. 1170, Hijri. A. D. 1756 p. 71
CHAP. VIII.
An account of the regulation (perhaps capture) of the City of
Seringaputtun, with other events of the year 1171, Hijri. A. D.
1757, September 14th p. 96
CHAP. IX.
The march of Bus^ut Jung, to take possession of the Souba of
Sura, and his conquest of that Souba, by the aid of Hydur Ali
Khan Bahaddr. Also, the transfer of the Sura to the hands
of the prudent Hydur, in the same year, 1171, Hijri. — A. D.
1757 p. 105
Vll
CHAP. X.
The inarch of Hydur and his army to Chuk or little Balapoor,
and the capture of that place. Also the conquest of the Hill
fort of Murg Sura, or the little Sura of Pankoonda, &c. in the
year 1172, Hijri.^A.D. 1758 p. 114
CHAP. XI.
An account of the conquest of Bednore, otherwise called Hydur
Nuggur, and other forts and towns of that country, in the year
1173, Hijri. A. D. 1759 p. 125
CHAP. XII.
An account of the incursion of the Afghans of Shanoor, who
came to the aid of the imprisoned Rani of Bednore, and the
punishment of the Chief of Shanoor, by the sharp sword of the
Nawaub Bahadur, with the conquest of other places, occurring
in the year 1 1 75, Hijri. A. D. 1761. ...... p. 140
CHAP. XIII.
An account of the Invasion of Mysore, by the Paishwa Siwaie
Madhoo Rao, Mahratta, and his taking a number of Forts, and
the Souba of Sura, &c., with other events of the year 1076, Hijri.
A. D. 1762 p. 148
CHAP. XIV.
The Second Invasion of Mysore by Sewaie Madhoo Rao, and
the march of the Nawaub Bahadur to the neighbourhood of
Shanoor, to oppose him ; with other events of the year 1078,
Hijri. A. D. 1766 p. 167
CHAP. XV.
An account of the conquest of Koorg, and the reduction of
Kalikote, (Calicut), &c. ; events which occurred in the year 1181,
Hijri. A. D. 1767 p. 178
VIU
CHAP. XVI.
An account of the incursion of Trimuk Rao Mama, the maternal
uncle of Madhoo Rao, into the Kamatic Balaghaut, and the terrihie
defeat the troops of the Nawaub sustained in the battle of the hill
of ChurkooH, a place about four or five miles to the northward of
Seringaputtun ; and, lastly, Trimuk Rao's bootless return to
Poona; with other fearful events of the year 1182, Hijri, A.D.
1 /Do •.■...... p. 1 Oo
CHAP. XVII.
The usurpation of Rnghoba, the uncle of Narayen Rao, and his
invasion of the Balaghaut country ; and, at length, his hopeless
and fugitive retreat. Also, the conquest by the Nawaub, during
this opportunity, of the countries of Badami, Hulihul, Nowul-
goondah, Dharwar. &c. ; with other events of the year 1183,
Hijri, A. D. 1769 p. 230
CHAP. XVIII.
An account of the encroachments or usurpations of the English
in the country of the Kamatic Payanghaut, by the instrumentality
of Muhammad Ali Khan, Surajuddowla ; and the detail of the war
commenced by the Chief of the Dukhun, Niz4m Ali Khan, in con-
cert with the Nawaub, Bahadur. Also, a description of the battles
fought between the English, and the courageous Nawaub, in the
commencement of the year 1185, Hijri. — A,D. 1771. . p. 244
CHAP. XIX.
An account of the establishment of a lasting peace between
Niz&m All Khan and the English, without the knowledge of the
Nawaub Bahaddr by the intrigues of Rooknuddowla ; — and of the
battles which followed, about two months after, between the
English and the Nawaub, near Nuggur, Trichinopoly, and the
Barh Mahl ; with an account of the victories gained by Hydur's
gallant army in the same year, and the re-establishment of Peace,
1185, Hijri.— A.D. 1771 p. 264
IX
CHAP. XX.
The inarch of the Nawaub and his troops towards Kirpa, Kar-
nole, Bellari, &c., and the collection of an adequate Paishkush
(tribute) from the Chiefs of the above districts ; with other con-
quests, made in the end of the same year 1185, Hijri. — ^A. D.
1771. . p. 288
CHAP. XXI.
An account of the celebration of the Marriage of the S4hibzada,
Prince, Tippoo, also that of the daughters of Shahbaz Sdhib ;
and the Marriage of Hydur's own daughter, the year 1185,
Hijri.— A. D. 1771 p. 304
CHAP. xxn.
The invasion of Tatia Mahratta the Chief of Mirch, Govind
Rao the son of Imrut Rao, and Suboo Rao Ghatkia, &c.. Chiefs
of the Mahrattas, from Poona, with the intention to ravage and
conquer the country depending on the Nawaub Bahadur. Also,
the incursion of Ibrahim Khan, Dhoonsa, with the same purpose,
from Hydurabad; and the making prisoners the chiefs of the
Mahrattas, by the hands of the brave soldiers of the Nawaub's
aimy. The retreat also of Dhoonsa, without attaining his object
and the conquest of BuUari by the Nawaub ; all which occurred in
the year 11 87. Hijri.— A. D. 1773 p. 311
CHAP. XXIII.
The Conquest of Gooti and Soondoor, and the capture of that
tyrant, and incendiary, Morar Rao, which occurred in the same
year 1187, Hijri.— A. D. 1773 p. 324
CHAP. XXIV.
An account of the conquest of Chitul Droog, and the capture
of Bhurma Naik, the rebellious Poligar of that Fort ; and other
events of the year 1 1 88, Hijri.— A. D. 1 774 p. 332
CHAP. XXV.
The march of the victorious standards towards Kirpa, and the
capture of Huleem Khan, the governor of that place. Also, the
conquest of Gunjee Kota, &c., occurring in the year 1191, Hijri.—
A. D. 1777 p. 351
CHAP. XXVI.
An account of the Marriage of Hydur Ali's youngest son,
Kureem S4hib, with the daughter of Hukeem Khan, Meeana, the
Governor of Sanore; and the Betrothal of the Nawaub's own
daughter, the rose of the Garden of Purity and Chastity, to the
Son and Successor of Hukeem Khan, in the capital, Puttun,
1192, Hijri.— A. D. 1778 p. 366
CHAP. xxvn.
The second expedition of the Nawaub Bahaddr, to conquer the
country of the Kamatic Payanghaut, at the instigation of the
N^im of Hydurabad, and the Poona ministers, in the year 1194,
Hijri. — A. D. 1780. — With an account of the victories gained
by the lion hunting Moslems in that expedition. . . p. 372
CHAP, xxvni.
The advance of the English Army, under the command of
General Munro, from the vicinity of Madras, towards Gunjee,
and that of the detachment under Colonel BaiUie from the neigh-
bourhood of Kottoor Mungulgiri, and the defeat and destruction
of the troops under the command of the Colonel. Also, the Con-
quest of Arkat, and the taking prisoner of Shukoh-ul-Moolk,
Nuseer-ud-dowla, Abdul Wahab Khan, the brother of Muhammad
All Khan, Surdj-ud-dowla, in the strong Hill Fort of Chunder
Gin; and an account of the different successes obtained in the
same year 1195, Hijri.— A. D. 1780 . p. 386
XI
CHAP. XXIX.
The arrival of General Coote, a very able officer, at Madras
from Bengal, and a description of the battle of Muhammad Bun-
der, and the death of Meer Alf Ruza Khan. Also, the march of
the victorious army towards Tanjore and Nuthumuggur, and
the victories th^n gained ; being the year 1 1 95, Hijri, 1 780. p. 4 1 3
CHAP. XXX.
An account of the arrival of Troops from Bengal at the Port of
Madras, and a description of the Battle in the vicinity of Sool
Nuggur. Also, the relief of the Fort of Rai Vellcre, by General
Coote, with great difficulty ; the Battle of Amee ; and the attack
and overthrow of a body of English troops, by the Prince Tippoo.
in the neighbourhood of Puna Nelloor, a dependency of the
Souba of Tujavur (Tanjore ;) with other events of the year 1 196,
Hijri.— A. D. 1781-2 p. 439
CHAP. XXXI.
An account of the Nawaub's last expedition, that is to say, his
departure for his eternal abode in Paradise : and some account of
the goodness of his disposition, his habits, his abilities, and the
rules of conduct he prescribed to himself; with other matters.
Also, the death of General Coote, which occurred before the
death of the Nawaub, in the same year, Hijri, 1196. — A. D.
1781-2 p. 469
SUPPLBMSNTART NOTB p. 493
TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE.
The Persian Language^ as any one at all ac-
quainted with it is aware, delights in inflated de-
scription, pompous imagery, sounding epithets, and
in all extravagant figures ; and according to the cha-
racter of the writer, this genius or affection of the
language is frequently carried to the verge of ab-
surdity— that is, absurdity as measured by our
scale.
To suppress or soften these peculiarities when
very wild, and retain them when deserving to be
kept, is I think, indispensable, and in my transla*
tion of this work, I have tried hard to conform to
this rule, although I may not perhaps have always
succeeded in my endeavour.
It must however be observed, that in most cases
these ornaments as they and extravagancies as we
XIV
call them, are applicable to themselves alone — for,
^ith regard to their enemies these descriptions are
as tame as it is possible for them to be, and some
times so obscure, that without long practice no one
can understand them.
In some places, therefore, as I suppose must
occur in most translations, I have been obliged to
change the person, tense, and order of the words
and sentences; to reject for the sake of brevity
and clearness many of the parallel or synonymous
terms; — to omit most of the high sounding epi-
thets accompanying the names of Hydur All, Tip-
poo, their families, &c. ; and* lastly to abridge much
of that poetic licence which is natural to the Per-
sian language.
With respect to the Indian names of persons and
places, it may be proper to remark, that in English
authors they are very incorrectly spelled, and in
some cases altogether changed : — As, for instance,
Fuzzel ooUa, for Fyze uUah ; Ooseote, for Huskote ;
Dunnully, for Dewun Hulii ; Chittapet, for Jeeth
Peeth ; * Malwagle, for Murwakul, &c. &c. To
avoid, if possible, following these examples, I write
the words as they are written in the Persian MS. ;
but, notwithstanding this precaution, I fear that
many names are still mispelt.
• The town or Suburb of Victory.
XV
The history of the Rajas^ or Ooderes, ^ of Mysore
has been so ably written by Colonel Wilks, that
little more of any importance^ can^ I believe, be
said about them. By the minute accuracy of that
gallant officer, and by the details in this work, I
am also relieved from the task of pointing out the
original boundaries of Mysore and the acquisitions
of Hydur Ali. But, as the work of Colonel Wilks
may not be in the hands of those who read this, I
beg leave to offer, as an outline, that they con-
sisted generally of the Balaghaut"^ and part of the
Payeen Ghaut Provinces. The country depending
on Mysore may be said to have extended E. and
W. from Bednore to Cotapilly, near Rama Sumoo-
drum, which by the map, is something less than
three hundred miles; and N. and S. from Rai
Droog, to Urdenall, about two hundred miles.
This, of course, does not include many of Hydur's
conquests, and is intended as an approximation
only.
In translating this work I have not, in general,
« See the Author's Preface. The Balaghaut extends according
to the map, N. and S. from the district of Gontoor to Nundi
Droog, or there ahouts. The Payeen Ghaut, which signifies the
foot of, or below, the Mountains, is apparently the South Extern
coast, N. and S. from Nellore to Namkool, or thereabouts, but
I have no means of ascertaining the precise extent of these Pro-
vincesi
XVI
made any reference to those of Orme/ Wilks, and
others, on the history of Mysore and the wars of
the Kamatic; firstly^ because this book is suffi-
ciently large without such an addition; and, secondly,
because, although we have seen abundance of what
has been said respecting Hydur All and his son
Tippoo, by English and French writers ; still we
have never seen what those two individuals, or any
of their nation, have said of themselves ; if we
except a portion, and that I believe a small one, of
Tippoo's letters, translated by the late Colonel
Kirkpatrick.
For these reasons, I have thought it best to
allow Hydur's historian to tell his tale without
comment. This account, compared with those
above mentioned, will, it may be presumed, fur-
nish a tolerably fair guide for the general historian.
There is, however, only a partial resemblance
between the English histories of the wars in the
Kamatic and this ; only a small part of this relating
to the English wars, while, on the contrary, the
English histories contain very little else.
It may, perhaps, be expected, that I should at-
tempt a short outline of the history of Hydur and
his family.
According to the statement of a writer, from
* Except with regard to Trichinopoly, it is generally consistent
with Orme's account to 1760.
XVll
whose work I have translated a character of Hydur,
that chief, himself was accustomed to claim a de-
scent from the kings of Bejapoor. There appears
however to be no other ground for his claim^ than
his own assertion ; and the Author of this work, if
he had had the slightest pretext for assigning so
noble an origin to his hero, would not, I think,
have failed to give him the full advantage of it. •
But the fact is, that his origin was very obscure,
and the term Naik is rather ambiguous. — It origi-
nally, no doubt, signified a Chief or Leader, and
was the title of the Hindu Rajas of Madhura ' and
Tinavelli, who were conquered by the Nawaub of
Arkaut, in the beginning of the last century. But,
it is, also, the designation given to the lowest rank
of non-commissioned officers in the Company's
army, and the surname assumed by nearly the
lowest class of Hindus in the Dukkun.
It is rare, therefore, that a Mussulman should
have such an addition to his name, except in the
Indian army. »
* Mysore was tributary to Bejapoor ; and thence, most likely,
Hydor's claim.
' The Hon. M. EUphinstone calls them Na3nics, the Polig^art
of BeUari, Rai Droog, &c., are also called N&iks. The word ii,
I believe, derived from the Sanscrit.
* The meaning of the word has been changed from its original
sense, apparently from a motive similar to that which induces the
b
XVlll
The title, however, — ^for title it is, — was given
to Futteh Muhammad^ the father of Hydur, by the
Raja of Mysore; and the author says, that it is
given only to those who are distinguished as states-
men or soldiers.
Another account of Hydur states, his family to
have been originally called Naik by the Afghans*" of
Kirpa and Kurnole.
According to this history, the first of Hydur's
ascertained ancestors, Wulli Muhammad, came from
the neighbourhood of Dehli to Kalberga, during
the reign of Muhmud Adil Shah, * sultan of Beja-
poor; and it states that he was of the tribe of
Koreish, ^ the tribe of the Prophet Muhammad.
It appears, that this Wulli Muhammad was one
of those persons called by the Arabs Mushaikh,
that is, a grave devout mussulman ; and that he
took up his residence there in the Durgah, or mau-
soleum, of a celebrated saint, named Bundeh No-
Arabs to call a blind man, Buseer, — i. e. seeing, and a slave
Moula, or Master. j^j^J^ ^ Jyx, ^ j^
^ It may be proper to apprise the English Reader that the
Afghan race is widely dispersed in Hiudostan.
* In the list of the Adil Shahi kings, which I have seen, I
can find no Muhammad ; but if he be, as stated, the son of Ibra-
him Adil Shah, he must, I conclude, be the son of the last of that
name. There appears, however, to be some mistake here.
J Hindu converts to Muhammadanism often call themselves
Koreish.
XIX
waz/ and remained there until the reign of Ali
Adil Shah the second, of Bejapoor^ when he died.^
Hydur was the great grandson of this Wulli
Muhammad. He was bom in the year 1721, at
the town of Kolar, a dependency of the Karnatic
Balaghaut province. It is needless for me to enter
into the events of his life, as they are detailed in
the following pages ; but it may be as well to re-
mark, that his introduction to power arose from
his engagement, through the medium of his cousin
Hydur Sahib, to serve the Raja of Mysore; and
that, while he remained in his service at Seringa-
puttun, by artfully availing himself of the imbeci-
lity of the Raja, and the dissensions of his ministers,
he gradually dispossessed the one, and imprisoned
and put to death the others ; and in a very short
time became the Nawaub of the Karnatic Bala-
ghaut Chukmuk" Jung. The title assumed, (for
I doubt its validity conferred by Busalut Jung,)
and the territory obtained, by the most unqualified
ingratitude and treachery.
His career, which preserved a perfect consistency
to the end, was, however, at length, arrested by
Sir Eyre Coote ; and although Hydur is said to
* Apparently about the year 1670.
™ The cock, or flint and pan of a musket in Turkish.
XX
have died of a cancer in his back, it is probable
that the checks and defeats, which he sustained from
that brave and accomplished officer hastened his
death, which occurred in 1781."
In reference to Hydur s character, it may be said
that his best qualities were his judgment and de-
cision. He was from policy, and perhaps from
superstition, more indulgent to the Hindoos than
his son Tippoo ; but, he was never exceeded by any
one in perfidy and cruelty. His bad faith, (the
author of this work calls it ^ governing or conquering
policy,') ° seems to have pervaded every action of
his life. In proof of this see his conduct to the
unfortunate Rajas of Mysore, to Nundi Raj,^ (who
whatever he might be otherwise was certainly the
best fiiend Hydur ever had), to the Mahrattas, to
his English prisoners, to his benefactor Busalut
Jung ; to Morar Rao, (or, as he is called by Orme,
Morari Row,) and, indeed, to every one who had
the misfortune to come in contact with him.
There may, nevertheless, be some apology or
° It is worthy of remark, that the death of Sir Eyre Coote,
also, is said to have been hastened by the opposition and annoy-
ance which he received from the persons who, unfortunately, at
that period presided over the Bff&m of the East India Company at
Madras.
P Nundi Raj is called Regent of Mysore by Onme.
XXI
palliation for this in the peculiar circumstances of
his rise, and situation, in the character of the people
with whom he had to deal, — and in the tenets of
his religion, which, I believe, as understood by
most classes of Muhammadans, ** scout all notion of
keeping faith with Christians and idolaters, unless
when convenient ; but, perhaps, more than all, in
the laxity of principle common to public men in
most countries, and particularly in India, where, as
in his case, it was under less controul than in
Europe.
I do not, however, think that the charge of
avarice, made against him, is well grounded. Such
an army, as he commanded, never could have
been assembled without a very lavish expenditure ;
as those who know any thing of the constitution
of native armies in India will, I believe, allow.
The secret of Hydur's success against his country-
men, appears to have consisted chiefly in his clear
perception and ready adoption of the advantages of
European discipline, and in the employment of
Europeans, and those who were trained in their
mode of warfare. Abundant proof of this will be
found throughout his life. The officers in whom
^^ •
<i There are I believe passages in the Koran enjoining Muham-
madans to keep faith with Christians, but I believe also they
consider those passages abrogated by the chapter of the Syfe or
sword.
xxu
he most depended, and who most effectually served
him, although, they are but slightly noticed in this
work, were all French or Portuguese ; as, for in-
stance, Messieurs Manuel, Lally, Jani, Raymond,
&c.
In stating that the author manifests a strong bias
towards his master, some times apparently at the
expense of truth, it is but fair to remark, that,
unlike other Muhammadan authors, he has seldom
spoken disparagingly of the British troops, whom, on
the contrary, he admits to have been Hydur's most
gallant opponents, and whom Hydur himself, ac-
cording to him, with the frankness of a brave
soldier, describes as '* lions ranging over the face of
the whole earth/'
Such expressions as the *' stormy, warlike Eng-
lish,*' *' the lions ranging over the face of the earth,"
and others of the same tenor, plainly indicate the
opinion entertained by Hydur of the prowess of the
British army in India/
After premising thus much, I am bound to make
my public acknowledgements for the flattering as-
sistance and encouragement which I have received
from the following distinguished Oriental scholars.
I am under the greatest obligations to the late
much lamented Earl of Munster ; not only for the
will
confidence placed in me^ implied in his lordship's
offering me the translation of the Neshauni Hyduri,
but^ from the advantages I have derived from his
extensive knowledge of Oriental military customs
and literature.
b\jUyC aCcJl (3*?" J *IP ^^ '
To the Right Hon. Sir Gore Ouseley, I beg leave
to offer my most thankful acknowledgements^ for
the kind assistance I have ever obtained from him,
and which I trust he will permit me to say, no
Oriental scholar of the present day is able to give
with more critical judgment and precision.
To Professor Forbes, and Mr. Bland, I am under
great obligations for their kindness in lending me
copies of this work ; since, by the collation of
these copies, I have been enabled to ascertain the
meaning of many passages, which must otherwise
have been left unexplained.
To Mr. Shakespeare, Professor of Hindostani,
I am also much obliged, for his kindness in pointing
out to me a work, on the life and character of Hydur,
in the Hon. East India Company's library. Of this
I have availed myself by a partial translation.
To the Rev. J. Reynolds, Secretary to the Orien-
* " May the earth be sweet to him, aod may his abode be in
Paradise,"
XXIV
tal Translation Committee of the Royal Asiatic
Society, I also beg leave to offer my best thanks,
for his uniformly kind suggestions and ad\dce.
In presenting this translation of the life of Hydur
All to the public, I beg leave to observe, that no
one can be more sensible of its defects than I am.
In justice to myself, however, I think I may state
with some confidence that it is translated as closely
as the difference which exists between the two lan-
guages will admit, unless the risk be incurred of
rendering it uncouth to an English reader by
making it a verbal translation.
In conclusion I beg leave to subjoin that a literary
friend, Mr. Davenport, having obligingly versified
part of the English translation of the Persian poetry
in this book, I have taken the liberty to place his
verses at the bottom of the page, and write this
as an acknowledgement of his kindness and ability.
/hf^^ t:/4^^ ^^ ^^
The title page of the volume containing the various
accounts of the Universe ; and the Book of Books '
describing the condition ** of all the different Tribes
or Nations * of the world ; are, the praise of the
King of all Kingdoms; the Standard of whose
might and Majesty is planted on the field of his
works, and under the shadow of whose aid and
protection all the contending armies on the face of
the earth are enrolled.
The Shuhneh,* Magistrate or Provost Martial,
who executes his universal orders, regulates with
the scourge of wisdom and justice, in eternal mode-
ration and proportion, the opposite natures or
qualities of the various kinds of sentient beings ;*
The Herald *of his decrees, by the proclamation
d > *
^AflT* A kind of Provost Martial in Camps, &c. — meaning
the Angels, perhaps, see the Furhungi Jehangiri.
XXVI
to the four quarters of the world, that, to *' him
belongs Sovereignty, the one God ! the all power-
ful God ! " ' — draws forth or compels from the tongue
of every one high and low the acknowledgement of
belief in his unity ; and the generous call or invita-
tion to his plenteous table, adorns with the orna-
ment of faith the ear of every living creature. —
Verses from the Gulistan — *' So wide has he spread
his bounteous feast — That the Simorgh * eats his
share in the Mountain of Kaf." ^
And the Preface to the Book of the Creation,
and the title of the volume of Wisdom and Know-
ledge, are the praises of that Commander (Muham-
mad), whose authority, [the words] — *' we do not
send thee except from compassion or mercy to
mankind,*" ' became to the sinners of the earth, the
glad tidings of salvation ; and the sword of whose
claim, and mission, like the life destroying lighten-
ing came and burned up the harvest of the pride
8 Phenix.
(— 'v$ Emerald mountains which, the Mukammadans say,
surround the earth.
God spreads his bounteous feast so wide, that, where
Kaf rears his lofty peaks the Simorgh eats his share.
s
* Koran. ^.-»^UU Ia^j ^t (.JlJu^^ Uj
xxvu
and insolence of idolators and infidels. May the
blessings of God ever remain on him, his family,
friends and dependents.
But, from the conquerors in the realms of litera-
ture,^ and from the presidents or leaders of the
Councils of the learned, it will not be hidden, that
when the Almighty in any time or period desires
that the individuals of his Creation, (that is, his
Servants), shall repose on the couch ^ of ease and
safety ; he qualifies and makes acceptable to him-
self, a fortunate individual, a man of strong mind,
and places the symbol of obedience ^ to him on the
shoulders of the age, and the nations of the earth
far and near are maintained in the supply of their
wants and the accomplishment of their desires by
the impression and influence of his name and power.
This proposition is established, in the cases of
Shums ul Moolk, Ameer ud Dowla, Nawaub
Hydur All Khan Bahadur, Hydur Jung, — and
Oomdut ool Moolk, Mubaruk ud Dowla, Tippoo
Sooltaun, AK Khan Bahadur, Huzubbur Jung;°
in
^f^li A saddle cloth.
joW J^ J* ^J^ t^\y ^jlll j^\ u^U\
XXVIU
both fortunate and illustrious men, who from the
commencement of 1167, Hijri, (A.D, 1753), to the
end of 1213, Hijri (1798-9,) reigned over their
kingdom (Mysore) and fostered and cherished man-
kind by their prudence, justice, and liberality; —
and during this period as will be detailed hereafter,
held the whole of the Balaghaut ° Province and
part of the Payenghaut under their authority and
controul, — and, for some time the revolving Heavens
like confidential servants girded their loins ready
to perform the service required of them by these
great men ; and for a certain number of days, the
five Nobuts, (times or modes of beating the kettle-
drums) of rejoicing or congratulation ** for the in-
crease of the Khodadad, or God given kingdom,
were beaten before the gate of their prosperity ; and
these great men, by the aid of their good fortune,
with the sword of chastisement, cast down the heads
of the chief infidels of this Souba, and the fear of
the sabre, wielded by the strength of these lion like
men, compelled the seditious and intriguing chiefs
of the Balaghaut to throw down their shields, and
show their teeth. ^
^ A rough estimate of the Karaatic Balaghaut and Payenghaut
provinces, will be found in the Translator's Preface.
P Admitting themselves overcome.
XXIX
In fine, towards the conclusion of the reign of
these prosperous Chiefs, they became the asylum
of the weak, the safeguard of the rich and poor, and
the refuge of the Tribes of the Earth.
They favoured and honoured the professors of
the Trades and Arts ; and the fame of the bravery
of these protectors of the poor, and their encourage-
ment of the brave, resounded through Hindostan,
and the Dukkun ; the praise of the justice and
liberality of these generous and truly wise men
was likewise spread through all the nations of the
earth.
Still, however, a detailed *» history of the kingdom
God given, (Mysore), and the reigns of these great
and able men, in one continued series; and, a
descriptive commentary,' on the lives of these
Princes, illumined by the light of truth, has hitherto
been unattempted by any one.
For this reason, this student in the school of
ignorance, whose name is Meer Hussain All, Kir-
mani, the son of Syud Abdul Kadir Kirmani,
(who served both these Princes, and remained
in the service of Tippoo Sultaun in a highly ho-
nourable rank, about five years, that is from the year
1196, to 1201, Hijri, but of which no further men-
tion is now necessary), having spent two or three
XXX
years in a search for information, respecting the
forefathers of this illustrious family, which was
with great difficulty obtained, he reduced it to
writing, and formed it into a book ; and, the detail
of the months and years being added, he has named
his work, the Neshauni Hyduri,' and has left it as a
memorial inscribed on the page of time. And he
has laboured with such care and caution, that he is
certain nothing, but fact and truth, has found an
entrance into his work; and some circumstances,
to which the author himself was an eye-witness, are
stated without hesitation or the shadow of a doubt ;
simply as they occurred — in order, also, to bind
together the leaves of this newly written book, he
has turned over the pages of months and years, and
the leaves of night and day ; and he has, moreover,
adorned the garden of its columns and chapters
with chosen words teeming with meaning, and
watered and refreshed it with the streams of per-
spicuity and truth,*
Although this book, agreeably to the saying of
i^jS^^ ^w These words may be translated the flag or
standard of Hydur ; a memorial or remembrance of Hydur ; or
the fortmies of Hydur. The second is apparently the meaning
intended by the author.
* Some verses are omitted here in which the Author, after
speaking highly of his work, says that, although he did not write
for hire, he trusts, that the sons of Tippoo, being intelligent and
learned men, will not fail to reward him for his labour.
XXXI
the learned, that '* every beginning has an ending," is
finished ; yet, according to the opinion of the
author, it is still incomplete : but when men of ex-
alted understanding, candid*" linguists, learned his-
torians, wise and liberal encouragers of learning
shall look over his pages with the eyes of scrutiny
and see the painful task he has made agreeable to
himself; and that he has not foolishly thrown away
his precious time, but has clothed the bride of
fugitive recollections with the marriage garment of
junction "" and union, and seated her on the nuptial ^
throne of the coloured pages of his book ; and lastly
shall review his work with the eyes of truth and
approbation, it will then (and then only), by their
approval and sanction be completed. What he
hopes from the truly learned, the generous con-
cealers of errors, is, that, if they at any time should
peruse this book, they will not dwell on the want of
arrangement, or of elegance, in the language and
sentences, but, by the favour of correction, lay an
obligation on him, which he is ever ready to acknow-
ledge.""
* Verses omitted being merely a versification of the above.
CHAPTER I.
A concise account of the Ancestors of Hvdur Ali Khan Bahadur •
In the reign of Mahmiid Adil Shah, King of
Bijapoor, who was the son* of Ibrahim Adil Shah,
sumamed Juggut Gooru/ and celebrated for his
profound knowledge of music, — a certain Shaikh,
Wuli Muhammad, of the tribe of Kureish, a man
devoted to religion,*' compelled by accidental cir-
cumstances arrived from the neighbourhood of
Delhi at the noble* city of Kalberga. He took
up his abode there ; and, as he was a man of mild
temper and strictly pious, the servants* of the Dur-
gah, or Tomb of Huzrut Bundah Nawaz,' received
him with great respect, and made him a small
monthly allowance to provide for his subsistence.
Having with him a grown up son, whose name
was Shaikh Muhammad All, who was a learned
* (jf«^ J— fll^ b The saint or Spiritual g^ide of the world.
^f^ * •— ^^ 0)jy^ the sweepers of a musjid.
B
young man, and also endowed with considerable
talent, the Shaikh determined to seek a wife for
him here. After much search and difficulty, a suit-
able bride was demanded for him, from the house
of one of the servants of the Durgah, and they
were shortly after married.
At this place they remained, in ease and com-
fort, till the reign of All Adilshah the II., when
the Shaikh having obeyed the summons of his
maker AM Sahib left Kalberga with his wife, and
proceeded to Bijapoor. There he took up his
residence in Mushaikhpoora, in the house of his
wife's brethren, who were seven in number, be-
tween whom and their sister there existed a sin-
cere and hearty affection; they were all of them
engaged in the service of the Ameer of the Dukkun,
Shaikh Minhaj, at a liberal rate of pay, and all
lived together. The whole of the seven brothers
received their sister and her husband with the
greatest warmth and affection.
It happened, a short time after, that the army of
Hindustan advanced,* with a view to the conquest
of Bejapoor ; and the Ameers of the Dukkun, that
is, the Shaikh above-mentioned, and Afzul Khan,
Rustum Khan, and Surmust Khan, with a large
force, were therefore dispatched to oppose the army
.^ULJ
of Hindustan ; and, in the vicinity of Kalberga
they met and fought a fierce battle. The Ameer
of the Hurawul/ or advanced guard, (of the Duk-
kunees), who was Shaikh Minhaj, charged his
enemies with the greatest bravery, and defeated
them ; but, after fighting gallantly, not less than
seven hundred brave fellows of his party or troop
were slain by the arrow or musket ; and it was so
ordained that, one after another, the seven brothers
having arrayed their bodies in the glorious jewels
of sword-wounds, and opened to their enemies the
doors of grief and dismay in this hired mansion,
the world, at once sped on their way to view and
enjoy the eight gardens of Paradise.
When this painful intelligence reached their be-
loved sister, she was so overwhelmed with grief at
the loss of her dear brothers, that, giving up for
them the peace of her heart, and the strength of
her mind, she took to her bed and, refusing all
sustenance, determined to die ; thus, inconsolable
and incessantly weeping and lamenting the loss of
her brethren, and, in her sorrow, letting fall the
reins of hope and trust from her hands, her affec-
tions were alienated from friend and stranger, and
she inscribed the elegy of her brethren on her
broken heart.
When AU Sahib saw his wife in this miserable
condition, it appeared to him that his remaining
where he was, must continually open afresh the
wounds grief had inflicted on his mourning partner.
He, therefore, with his wife, property and relations,
left Bijapoor, and turned his steps towards the
Kamatic Balaghaut, and there took up his abode
in the town of Kolar.
The Chief of this place was Shah Muhammad
Dukkuni, who was Governor on the part of Kasim
Khan, the Souba of Sura. Having had some pre-
vious acquaintance with Shaikh Ali, he received
him with great respect, assigned him a house for
his residence and treated him with every attention,
insomuch that, in order that he might remain there
in peace and comfort, and trusting to his honour, he
allowed him the charge of all his dependents and
workmen. But, besides this occupation. Shaikh All
afterwards cultivated the soil, and rented fields and
gardens.
Shaikh Ali had four sons; 1st. Shaikh Muham-
mad Ilias ; 2nd. Shaikh Muhammad ; 3rd. Shaikh
Muhammad Imam, and 4th, Futteh Muhammad.
When these four sons had grown up to manhood,
they determined to seek a respectable service, and
gain a worthy rank and name in the world, and
they, therefore, sought permission of their father to
depart. Shaikh Ah, however, by advice and instruc-
tion endeavoured to divert them from their pur-
pose, saying to them, *' Our forefathers were pious
and holy men, and, though they were competent to
distinguish themselves in the world, they neverthe-
less strove to separate themselves from its ties and
connexions ; — ^for this reason, that the desire of the
world involves the relinquishment of spiritual com-
fort and a distaste for eternal happiness ; — and,
therefore, it is incumbent in you to follow in their
steps, and put no faith in the allurements of this
uncertain state of existence — ^for, what fate has from
eternity assigned for your subsistence arrives with-
out labour or search — (verses) — ' If thou couldst
sew heaven and earth together — thou couldst not
obtain from them more than thy daily subsis-
tence'*— ^moreover, perfect minded independent men
are never grieved at the narrowness of their worldly
circumstances, and, although they may have earthly
ties, they pride themselves on disengaging^ them-
selves from them, and resigning such connexions."
In short, while Shaikh AH lived he would not
allow his children to leave him, but still supported
them. At length, in the year 1109, he bid adieu
to this life, in the town of Kolar and proceeded
to Paradise. Shaikh Ilias his eldest son was se-
6
lected to succeed him^ he, also, used his best efforts
to console his brethren, and to provide for them,
and the wants of his family, relations and connex-
ions.
About this time. Shah Muhammad, the Chief
of Kolar, resigned his being into the hands of the
creator of life, and another Chief was appointed,
and took his charge. Apparently from this cause,
Futteh Muhammad, divesting himself of all regard
for his relations, departed, without the permission
of his elder brother, to the Kamatic Payanghaut,
and resided for a short time in the Talooka of
Tumamul, a very pleasant part of that country ;
but he afterwards changed his abode to the Souba
of Arkat, where, through the interest of Ibrahim
Khan Killadar, he was introduced to the Nawaub
Saudut Ullah Khan, the Sahib Souba, and appointed
to the command of two hundred foot and fifty
horse, in the service of the said Nawaub, and was
styled a Jemadar.
Muhammad Ilias, being offended at the conduct
of his brother, and thinking it derogated from his
own respectability and character, also left Kolar
alone, under pretence that he was going to visit Syud
Burhan-ud-din, a Peerzadeh at Tanjore, leaving his
wife, with his son, named Hydur Sahib, who was
about fourteen years old, at home with his brethren.
Muhammad Ilias dying at Tanjore, in the year
1115 H.^ Futteh Muhammad who resided at Arkatj
after sometime sent for Biirhan-ud-din, the Peer
Zadeh before mentioned, from Tanjore, and mar-
ried his daughter, who was the sister of Ibrahim
Sahib. The bride's niece, who was grown up to
womanhood, he gave to his brother Imam Sahibj
and their families resided together.
Sometime after this, Hydur Sahib the son of
Muhammad Ilias, at the invitation of the ministers
of the Polygar of Mysore,^ proceeded to that coun-
try, and was entertained by them in their service,
with a body of a hundred"" horse and two hundred
foot ; and he also received from them the honour-
able title of Naik, a term which, in the Hindu dialect,
signifies an officer or commander of foot soldiers.
Futteh Muliammad, however, still remained at
Arkat, much respected ; and, towards the end of
the Nawaub's government, he was allowed by the
Soubadar to entertain six hundred foot, five hun-
dred horse, and fifty juzail-burdar (rocket-men)"
attached to his command ; and he acquired fresh
reputation in every service in which he was em-
ployed, particularly in the fight at Jinjee, a town
^ A term not generally used for the Chiefs of Mysore.
"> The numbers are taken from Mr. Marriott's copy of this work.
" J^^ji cl/^ among other significations means a thick stick,
rockets or rifles.
8
depending on the Kamatic Payan Ghaut^ where a
fierce battle was fought, between the Nawaub and
Raja Teep, or Teeb, Singh. In this battle the
Raja with only fourteen horse crossed the river of
Sukrateerut, (on this side of Futteh Peeth), the
river being swollen with the rains, and attacked the
army of the Nawaub, consisting of four or five thou-
sand horse and thirteen thousand foot ; and stretch-
ing forth the arm of manhood, threw the whole into
confusion, and stamped his name indelibly on the
page of time by his exceeding bravery, and cutting
down his enemies as he advanced, the Raja arrived
with only two horsemen at the Nawaub's elephant,
when, at this critical moment, Futteh Muhammad,
with his infantry, and juzail burdaran, formed a
circle round the elephant, and at one discharge
stretched the Raja lifeless on the field. In reward
for his promptitude on this occasion, he was imme-
diately honored with the present of an elephant,
a standard, and a pair of nagaras or kettle drums.
As after the death of the Nawaub, his nephew.
Dost All Khan, became Soubadar of Arkat, and
quarrels had arisen among his relations, and as
the inexperience of Sufdur Ah' Khan (his son) had
thrown the state into disorder, Futteh Muhammad,
fearing he might sustain loss of character and re-
spectabihty, quitted of his own accord the service
of the Nawaub, and retired with his wife and family
to the Balaghaut. Leaving his women at Kolar^ he
proceeded to Mysore, where he remained some time
with his nephew, who had established himself well
there by his amiable disposition "^ and good qualities.
About this time, also, the Polygar of Mysore sent
for him, gave him the title of Naik, and enter-
tained him in his service, on the siame terms with
Hydur Sahib Naik. It may be proper to remark
here, that the title of Naik is a very respectable
one among the Hindoos ; and any one who is dis-
tinguished by personal bravery and prudence in
the management of state affairs, has this title con-
ferred on him by the chief among them.
After awhile, however, the affairs of the Raja's
territory of Mysore, from the quarrels of the chiefs
of that country, fell into great confusion, and Sa-
hib ShujeeaP or Futteh Muhammad therefore left
the Raja's service, and lived privately for sometime.
About this period, that is 1131 H., he had a son
named Shahbaz Sahib, and, two years after, an-
other, who was named Wuli Muhammad ; but the
latter died when he was only two years old.
But, as men of courage and conduct cannot pass
P From tliis place Futteh Muhammad is called Sahib Shujeea»
which signifies the brave officer.
10
their lives without occupation^ or seeking to distin-
guish themselves ; and^ as they cannot remain Uke
foxes, lurking in the holes and corners of obscurity,
but, on the contrary, like the lion-hearted men
who, under the guise of acquiring personal renown,
are really aiming to provide for the subsistence of
many of God's creatures who cannot provide for
themselves ; even so Futteh Muhammad left My-
sore, to seek service, and proceeded to the chief of
the Souba Sura, that is, to Nawaub Durgah Kuli
Khan,** where he obtained a very high station as
commander of four hundred foot and a hundred
horse ; he was likewise appointed to the command
of the fort of Great Balapoor. He, therefore,
sent for his family from Kolar to that place, and
remained there for sometime.
In the year 1134 H., A. D. 1721, while he dwelt
there, a son of auspicious presage and exalted good
fortune was bom to him ; who from the glory of
his person shed splendour on the lap of the nurse of
time. The Sun being in the sign Aries' when he
was bom, he was named Hydur All Khan.
An historian* who has sought for historical
documents, states that, after the birth of this
child^ certain astrologers cast his nativity, and dis-
closed that, although this boy would certainly ar-
"^ J^ s^ *^«^ ' «>^ * sob
11
rive at the dignity of the crown and throne, and
rise to be the sovereign of the two Kamatics ; yet,
that he would, in a short time, suffer the pain and
grief of becoming an orphan ; that is, his father
would be taken from him. On hearing this pre-
diction, his relations, with one accord, determined
that the child should be fed with the milk of death,
and laid to sleep in the cradle of eternity.
His father, however, on being informed of this
intention, said, " If the evil omen attendant on his
birth rests on me, well and good, be it so ; but I
will not allow him to be put to death ; for good and
bad proceed alike from God's decrees.** In conse-
quence of this, the mother and relations of this
light of the eyes of prosperity and good fortune
spared no pains in his nurture and preservation.
After the dismission of Durgah Kuli Khan, and
during the government of A'bid Khan, governor of
Sura, the Poligars of Mysore, Bidnore, and others,
formed a confederacy, and assembled a force to
take the fort of Balapoor, and dispatched a mes-
sage, through the medium of Hydur Naik Sahib,
demanding its surrender. Futteh Muhammad,
however, was not deceived by their interested pro-
fessions ; but followed the paths of fidelity, and the
usages of the brave. He, therefore, at once rejected
their demand, and prepared to defend his charge ;
12
and having, with his own dependants alone, gal-
lantly made a sortie, he defeated them in a night
attack, and thereby gained a high reputation among
his companions and contemporaries.
The Poligars, defeated, dispersed, and hopeless
of success, sought their places of residence, and
Futteh Muhammad forwarded to the Soubadar
A'bid Khan, the plunder which he had taken from
them. A'bid Khan complimented the prudent Futteh
Muhammad highly on his valour, and sent for him
to the capital of the Souba, where he was honored
with a munsub of two thousand foot and five hun-
dred horse, with the present of an elephant, a stan-
dard, and a pair of kettle drums; and he was,
moreover, appointed to superintend the defence and
regulation of the Souba. After this in all public
affairs in which he was employed, the prudent
Futteh Muhammad always accomplished his task
in the best possible manner.
When Durgah Kuli Khan was a second time ap-
pointed to the Soubadari of Sura, he, also, relying on
Futteh Mahummud's abilities and courage, continued
to employ him in the management and regulation *
of all matters relating to the government of the
Souba. After Kuli Khan was slain, the able
Futteh Muhammad attached himself to Abdur-
«. • ••••
13
rasiil Khan^ his son, and they together made such
arrangements in the Souba, and with the Tributary
Poligars, that, notwithstanding the absence of the
chief authority, which is generally the cause of
sedition and treachery in worldly matters, no rebel-
lion, or disturbance in the Government ever oc-
curred, and until the arrival of the governor of the
Souba, Tahir Muhammad Khan, (who, for nine
months after his appointment, was delayed to col-
lect the necessary number of Sebundi or local
troops) Abdurrasiil, with the aid and advice of
Futteh Muhammad, kept the whole in perfect
order. When the Nawaub, Tahir Muhammad,
arrived in the Souba with his troops, Abdurrasiil
Khan, not having well settled his affairs, retired
to his father's Jageer, the same Purgunna of Bala-
poor the Greater ; and from thence proceeded with-
out delay to Hyderabad, leaving in the Souba Mu-
hammad Khan Punni,*" as Governor of the chief
fort or town"" of the Souba, with the troops belong-
ing to Futteh Muhammad, — and with orders to
oppose the new Souba by force of arms.
The governor or Killadar and Futteh Muham-
mad, with other Naiks, therefore, under pretence that
their pay was due for the nine months during which
^ The name of a well known tribe of Afghans.
14
they had done duty, and he had been absent, ar-
gued and insisted that, until they were paid, they
would not allow him to enter the walls of the capital
of the Souba, and they secretly prepared to defend
themselves.
When the Nawaub became acquainted with these
circumstances, he despatched a message to them^
that he would pay the monthly allowances of the
Huzariaun,^ the garrisons of the forts, the sebundi,
(a kind of militia), and the troops of the Souba,
from the time of his entrance into, and taking pos-
session of^ the same ; but that they must claim all
their arrears from the last Soubadar. The garri-
son, however, would not listen to this proposition,
and they consequently strengthened the gates of the
city and fort, and prepared to defend themselves.
The Nawaub, meanwhile, encamped with his
troops on the western side of the capital of the
Souba, near an Eed Gah,' and one day made a
determined attack on the fortifications, to gain an
entrance into the fort.
The defenders of this part of the town, being
however the soldiery of Futteh Muhammad, they
T The term Huzariaun, which may mean the Lord of a thoa-
aand villages, is applied, according to the Hon. Mr. Elphinetone,
to the Ser Desmukhs of the Dekkan.
■ A musjid, or place of prayer, where the festivals of the Mus-
sulmans are celebrated.
15
successfully opposed his attack and gained great
reputation.
After this repulse, the Nawaub marched and en-
camped on the road of Hallun Hulli, and surround-
ed both the town and fort. A continual discharge
of arrows and musketry was kept up from the fort,
and in every attack the garrison had the advantage ;
and, therefore, the Nawaub again moved ground to
the neighbourhood of Kummin Hulli, which is dis-
tant, south west' from the fort, about three miles.
The Killadar now, inspired by folly and rash-
ness, taking the troops of Futteh Muhammad with
his own, left the town, to make a night attack on
the Nawaub ; and, falling in first with the picquets
of the Nawaub's force, asssaulted them, and a
fierce combat ensued between the parties. Being
deficient in experience and unacquainted with
war, the Killadar did not, however, pay any atten-
tion to the troops of the enemy, who were in
ambush, or concealed on his flanks, but pressed on
straight to the tent of the Nawaub, having Futteh
Muhammad, and a body of horse and foot, sur-
rounding his elephant The troops of the Nawaub,
however, soon raised the cry of Gao ! Gao ! ^ and
closed on the Killadar and Muhammad Khan on
' HV \^S^ Jr^ J^ alluding to the ancient battle
cry of the Persians apparently.
16
every side, and, after a hard fought conflict, the
Killadar lost his head, and the brave Futteh Mu-
hammad was also slain.
This event took place in the year 1137, Hijri,
at which time the wives and children of Futteh
Muhammad were residing in the Pergunna of
Balapoor; and when the intelligence reached Ab-
bas Kuli Khan, the son of Durgah Kuli Khan,
who was the chief of Balapoor, the tjrrannical
and hard-hearted man immediately began with-
out cause to persecute and oppress the afflicted and
soul-stricken family of Futteh Muhammad, and
plundered them of all their property, even to the
furniture of the house, clothes, utensils^ and the
trinkets and jewels of the women. In addition to
this tyrannical proceeding, the two brothers, (that
is the sons of the slain Futteh Muhammad, the
eldest of whom was Shahbaz Sahib, about eight
years old, and Hydur AK Sahib, three or four years
old,) were also seized and carried into the fort, and
confined there in a nagara, or kettle drum, the
head or parchment of which being stretched on the
drum, it was beaten, in order that, by the pain and
distress of these poor orphans, he might extort
more money from their families, and by this act of
cruelty Abbas Kuli made himself known to the
world as a tyrant and oppressor.
17
At length, the widow of the slain Futteh Muham-
mad dispatched a confidential person, with an ac-
count of the oppressive conduct of the chief of
Balapoor, and the cruel confinement of her poor
infants, to Hydur Sahib the elder, the nephew of
her husband, who was residing at Seringaputtun.
On hearing of the death of his uncle, and the miser-
able condition of his children, Hydur Sahib was so
afficted that he could neither eat nor sleep, and
immediately complained to the Poligar'' of Mysore,
who wrote a letter to the Chief of Sura, requiring
the release of the women and children of the slain
Futteh Muhammad ; and the Nawaub of Sura,
therefore, after reproving the tjnrant, and threaten-
ing him with punishment, himself procured their
release.
It is not, however, to be concealed here, that
another author** has given a different account of
these occurrences. He says that, when the Na-
waub Durgah Kuli Khan was killed, his son Ab-
durrasiil Khan, without the knowledge of the
Nizam's government, and wishing to obtain the
government of the Souba, himself, borrowed three
or four lakhs® of rupees, from a Sahookar, or
Banker, named Muhammad Khan Suliman Zai,
« Another copy says, addressed a petition. \^yj
* 400.000.
18
an inhabitant of Arkat, and collected troops for
the defence of the Souba. Futteh Muhammad Sahib
also borrowed eighteen thousand rupees from the
same person, to pay his company of soldiers, which
amount he converted to his own use. When,
however, Abdurrasiil Khan heard of the arrival of
Nawaub Tahir Khan, the Soubadar, he prepared
to go to Balapoor, but the banker before men-
tioned, at that time opposed his departure, on ac-
count of the money owing to him, and he therefore
gave strict charge to the Commandant of the fort,
and officers of the army and garrison, to secure by
all means in their power the payment of the money
from the Nawaub ; after which he departed. When,
therefore, the Nawaub arrived, the Huzariaun or
officers of the Souba demanded their pay, and the
money advanced by the banker, and refused to
allow him to enter the capital of the Souba until
the money was paid. The banker also assembled
his Afghans, and prepared for defence. At length,
after much strife and contention, the Killadar, or
officer commanding the fort, and Futteh Muham-
mad, threw away their lives, and the Nawaub, ad-
vancing, at one gallant attack, entered the town.
Nevertheless, the officers, the Mewatties,' and the
' The Me Watties, a note says, are a people from the Eastern
part of India, much employed, because of their fidelity and
bravery.
19
banker abovementioned^ seized the castle ; and,
making it secure, held out for a month, and did
not give it up till they were paid.
When these circumstances were reported to the
Huziir, Nawaub Nizam-ul-Moolk, Asof Jah, he
forwarded the pay of the soldiers, and the money
of the banker, from his own treasury ; and by
that means quieted the disturbances in the Souba.
After the receipt of the money, therefore, the
officers surrendered the keys of the fort to the
Nawaub ; and the banker, having laden his camels,
and elephants with his treasure, moved off on his
journey towards Arkat. When, however, he ar-
rived at the Purguna of Balapoor, he found the
condition of the sons of Futteh Muhammad, as has
been before described, and, having seen and being
moved with compassion for them, he obtained the
release of the women and children ; but he dis-
patched the former and their dependents only to Se-
ringaputtun, and kept the two brothers, as a security
for the money which he had advanced their father.
In short, when the banker had arrived at Arkat,
and the women at Seringaputtun, the pillage and
cruel treatment of his cousins reached the ears
of Hydur Sahib the elder in detail ; and he and the
widows of Futteh Muhammad wept and bewailed
their double loss and calamity.
20
Hydur, nevertheless, did his utmost to console
the mourners, and immediately dispatched eighteen
thousand rupees to Arkat to obtain the release of
his oppressed cousins, whom he sent for and kept to
live with him ; on their being released they joined
him in the state to which they had been reduced
by oppression, with only a single suit of clothes.
Hydur the elder brought up these children with
more tenderness and care than his own, and pro-
vided for them in a very liberal manner. He like-
wise taught them the use^ of arms, and. horseman-
ship, the lance or spear exercise and all the accom-
plishments of a soldier.
When the two brothers had arrived at years of
discretion, Shahbaz Sahib, who had married a lady
of his own family, or tribe, being a young man of
independent spirit, and not wishing to live a life of
idleness, and throw the weight of his support on
his cousin, took a forced leave of him and his mother,
and, accompanied by his brother, departed to the
Payanghaut, and visited, and took service with Ab-
dul Wahab Khan, the younger brother of Muham-
mad All Khan, Wala Jah, who, during the govern-
ment of his father, held the Jageer of Chitore.
He was appointed by him to the command of a
body of a thousand foot and two hundred horse.
21
and in his service he remained sometime ; his
younger brother, that is, Hydur Ah', being appointed
to the command of the horse — ^both brothers living
happily together in the greatest harmony and friend-
ship.
It may be proper to observe here, that, during
the government of Nawaub Dilawar Khan, Souba-
dar or governor of Sura, the Poligars of the Bala-
ghaut, having softened the Soubadar by bribery,
began to shew their spirit by attacking each other ;
so that, latterly, the Poligar of Mysore, having
collected seven thousand horse and twenty thou-
sand foot, conquered or reduced all the Poligars
to the eastward of Mysore — that is, the Chiefs of
Bangalore Mashti, Sutigal, Korikal, Makri, and
Ootridroog, &c. ; and gradually took possession
of the whole of the country, at length even to the
boundary of the Souba of Sura, to which frontier
his troops had advanced. He also took the Hill
Fort of Mudgiri, which belonged to the Poligar of
Mirgi, and placed in garrison there All Sahib Naik,
the son of Hydur Sahib the elder, with three hun-
dred foot and seventy horse, an elephant and nagara,
to guard the Hill Fort, and protect the country.
About this time, Hydur Sahib the elder, sent for
his cousins from Chitore, it being a period of
prosperity with his family ; and, by chance it hap-
22
pened that^ about this period, Shahbaz Sahib receiv-
ing some slight affront from Abdul Wahab Khan,
and, being offended, with difficulty obtained his
discharge from his service, and having no employ,
he, at the invitation of his relative, (Hydur the
elder), joined him with his brother, their family,
followers, and property.
Seeing the style and respectability of the two
fortunate brothers, Hydur Sahib was highly pleased
with them, and presented them to Nundi Raj, the
chief minister of Mysore, and obtained service for
them, with three hundred foot and fifty horse, —
As after this, during the attack on Dewun Hulli,
depending on Chuk Balapoor,^ in which fort* Hydur
Sahib the elder had a detachment, he having be-
sieged the fort, and reduced it to extremity, was
accidentally wounded in one of the assaults, and
afterwards died, the minister before mentioned,
(Nundi Raj,) delivered over to Shahbaz Sahib the
company which Hydur the elder had commanded,
and also gave him the charge of the fort and de-
pendencies, which had been newly conquered ; he
then returned to Seringaputtun. Shahbaz dis-
patched his horse, under the command of his bro-
ther Hydur Ali, with the minister's troops ; and,
sending for his family from Kolar, he remained
^ Balapoor the less. ' This I think is a mistake.
23
at Balapoor. As, about this time, his wife had
died after giving birth to a daughter, he demanded
in marriage, and married, a young lady of his tribe,
and when his daughter,* bom under the star of
good fortune, had arrived at a proper age, he affi-
anced her to Lala Mean. His new wife brought
him two daughters, and one son, whom he named
Kadir Sahib.
At this period, Hydur Ah' had conducted himself
with such prudence and discretion in Seringaput-
tun, that all the Chiefs of the Government, the
Raja himself, but chiefly his minister Nundi Raj,
(who was the father-in-law of Jug Kishen Raj
Ooderi, the Raja of that period,) were so fascinated
by the goodness of his disposition and his bravery,
that they distinguished him above all his com-
peers, the Jamadars, Naikwars, and other officers
of older standing; and the latter (Nundi Raj)
favored and desired his promotion, as he considered
him the leader of his troops, or the bravest man in
the army. Hydur having also been permitted to
farm the Jumabundi, or land revenue,^ for the pay-
ment of his horse and regular foot, was now digni-
fied with the title of Hydur AU Khan ; and neither
in business nor pleasure did Nundi Raj ever separate
himself from him.
^ The Mussulmans never mention the names of their daughters
or wives in public. ^ Of some Purgunna, perhaps.
24
When Hydur AH Khan had arrived at the age of
nineteen or twenty years^ Shahbaz Sahib^ his elder
brother who with his family resided at Dewun Hulli^
determined to seek a wife for his brother; and, after
much search, the family of a certain Syud Shahbaz,
commonly called Shah Mean Sahib, was selected,
he being a Peer Zadeh" of the Souba Sura, who had
six children, viz. three sons and three daughters,
the eldest son being Syud Kumal, otherwise called
Kumtoo Sahib, the second Syud Mukhdoom, and
the third Syud Ismail.
This man was sent for with his family to Seringa-
puttun, and his eldest daughter was married to
Hydur All in Seringaputtun, after the manner of
the Dukkanees. This young lady had a daughter ;
but, unfortunately, while she was in child-bed, either
from neglect of regimen or some other cause, she
was seized with the dropsy, which took away the
use of the lower part of her body," and he was on
the point of marrying again, when Nundi Raj
found it necessary to proceed with his whole force,
to reduce *" the country of the Payan Ghaut, which
is south of Mysore, and consists of Calicut, Koim-
batore, Dindigul and Palighat, &c., some of the
Naimars of which had rebelled, and deserted their
villages, after laying waste the country.
™ Is a religious man.
o . -
25
He, therefore, marched, with the whole of his
troops, and a year and a half were expended in re-
ducing the country to order, and punishing the
disaffected Naimars. The bravery of Hydur Ali
Khan in this service was so conspicuous, that it
became the theme of praise on the tongues of all
ranks of people ; and m reward for his labours
and services he had an elephant, a flag, nagaras, or
kettle drums, and the palankin of the Dulwai or
Minister of State, presented to him, and he was
honoured with permission to enlist horse and regu-
lar foot, that is musketeers ; he accordingly en-
listed about four thousand foot, to be disciplined
after the European mode ; he likewise enlisted fif-
teen hundred horse separately : and these he
termed his own troops.
When, therefore, Hydur returned with so much
credit from his successful expedition, his wife, of
her own free will, gave him permission to take
another wife.
In this delicate matter, the Khan acted according
to the advice of his elder brother, Shahbaz Sahib,
and sent for Meer All Ruza Khan, the late Killadar
of Kurm Goonda, who, being then unengaged in
any service, was residing with his family in the
Barh Mahl. He supplied him with the necessary
expenses and carriage for the journey ; and, when
26
Meer Ali arrived, took his sister-in-law to wife. He,
however^ still considered his first wife as holding
the principal sway in the house^i" continued all her
privileges and honours, and moreover regarded her
as the ornament of his family, and placed all his
family and household under her authority. The
second sister of his first wife he gave in marriage
to a learned man, named Syud Biirhan, and her
third sister not being engaged, he, about this time,
gave her to Meer All Ruza Khan, and the marriage
was celebrated with the usual ceremonies. All his
brothers and connexions remained with him con-
stantly, he giving to the whole of them some kind
of service or employment.
For three or four years after this marriage the
Khan (Hydur) had no children. At length, how-
ever, by the mediation of the transcendant merits**
of Tippoo Mustan Oulia, (may God enlighten his
tomb and those of his brethren, — and whose mi-
racles are celebrated both in Hind and in the Duk-
kun,) he obtained his wish, and in the hope of ob-
taining children, having taken refuge in the favour
of the Almighty, and having offered up prayers
and vows for the accomplishment of his desires,
when the time arrived for the acceptation of his
petition and the increase of his greatness "" and
27
power, the arrow of his prayer reached the butt
of accordance, and the tree of his hope blossomed
and fructified. —
Tippoo Mustan was the elder brother of Humeed
Sahib, who Ues in the centre of the city of Gunjee
or Kunjun Nuggur, and who himself sleeps in the
market or Chowk of Arkat. The third brother
also of that saint is buried at Himoor, Talooka Rai
Droog/
■ The account of these saints in the original is involved in
parentheses.
28
CHAPTER II.
The birth of Uppoo Saltan, the Martyr, (may God's mercy rest
upon him) ; with other details. A. Hejri 1 163. Nov. 29» 1749.
Praises and gratitude to God! who, after so
much desire and anxiety, caused the rose tree to
produce the bud of hope, who caused Hydur Ah'^s
house and fortunes to be illiunined by the lamp of
prosperity, also the night of his desire to be suc-
ceeded by the morning of its fulfilment; that is
to say, the rising of the bright star of the constel-
lation of power and dignity, in the village of Dewun
Hulli, on the morning of Saturday, the 20th of
Zi, Huj. year 1163, H/ shedding its Ught on the
field of his father's wishes for progeny, dispelling
the dark gloom obscuring his hopes and rejoicing
the heart of both friend and stranger. The brave
Khan on the bestowal of this great gift, rubbed his
forehead on the earth of acknowledgement, and
offered up the thanksgiving and praise due to the
Creator of all life ; and for forty days likewise he
kept open his house for feasting and enjoyment,
and opening wide the doors of his treasury, made
all his servants and friends rich with his gifls.^
* A.D. 1749, Novr. 19. ^ Verses from Nezzami omitted.
29
The rose buds of his friends' hearts expanded
and blossomed in this breeze of pleasure ; day by
day, the Nagaras of rank and fortune were beaten at
his gates, and the blessings accompanying the propi-
tious steps of that fortunate child increased in num-
ber ; for even from the day of his birth, riches and
power, it may be said, came in person to meet and
do him honor ; and, as his advent was owing to the
secret aspirations and intercession of the Saint Tip-
poo Mustan, he was named Tippo Sultan, and no
care was omitted in his nurture and preservation.
About the end of this year, Nawaub Nizam ul
M oolk Nasir Jung, marched to the Kamatic Payan
Ghaut, to revenge the death of Unwar uddin Khan
Gopa Mooe, Soubadar of Arkat, who, in the year
1162, H/ was assassinated, without cause, on the
plain of Amboor Gurh, by the treacherous hand
of Hidayut Mihi-ud-din Khan, the sister's son of
the Nawaub abovementioned^ at the instigation of
Hussain Dost Khan, otherwise called Chunda
Sahib Nayut. The said Nayut, likewise, with the
aid of the French of Pondicherry, having seized
upon the whole Souba of Arkat, and taking on
himself the correction of its rebellious subjects, and
the regulation of its affairs.
All the Poligars of the Karnatic Balaghaut, there-
fore, and also Dilawar Khan, the Soubadar of the
« 1748-9.
Mysore^ Hjizr Ai KLaii lii-w^ ::":*r:^ fchn, a
awuj cf :be r-aise of G=ig3 Rir-, wcj wtis the
FvHgJar cf Raikotf , Hussoor, and BiZ'IsTt, iii-i who
conioiinded a party of men in cozjiiiictijr. with the
iivops of N'uiidi Raj, having oblaiE«3 Ivare oa the
rvuii to retnrn to his districts depaited ai>d com-
UKQceu to rel>e], and excite distuihaoces; and, after
the manner of the Poligars and chie& of forts in
bis ricimty, considered himself independent. Xundi
Raj, and the other chiefs of the goveniment, with
xj^e accord agreed, tliat there was no one so well
qualified to restore [M^ace and order in that dis-
turbed quarter as Hydur All Khan — rerfe — "The
range of mountains and deserts belongs of right to
the lion."' — and he was therefore appointed to the
command there, with his own troops and the com-
panies of his brother Shahbaz Sahib, and Khoob
Sahib Dukkuni Jamadar, and two thousand horse.
Hydur Ali being invested with full power to act in
all matters as he thought best.
Advancing immediately from that place, by a
night march, the Khan fell like a sudden calamity
r rocky height and dcaert pkti
Tlie lion claimB by right to reign.
1^
33
on the sleepiiig fortunes of the rebels, and, bjr
stretching forth the arm of coinage, speedily sub-
dued them. The rebel, Gnnga Ram, was made
prisoner, and, as a return for his bad actions, was
put m irons. As fofr the rest of the rebels, by one
of Hydur^s vigorous attacks he soon lightened their
shoulders of the wei^it of their proud heads, and
cast their bodies on the field of eternity. In tact, in
the course of two months, he had put to death, or
taken prisoners, the whole of the rebels, and had
placed strong detachments of his own troops in
the Forts of that mountainous country such as
those of Holi I>roog, Chund Rai Droog, Battmi
Gin, Rai Kote, Hussoor, and Ba^ore; and be
placed in each of them commanding oflkers oo
whom he could rely ; and then, with much treasore,
and many camels and el^ihants, be letumed to
Seringaputton.
About tfab timeAsod Khan, Sordar Khan, and
Muhammad Omr, the fiilher of Muhammad AM
commandant, Gbonsay anired from Arkat, and
were appointed to the Ug^ cmk of Biiabdar in
the regular battaIiofi&
30
Souba Sura, repaired with their followers, arms,
and ammunition to the presence. Among the
number was also Girajwuri Nundi Raj,'' on the
part of the Mysore chief, accompanied by a large
force, and by Hydur AH Khan ; and they joined
the Nizam, and fought on his side, till, in the
year 1164, the Nawaub was slain on the 'field of
Ginjee, owing to the disaffection and treachery of
the Afghans of Kirpa Kirnole. Astonished and dis-
mayed at this terrible event, the subsidiary Poligars,
without any communication with each other, re«
tired to their respective homes.
Hydur Ah Khan, however, with his troops and
artillery, remained on the field with the scattered
troops of the murdered Nizam, until the midday
after his assassination ; but, on being fully ac-
quainted with the circumstances, he took the road
to the Balaghaut, and, on his route, fell in with
three or four camels, laden with treasure of the
government, which the rebels had seized, and were
taking away. After punishing the robbers, Hydur
All took possession of this treasure, which he added
to his own and then returned to Seringaputtun.
y Girachoru or Girachoori. The Dulwai is a minister for civil
affairs and the Purdhan who b otherwise called Bukshi is the
commander of the forces. — Nundi Raj is called the Regent of
Mysore by Orme.
31
CHAPTER III.
The encreasing prosperity of Hydur Al! Khan Bahadur, with
other occurences of the year ] 1 65 H., A. D. 1751 .
During the reign of Jug Kishen Raj Ooderi, Raja
of Mysore ; and the ministry of his agent, Gira-
choori Nundi Raj, many turbulent and rebellious
men assembled, and raised disturbances in different
parts of that country ; and, having possessed them-
selves of portions of territory belonging to the
government, withdrew themselves entirely from
the authority of the Raja, and refused to pay tri-
bute ; more particularly, Deo Raj, (the brother of
Nundi Raj,) who had rebelled, and having sur-
rounded the palace of the Raja with his sentinels,
fired several cannon shot at the gate of the palace.
With the aid and advice of Hydur Ali however,
Nundi Raj soon overcame the enemies of his son-in-
law the Raja.
In addition to these disturbances, but of greater
importance, were those of the eastern part of My-
sore, which was in the greatest disorder and con-
fusion ; a brief account of which is as follows : —
32
When Nundi Raj, after the assassination of the
Nawaub Nasir Jung, returned in haste* towards
Mysore, Hydur AH Khan likewise following him, a
man of the name of Gunga Ram, who was the
Foujdar of Raikote, Hussoor, and Baglore, and who
commanded a party of men in conjunction with the
troops of Nundi Raj, having obtained leave on the
road to return to his districts departed and com-
menced to rebel, and excite disturbances; and, after
the manner of the Poligars and chiefs of forts in
his vicinity, considered himself independent. Nundi
Raj, and the other chiefs of the government, with
one accord agreed, that there was no one so well
qualified to restore peace and order in that dis-
turbed quarter as Hydur All Khan — verse — ** The
range of mountains and deserts belongs of right to
the lion."* — and he was therefore appointed to the
command there, with his own troops and the com-
panies of his brother Shahbaz Sahib, and Khoob
Sahib Dukkuni Jamadar, and two thousand horse.
Hydur All being invested with fiill power to act in
all matters as he thought best.
Advancing immediately from that place, by a
night march, the Khan fell like a sudden calamity
• O'er rocky height and desert plain.
The lion claims hy right to reign.
33
on the sleeping fortunes of the rebels, and, by
stretching forth the arm of courage, speedily sub-
dued them. The rebel, Gunga Ram, was made
prisoner, and, as a return for his bad actions, was
put in irons. As for the rest of the rebels, by one
of Hydur's vigorous attacks he soon lightened their
shoulders of the weight of their proud heads, and
cast their bodies on the field of eternity. In fact, in
the course of two months, he had put to death, or
taken prisoners, the whole of the rebels, and had
placed strong detachments of his own troops in
the Forts of that mountainous country such as
those of Hoh Droog, Chund Rai Droog, Ruttun
Giri, Rai Kote, Hussoor, and Baglore; and he
placed in each of them commanding o£Scers on
whom he could rely ; and then, with much treasure,
and many camels and elephants, he returned to
Seringaputtun.
About this time Asud Khan, Surdar Khan, and
Muhammad Omr, the father of Muhammad Ah
commandant, Ghonsa, arrived from Arkat, and
were appointed to the high rank of Risaladar in
the regular battalions.
34
CHAPTER IV.
The march of an army« under the command of Nondi Raj,
agreeably to the request of Muhammad Ali Khan, Sur^j ud dowla,
towards Nuthur Nuggur, otherwise called Trichinopoly, and the
display of that innate courage in the course of the expedition,
which marked the character of the Khan; in the year 1160. H.
After the murder of his father, and that of
Nasir Jung, Muhammad Ah' Khan Suraj ud dowla,
Wala Jah, the son of Unwar uddin Khan, the
martyr, sought refuge in Nuthiu: Nuggur, or Tri-
chinopoly. With the intention, therefore, of
rooting out the power of Muhammad All Khan,
Hussain Dost Khan, otherwise Chunda Sahib
Nayut, (who, by the assistance of the French of
Pondicherry, had wrested the whole of the province
of Arkat from Hidayut Mohi uddm Khan,) now
advanced boldly to attack Nuthur Nuggur ; having
with him a few French troops and his own force
amounting to about six thousand horse, and twelve
thousand foot, and besieged that fort, throwing up
batteries, and maintaining a continual fire on the
city.
35
Suraj ud dowla, reduced to extremity, was like a
lamp^ the light of which glimmers and dies at the
approach of morning. He, therefore, wrote to the
ministers of the Mysore government, stating that,
if they would now assist him in his necessities, and
conquer his enemies, he would, after his foes had
retreated, and the Souba had been reduced under
his authority, consign to their charge the fort of
Trichinopoly and its dependencies. He also sent
for aid to the govenior of the Port of Deona Put-
tun, an Englishman, and assigned him a monthly
allowance ; and promised him a Jageer ; * and by
this means obtained from him a number of Eu-
ropean soldiers.
Seduced by the flattering prospect of obtaining a
fertile rich country, and greedy of gain,^ Nundi
Raj, the minister of the Mysore Raja, associated
himself with Morar Rao, and other Poligars ; and,
having expended a great deal of money, he, with
his treasury and artillery, and an army of seven
thousand cavalry, and ten or twelve thousand foot,
marched towards Trichinopoly. The Raja of
Mysore, however, was not consenting to this move-
ment; but, nevertheless, his Dulwai or Prime
The eyes of avarice will never be filled except by the dust of
the Grave.
36
Minister, with great labour persisted, and carried
to the besieged Khan, (Muhammad AH,) money
and supplies of all sorts ; indeed, all the aid he re-
quired.
Hydur Ali Khan was present in every engage-
ment, in conjunction with the troops of Suraj ud
dowla, and displayed the greatest valour ; he also
made several night attacks on the French troops,
and on those of Chunda Sahib, with great success.
His Kuzzaks,"^ who were under the command of
Ghazi Khan Bede, were likewise appointed to sur-
round and plunder the camp of the French and
they captured and brought thence arms, tents,
and cattle ; and, in one of these night attacks, by
their enterprize and bravery they took two guns
from the advanced guard of the French. By
these actions Hydur Ah estabUshed himself a
name above his compeers.
The assassination of Chunda Sahib, at length
took place in the Dulwai Munduf, (Mundup) where
he had formerly sworn on the Koran not to molest
or injure Munka Rani, the wife of Trimul Naik, the
Chief of Madhura, who then had charge of the
government of Trichinopoly, and to whom, after
*— ^» J3 Kazzaks are predatory ligbt-borse, a kind of Pin-
darries. — ^Bede is another name for the same : Kirkpatrick sup-
posed the word Bede meant Infantry, which, I believe, it does not.
37
he had drawn her into his snares by oaths and
treaties that he would offer her no injury, he not
only broke his promise and oath, but, moreover,
violated her person, and caused her to be put to
death in a most barbarous manner."^ In conse-
quence of his death, the French withdrew to Pon-
dicherry, and Suraj ud dowla remained successful
and master.
He now, however, with great artifice, abandoned
his agreement with the M ysorians ; and, instead of
sending the money, that is pay, which was due to
the troops for six months, he sent messages and
apologies. Astonished at the Khan's duplicity and
villainy, Nundi Raj was also ashamed of his own
imprudence in the business ; he therefore gave
orders to commence the siege of the fort, and
Hydur Ah, and his other oflBcers, immediately
made an attack on it. The wily Khan, however,
after the breaking up of the Trichinopoly treaty,
or agreement, sought the friendship and aid of the
French, and sent for a number of soldiers of that
nation to his aid. He likewise sent to Pondicherry,
to purchase warlike stores, as cannon, muskets,
powder and shot, and to procure able gunners,
and other Frenchmen whom he entertained in his
service.
38
The siege lasted three months, and in that time
Kumtoo Sahib, the half brother of Hydur AU,
was slain by a cannon ball. At length, the be-
sieged Khan planned a deep scheme ; he sent to
Nundi Raj, to request he would despatch some
confidential officer, with a party of troops, to
garrison the fort, to whom the keys should be
delivered up, and that he himself would then retire
to take possession of Arkat, under the aid and
protection of the English.
Supposing, from this message, that the spell, or
witchery, of his prudence and valour had made a
proper impression on the serpent-like Khan, Nundi
Raj, joyfully despatched his brother or near rela-
tion, Gooti Gopal, with Venkut Rao Burki, Khoob
Sahib, Syud Budduni Dukkimi, and Umr Singh,
Jamadars, with a detachment of about two thousand
foot, and seven hundred horse, giving them strict
orders to provide for the security of the fort and
its dependencies.
When these people had reached the gate of the
fort, a key was sent to them ; but the day being
considered very inauspicious by the Hindoos, and
also the hour unlucky, they for that reason made
excuses, and would not receive the key ; but an
agreement was made that it should be delivered up
to them the next day, and the party went back.
39
Suraj ud dowla was extremely well pleased at this
arrangement, as he had thus fulfilled his promise
and engagement. The next day, therefore, the
same party returned to the fort, and with great
cheerfulness entered it. As soon, however, as they
were in, Gooti Gopal and the other officers were
sent for separately, under pretence of speaking to
and consulting them, and were imprisoned, and the
arms of their followers being seized, some of them
were confined, and some turned out of the fort.
The gates were then closed, and a few shots were
fired into the Mysore camp.
Nundi Raj was very grieved and angry at this
treachery, yet, at the same time, he was entirely at
a loss to know what he should do to remedy his
misfortune, at length, however, yielding to fate, he
followed the advice of Hydur Ali, and, returned
towards Sutti Mungul; foiled and ashamed that
after all his exertions, he had lost the chance of
possessing so rich a country as Arkat, and had
thrown away 3,000,000 • of pagodas to no purpose.
The Raja of Mysore, also, being offended at
these operations, had not sent any pay for the
troops for nine months ; and, this causing great
distress in the camp, Nundi Raj halted at the town
before mentioned, being ashamed to return to the
capital.
® This appears a gross exaggeration.
40
About this time^ Balajee Rax) Nana,' the chief
of the M ahrattas at Poona, for the first time made
an incursion towards Mysore, after taking posses-
sion of the Souba Sura^ to the chief of which,
Nawaub Dilawar Khan, he gave the Pwrgmia of
Kolar, in Jageer, leaving the Souba in charge of
Bulwuut Rao. Finding that Hydur AH was absent
from the country of Mysore, he proceeded without
fear, and, meeting no opposition, laid the whole of
the coxmtry waste, and placed strong garrisons of
his own troops in all the forts, and took permanent
possession of them.
The Raja of Mysore, seeing the enemy m great
force, and that they had seized all his towns and
villages, excepting his capital. Bangalore, and Ma-
kri Droog ; also that, by the pride and mismanage^
ment of the Dulwai, Nundi Raj, his own troops
were confined to the neighbourhood of Trichino-
poly ; and that, however often he wrote informing
him of the desolation of his country, and the plun-
der of his Ryuts, and ordered him to return to his
succour, Nundi Raj still refused to comply before
making his own arrangements ; and, lastly, seeing
that all pertaining to the government was falling
into confusion, he, (the Raja) overwhelmed with
difiiculties, and disordered in his senses, at length,
purchased the forbearance of the Mahrattas, by
' The Paishwa.
41
paying a krore of rupees to them ; but^ although
they with their troops returned to Poona^ still they
did not withdraw their detachments or garrisons,
and officers, from the towns and forts of Mysore ;
but, on the contrary, increased their number. They,
moreover, plundered and laid waste the country,
so cruelly and effectually, that to this day some
towns are not repeopled.
But, to return, while Nundi Raj, the Dulwai,
was encamped at Sutti Mungul, his troops, for
want of their pay placed him in Dhuma.' The
Dulwai, however, having with sweet words and feir
promises appeased their anger, sent them to the
Raja, at Seringaputtun . But Hydur All, in whose
personal character he had great confidence, and a
Rathore Jamadar, named Hurri Singh, who com-
manded a hundred and fifty horse, these, with his
own Pagah, five hundred horse, and about two
thousand foot, he kept with himself. The entire
want of money and supplies, however, so oppressed
the soldiers, that, Hurri Singh forgetting the ties
of salt, or gratitude to his master, in order to ob-
tain his arrears of pay forbade the sleeping and eat-
ing of the Dulwai, by placing him in Dhuma, or
arrest, and that in so great a degree as even to stop
' By sittiDg at the door of his tent, which was equivalent to
imprisoning him.
42
the water used in his kitchen. The Dulwai^ losing
heart from this rigour^ with his clothes and the
vessels of silver and gold brought for his use in
travelling, and a small sum of nioney> paid him off,
and discharged him.
As soon as the Jamadar had obtained his money
and discharge, he marched away with his baggage,
to a place within about three miles from Seringaput-
tun, and encamped there ; and his men being free
from care ^ and want, in body and mind, after eating
and drinking joyfully, laid themselves down to rest
with the greatest confidence.
On witnessing these occurrences, however, Hy-
dur became exceedingly excited, and going to the
Dulwai, addressed him in reproachful terms, say-
ing to him, *' Why have you acted thus ? What
you have done is unworthy a man of rank ! Is
it proper, that, without the knowledge of your
most particular friend, and for the sake of paying
one of the meanest servants, of the Raj, or Go-
vernment, you should have incurred the discredit
of selling your plate and clothes ? and of dis-
charging demands without proof of the justness
of the claim. This is far from correct ; seeing
that to make one man insolent by such an un-
wise indulgence, is to open the door to similar
43
claims and insults from the rest of the officers of
the troops. It is indispensable, therefore^ that he
who has placed his foot beyond the circle of obe-
dience, and by that means sought misfortime, should
be punished ; and, if you authorise me, I will
punish him so that he shall be an example to
others/'
The Dulwai lent an attentive ear to this advice,
and requested that it might be as Hydur All had
said. Hydur, therefore, immediately rising, vrithout
a moment's delay returned to his own place of en-
campment, and taking five hundred musketeers, or
matchlock men, and a store of ammunition with him,
he marched straight towards Hurri Singh's halting
ground, and falling suddenly on his sleeping party,
whose death had arrived, and firing volley after
volley among them, slew some, the more fortunate
on their beds, and others were slain rising and ad-
vancing a few steps, with their swords and shields
in their hands. In fine, the whole of the troop, with
their mutinous Jamadar, were slain by the sword,
bayonet, &c., and all their arms and baggage, with
their money, utensils, horses, and the articles they
had collected, were brought to the Dulwai, who,
with the exception of the money and articles be-
longing to himself, presented the whole of the plun-
der, horses, &c., of these slaughtered men to Hydur
44
All, whose prudence in this action acquired for him
great renown.
A few days after this, the Dulwai sent for Hydur,
and, seating him on the musnud with himself, he
consulted with him on the re-establishment of his
own affairs, complaining bitterly of his distress for
want of money. Hydur immediately took the
management of his affairs, (that is, to say, the col-
lection of money for his wants), on his own respon-
sibility, and without delay, like a raging lion,
marched with his brave soldiers towards the Po-
ligars ; and, in the course of one year, having
thrown all the Nairs and Mapillas^ into the utmost
trepidation and confusion, he collected a large sum
of money. In this expedition those persons who,
according to requisition, came forward with a good
will, and did their best to provide the sum de-
manded, he spared in Ufe and property; but, on
the contrary, those who disobeyed his commands,
and, without having the license or exemption of the
Raja, refused to pay the required tribute, he so
completely destroyed, that their names, and those
of their children, were erased from the book of
time.
The Poligars of the Talookas of Palni and Vira-
pachy, who were exceedingly rebellious, were, by
' Hindu Chiefs, and Mussulmans of the Malabar coast.
45
a well-planned attack^ taken with their £stmilies
and property^ and brought in ; and^ in some of the
difficult positions and passes in that country^ Hydur
also built stockades, or wooden forts, with stakes
and planks, which in the language of the Hindoos
are called lukkur kote,^ and in these he left de-
tachments of his own troops. He thus diffused
throughout the region a salutary fear of punish-
ment, (which is so necessary to support the autho-
rity of Governors), held the coimtry firm, and
kept the rebels in proper subjection.
At these successes, which, by the good manage-
ment of Hydur, produced a large sum of money,
Nundi Raj was much pleased, and wrote a con-
gratulatory letter to the Raja, at Seringaputtun,
on the conquest of the territory of the rebellious
Poligars, with which he sent a krore of rupees^ as
a nuzzur or present. By this means he washed
away half the blackness of discredit or shame which
before covered his face.
A short time after this, Hydur Ali was again sent
with a body of troops, to. establish order at Dindigul,
Palghauty &c. At this time, the chiefs about the
Raja, persons who dreaded Hydur's advancement,
persuaded him to recal Nundi Raj, and they ob-
tained and despatched letters recalling him, but
46
conveying kind assurances to him under the Raja's
seal.
As the Dulwai had been travelling for a long
time^ that is^ two or three years^ he had become
tired of the fatigues of continual movement^ and
was wishing and looking for an opportunity to re-
turn home, to his family, then residing in the fort
of Seringaputtun. As soon, therefore, as the letters
arrived, he without any fear or apprehension, pro-
ceeded to Seringaputtun, and wrote to Hydur AH,
who was employed in reducing the Poligars, to re-
turn as quick as he could.
Wlien Hydur Ali found that Nundi Raj had re-
turned to Seringaputtun, he lost no time in com-
pleting his arrangements where he was, and with
his own troops, consisting of two or three thousand
regular infantry, five hundred Chittikars,^ two hun-
dred Europeans, of all nations, (who had been at-
tracted by high pay from Pondicheri, Mangalore,
&c.) four thousand Kamatic foot, and eight hundred
horse, with four or five light guns, he marched by
regular stages to Seringaputtun, and encamped near
the Mana Munduf.
At that time the state of Seringaputtun was as
follows. The whole of the country northward from
the town of Chutr," which is four fiirsungs from the
1 So called from their clothings apparently. y^^
47
city of Seringaputtun, and on the road to Sura^ was
in the hands of the Mahrattas^ and the civil and
military oflScers of these plunderers^ regulated the
whole of the Talookas and towns, and enjoyed
themselves in collecting the revenue. Gopal Rao
Mahratta, the Chief of Mirich, who was constituted
the Chief of the Souba Sura, after the removal of
Bulwunt Rao, again assembled a force, and be-
sieged the fort of Bangalore. The Killadar or go-
vernor, however, whose name was Sri Nowas, the
son of Vinkat Rao Burki, did not lose heart ; but
having strengthened the fort, and encouraged the
garrison, he opposed the enemy with great con-
stancy and courage. The Chiefs of Mysore, never-
theless, lost from cowardice ° all sense and discre-
tion, and, like a parcel of old women, trembling,
waited for a man to enter the field of valour for
them. When, therefore, Nundi Raj and the brave
Hydur arrived at Seringaputtun, it appeared as if
the breath had entered anew into their lifeless
carcases, and now they began again to consult how
they should repel their enemies. All the chief
officers and Jamadars being assembled, they were
questioned as to how the country, almost entirely
lost, could be recovered, and the enemy chastised.
In answer to these interrogations, the whole of
48
the military officers said, that, if the Raja would
mount his elephant, and prepare to attack the
Mahrattas, they would surround him, and fight to
the last man in his defence ; but that, otherwise
with their own forces alone, they could not venture
to attack the numerous army of the Mahrattas.
49
CHAPTER V.
An account of the defeat of the Mabrattas under Gopal Rao, in
the vicinity of Bangalore, by tbe bravery of Hydur All Khan, and
tbe recapture of the Talookas, and Forts, taken by the Mabrattas ;
with other occurrences of the year 1168, Hijri — ^A. D. 1754.
When the heads of the government heard these
dastardly words from all the officers command-
ing their troops, they became hopeless, and, send-
ing for Hydur All, they made him acquainted with
what had occurred, and besought his aid in the
recovery and preservation of the country. The
Khan immediately without the least hesitation,
made himself responsible for the accomplishment
of this arduous undertaking ; and the Raja, after
complimenting him highly on his courage, embraced
him, gave him the title of Khan Bahadur, and re-
peated his request for the settlement of the country,
and the discomfiture of his enemies ; he likewise
sent out of the fort his own standard, his own tents
and equipage, his musnud ornamented with gold, his
treasury, wardrobe, and elephants ; and appointed
the Khan, Sipahsalar (Commander-in-Chief) and
50
gave him discretional authority to act as he thought
best, and then, giving him the leaf of dismissal/ he,
to do him honor, accompanied him attended by his
chiefs on foot to the Gate of the Palace.
Persian verse. *' He who can wield the sword
shall have money struck in his name"p — or the Sikka
shall be read in his name.^
As the Khan, and his brother Shahbaz, with their
own troops only, now left the city and encamped
at the Kurri Kote, the Raja and Dulwai, sum-
moned all the Jamadars, and gave them strict
orders to obey the Sipahsalar, and signified to them,
that they were dismissed for the purpose of joining
him. At first only Khoob Sahib Dukkani, and Syud
Buduni, Jamadars, (officers who had been lately re-
leased from the prisons of Muhammad All Khan,)
with their troops, amounting to about three thou-
sand horse, arrived ; but afterwards, Ruhim Sahib,
Yakoob Sahib, Meer Bijli, Amr Singh, with their
companies and military stores, some officers of
foot, and Manuel, the European, with his Risala,
made tliemselves ready to attend the Sipahsalar.
The rest of the officers and troops raised a dispute
regarding the arrears of pay which were due to
o The Betel leaf.
P Stamped on the coin his name shall stand revealed
Who bravely wields the sword in battle-field.
51
them, and remained at the capital* Hydur Ali
was, therefore, at length obliged to march with the
scanty force which he had under his orders, amount-
ing only to four or five thousand horse, twelve thou-
sand regular infantry, and six or seven guns ; and,
having given the curl of enterprise to the moustache
of his manhood, he proceeded towards Bangalore,
and in two or three days, with the greatest regula-
rity and order, arrived and encamped in the vicinity
of Chinaputtun.
Being aware of his approach, the Mahrattas
dispatched fifteen thousand horse to attack him ;
but, hearing of their advance the Sipahsalar also
marched, and took up a position in the jungul or
forest of Burdi, or Baroli, where he and his men
lay in wait, like tigers waiting for their prey.
Having sent, the next morning, to ascertain the
place where the Mahrattas were encamped, he, at
night, marched against them with one thousand
regular Infantry, and Chittikars, and two hundred
Europeans, and attacked them in the rear so suc-
cessfully, that, abandoning all their baggage, the
Mahrattas fled hastily and lost but few in killed
and prisoners. After this night attack, which was
admirably concerted, and gave them an example
of what they (the Mahrattas) had to expect in
future, Hydur marched to Bangalore, and en-
52
camped near Basoon Gori, and immediately wrote
and forwarded a letter of encouragement to the
besieged Killadar, Sri Nowas^ informing him of his
arrival, to his (the Killadar's) aid, and the defeat of
the enemy. Sri Nowas was now nearly reduced to
surrender, by the fire of the Mahrattas, and the
want of ammunition, and provisions, but immedi-
ately on receiving the letter, and recognizing the
signature of Hydur, he recovered his confidence,
and for joy fired off his guns, as a salute, at tlie
Mahratta camp.
The Mahrattas, also, seeing that the garrison
were roused by the prospect of relief, determined
to relinquish the siege of the fort, and attack the
troops arrived to its assistance. They, therefore,
changed their ground the distance of two ftirsungs,
(about six or seven miles,) to Soondi Gopeh, and
encamped there in the best order. On the follow-
ing morning, Hydur, the Sipahsalar, drew out his
forces, and having given charge of his right and
left vdngs to experienced officers, he, with his
artillery in readiness, marched straight towards the
Mahrattas, who, aware of his purpose, marshalled
their troops, and prepared to receive him warmly.
The fire soon commenced, and the balls fell like
pattering rain from the guns and muskets of Hy-
dur*s men, and unable to stand the fire of Hydur's
53
infantry and artillery, the Mahrattas^ lost all power
of opposition and resistance, and fled, leaving part
of their baggage behind them. Being master of
the field of battle, Hydur All now taking pos-
session of the deserted baggage, returned to his
former ground of encampment, and then, with
great art, sending for Sri Nowfis the Killadar, under
pretence of a visit, he detained him with his own
troops, and appointed to the charge of the fort a
certain Kubeer Beg, one of his own friends.
The body of Mahrattas, which had been defeated
and fled, again collected their scattered numbers,
and made ready for action, in the neighbourhood of
Nulloonga. In consequence of this, Hydur All
marched from Bangalore, and encamped two or
threee fursungs from Balapoor the greater, and
halted there for two days. On the night of the
third, however, having obtained a favourable oppor-
tunity, he again marched, and attacked the Mah-
rattas, throwing, such a powerful fire of musketry,
guns, and rockets like a tempest of lightning upon
them, that he dispersed them and losing their man-
hood and senses, they fled, leaving their arms, am
munition, tents and standards, on the ground.
Hydur thus gained the victory, and the leader of
the Mahrattas, having escaped with much diflSculty,
continued his flight to Nijigul. — After the lapse of
about ten or fifteen days, he, however, commenced
54
again to collect his horse and foot^ and was making
ready to attack Hydur, when at this period, news
arrived from Poona, that Sudusheo Pundit Bhow,
and Wis was Rao^ the eldest son of Balajee Rao
Nana, who had displayed the standard of conceit and
arrogance, and had raised the neck of pride in the
empire of Hind, and with three hundred thousand
horse, two hundred thousand foot, and three hun-
dred guns, had marched towards Dehli, and had
taken and plundered the Darul Khilafat of the
King of Kings ; had, at length, in the plain of
Gunjawur, depending on Paniput Kamal, received
from the powerful hand of Ahmud Shah Doorani,
(the grandfather of Zeman Shah the King of Kabul,
who with four Dustas of Sir Abdalli, each Dustu
consisting of twelve thousand horse, had arrived in
Hindustan) such a total defeat, and had been so
effectually destroyed, that their name and the token
of their existence had departed from the world/
(He learned also,) that Balajee Pundit, at hearing of
this shameful defeat, the utter ruin of his power,
and the destruction of hundreds of thousands of his
troops, was so struck with grief, that, from the dis-
tress and disorder of his mind, he at length lost his
senses, and died, lamenting his misfortunes and loss.
Gopal Rao, on receiving this dreadful news, finding
' The whole of these paragraphs in the origioal are very much
involved and parenthetical.
55
he could not hope to oppose Hydur successfully,
lost his way in the wilderness of despair ; that
is^ with his troops and his baggage that remained,
he retired to Sura, and withdrew all his people
from the country of Mysore. Hydur Ali followed
his steps, and, having expelled the Mahratta gar-
risons from the forts depending on Mysore, some
by fair means and some by foul, and replaced
them by men and officers of his own, he then, with
the plunder he had taken from the fugitive Mah-
rattas, returned, with joy in his heart, and pleasure
in his countenance, to Seringaputtun ; the depart-
ments of which he found in the following unsettled
state when he arrived.
The whole of the Jamadars of horse, with their
men armed and ready, amounting to three or four
thousand men had secured the gates and posterns
of the fort, and stopped all communication with any
one, friend or stranger, under pretence of demand-
ing their arrears of pay. The chief officers had
made up their beds at the doors of the Raja and
Dulwai*s habitations, and remained there, demand-
ing their money ; and suffered no one in the fort
to go out, nor would they allow any one to enter
the fort.
On witnessing the rigour and injustice of these
soldiers, Hydur All was greatly excited and en-
56
raged, and determined to punish them ; when^ at the
same time^ the Raja, Nundi Raj> &c. placing entire
confidence in Hydur, sent to him, through the me-
dium of a woman who sold herbs, an account of
the misery of their situation, from the oppression
of these faithless soldiers, and begged his assistance,
in obtaining a settlement of their disputes with
them. — Hydur All, in reply, sent verbally all the
consolation and comfort he thought necessary at
that moment, and professed his friendly wishes to
do them service. On the ensuing day, therefore he
sent word to the mutinous Jamadars, that he, also,
was one of the claimants or creditors of the govern-
ment, and that he had been employed on hard
service for months, without any pay or assistance
whatever, and that, if they would allow him, he
would join them, and thus obtain the settlement
of his own demands ; but that they might be cer-
tain that, until they opened the fire of their guns
and rockets on the Dewaun Khana, and Zanana,
(or the palace) of the Raja, and showered a tempest
of shot on these places like hail, and until they
filled the heads of the conceited occupants* with
the black smoke of their artillery and musketry,
they would never submit to follow the right path.
If they chose he said to act on his suggestion,
well, — if not, — the surrounding suburbs of the city
57
were rich and populous ; and, besides them, there
was the whole country of Mysore, from which, if
he thought proper, he could collect his dues with-
out difficulty.
When the Jamadars heard this excellent advice
from Hydur, they began to fear that he would carry
his plan into execution, by plundering their houses,
which they had built in the Bahadur Poora, near
the old Eed Gah, a little to the westward of the
battery of Muhammad AU, commandant, and which
part of the suburbs was very populous. They,
therefore, gave him leave to enter the fort, with a
few men ; but Hydur, that Lion of the forest of
courage and enterprize, without the least delay,
accompanied by two light guns, seven or eight hun-
dred regular infantry, and two hundred spear men
on foot, entered the fort, and, having posted his
men in parties at different places, visited the Raja
and the Dulwai, and offered consolation and com-
fort to them. Then, after having also pleased the
Jamadars with kind and flattering words and
speeches, and having attracted the hearts of high
and low to him by his affable manners, he returned
to his encampment The next day he entered the
fort, accompanied by the same number of men as
before, and now told the Jamadars that, as there
was no guard on the Zanana, or women's apart-
58
ments^ of the Raja or Dulwai^ he would place his
own foot soldiers on them^ that they might stop all
supplies of water and other necessaries to their in-
habitants ; andj the Jamadars having yielded to this
proposal, he immediately sent for two thousand
foot, well armed, and posted guards on the Zananas
of the Raja and Dulwai, and, in short in the course
of two or three days, he secured, or made himself
master of, all the roads and lanes leading to the
palace.
The day after this he proceeded to the Private
Hall of audience,* and having placed a number of
his attendants under pretence of Dhurna in the in-
side of the Hall, which is called Chutr Duddi, or
Doori," he of a sudden came out, and told the Ja-
madars that a settlement of his and their demands
had been effected ; but, that the regular accounts
of their monthly pay must be entered into the
Duftur, or register of the Tosha Khona, (or trea-
sury) and that they might then take their money.
That, they must take up their beds, therefore, from
the palace, and carry them away, and then, with
the Vakeel or agent of the Risala or troop, and
one Mutsuddi, (or writer) attend, the Kutcheree,''
that their monthly accounts might be made up,
^ Any public hall for the settlement of revenue or judicial
questions.
69
and their claims discharged ; also that^ if they had
any other intentions he thought they would in
the end repent of them. Having said this, he
ordered his men to keep the Jamadars, with a
Vakeel and Mutsuddi each, present in the Hall,
and turn the remainder of their men out of the
fort. As his brave soldiers were drawn up in com-
panies, parading about the streets and markets,
with their drums beating, and handling their arms,
the Jamadars, seeing the posture of affairs, lost
their colour,"" and submitted to Hydur's pleasure
and commands, and with an accountant or two,
each repaired to the Kutcheree, where the astute
Hydur himself examined the monthly pay Usts of
each Jamadar, and, causing a memorandum of each,
to be taken, kept it by him ; while, to compare the
numbers in the returns with the numbers present for
duty, he demanded an actual muster. For, in fact,
the Jamadars of a thousand horse had present at
that time only six hundred ; those of five hundred,
but three hundred, and those of two hundred but
half as many ; although, by the collusion of the
writers of the Pay Office, and the Vakeels or agents
of the regiments, they extorted pay for the full
complement, and, for actual muster, played at hide
and seek ;'' as soon as the clear-headed Hydur under-
^ Became alarmed. ^ } (j^
60
stood this excessive roguery/ he immediately sent
for the Jamadars and took the muster of their
men and horses ; and^ being much vexed at the
villany of the accountants of the Treasury, he de-
ducted the amount overdrawn for absent or non-
effectives, from the day on which the Jamadars and
their companies were received into the service, to
the very day he mustered them ; and made up
and settled their accounts on that scale. Now, as,
by reckoning, in this mode, Jamadars, instead of
creditors, were made debtors to the State in a large
amount, in order, to discharge the same, they were
obliged to give up their horses, camels, elephants,
tents and utensils, and even their clothes, of all
which he took a regular account, and then dis-
charged them. But, of the Jamadars, any one who
had been his companion in the field and at board,
to hun he paid his money in a certain mode, and re-
engaged him. As, in this way, a body of five or six
thousand of these men were ruined, their horses
were taken by Hydur Ali, and sent to his own
stables, and, in place of their riders, he hired Bar-
geers, (men enlisted as cavalry to ride the govern-
ment horses) and in this manner he surmounted his
difficulties.
^ rJ^ U^ Ironically. He must have been fully aware
of it, as it is customary, and it is most probable he did himself the
same.
61
CHAPTER VI.
The quarrel between Nundi Raj and his 6on-in-law, and his re-
tirement to the fort of Mysore. Also» his contention with
Hydur, the Sipah&alar» and at length his being taken prisoner.
Also, the acquisition of the Talookas of Ani Kvl, and the district
of Barh Mahl, by the Khodadaud Sirkar (Hydur), with other
events of the year 1 169» Hijri. — ^A. D. 1755.
After the Sipahsalar, Hydur, by his prudence
and courage, had defeated the Mahrattas, and re-
covered the country taken by them, he placed the
government of Seringaputtun on a sure and esta-
blished basis, and relieved the state from the
burden and danger of mutinous and seditious
servants ; and having done this, he retired to his
own house.
About this period, the Raja of Mysore, on ac-
count of the hopeless and bootless return of his
troops from the expedition to Trichinopoly, which,
notwithstanding it was attended with an immense
expense, produced no profit, again reproached Nun-
di Raj in angry terms and manifested great displea-
sure. Nundi Raj, who, also, was much ashamed of
his want of political foresight in the affair, with great
62
trouble and difficulty, and by pleading his advanced
age as an apology for ceasing to bear a part in the
government, was allowed to retire to Mysore. He
accordingly withdrew entirely from the manage-
ment of state affairs, and took up his residence
in that fort, retaining, as a necessary protection, a
body of about two thousand foot, five or six hun-
dred horse, and five hundred regular infantry.
The other chiefs of the government, having
consulted together, were, however, desirous to go
fiirther, and obtain from Nundi Raj the sealed
Sunnuds, (patents or commissions), of the Dewanni,
or Prime Ministership. One man, in particular,
named Khundi Rao, a Brahman, who was the
Mooshrif, (overseer or inspector), of Hydur Alfs
troops, was the most active and influential in this
design ; he induced his master Hydur to join him
in his object, and the whole together petitioned
the Raja to demand the Sunnuds.
On receiving these requests, the Raja, to oblige
them, demanded the patents of the appointment of
Prime Minister, (Purdhani or Sahib Dewanni),
from Nundi Raj, who returned for answer that as
the documents in question had not been derived to
him during the reign of the present Raja, but from
his father and grandfathers to the ancestors of
Nundi Raj, generation after generation, the re-
63
turning of them would be superfluous ; for, when
it was considered that he, Nundi Raj, had aban-
doned of his own free will all regulation or control
of the Raja's affairs, he, the Raja, might be certain
that, through the medium of the Sunnuds, Nundi
Raj could cause no impediments to any one, in
matters of state, and he might estimate the old
Sunnuds or patents as copy books of children or
waste paper. He added, that he, Nundi Raj, re-
commended the Raja with the advice of his coun-
cil, to select, his ministers himself, from those
best able to conduct his affairs, and let him, a
weak, worn out man alone, and relieve him from
the trouble and perplexity of public business.
The whole, however, of those who were seeking
the injury and downfall of Nundi Raj, by telling
tales and making misrepresentations to the Raja,
brought his mind to determine that Hydur Ali,
after having been flatteringly called by the Raja
his son, was the proper person to be sent to obtain
the seals and Sunnuds. As soon as Hydur, there-
fore, marched with his own troops towards Mysore,
he sent a detailed notice to Nundi Raj, that^ as
some enemies of his had deceived and turned the
Raja's mind against him, and had persuaded him to
seize the Sunnuds or patents of his office, it ap-
peared to him, (Hydur Ah'), necessary or rather the
64
best policy that he should send in the papers,
through the medium of his most particular friend,
(meaning himself,) and that he, Nundi Raj, might
place every reliance on him. Nundi Raj, however,
not being inclined to agree to this request, the fort
was surrounded by order of the Raja, batteries
were raised on all sides and guns mounted. Not-
withstanding all this, Hydur AH, in hopes to avoid
actual conflict, still wisely advised him to submit,
but Nundi Raj would listen to none of his advice,
however prudent and politic, but prepared to defend
himself, and fired upon Hydur's camp.
That lion of the field of battle, therefore, could
hesitate no longer ; and he now gave orders to his
brave soldiers to commence the attack, who imme-
diately opened a fire of all arms, guns, muskets, &c.
on the fort. The fire of war was consequently lighted
up on all sides, and both parties fought courage-
ously ; but, at length, by their valour and strength
of arm Hydur Alf s fearless troops brought on the
heads of the besieged a resemblance of the day of
Judgment. Still, their chiefs defended themselves
with great bravery for three months, when, their
provisions and ammunition becoming exhausted,
they surrendered, and Nundi Raj, agreeably to the
desire of his friends, accompanied by his family in
carriages, proceeded to Hydur*s camp and his
65
troops marched out of the fort, and leaving a gar-
rison in it, and taking with him Nundi Raj, Hydur
returned to Seringaputtun, where Nundi Raj was
placed in confinement. In obedience to orders from
the Raja, Hydur by artful means obtained the
patents of the Prime Minister and other papers
from Nundi Raj ; and then, by the sanction of
the Raja, and the recommendation of the Chiefs
of the Government, the office of Prime Minister,
was given to the Brahman Khundi Rao, an old ser-
vant, Hydur supposing him, faithful, and he received
strict orders to do nothing in affairs of Govern-
ment without the knowledge and sanction of Hydur.
In this matter Hydur, however, was unsuspicious
and ignorant of the changes which the revolving
heavens, or the arch conjurer Time, (who varies
his tricks every moment), might bring about.
As soon as he had delivered up his patents to
Hydur, having nothing fiirther to care for, and con-
sidering his residence in such circumstances at
Seringaputtun a degradation, Nundi Raj with great
eloquence pleaded for and obtained leave to retire
to his three Jageers, which had belonged to him of
old and which he still possessed; these Jageers
were, the Kusba or town of Kinnoor, Puria Puttun,
and Arkul Goorah, with Anchiti Droog, a perpe-
tual or permanent assignment — ^he himself resid-
66
ing at the town of Kennoor^ and maintaining^
for the protection and regulation of his depen-
dencies^ six or seven hundred horse^ two thousand
regular infantry^ and about four thousand Kamatic
foot; and thus he rested from his labours, and
enjoyed himself.
About this time, Suraj ud Dowla Muhammad
All Khan, Wala Jah, at the instigation of the En-
glish^ marched with a body of troops to attack
Pondicherry, The French immediatly sent a Va-
keel, or messenger, to Hydur Ali, the noise of
whose courage and political ability had reached
the utmost comers of the earth ; but whose fame
was more particularly known in the countries of
Hind and the Dukhun, and requested he would
afford them aid ; offering to give up, for the sup-
port of the troops sent to their assistance, the
revenues of two Purganas, one Chinchee, and the
other Tyag Gurh, both which depended on them.
Hydur, the protector of the helpless, immediately
stained the finger of the Vakeel's request with the
henna of accordance, and dispatched a force of three
thousand horse, six thousand regular, and two thou-
sand Kamatic in&ntry, under the command of Syud
Mukhdoom, his half brother, with abundance of
stores^ ammunition, and provisions, to Pondicherry.
Vii^ith Syud Mukhdoom, on his departure, was
67
associated a certain Asud Khan Mahkuri, Najoit,
who had been formerly in the service of the Chief
of Kirpa^ and had been appointed to the Barh
Mahl district This man was universally known
for his excessive bravery^ and had no equal in his
kind regard for his comrades^ — ^but it may not be
uninteresting to mention here some instances of his
bravery. When Abdul Mujeed Khan was killed^ by
the hand of Bulwunt Rao, the Mahratta, Imrut Rao^
also a chief of the Mahrattas, was sent by his orders
with five hundred horse, and two thousand foot, to
take possession of the, Barh Mahl district. Having
plundered the Kusba of Wanambari, he was^ ad-
vancing further, when this brave fellow, feeling his
honour as Foujdar rather roughly handled, by the
Mahrattas, and his blood being up, sallied forth from
the town of Tripatoor, and on an open space, to the
northward of that town, fell in with the Mahrattas;
and, not taking any account of their numbers, with
only five horsemen he attacked them as a tiger
attacks a herd of deer, and actually beat them off his
bounds ; the said Imrut Rao being wounded in the
action. Sometime after this event, Uzeez Khan, a
one-eyed man, being envious of this brave man's re-
putation, obtained for himself the agency or lieuten-
ancy of this district, and arrived to take possession.
Offended at the neglect and want of appreciation of
68
his services, shewn by the Chief of Kirpa, Mohsun
Khan^ (alias Moocha Mean,) Asud Khan of his own
accord left his service, and took up his residence at
Rai Vellore. Knowing his value, the Nawaub Baha-
dur sent for him, at the same time providing him
with funds for his expenses and carriage. This
officer was therefore now attached to Syud Mulch-
doom's force, and the Syud marched with his mi i-
tary stores from Seringaputtun to Bangalore, where
he learned that the Poligar of Anikul had given up
the care of his own dominions, and, being tired of
governing, had presumed to oppress his people
and despoil his own relations and servants of their
rights.
Mukhdoom, therefore, taking advantage of an
opportunity, suddenly surprised him in the night
and sent him off a prisoner to Seringaputtun.
Placing a garrison in his fort, he then marched on.
At this time, news arrived, that the Barh Mahl dis-
trict, from the tyranny of Uzeez Khan, the one-eyed
slave of Moocha Mean, the Chief of Kirpa, had fallen
into disorder, all the inhabitants having been plun-
dered by him ; and that some of them had actually
arrived, to complain of their hard treatment, and to
request the Khan to restore order among them.
Syud Mukhdoom, however desirous and determined
he might be to protect them, still dared not advance
69
a foot without Hy dur^s commands. After some con-
sideration, therefore, he addressed a letter to Hydur,
who, on receiving his letter, without hesitation, dis-
patched an answer, authorizing him to undertake
the protection or regulation of the district, without
further delay.
Passing, therefore, with his troops by the defile
of Rai Kote, Syud Mukhdoom immediately came in
contact with Uzeez Khan, who, with his troops,
forthwith abandoned the country, without fighting
and fled to Kirpa. Mukhdoom, therefore, after
having placed garrisons in the forts and hill forts,
&c. of the Barh Mahl, and left Asud Khan Mah-
kuri there as Foujdar, advanced toward Pondi-
cherry, and conducted his march thither with such
address, that he arrived there without being mo-
lested or opposed by any one ; after which, making
a vigorous night attack on the English Troops,
detached to guard the trenches or batteries, he with
all his stores and ammunition safely entered the fort.
The besiegers, however, being subsequently more
on their guard, by the fire of their guns and small
arms effectually closed in future the road, in or out,
to the besieged. Notwithstanding this, Syud Mukh-
doom encamped with his troops near Vallinoor,
and took the defence of the city on himself. With
regard to the Purguna of Chinchi, which is eighteen
70
kose west from Pondicherry, the authority of the
French had ceased there^ and it had fallen into the
hand of the Chief of Arkat, Muhammad All Khan ;
the government was not therefore in Mukhdoom^s
hands. Tyag Gurh, however, which was a very
distant dependency, was placed under the authority
of Mukhdoom's agent who remained there.
Pending the defence of Pondicherry, however,
for want of hay, com, &c., the troops and cattle
suffered greatly ; and most of the horses and camels
became useless or died for want of forage; but,
notwithstanding these hardships and difficulties, the
garrison continued to make a brave defence.
71
CHAPTER VII.
An account of the treachery of the Chiefs of the Mysore state,
and the base ingratitude of the proud and foolish Brahman, Khun-
di Rao, to his patron ; and his arriving at the punishment due to
his bad actions. Also the invasion, or incursion, of Esajee Beenee
Mahratta." 1170 Hijri. A. D. 1756.
When the villain Brahman^ Khundi Rao, by the
kindness and aid of his master, had obtained free of
expense or trouble, the Seven Sunnuds of the De-
wanni, or first ministership of the Mysore State and
when he saw that the rest of the officers of govern-
ment were not averse to his views and policy, he
imagined that his own good fortune and propitious
stars had aided him in the work, and that the
heavens revolved to accomplish his designs. In a
very short time, therefore, for this very reason — that
the water of a little pool, soon becomes ojSensive, and
that a dog has no relish for the sweetness of rice and
milk, — he with a hope of establishing his own in-
auspicious power, turned his back on his patron ;
^y>^ Signifies the nose, but by the Mahrattas the advanced
guard of a body of troops is called the Beenee.
72
g
and^ considering himself independent in the bindin
and loosing all matters of state^ he unrighteously
placed the foot of his designs beyond the circle of
his ability^ and planned the expulsion and destruc-
tion of his master^ and his establishment ; indeed,
did his best to root out his power and authority.
With this purpose, he in private addressed himself
to the Raja, in the following terms — '^ This con-
temptible Naik, (meaning Hydur,) has increased
to his present height, and power^ by the favour
and benefits conferred on him by the Maharaja,
and has become the possessor of wealth, territor}%
and a military force ; and this in truth seems
likely to be the cause of much danger to your
authority.' God forbid, a foreigner or stranger, for
instance, a Mussulman, should enter into the
affairs of this government, and thus cheaply obtain
possession of the riches and power accumulated and
established, by the labour of so many years. — If how-
ever, I am permitted, I will exert my abilities in the
destruction of his power. Verses from Sadi^ *' A
tree which has just taken root may be pulled up
by the strength of a man ; but if let alone for a
The tree that jnst has taken root
Men can tear up ; but, if aUowed to stay
'nil rolling years its strength recruit.
Waggon, nor team, shall rend it then away.
73
time^ you cannot pull it up with a waggon^ or^ a
team of horses/'
The Raja^ inexperienced and low minded, and an
example that rank does not confer capacity^ lent a
willing ear to these suggestions, but still with
a cautious regard to his own safety ; for^ he allowed
the ungrateful Brahman to act as he pleased in the
matter, but himself preserved the strictest silence.
Verses. ^' He, (Khundi Rao,) was like the base born
silk worm, who when he invests himself with a silken
robe of honour, loses himself." He did not reflect,
that treachery never fails to bring contempt and de-
gradation in the end, but spread the net of his wiles,
over the whole of the officers, and servants, of the My-
sore government, and associated them in his plans.
At the same time, he wrote to the Chief, (the
Nazim), of Poona, in the following terms, — " That
a certain Mussidman, a servant of inferior rank,
had increased in power to that degree, that he had
seized and usurped the whole of the wealth and
territory of Mysore, and had grown so arrogant
that the Raja had nothing left to him but the name ;
and that, if the Poona State would now assist
them, and remove or take away this Mussulman,
the yearly tribute, with two Lakhs of Rupees, Nuz-
zur, or as a present, and five Lakhs of Rupees, for
the expenses of the subsidiary troops, should be
74
immediately paid.** This letter being dispatched^
he waited for opportunities and an answer.
As Hydur had detached a great part of his troops^
to Pondicherry, and another body of troops under
the Foigdari of Meer AU Ruza Khan, for the ne-
cessary protection of the Barh Mahl, he was left
with only two or three risalas of regular infantry,
(consisting of about fifteen hundred men) four hun-
dred horse of his own stables, and a thousand foot
without arms, in his encampment, which was near
the Deo Rai Peeth, on the bank of the river, (Kau-
veri) where also his family, relations, dependents
and workmen, resided. By prudence and foresight,
however, and observing closely the conduct and
movements of the &ithless Rao, he gained some
information, which induced him to provide, as is
proper for all persons in authority, for his own
safety, by raising two or three batteries round his
residence, and keeping his guns mounted and in
readiness. But, notwithstanding this, Hydiu: fre-
quently sent for the Brahman, imder pretence of
particular business, and to ascertain what he was
about ; for, whatever might be his conduct, Hydur
still had confidence in him, and merely wanted by
kindness and gentleness to prove his political capa-
city. Verse. *' Heat will bring iron out of stone,**
by gentleness one may insinuate himself as water
75
into steel/ The Brahman^ however, under various
pretexts^ put off his attendance from today to to-
morrow, and often sent word, that the Raja would
not allow him to leave the fort, but that, if Hydur
himself would come, and ask the Raja's leave, he,
Khundi Rao, was ready to return with him. By
these strange answers Hydiu: was filled with doubt
and thrown into great perplexity ; he did not, how-
ever, lose courage, or neglect any means to pro-
tect himself.
When the letters, before mentioned, arrived at
Poena, M adhoo Rao, the son of Nana, greedy of
the things of this world, which is the Paradise of
the covetous — verses, '* The covetous, with all the
riches of the world are never satisfied, the cup of
the bubble is not filled by the sea**"* — ^he immediately
dispatched Esajee Pundit Beenee, (that is the Chief
of the Mahratta advanced guard,) with forty thou-
sand horse and twenty thousand foot ; and the
artillery, which Nana had left in the Souba Sura,
when he returned to Poona, was given to him, to
accompany him.
When the news of the arrival of the Mahrattas
^ Hie temper of steel is called the water.
^ Though all earth's treasures he possessed.
Unsatisfied the covetous would be :
The babble, on the water's breast,
Remains unfilled by all the boundless sea.
76
reached the false Brahman, he formed a deep
scheme the same night, and the next morning shut
the gates of the fort, pointed the largest guns
in the direction of his patron's (Hydur's) camp
or cantonments, and fired several shots at them.
Hydur, who was in his Dewan Khana, on hear-
ing this left it, and having viewed the fort, saw
a change of policy was in contemplation, and that
his secret suspicions were now about to be verified.
He however, thought — verses, *' what does the
(Kargus)* vulture enjoy of life but carrion — of what
advantage is a long life to a fool.** — He, therefore,
immediately manned his defences with musketeers,
and also, without the knowledge of any one dis-
patched a number of men, and seized all the Amba-
kars' of the river (Kauveri) side with their baskets,'
it being now the time of the flood, (rains), and made
them prisoners. Then, having placed his infantry
and cavalry in readiness round his house, he sent
for the writers of his difierent departments, and
made them write out distinct lists of what he was
possessed of, in valuable cloths, elephants, camels,
arms, and the most precious of his household pro-
perty, as rich stufis, utensils, &c., and arranged all
{j^^ ' Watermen.
> Baskets covered with skins, used as boats.
77
this business by midday. During that time, the per-
fidious^ Brahman, with a body of horse and foot,
made a sortie from the Mysore gate, and attacked
Hydur's encampment; but the men Hydur had
placed in his batteries gave them such a warm re-
ception with their guns and musketry, that they
were defeated and fled ; and although they returned
and repeated their foolish attacks, they were con-
stantly repelled.
In the evening, Hydur having collected from his
Zanana, all his money, and valuables in gold, silver,
and precious stones, and placed them in bags, and
having consoled and comforted his family and de-
pendants ; he with two or three hundred well
moimted horse, taking with him his bags of gold
and jewels, crossed the river in baskets,* and, march-
ing all night, arrived the next morning at Anikul.
Having made his arrangements here in an hour or
two, Hydur next addressed a letter to Kubeer Beg,
the Kiladar of Bangalore informing him that he
might expect him there. That worthy friend, on
hearing of the approach of Hydur, was well pleased ;
but as the chief civil officers^ (Huzaurian), were
' These lia'^ket boats appear to have been used in Ireland, and
there called Corragh» they are described as— Carabus-parva scapha
ex vimine facta quae contexta crudo corio genus navigii praebet.
78
the servants of the Raja^ he was apprehensive
of them, and he therefore devised the following
plan. Under pretence of visiting some gardens in
the vicinity, he assembled the civil officers of the
fort,' and took them out with him ; giving orders,
to the guards at the gates, not to oppose the en-
trance of Hydur Ali Khan Bahadur, and his fol-
lowers, as he was coming to the fort on particular
business from Seringaputtun. The Mirza, after
this, dispatched a letter, inviting him to Bangalore.
As soon as Hydur saw this letter, from his trusty
well wisher, he with great satisfaction marched into
the fort ; and, having quietly placed guards of his
own men on the gates and Posterns, he now made
himself easy. After staying out an hour or two,
the Mirza returned with the officers, and imme-
diately visited Hydur, who, by his presents and
promises to the officers and men of the old garrison,
so completely won their hearts, that they all agreed
to serve him, and sacrifice their lives for him when-
ever required.
After the settlement of this affair Hydur imme-
diately sent for all the bankers and merchants of
the city, and having given them assignments,* or
drafts, for the amount, he took fifty Lakhs of Ru-
pees from them. He also informed M eer All Ruza
79
Khan of his arrival alone at Bangalore^ and the cir-
cumstances which led to his arrival^ and requested
him to (5ome to him. He likewise wrote to M ukh-
doom Sahib, at Pondicherry, informing him of the
treachery of the ungrateful Brahman, the incursion
of the M ahrattas, at the invitation of that seditious
person ; and his (Hydur's) having in consequence
sought refuge at Bangalore^ without troops or
stores^ and he requested Mukhdoom to join him
immediately. When, however, Meer All Ruza
Khan, with his troops, amounting to about two
thousand regular infantry, (Bar,^) three hundred
horse, a thousand irregular foot, and five guns,
arrived, Hydur felt still more confident ; and, being
now strong in heart, he threw up batteries" or out-
works at Busoon Goori and Hussoor, and en«
camped there, occupying himself in collecting horse
and foot.
When the ungrateful Brahman found, on the
next day, that the lion° had left his old huntmg
ground, and had hoisted the standard of valour in
the manhood-testing field of Bangalore, spreading
the terror of his name in all quarters of the world,
he proceeded with a few men to Hydur's encamp-
ment and having seized all the property remaining
The word jy signifies a wall of a town, a hedge, &c.
m I ** n
*ld/V J*\r^ Signifies a lion in arabic.
80
there, he carried it into the fort^ and placed the
fimiily^and the fortunate son of Hydur/ (then about
seven years of age), in an empty Iiouse near the
All M usjid, which at that time was a Hindu temple,
and posted a guard over them. He next, without
the least delay, began to remove and to replace the
Killadars and Talookdars of Mysore, or the com-
manders of forts and districts, and assembled a
body of troops, for the conquest of Bangalore.
In the intermediate time Esajee Beenee, with his
heavy force, arrived, like a hungry hawk, pouncing
on its prey, and the Brahman, estimating his arrival
as an instance of the greatest good fortune, sug-
gested to him the plan to be pursued in regard to
Hydur, and made him a present of Hydur's ele-
phants, about thirty in number, (which he, Hydur,
was training, and for which he had paid a large price,)
with other valuables. Then sending him with in-
junctions to capture the fort of Bangalore, and
make Hydur AH prisoner, he speedily followed,
with a force of nine thousand horse, fourteen thou-
sand foot and a train of heavy guns, and soon
also arrived there.
" In one manuscript a yerae is inserted here— 4W«e " from whose
forehead rank and dignity shone resplendent" — giving notice to
the world heforehand.
The rank and dignity, which all might see
Resplendent od his hrow, told what the man would he.
81
In the meanwhile^ the Mahrattas had raised a
terrible storm in the vicinity of Bangalore, and had
so pillaged, and destroyed the people, that most of
the towns and villages, from the constant ravages
of that ill omened army, were left without an in-
habitant.P But, during these proceedings what-
ever approaches were pushed on, trenches dug,
or batteries raised, to breach the fort, were ren-
dered of no avail ; for the soldiers of Hydur fre-
quently sallied forth, and burned their trenches,
and victoriously repelled their assaults.
At this time, Mukhdoom Sahib, according to
Hydur*s requisition, having taken leave of the
French at Pondicherry, with the same worn out
body of troops, the state of which has been before
described, arrived by forced marches at Tyag
Gurh ; and, having taken fbur guns from the top of
the mountains, brought them along with him, and,
marching through the Pass of Tippoor, arrived at
Kishengiri. Here he took some necessary supplies
of provisions and ammunition, from Asud Khan
Mahkari, the Foujdar, and, giving him a receipt for
the same, then marched by Rai Kote to Anikul.
Upon hearing of Mukhdoom's arrival there raging
like a mad elephant, with a large force, the Brahman
and the Mahrattas,immediately determined to attack
Q
82
him. Accordingly, with their plundering horse and
foot they let loose their courage for the fight, and,
although camel-hearted,*» they being in numbers like
locusts, arrayed themselves in great force against
him on the field. Mukhdoom Sahib, nevertheless,
did not give the game out of his hands ; but
arranged his artillery and infantry on the lower
grounds, while he himself, with his light-bridled
and well-trained horse, intending to give them a
lesson, kept the higher parts of the ground. The
two Surdars, (the Brahman and Mahratta), in their
pride, not estimating the bravery of their oppo-
nents, as they appeared few in number, imme-
diately charged them, and Mukhdoom Sahib re-
tiring with his horse, and giving the signal to rise
to the parties he had placed in ambush, they imme-
diately rose, and opening a heavy fire of artiUery
and musketry, killed a great number of the infidel
Mahrattas. Nor did they withdraw their hands
while they had power fi-om slaying and plundering
their enemies, and thousands on both sides were
stretched on the field of death.
The Mahrattas were defeated, and fled ; but,
towards the evening, they reassembled, and sur-
rounded and besieged Mukhdoom's lions, buzzing
round them like flies continually. Mukhdoom,
4 Cowards.
83
therefore, forwarded a letter to Hydur All, stating
his arrival at Anikul, with stores and ammunition,
and his being surrounded and besieged by the Mah*
rattas and Brahman*s troops.
On receiving this letter, Hydur, by using his in-
telligence and prudence to the best end, and agree-
ably to the rules of those who love to overcome
difficulties, immediately wrote and despatched a
letter to Nundi Raj, informing him that the Brah-
man, Khundi Rao, had followed the path of treachery
and rebellion, and that he himself had been com-
pelled to abandon his station and property, and
separate himself from his family. He also made
known to him the arrival of his troops from Pondi-
cherry, and their being prevented from joining him
by the two vile Infidels, the Mahrattaand Mysorean,
and their want of some place of support or refuge.
When the Dulwai heard the terms of this letter
from that great and illustrious man his old friend-
ship again warmed his heart, and he became
convinced that the misfortunes which had before
befallen him arose from the villany of this Brah-
man. He, therefore, wrote a kind and conso-
latory letter in reply, with a note to the Killa-
dar of Anchiti Droog, directing that provisions
should be supplied to Mukhdoom Sahib's troops,
and that they should be allowed to seek support
and refuge under the protection of the guns of that
84
hill fort, the garrison there being his. This note
Hydur immediately forwarded, with corresponding
suggestions of his own, to M ukhdoom Sahib. Mukh-
doom, who, in opposing his enemies and preserving
his own troops, had been for three or four days
exposed to great difficulties, but who, notwithstand-
ing he had two armies to contend with, had never
quitted the field, however pressed by force or ar-
tifice;' and who, during all this time, whilst op-
pressed by the want of water, forage, com, and
carriage, had still maintained himself in the same
place by dint of hard fighting ; on receiving the
letters of his master, and the orders of Nundi Raj,
immediately formed his troops, and attacked his
opponents, and the two worthless chiefs, finding
they could not resist his brave soldiers, retired like
foxes before them ; but, nevertheless, still continued
to surround the victorious army, and occupied
themselves in playing off their treacherous wiles.
Mukhdoom, however, without fear or hesitation,
with his right and left wings under the command
of his experienced officers of horse and foot,
marched, still keeping up a hot fire, straight to the
Droog, before mentioned, and forwarded the order
of Nundi Raj to the KiUadar. The Killadar, on
receiving it, immediately admitted the troops to
the protection of the hill fort, and furnished them
85
with provisions and articles needful to them of all
kinds^ at reasonable prices, and he thereby obtained
great credit.
The Mahrattas, however, when they saw this
state of affairs, sent for their artillery, commenced a
distant fire on M ukhdoom's troops, and also made
incessant attacks on them. One day and two nights
passed in this way, but, on the third night, Mukh-
doom, with some brave and experienced officers, two
hundred (Kulahposh) Europeans,' and two thousand
regular infantry, after climbing hills, and descend-
ing vallies, in the darkness of the night, arrived in
the rear of the enemjr's camp, and made such a fierce
attack on them, that, losing with their senses all
power to fight, they fled to the deserts of shame and
bitter reflection, and the two inexperienced chiefs,
that is Esajee Beenee and the seditious Rao, seeing
this sudden calamity, alone, without any covering
for their heads or feet, fled and escaped from the
conflict. Of their troops, some who awakened from
their sleep of forgetfulness laid hold of their swords
and muskets, and, making no distinction between
friend and foe, slew each other; the rest, both
horse and foot, each seizing his opportunity, fled
from this trial of manhood, and, by tears and sup-
plications, saved their lives from the hands of
Hydur's blood drinkers.
86
Haying gained a great victory^ Mukhdoom re-
joicing had his conquest proclaimed by his loud
kettle drums^ on the portals of the world ; and, in
the mornings with the baggage of the defeated
Mahrattas, their guns and stores, which lay about
in heaps, he returned to his ground of encampment.
The next day the two defeated chiefs again col-
lected their followers ; and, Uke crows cawing with
cries of ha and hoo, notwithstanding their dis-
persion, and the confusion of their faculties, again
assembled in one place.
About this time, Nundi Raj wrote to the Mah-
rattas, that Hydur All Khan was the pillar of the
Mysore State, and that he had not only established
just claims on that state, but that he might be con-
sidered its master ; that, at this time, a low servant
of his, a Brahman, according to the verse, " When
the lair is empty the fox gives himself all the airs
of the lion,"* being spoiled by the favor and kind-
ness of his master, — verses, " He who is wicked
will never fail to do evil — the faithless man can
never be trusted, — had rebelled against him, but
that his labour was useless, for this wicked action
could not be profitable to him — " Confidence can-
not be placed in a low man for more than a hour
or two — The scum which rode at the top, soon
^ When from his lair the lion's g^ne,
The lion's airs the fox puts on.
87
sinks to the bottom of the vessel"" — '* And that it
was not worthy of them (that is the Mahrattas)^ that
they should interfere thus for him in the govern-
ment of the Mysore country, that if they wished to
obtain the money due for the Chouth, or Tribute^
they should first consider how they might obtain its
pajrment^ and afterwards return home^ without loss
or damage.** After the receipt of this letter from
Nundi Raj^ the Mahratta put less confidence in the
Brahman, Khundi Rao, and some angry words
passed between them ; and as the Mahrattas had
suffered much from the troops of Hydur, they con-
ceived it their best policy to return home, and, ac-
cordingly Esajee made known his intentions to Hy-
dur, demanding, at the same time, a sum of money.
In reply Hydur pleaded his poverty, from the loss of
his property, which had been plundered through the
intrigues and rebellion of the Brahman ; but he pro-
mised that, as soon as he should have established his
power, and had time to regulate his departments,*
" The man who has a wicked mind
Wicked ever wilt thou find :
Put in a faithless man no trust.
Not for an hour can he be just :
The scum, that floated on the top,
Down to the bottom soon will drop.
88
the aoiount should be paid. The M ahrattas now
requested he would give up to them the Barh M ahl ;
and, as they strenuously insisted on this gift, Hydur,
to please them, and as a temporary expedient, sent
an order, written in the name of Asud Khan Mah-
kurri, the Foujdar of Kishengiri, to give up the dis-
trict of the Barh M ahl. Sealing it with his large
seal, but without enclosing it m an envelope, he
thus despatched it to the Mahrattas ; and Esajee,
delighted to obtain it, and conceiving that all is gain
which is saved out of a burning house, immediately
marched from the vicinity of Bangalore.
Hydur now, with the rapidity of lightning, march-
ed, and joined the force of M ukhdoom Sahib, and
encamped outside the fortress of Bangalore with his
troops and stores. He then secretly wrote to the
Foujdar of the Barh M ahl, that it was merely with a
view to expediency and his own security, that he had
written an order to him, without an envelope, to
give up the Barh M ahl district ; but that he, (the
Foujdar), was to keep his station, with all his force
and ability, perfectly independent, and on no ac-
count to allow the Mahratta to enter or possess
himself of the fort. The prudent Foujdar, there-
fore, independent, and at his leisure, provided for
the defence of his forts.
In the mean time, Esajee, the Beenee, arrived
89
with his deceptious orders at Kishengiri, and for-
warded it to the Foujdar^ with his own demand
of the surrender of the fort. On receiving the
order that able and obedient man demanded a
repetition of it in his name^ with the signature of
his master^ and the impression of his private seal ;^
and further intimated^ that he could never think of
giving up forts and territory to a single order, and
that not even enclosed in an envelope. When the
Mahratta insisted on an authentic repetition of the
order^ Hydur plainly told him, that no order or
signature should be repeated ; and the Mahratta
saw, by such a manly answer, that his negociation
had been baffled, and that there was no use in
squabbling about it, as the country could never be
retained in his possession.
While he was in this distress, his intelligencers
brought him information, that Hydur, with the
troops of Meer All Ruza and Mukhdoom Sahib, had
left, like a hungry Uon, his lair in the fort of Ban-
galore, and had encamped on the plain of Jugni ;
and that his eye was eagerly directed to his ene-
mies, as to a flock of sheep. The heart of the
Mahratta failed him when he heard this, and he
marched off» without attaining his object.
The Brahman, Khundi Rao, when the Mahratta
V
90
«
moved towards the Barh Mahl had slunk' back to
Seringaputtun. Hydur AU, with his victorious
troops, now marching by the route of Makri Droog,
placed garrisons of his own in that Droog, and at
Ootri Droog, Chenraiputtun, Cheenaputtun,' &c. ;
and then proceeded, by the Mooti Talaub, and
Churkoli, towards Periaputtun, to meet Nundi
Raj.
At this time letters arrived, secretly despatched
from the grandmother of the Raja, to the effect
that, at this moment, in consequence of the impru-
dent and selfish views, and enmity of the foolish
chiefs or ministers, the power of their ancient
house, or family, had become so totally disordered,
that most of the seditious and rebellious^ were wait-
ing opportunities to seize and take possession of
the territory and wealth of their state. That in
these circumstances if he, Hydur, who was their
thrice fortunate (adopted) son, would return, and
restore the government to some order, place her
unfortunate family in safety and comfort, and en-
courage and promote the welfare of the country, it
would be only consistent with his name and cha-
racter.
When Hydur became acquainted with the con-
tents of these letters, he seized them as pledges and
^„J>' ■ Also called Muddoor. J^^
91
patents/ establishing his claim to the supreme au-
thority of the Khodadad^ (the name which Hydur
All gave to the state of Mysore,) ; and, putting the
letters into his pocket, he wrote and forwarded a
a conciliatory epistle in reply. From this place
he marched straight to visit Nundi Raj, and met
him at a fortunate moment, and after having en*
joyed their meeting, they began to converse on
the villany and ingratitude of the Brahman, upon
whom Nundi Raj bestowed a few curses, and then
advised how he should be displaced and punished.
Hydur therefore immediately got his troops in rea-
diness to attack him, and Nundi Raj, also, placed
the force he had with him consisting of two thou-
sand foot, a thousand regular infantry, and seven
hundred horse, under Hydur's command for the
same purpose.
Khundi Rao, meanwhile, with a body of troops
amounting to seven thousand horse, twelve thou-
sand foot, and Manuel the European at the head of
eight hundred Chittikars, with ten or twelve guns,
was likewise on his march, to attack Hydur ; but,
although he affected to make Periaputtun his
ground of encampment, still, from the fear of the
manhood of Hydur s character and the promptitude
of his hand and sword against his enemies, he
92
trembled day and night ; indeed^ his fears so pre-
vailed that he could neither eat nor sleep. It
happened^ too, that in his encampment a horse
broke his heel ropes one night, and fell upon
another horse, and both began neighing"^ and kick-
ing each other. This creating much alarm in his
camp, the men and women within it began to cry
out, " the enemy are come ! the enemy are come !"
and the alarm was so great, that they all fell into
such confusion, that some from fright laid hold of
their swords, and blindly slew each other, and
most of the merchants, having lost their goods
in the tumult, stmck the hand of grief on the fore-
head of their bad luck. When, however, the morn-
ing dawned, and they could discover nothing of
the Kuzzaks of Hydiu:*s army, (the burners of their
enemies,) whom they so much feared, they became
ashamed of their foolish alarm, and ventured to
take a little rest.
Hydur, on the other hand, on hearing of the mis-
chief that had be&Uen the Brahman's troops, was
much comforted, and next day formed the right
and left wings of his army, and marched straight to
his enemy. The Brahman* also put his troops in
readiness, and formed them in good position and
« ZooDnardir, alluding to the Brahminical string.
93
order ; but, nevertheless, the heavy fire of Hydur's
guns and musketry at once defeated his force,' which
was totally dispersed.
Khundi Rao, therefore, mounting a horse, swift as
lightning, and wet with the sweat of shame, flew hke
a hail storm ; and, passing through a thousand diffi-
culties and dangers, escaped to Seringaputtun. His
cavalry with their horses, and his entire infantry,
regular and irregular battalions, with their arms and
accoutrements, became, as they were before, the
servants of Hydur, the friend of the soldier, and
prepared to oppose his enemies. Hydur, (the poor
man*s friend as he is called,) now marched after the
fugitive Brahman, and crossing the river, (Cauvery),
by the ford of Choongul, encamped with his troops
in the neighbourhood of Manai Mundup, where,
having placed his largest guns in one battery, he, for
an example, fired a few shot at the Dewaun Khana,
or palace, of the Raja, to frighten the inmates of
the women's apartments. As soon as the shot struck
the Zanana, (women's apartments), a mighty cry
arose from them, and the whole of the women, with
' Hydur in all his battles seems to have been indebted most to
his artillery, (or *3U- ^J^\) and his Kuropeiui and regcdar infantry
under Manuel, Lalii and other French and Portuguese. These offi*
cers appear to have done duty with the artillery in time of need, as
was the case when Baillie's detachment was defeated, the blowing
up of the tumbril being entirely ascribed to Lalli.
94
great noise and clamour^ went to complain to the
Raja. Frightened out of his senses at the tumult
and wailing of the women^ the Raja despatched a
messenger to Hydur, to tell him that^ from the
commencement of the government of his family^ and
the foundation of the capital^ to the present time,
no one of their servants had acted as he had done,
nor had any one of them presumed to fire guns or
muskets at his (the Raja's) house ; and he requested
Hydur would send orders to his artillery men to
desist from such insolence and outrage, and then
signify to him, (the Raja), what was his object In
reply to this message, Hydur sent word, that he
was the faithful adherent of the Raja, and his go«
vernment, but that an ungrateful servant, an enemy
of his, had sought refiige in the fort ; and, therefore,
those upon whom rested the responsibility of the de-
fence of the State, had used the presumption and
insolence of which the Raja complained ; but that,
if this man were given up to him, he was the same
friend he had ever been.
The Raja, being unable to evade this application,
had no remedy, and therefore, after exacting from
Hydur the most solemn covenant, that he would
not put the Brahman Khundi Rao to death, he
placed him under a guard, and sent him to Hydur,
and that dispenser of good to the world, having re-
96
gard to his oath and engagement, instead of im-
paling or dismembering him, which punishment he
richly merited, put him into an iron cage, like an
inauspicious crow, and sent him off to Bangalore.
Verily, if a man eat salt from the table of his mas-
ter*s benefits ; or, if he be cherished by the hand
of a generous patron, and ungratefully betray him,
or rebel against him ; the true avenger of ingrati-
tude, in a short time will cause him to be taken in
the net of his own perfidy — verses, " To show en-
mity to a man with a pure breast, is only enmity
to one*s self," '' whoever unsheaths his dagger at a
looking glass draws it on himself."
96
CHAPTER VIII.
An account of the regulation (perhaps capture) of the City of
Seringaputtun, with other events of the year 1171. Hijri. A. D.
1757. September 14th.
When Hydur had thus overcome his difficulties in
this contest, and had conquered the enemies of the
Khodadad, he fulfilled his duty in offering unli-
mited thanksgiving and praise to the Almighty for
his favours; and, on the following day, he sent
word to the Raja, that, if it were permitted, he, his
servant,' would visit his family in the fort. The
Raja with great readiness and pleasure, gave orders
to the guards, at the gates of the fort, to admit
Hydur; and he himself, under pretence of taking
the air, mounted his horse and went to meet him.
Having arrived at his encampment, he, to obtain
his friendship, showered an abundance of gold and
jewels on his valiant head, and presented him
ornaments such as bracelets, gorget, &c., set with
jewels ; bade him welcome, and congratulated
him on his victory and good fortune ; and invited
97
him to the fort. Hydur, however, cautious and
penetrating, considered that entering the fort in
company with the Raja would be an act quite
incompatible with the prudence and circumspection
indispensable to understanding men ; and he, there-
fore, made an excuse that the day or hour was
an unlucky one, and put off his visit to his
family, particularly to his son of exalted fortune,
(whose valuable existence was in truth the founda-
tion of the Khodadad State,) until the next day.
Then, having made a present to the Raja of a
number of horses, and valuable cloths or dresses,
he sent him off to the fort, and remained during
that night where he was. The next morning, how-
ever, taking with him a strong body of troops, he
entered the fort, and posted confidential men of his
own on the gates, posterns, and offices of the fort,
and even on the gates of the Raja's Hall of Audi-
ence, and his Zanana, he placed his own men. He
then went with confidence to meet his family, and
enjoyed himself with them in security. Under
pretence of transacting. some business of his own,
he next visited Nundi Raj, and, with the policy and
regard to expediency of a conqueror and statesman,
having pleased or satisfied him, he took him and his
wife, children, relations, and dependents, and placed
them in his own house ; and, then prostrating him-
H
98
self before the throne of the all powerful Dispenser
of grace and favour, his drums and trumpets made
the city resound to their joyful strains.**
In truth, why should he not do so ? When he
had restored the country of Mysore, already half
dead, to new life and vigour ! When, many times,
purely in supporting this State of Mysore ; he,
Hydur, had fought with the Mahrattas and other
rebels,' and by his great courage and individual
exertions and abilities, had defeated them, and had
himself regained and brought under his powerful
hand the country which before had been taken or
conquered! When, notwithstanding all his labours
and anxiety, the envious and short sighted con-
spired by vain arts to overthrow the house and for-
tune of that brave soldier ; turned the mind of
the fooHsh Raja against him, excited a tumult
to his prejudice ; and when all the hardships,
and travail, he had suffered in the protection of
the country was about to be gratuitously thrown
away and scattered to the winds by the designs
of his enemies. Then it was, therefore, that God
withdrew him from the anxiety and perplexity of
plans and schemes for the defence of the country
^ The Nobut and Nagara of the Mussuhnans are very musical.
* These modest gentlemen the Mussulmans apply the term
rebel to all their enemies.
99
against its enemies ; kept him in a place of security,
made him a king^ in territory and power ; and, still
more, placed him beyond the stormy sea of worldly
interest on the shore of safety, and made him the
grateful returner* of praises and thanksgivings to
God for the great benefits he had received. Verses.
" No man can obtain a crown without courage.*' —
*' Those who aim at exaltation, must waste by the
head like a taper."""
But, to return, — ^for some days and nights Hydur
occupied himself in regulating the broken down for-
tunes of the Mysore state, in discharging the disaf-
fected, the envious, and the seditious ; in levying
fines on the corrupt and cowardly civil servants, and
removing the dishonest; and in collecting troops,
stores, &c., necessary for the commander of an
army ; and, finally, having administered justice to
all, he attracted the hearts of the people, far and
near, by his liberality, his favour, his kindness,
and his affability, and thereby gained great fame.
Indeed, he undertook no measure without the
deepest consideration, grounded on his accurate
ji J *— V^ ^ prince or a Jagireddr.
' The author has placed here^^*-i^ for j^^ or the participle
passive for the agent.
■» None without valour ever won a crown !
The man that purposes to tread
The path which leads to empire or renown
Must waste, like tapers, hy the head.
100
perception of the best policy. His fortunate son,
(Tippoo), was now placed under the best masters,
who laboured to instruct him in all kinds of learn-
ing. The dependencies of Mysore, which are like a
flower garden, now received anew the freshness and
colour of security, and the hearts of those who were
envious of the prosperity of the country and govern-
ment became like the flowers of a garden in au-
tumn, faded and dead. Most of the dependencies
on the frontier, which had been lost to this state
from the incapacity of former ministers and chiefs,
by the exertions and abilities of Hydur, that Rus-
tum in disposition, were regained by his powerful
and grasping hand ; and now able men of various
tribes and nations, artificers of all countries, and
soldiers who, from the want of employment and the
neglect of merit by the former rulers of Mysore, had
been hiding in comers, like a sword in its sheath ;
at length had the rust and dirt rubbed off* the face
of their condition, by the furbisher of appreciation,
and, by the aid of their good fortune, like the spear,
carried their heads high, and presented themselves
erect to Hydur, who employed them in service pro-
portionate to their abilities and merit. According
to the desire of that cherisher of the people, mer-
chants, also, brought precious commodities from
every part of the world, with valuable horses, and
101
camels^ and^ in addition to the prices they demanded
for their goods^ they received handsome presents ;
many thousands of pounds being expended on the
security of the servants of the state for commission-
ing articles of rarity, and soldiers of approved
valour, from different parts of the world. In fact,
in performing the duty committed to his charge,
every one strove with all his heart to ensure its ac-
complishment. In truth, whenever the only true
Lord desires to make one of his slaves worthy of
the government of a country, and fit to be the
cherisher and defender of the poor, and to provide
for and support his subjects, he makes his person
the object of the regard of high and low, and his
actions the profit and benefit of the world. Verse.
*' Good fortune comes not by chance as they say it
does.""
But, to continue, although the ungrateful Brah-
man had received the reward of his actions, and the
root of mischief and rebellion in the country of
Mysore had been plucked up, still, to the south-
ward of Seringaputtun, or rather in the country of
the Payeen Ghaut, that is to say Koimbatore &c.,
where the vile Brahman had sent one of his own rela-
tions, to govern, disorders continued to prevail. This
■ Never, (aa some have idly thought)
Was yet by chance good fortune wrought.
102
base born fellow, as soon as he heard of the fate of
his principal^ having associated with him a number
of Naimars and seditious persons, created a great
disturbance. To suppress this revolt, and punish
him, Hydur dispatched two hundred horse, two ri-
salas, or regiments of regular infantry, and a thou-
sand irregular foot, under the command of Syud
Ismail, his brother in law, accompanied by Surdar
Khan, a very brave man.
As soon as the Sikkah "* in the name of the for-
tunate Hydur, by God*s gift became current, and
all things meet for kingly power and state were
taken possession of by him, such as the treasury,
gold, and jewels, the artillery and military stores,
Mukhdoom Sahib was appointed to the command
of the fort of Seringaputtun ; and, agreeably to the
request of the family of the reigning Raja, Nundi
Raj, and others, the customary allowances to them
were confirmed, and the Killadar was constituted
the Raja*s steward or purveyor. Hydur himself,
also, on a certain day, and at a fortunate hour,
visited the women's apartments of the Raja and
Nundi Raj, and, after consoling them, and assuring
the Raja of his care of his country p and authority,
he himself presented each of them (name by name),
with trays of dresses, or valuable cloths, and gold
® Impression on the coin. p i^Ijj^
103
and jewels, and then returned home to enjoy him-
self. Some of the Poligars of the frontier, as the
Koorg Raja, &c. who had previously placed the
cotton of forgetfulness in the ears of their under-
standing, seeing and fearing the strength and good
fortune of Hydur, now submitted to him.
After having regulated the affairs of the capital,
Hydur marched, with a body of his troops, to Ban-
galore, to pay the sum of money he had borrowed
or taken up from the bankers of that place, and
returned highly gratified when he had repaid them.
In the meanwhile, Ismail Sahib and Surdar Khan
had finished their operations, and, having taken
prisoners the relations of the Brahman Khundi Rao,
they returned to the Presence.
About this time, Budr uz Zuman Khan Nayut,
arrived from the vicinity of Runjungurh, with the
intention to enter into Hydur's service ; and, as
Hydur well knew both his father and grandfather
he esteemed his arrival a very fortunate occurrence,
and engaged him as Bukhshi to the regular infantry
Kutchuri, at five hundred rupees a month. About
this period, also, Hydur received information that
the Poligar of little Balapoor, vain of his troops and
his wealth, had raised the head of conceit to the
clouds of folly, that he had allured most of the
peasantry of the districts of Mysore to his territory.
104
by giving them advances in money; that it was
certain he entertained no fear of Hydur s lion like
troops; that without coercion he would never be
rendered tributary or obedient ; and that advice
and instruction were lost on him. Hydur, the dis-
penser of Justice, therefore, on hearing this, deter-
mined to go himself and root him out, and began
to collect troops and stores for that purpose.
105
CHAPTER IX.
The march of Bosalat Jung, to take possession of the Sonba of
Sara, and his conquest of that Souba, by the aid of Hydur All
Khan Bahadtir. Also, the transfer of the Sura to the hands of the
prudent Hydur, in the same year, 1171 Hijri. — A. D. 1757.
After the decease of Sulabut Jung, in the year
1166, H., Nizam AH Khan, Assud Jung, collected
a large force to attack the Mahrattas; and, at
the time Ballajee Rao Nana, with all his forces
and chiefs, had marched to reduce the province of
Khandeish, finding the coast clear, he by long
marches reached Poona, which he plundered and
burned ; he moreover destroyed all the temples,
killing cows in them, and then returned. The
Mahrattas, however, as soon as they heard this in-
telligence, followed Assud Jung by forced marches,
and overtook and surrounded him at the town of
Humnabad, where they gave him such a defeat that,
in the twinkling of an eye, destruction fell on the
whole of the force of the Moghuls, and, abandon-
ing all his baggage, and artillery, Assud Jung
sought refuge in the fort above mentioned, and was
besieged there ; his Ameers of old standing being
106
some taken prisoners, but mostly slain. At length
however, his affairs being remediless, Assud Jung
entered into a negotiation with the Mahrattas, and
by the advice of Pothail Das, his Dewaun, or
minister, gave up a country producing a revenue of
seventy Lakhs of Rupees; also two cities, the capitals
of the Sultans of the Dukhun, viz. Burhanpoor and
>
Bejapoor besides Ahmud Nuggur, Dowlutabad, and
the Souba of Sura. He then returned to Golconda,
and the whole of this territory remained in the hands
of the Mahrattas at the time when their mighty
army was defeated and destroyed by the Serabdalli,"*
near Gunjpoor, depending on Paniput Kurnal, and
Ballajee Rao, from excessive grief at his great loss,
died. Seizing the favourable opportunity thus
offered, Meer Shureef All Khan, Busalut Jung, the
governor of Adhooni, determined with his troops
and artillery to reduce or recover the Souba of
Sura ; and, with the assistance of Morar Rao, the
Chief of Gootti, and the Chief of Kurpa, he marched
to Huskote, (called by Wilks Ooscottu), which is a
fort and Purgana depending on Sura, garrisoned by
a detachment of Poona Mahrattas, and immediately
laid siege to it. Mokhund Sriput, who commanded
there, was a brave man, and, having strengthened the
works of the fort, he defended it so gallantly that
^ Afghans.
107
Busalut Jung of himself^ with his large force^ was
obliged to send to Hydur AIi Khan for assistance.
Hydur^ who was then at Bangalore^ occupied in
the chastisement of Sami Koora^ the refractory Poli-
gar of little' Balapoor, and also in the regulation
and improvement of his troops, seeing in this appli-
cation an opportunity of extending his authority,
immediately accepted it, and joined Busalut Jung,
but, although the latter invited him to pay him a
visit, and actually prepared to receive him, he de-
clined, and sent word to him, that first, he must
be informed what service he was expected to per-
form, and that, having obediently executed his
commands and obtained credit for the performance
of them, he would then pay him a visit. Busalut
Jung replied, by requesting him to attack and take
the fort. Accordingly, on the next day, the expe-
rienced Hydur proceeded round the fort, to recon-
noitre and examine the nature of the ground. He
then attacked the Town, which is to the eastward of
the fort, and took it at the first assault ; and, having
raised his batteries there, gave orders to his artillery
to fire at the walls of the fort as at a mark ; and
they soon drilled them as full of holes as a bird cage.
At the time, however, when he commenced the
fire of his artillery, he wrote to Busalut Jung, that
108
he was about to fire at the fort, and recommended
him to take care of himself; and his (Hydur's)
artillery men, agreeably to his orders, fired a few
shot from heavy guns in the direction of the Moghul
camp, which was about a fursung to the westward
of the forts, merely to give them an example of what
he could do. The Moghuls were not prepared for
this, and fell into much confusion, and Busalut
Jung, changed his ground of encampment to another
beyond a tank, northward of the fort.
But, to return, — Hydur continued for two or three
days firing, and battering the walls. On the fourth
day, he sent a message to those in the fort, that he
was a fortunate soldier, and if they cared at all for
their lives, and fortunes, and wished still to enjoy
them, that they must quit the fort, and they should
then, without molestation from any one, proceed
with their property where they liked, — that if not, he
would storm the fort, and in that case the garrison
with their wives and children should be put to the
sword. The Killadar, however, after many diffi-
culties and objections, having been at length as-
sured and satisfied, thought it best to submit
peaceably to the fortune of the Khodadad, and
delivered up his fort to Hydur, who placed a gar-
rison of his own in it, gave the Killadar his life and
property, to gratify him provided carriage for his
109
baggage as he required, and, with the consent and
advice of Busalut Jung^ sent him to Poona.
The next day, Hydur wrote to Busalut Jung,
that it was necesary he should send a garrison into
the fort, that he might withdraw his. The prudent
Busalut Jung, however, thought proper, from con-
venience, or policy, to leave the fort with its depen-
dencies to the charge of Hydur, and marched on
towards Sura. In two or three days, Hydur had
made all his arrangements for the charge of the for-
tress, and then marched, with his victorious troops
and artillery, by regular stages, to the environs of
Balapoor the greater, where he encamped. The
governor of the town. Abbas Kuli Khan, the son of
Durgah, Kuli Khan, recollecting his cruel treatment
of Hydur in former time, and fearing retribution, fled
with his women and indispensable baggage to Arkat.
Hydur, therefore, on hearing this, sent a garrison of
his own troops into the fort, and then marched and
joined Busalut Jung, the advanced guard of whose
army he selected as his post. Still, however, no meet-
ing or visit had passed between them, nor had they
ever spoken to each other, except through a medium.
When they arrived near Sura, Hydur encamped
nigh the Eed Gab, to the westward of the fort, and
the Moghul troops took up their position on a
Tank, to the eastward of the fort, which they sur-
110
rounded. Batteries were now thrown up, and ap-
proaches dug and carried on, and a sharp fire, and
the explosion of mines, were kept up continually.
As the operations against this fort, also, were
committed to the experience of Hydur, by degrees
the town was taken ; and batteries being raised,
and heavy cannon mounted thereon^ the walls of the
fort and the citadel were breached, and from the
constant fire of the guns, the shock or concussion
of which broke the hearts of the besieged, the
walls were completely knocked down. But, not-
withstanding all this, Trimuk Kishen, the Chief
of the Souba, did not lose heart, but for a month
continued valiantly to perform his duty as Killadar.
At length, however, the walls being levelled with
the ground, and being apprehensive of an assault
by Hydur's brave troops, he thought it best, for
his advantage, to seek Hydur*s protection, and
therefore requested that his and his garrison's lives
might be spared, and that he might receive Kowl,
or an assurance to that effect. Hydur, whose for-
tune was ever alert, kindly despatched to him as-
surances of safety, and sent for him, and then
placed a garrison of his own in the fort. The
dep6t of provisions and military stores, .which the
Mahrattas had collected for the conquest of the
Kamatic Balaghaut and Payeen Ghaut, and had
Ill
deposited in this fort, were all seized by him and ap-
plied to his own use ; and^ without any delay^ or the
knowledge of any one, he buried under ground all
the heavy artillery, and such stores as he wished to
reserve for himself, and throwing out four or five
pieces of artillery damaged and split at the muzzles
with a parcel of old and useless stores, he sent a
letter with his congratulations, (Mobarikbadi), on
the capture of the place, to Busalut Jung.
The next day, Busalut Jung mounted his horse,
and came to the fort to inspect it, and the large
magazine of military stores, guns, &c, which the
Mahrattas were said to have kept here, and of
which he had heard so much, from his spies ; the
experienced Hydur first met him outside the fort, and
then accompanying him inside, and having wheedled
and talked him over with fool-deceiving words, he
presented him with the keys of the fort, and showed
him, one by one, the articles he had allowed to re-
main.* However, after having inspected them all,
Busalut Jung took only three large guns, which had
belonged to the body guard of the murdered Nawaub
Nasir Jung, and sent them to his camp, and then
giving the remaining stores and keys and the regula-
tion of the Fort and Souba to Hydur, he returned
to his tents.
• The author of another life of Hydur, states that Hydur hul-
lied Bus&lut Jung into the surrender of the fort and stores.
112
Some three or four days after this, being the day
Busalut Jung had appointed for his march to Ad-
hooni, he sent for Hydur, and saluted him with
the title of Nawaub Hydur Ali Khan Bahadur
Chuckmak* Jung, and also wrote and presented
him Sunnuds, conferring on him the revenues of the
entire Souba of Sura, with the Paishkush or tribute
of the Poligars ; he also added the district of Gurm
Koonda, with its fort and dependencies saying to him
spontaneously '* you are the Chief of all this country ;
and the creator and bestower of life," has raised you
into existence on purpose to protect his creatures ;
may you be fortunate and happy in the possession
of this country.*''' In short, after an interchange
of the usual congratulations, the wise Busalut Jung
quitted the Nawaub Bahadur, and, with a large
sum of money, horses and elephants, presented
by Hydur, he and his whole army returned to
Adhooni ; and as he was not able to take the guns
before mentioned with his army, he left two on a
river to the northward of the fort. One gun how-
ever, which had belonged to the Julow or body guard
of the Nawaub, Nizam al Moolk, Asof Jah, he, with
^ Chuckmak is the name given by our Sipahees to the flint and
steel of the musket.— 7«r*wA. — Busdlut Jung knew well to whom
Hydur owed his fame although he himself had not the candour tq
acknowledge it.
X I should think this speech more than doubtful.
113
a thousand difficulties, contrived to carry with him.
It is not to be concealed, that, at the time Busa-
lut Jung conferred on Hydur the titles which have
been mentioned, Hydur, from a wish not to dis-
please him was silent ; but, after Busalut Jung had
departed, he rejected the title of Jung, and styled
himself Nawaub Bahadur. In short, the Nawaub
remained in the fort, ten or fifteen days, and hav-
ing encouraged and assured the peasantry he ap-
pointed Meer Ismael Hussein to the charge of the
Souba^ giving him strict orders to repair the fort,
and then returned to his tents.
114
CHAPTER X.
The inarch of Hydur and his army to Chuk or little Balapoor^
and the capture of that place. Also the conquest of the Hill
fort of Murg Sura, or the little Sura of Pankoonda, &c. in the
year 1172, Hijri.— A. D. 1758.
As soon as the Nawaub^ had accomplished the
conquest and regulation of Sura^ he determined to
attack Balapoor the less^ which it had been his in-
tention to have done long before ; and he there-
fore marched towards that place with his whole
force, consisting of eight thousand horse, ten thou-
sand regular infantry, and twelve thousand irregular
or Karnatic foot, with abundance of stores and ar-
tillery. While Hydur was on his route thither,
FyzuUah Khan Hybut Jung, who was the son of
Meer Mahummudi Khan, Jageerdar of Timri, and
the son-in-law of Nawaub Dilawar Khan, having
quarrelled with his father-in-law, after the death of
his wife, hastened, (making use of his head for his
feet)' to the service of the Nawaub Hydur, and was
y Hydur although raised to the dignity of Nawauh was never
considered a gentleman hy the polished part of the population of
northern India.
115
installed in office^ according to his abilities and rank.
When the Nawaub arrived, and encamped near Ba-
lapoor, the Poligar of that place, finding himself un*
able to oppose him in the field, shut himself up in the
fort ; and, notwithstanding the Nawaub took great
pains to induce him to obey his orders, this unfortu-
nate man rejected all his advances, and prepared to
defend himself ; he also solicited Morar Rao Ghore
Purria to give him assistance. The Rao, therefore,
with his whole force, amounting to twelve thousand
horse and foot, came to his aid, and, having esta-
blished himself at Goori Bundah, (some place ap-
parently in the vicinity), he made it his station, and
despatched six or seven thousand horse, to attack
the army of the Nawaub. This force, however,
only fell upon and plundered the foraging parties of
the Nawaub, and then retired. When he heard of
this attack the Nawaub was much irritated, and
with a detachment of his bravest soldiers, he imme-
diately followed and tracked the route of the Mah-
rattas, and on a plain to the westward of Nundi
Gurh, he fell in with them, and, at the first charge
defeated them, and put most of them to the sword ;
the few who escaped with their lives leaving their
horses and arms behind them. Near two thou-
sand horses were taken, on this occasion, by the
troops of the Nawaub. Returning victorious, Hy-
116
dur now fixed his attention solely on the reduction
of the fort. By his orders, the troops attacked and
took the Peenth or suburbs, and, raising batteries
there, employed themselves in firing at the walls,
and exploding mines/ Meanwhile, although the
Rao had, ordered his troops to ravage and desolate
the dependencies of the Sirkar (Hydur's) and the
Kuzzaks of his army, day by day, continued to des-
troy the towns and villages of the Khodadad State,
still they did not attempt to attack Hydur*s troops
in the field. The Nawaub was kept constantly in-
formed of these losses ; but, considering that his
present object was the fort, and that afterwards at
his leisure he could punish the Mahrattas, for their
excesses, he affected to take no more notice of
them than as if he had never seen or heard of them^
devoting his whole time and exertions to ensure the
capture of the fort. After a short time, therefore,
the walls of the fort, which were- of earth, were
completely battered down and breached on one
side, and the Nawaub consequently gave orders
for the assault. Yet notwithstanding the state of
the walls, and other disadvantages, the besieged
fought so bravely in the breach, that they beat
off the storming party, and put them to flight. The
next day another storming party tried their luck,
* 4^1;i (JH^^^^ perhaps throwing shells into the town.
117
but without success. The Nawaub was now obliged
to have recourse to his ingenuity to take the place,
and therefore, with great labour, raised a new stage
or battery ,*" in front of the gate of the fort, and
gave orders to batter the gate. In the course of
one or two days, his experienced gunners beat down
the two walls which masked the gate ; and, as soon
as the besieged Poligar found that the defences of
the gate were battered down, he began to reflect on
the probable result ; and, through the medium of
the bankers and the obedient Poligars who attended
the camp of the Nawaub, he forwarded proposals for
an accommodation, and requested the lives of the
garrison might be spared. After a great deal of dis-
cussion, the Nawaub considering him with the eye
of kindness, consented to receive from him a Nuz-
zur or Paishkush of seven Lakhs of Rupees, and
desist from the prosecution of the siege. In com-
pliance also with the Poligar's request, it was settled,
that Hydur with his troops and artillery should
return by the route of Dewun Hully, (called by
Wilks Deonelly), and Bangalore, to Seringaputtun,
and that the amount of tribute being divided into
three Kists, or payments ; one was to be paid at
Dewun Hully, another at Bangalore, and the last at
the capital. His march therefore was conducted
118
agreeably to the prescribed route ; the Nawaub,
however, with his usual caution, left in the batteries
and suburbs a thousand matchlock men, under the
command of Juhan Khan Khokur'' and Hussein
Khan Lodi, until the payments were made ; and
he also left seven or eight boxes of ammunition in
their charge.
The Rao, on hearing of this accommodation
immediately made a forced march during the night,
arrived in the rear of the fort, and apprized the
Poligar of his arrival. Overjoyed at this intel-
ligence, the foolish man left the fort immediately ;
and the two traitors met, and consulted how they
should deceive the Nawaub. The Rao having, with
flattery and deceiving words, allured the Poligar
from the way of his own welfare, drew him into the
net of his wiles, and said, ^* you see the walls of the
fort are battered down, and that most of the poor
inhabitants, and soldiers, have been destroyed by the
fire of the guns. It is not fit, therefore, that you
should now stay here ; but that you with your
family, treasury, gold, jewels, &c. should depart
from hence, and take up your residence at the hill
fort of Nundi ; and the money, which you have col-
lected to pay to the Nawaub, pay to me, and with
that same money, I will collect a body of troops, and
* Tribesof Afghans well known in India.
119
moreover obtain large armies to your aid from Hy-
durabad and Poona, and thus he, Hydur, shall have
his due punishment The period of the Poligar's
ruin being at hand, he gave the selfish words of the
Rao a place in his willing ear, and acted accord-
ingly; for, having four or five Lakhs of Rupees
ready to pay the dividends to the Nawaub, he gave
them to the Rao, and left the fort also to his care,
and retired to the Hill Nundi.
The Rao now posted in the ruined fort two thou-
sand foot, with ammunition, as a garrison and then
returned to his own station. On the following morn-
ing, the garrison manned the walls, beat their
drums, and sounded their trumpets, in the Mah-
ratta style, and then assembled suddenly in great
numbers at the gate. Seeing these movements
and apprehending treachery from them, the Na-
waub's detachment manned their batteries, and were
standing ready for action, when, all at once, fifteen
hundred of the Mahrattas left the fort, and advanced
rapidly to attack them. The Nawaub's men being
few, and they also scattered, or detached, they left
the battery, and assembled in the Peenth, or suburb,
and, having made one gate strong, they remained
quiet. The troops from the fort now formed a cir-
cle round them, and commenced a brisk fire of
musketry and rockets. The officers of the Na-
120
waub's infantry, nevertheless did not lose heart, but
determined to sell their lives dearly ; and they
therefore strengthened a large building at the gate-
way, and defended it gallantly, while the Khokur,
(Afghan), with a few brave fellows, made an attack
on the unlucky Mahrattas, and with the sword and
spear killed a great many of them. Some of the
garrison of the fort also were taken prisoners by stra-
tagem, and from them they learned the state of
affairs in the fort, as has been before related. The
officer above mentioned on the next night, des-
patched, therefore, the prisoners to Hydur, with a
letter, stating what had occurred by the treachery
and misconduct of the ill fated Poligar, and then
waited for succour.
On his receiving this letter, and hearing the state-
ment of the prisoners, Hydur became as furious as
an enraged lion, and with his troops and artillery
made a forced march^ back from Dewun HuUy, and
arrived at the fort, round which the cavalry of the
Rao were stationed, and they being attacked re-
ceived such a defeat from Hydur's Bedes or Kuz-
zaks that they fled and never looked behind them
until they arrived at Goori Bundah. Perceiving
the advantage which Hydur had gained, his officers
who were on the alert in the Peenth or suburb,
0 ^ULJ
121
immediately hoisted his standard on the gate and
beat their drums. The Nawaub on seeing this
was highly pleased, and, having entered the sub-
urb, he occupied the same batteries he had before
raised, and ordered his artillery and infantry to
give the fort a shower of shot. Hydur remained
only two days before the fort, when he assaulted
and took it, and directed some of the men belonging
to the artful Rao to be put to death, and, for an ex-
ample, some had their noses and ears cut off, and
were sent bleeding to join their comrades with the
Rao. All Ruza Khan was then appointed to com-
mand the fort ; and having given him strict charge to
take the hill fort of Nundi, and the unfortunate Po-
ligar, Hydur marched off to Goori Bundah, with
his victorious army, to attack Morar Rao. The
Rao, however, finding himself unequal to contend
with Hydur, marched to Goori Koonda, a place in
his own possession. The Nawaub Bahadur after a
siege of two or three days, reduced Goori Bundah,
and, leaving a detachment there, he moved on.
When Hydur arrived near Goori Koondah, the
Rao mounted his horse, and with his cavalry, infan-
try and artillery, took post ready to receive him. —
The Nawaub having placed his regular and irregular
infantry and artillery in ambush, in the dry bed of
a river, now ordered off all his light horse to the
122
front, to attack the Rao's troops, but when the Rao*s
cavalry attempted to charge them in a compact*
body, Hydur's horse, before the enemy came near
turned their backs and fled at speeds The Rao's
horse, who were rendered very bold by this flight,
followed them, and while they were in pursuit, all
at once, the troops in ambush rose up, and received
them with such a volley of cannon, and musketry,
that to this day their loss remains inscribed on the
page of time ; for the troops of the Rao were scat-
tered like grain shaken out of a slit bag, and they
did not drink water until they arrived at the walls
of Gooti. The Rao also fled his own way. Hydur,
victorious, advanced ; and, after a siege of seven
days, took Goori Koondah, and from that place
marched towards Pen Koondah, where also the Rao
had a garrison. He first, however, took and for-
tified the Ghauts, or passes, and then, by succes-
sive assaults on the hill fort, in a month took it,
after which he proceeded to attack the hill fort of
Murg Sura. The commandant of that fort, who
was a brave man, prepared however to oppose
him, and on his approach, by the continual fire
of his guns and musketry, he killed a great many
of the Nawaub's troops. The Nawaub being in
great anger at this, gave orders to his officers for
123
the' immediate investment of the fort, and, under
the cover of the rocks to make an assault, while he
himself took his station on a hill to the northward
of the fort, but adjoining to that on which it stood ;
and, having mounted some large guns on that hill,
he sent to the Killadar a Kowl Nama, or a sum-
mons and terms for his surrender. The terms not
being accepted, Hydur, who was much annoyed
gave orders to the marksmen among his artillery-
men to fire at a particular part of the rocks, which
rose above the middle of the mountain, and beneath
which stood the houses and buildings of the fort,
full of inhabitants ; and, as these rocks were
knocked to pieces by the cannon balls, the frag-
ments killed a number of the besieged, and scat-
tered the rest so effectually that the garrison of the
fort lost the power' of defence. Seeing his sol-
diers in this inefficient state, the Killadar became
alarmed, and after begging their lives might be
spared, he gave over the fort to the servants of the
Nawaub, and himself, seeking Hydur s protection,
was allowed his life and property.
Meer AM Ruza Khan who, meanwhile, was besieg-
ing the hill of Nundi, by exerting the greatest skill
and bravery, reduced the besieged to such extremi-
ties, that being in all respects without resources, the
124
Poligar surrendered it to the Meer, and sought the
asylum of the Khodadad. The Meer, agreeably to
Hydurs orders, despatched the captive Poligar,
and his family to Bangalore ; and of his sons two
were made Mussulmans. One of them died, but
the other, named Sufdur Khan, is now living, and
with his troops was received into the Nawaub's
service.
Budruzzuman Khan was appointed governor of
the newly captured fort.
When the dependencies of that country, which,
in truth, may be likened to the Garden of Eden,
fell into the powerful hands of the Nawaub, he
rubbed the forehead of his hopes on the threshold
of the Creator of the Universe, pure from wants or
desires ; and, this being done, appointed and des-
patched intelligent agents, and faithful and able
Killadars, to the different parts of the country.
The Nawaub himself halted some days at Sura, to
make arrangements for the government of that
district.
125
CHAPTER XI.
An account of the conquest of Bednore, otherwise called Hydur
Nugger, and other forts and towns of that country, in the year
1173, Hijri. A. D. 1759.
As the knowledge of the good or bad state of diffe-
rent countries, and the hearing of intelligence de-
scribing the policy and ability of both friend and foe,
form the rule of conduct of the sovereigns of the
field of empire, and guide the actions or measures of
the conquerors of the world ; it was the constant
custom of the Nawaub Hydur to receive daily news
from all districts of his own kingdom, far and near,
and from the dependencies of friend and stranger ;
and every night, after making himself well ac-
quainted with the details of the state of all coun-
tries, as the government of the Zemindars, and
Rajas ; that of the Nizam ^ of the Dukhun, the Na-
zim^ of Poona, the Soubadar of the Camatic Payeen
Ghaut, &c. ; he retired to his private apartments, to
take his rest. For the performance of this arduous
' ^L« M^\ ^ J^li w\ from the root Jai -
126
but indispensable duty, which required so much care
and caution, intelligencers of talent, and Kasids, or
messengers, who from head to foot were eyes and
ears ; able spies ; secret writers, unequalled in the
age, and correspondents quick of hand, and of great
understanding ; were stationed in every quarter of
the country, and by these men correct accounts of
all occurrences were written and forwarded daily.
It happened at this time, that they all wrote respect-
ing the country of Nuggur, describing that, from its
beauty and verdure, it bestowed splendour on the
Balaghaut country, nay, that it might be said to be
equal to the Gardens of Paradise. — Versed " If any
one burned with grief enters Nuggur,^ were he even
as a bird roasting on the spit, he would regain his
wings and feathers."^ — In fact, that the fertility of
the country was the envy of Kashmeer, for on it de*
pended many cities, pleasant and rich^ and its beau-
tiftil fields and meadows gave delight to the heart of
the beholder ; that moderate rains fell there for six
months in every year, which gave life and verdure
to the hearts of the withered vegetation and the ani^^-
* The following is called iDsha Tirazi, i^yj^ ^ »
* One copy says Bednore.
1 If, burnt up with grief, into Nuggur you enter.
Though as bad as a bird's on the spit be your plight.
In that beautiful country, of pleasure the centre.
Your wings and your feathers you'll renovate quite.
127
mal creation ; that the trees of the forest and gardens
were mostly cocoa nut, and date, like the stature of
the lovely, with their heads erect; that the fruit
trees, were of all kinds, laden with their pleasure-
giving store, and the sandal trees, filled the hearts
and palates of men of all countries with fragrance ;
that the perfume of the flowers and sweet smelling
herbs, and the early fruits of the country soothed the
sickly and gave rest to the unquiet soul ; — that, the
rosy cheeked and moon faced damsels there with
forms straight as the poplar, like a rose garden,
ever flourishing, adorned with the colour and per-
fiime of loveliness, practised stealing the heart,
while speciously delighting the eye ; and clothing
their slender forms in elegant apparel, with their
subduing smiles and glances conquer and enslave
amorous young men ; that, the rivers and streams of
that flowery and ever blooming country are like the
sea, ever flowing, and the lakes and reservoirs ever
full to the brim, like the fountains of a generous
heart ; that, the inhabitants of all classes in that
country lived freely, and were wealthy ; but that
they had, always kept their eyes on the path of the
brave man of the field of battle, that is, they had
looked anxiously for the conquest of their country
by some just and distinguished chief,"" for this reason
"* Meaning Hydur.
128
that that delightful country had fallen into the hands
of a wild race^ and a low minded fearless woman
wearing the dress of a man, exercised unlimited
authority there ; that, in former times, this district
or province was under the authority of the Soubas
or governors of Sura, but that, at present, having
rebelled, the ruler had neglected to forward the
Paishkush or tribute, and, notwithstanding the suc-
cessors of her former governors still existed, the
Rani was ambitious of being independent, and
had lately formed an illicit connexion with a slave,
and the country, with all its fertility and riches,
like the eyes of the blind, had become totally de-
prived of light, while the hearts of the people, by
the tyranny and oppression of the dissolute Rani,
were sorely afflicted ; that, the sounds of complaint
and grief were heard in every street and market ;
that on all sides, thieves and robbers laid hold on
the property of the poor ; that the men were
ashamed of obeying their ruler, and had shut them-
selves up in their houses, and the women, licentious,
fearless, and drunk with the wine of immodesty, or-
namenting their hair, and (painting) their faces, gave
themselves up to sensuality, and the men had no
power to correct or reprove, even the women of
their own families ; and that, they gave themselves
up to dalliance in the open streets, and markets,
129
and walked about in eager expectation of their
lovers."
Truly, if rulers noted for want of sense be ap-
pointed to govern and protect a country, what
hopes of comfort or safety can be entertained by
their subjects. It appeared, therefore, improper that
the government of such a fine province should be
held by such a person, and that a bad woman
should govern so beautiful and fertile a country
was unreasonable ; besides this, she had rebelled
against the government.** There was a man, (it
was said,) a descendant of the chiefs of that coun-
try ; but he was void of sense and intelligence, —
for, notwithstanding he had laboured and schemed
much, in the hope to obtain the chief authority,
he could effect nothing ; and it was, therefore,
evident how proper and likely a man he was to be
qualified for government, who was more ignorant
and incompetent than the Rani herself. Did he
not know the noble master, (Hydur), to whom
this fine extensive country and high office should
fail?
In short, on hearing these joyous tidings, the
fortunate Nawaub immediately despatched search-
° Some punning verses on the word ^jj omitted.
o All this rigmarole is intended to prove that Hydar AH had a
right to dispossess the unfortunate Rani of her territory and
wealth, and perhaps to take her life.
K
130
ing spies and able intelligencers on this business
with orders to collect correct information respecting
the government of Nuggur ; the abilities of those
who conducted it : the amount of the revenue, the
number of the troops ; and to make themselves
thoroughly acquainted with these matters, and
write a full and distinct account of them. He then
marched with a strong force towards Chitul Droog,
and, from policy, and to make an impression, he
gave orders to take, plunder, and destroy, the de-
pendencies of that place. His fearless Kuzzaks, in
consequence, immediately spread themselves over
the whole of its Talookas or districts, to the Ghaut
of the Droog, and levelled every town and village
to the ground. The Nawaub, however, marched
straight to the Droog, where the Poligar of that
place took the head of submission out of the veil of
rebellion, and entered the circle of obedience ; and
agreeably to the directions of the Nawaub, paid two
Lakhs ^ of Rupees, in lieu of Paishkush, and one
Lakh of Rupees as a present, and was allowed his
life and property, and he and his troops accom-
panied the army. In the meantime, the spies and
intelligencers had proceeded with the greatest speed
to Nuggur, and had examined closely the state of
that country, and they described the whole in detail
P A Lakh is 100,000.
131
to the Nawaub. About this time, also, the person*
who was ambitious of obtaining the government of
Bednore, and who, as has been already stated, de-
sired an opportrnity to establish his claim, had
sought reftige in Chitul Droog, and, under the aus-
picious star of his good fortune, was introduced to
the Nawaub. This person promised and engaged,
through the medium of the Chief of Chitul Droog,
to gird his loins in the service of the Nawaub ; and
stated that he considered the service of that victori-
ous Chief as an honour to his house ; and that he
entreated the Nawaub to proceed quickly to the
punishment of the Rani, whose government was a
display of caprice, and who, like a man, galloped
over the field of licence, and extinguish the torch of
her immodesty' with the water* of the sword, and
give to the world, (the people of which had their
lives on their lips from her oppression, and tyranny,)
comfort, consolation, and a new life. Seeing that
the appearance of things was conformable to his
hopes and wishes ; the Nawaub Bahadur agreed to
the prayer of this man ; and, having arrayed the
right and left wings* of his army, the main body,*
4 This person is said by a French author (an officer in Hydor's
service) to have been the son of the late Raja or Rana of Bednore.
' The Rani is always spoken of disrespectfully by this author.
■ Keenness — temper.
132
and advanced and rear guards/ he gave the com-
mand of each to brave experienced officers, and, the
next morning but one, he marched towards Nuggur,
his worthy son of victorious presage acompanying
him. At every station and encampment on the
march, Hydur, by his affability and presents, raised
great hopes among the inhabitants of that country,
and, to stimulate the cultivation and prosperity of
the land, he gave them every assurance^ of safety.
In every town or fort, also, where his army encamp-
ed, he sent for the whole of the poor, and persons
without employment, of all classes, and by favours
and gifts gained their hearts, and enrolled them
among his own servants. Those, however, who left
the circle of obedience to his commands, and did not
attend to his advice and instructions, but prepared
to oppose him, those he endeavoured by all means
to make prisoners or destroy. From this cause, fear
>
and trembling came over the people of the country,
and the mass of peasantry, civil officers, command-
ants of forts, &c. through the medium of Hydur's
son, (Tippoo,) submitted and offered their obedi-
ence, and obtained encouragement in proportion to
their merits. When Hydur's troops arrived and
encamped two stages on this side Nuggur, the spies,
who had been before secretly ordered there, pre-
133
sented themselves, and stated that the Rani was
much alarmed and grieved, that she took no rest day
or night, and was immersed in deep reflection : —
that she had given over all regulation of the affairs
of government, and had determined to die ; but
that she still hoped, by management and deceit,
the payment of the Paishkush, and by presenting
valuable presents, that she might turn Hydur from
his purpose ; and, indeed, just at this time, accord-
ing to the statement of the spies, the Rani did send
confidential embassadors with presents, and a sup-
plicatory letter. These Vakeels, after paying their
respects to Hydur, presented the articles and
rarities intended for gifls, and stated that the
Rani would pay a yearly sum of 1 00,000 Hoons or
Pagodas,"" besides a tribute of other valuable ar-
ticles, such as Foful/ Dates, Sandal wood, Kakul,
(a particular kind of wood), black pepper, &c., and
that, as long as she lived, she would be submissive
to his orders, and pay tribute ; and that she hoped
the country would be restored to her charge, as a
gift from him, so that, under the shade of his pro-
tection, she might be safe from all enemies. To
this, Hydur returned for answer, that if she desired
or hoped for safety, present comfort, tranquillity of
* About three and half rupees each.
y This tree is like a date tree, perhaps Betel nut.
134
mind, and the preservation of her honour, she
must come without hesitation to the army ; and
that, then, she might proceed with every comfort to
the fort of Seringaputtun, the asylum and stronghold
of modesty and virtue^ where she might reside, and
receive from him an allowance proportioned in
every respect to her wants.
The Vakeels returned to the Rani with this mes-
sage, and reported to her the commands of the Na-
waub. The Rani, free from restraint, proudly
rejected the terms of this proposal ; and right or
wrong, foolishly prepared to defend herself ; with
this intent, she intrigued with Abdul Hukeem,
Khan of Shanoor, sending a large sum of money
to him, and entreating his assistance. Abdul
Hukeem agreed to her request, and immediately
despatched two thousand horse and four thousand
foot, to assist her ; and himself with a large force
and artillery, advanced and encamped on the river
Bala. The troops sent in aid entered, meanwhile,
the fort of Nuggur, from the hills and forests sur-
rounding the fort.
As soon as this intelligence reached Hydur, he
became violently incensed, and^ moving forward, en-
camped within one stage of Nuggur. Then sending
for his officers, he despatched them to take the forts
and towns near Nuggur, while he himself, with a body
135
of his infantry and cavalry, commanded by his bravest
officers, marched and invested the fort of Nuggur.
The officers Hydur had detached, had, in the mean-
time, after much fighting, taken and plundered
most of the towns and forts, in the neighbourhood,
and those who demanded quarter were sent in
troops to Hydur. While they were thus engaged^
Hydur was employed day and night in the invest-
ment of Nuggur ; and by raising batteries, and
taking up ground by degrees for the attack, he so
straightened the field of action on the garrison, that
it became small as the eye of a needle ; and the
garrison, quitting all the places they had fortified
outside, retired into the fort, and manned the walls.
Although the garrison had in a short time lost the
power of defending themselves, their senses being
dissipated and though fear for their lives and the
honour of their women had taken possession of
their hearts, still, in faithful performance of their
duty to the Rani, (the writer always affects to speak
of this lady with great disrespect) who herself be-
haved with as much steadiness and courage as a man,
they remained stedfast at their posts, and defended
themselves bravely. Nay, even although the Na-
waub's brave soldiers daily killed troops of them
with their cannon, and musket balls, and the sword,
and burned numbers of them with the fire of hope-
136
lessness and despair ; stilly notwithstanding all this
calamity and misery, the garrison continued to
fight ; they were killed, but not subdued. The
Afghan troops, also, with great insolence did their
part in aid of the fort and attacked the batteries of
the besiegers repeatedly, but w^ere always defeated ;
and although, in a short time, the besieged saw
their field of battle still more straightened, and the
field of flight and desertion appeared to them wider
than the plain of the day of Judgment, still the
siege was so strict and close, that they could not
escape with their lives ; and, being without resource,
they determined that they would fight as long as
they were able, and after that, by changing their
clothes, try to save themselves, and penetrate to
some other country.
When the Nawaub found that the town and forts
in the vicinity, the commandants of which were
brave men, had been conquered, and that the
siege of the fort of Nuggm*, defended by a woman,
had been protracted to so great a length ; also,
that the rains, which bring distress upon man and
beast, were at hand, and consequently his opera-
tions must be soon brought to a close, he, on the
day on which the siege had continued one year,
gave his troops orders to make the assault ; grant-
ing them free permission to retain all their plunder.
137
all articles of gold and silver, and likewise all hand-
some Hindoo women who might be taken. The
cavalry, therefore, quitting their horses, and the
infantry stepping out at the charging pace," marched
up the breach, firing vollies, and, mounting the
walls and bastions, made the air resound with
shouts of" take and kill!"* Every one who made
opposition to them became the butt of the ball and
bayonet, and the food of the blood-red sword.
When the manlike Rani saw her affairs in this
condition, she first set her palace on fire, that is,
her ornamented sleeping apartments, which had
been built and beautified by her husband, Shoom
Shunkur, with Chinese bricks and tiles, washed
and set in gold ; the interstices being gold, and the
doors and walls ornamented with jewels. She next
burned most of her boxes of jewellery, or beat them
to pieces in an iron mortar; and then, accompanied
by only two or three damsels, or slave girls, she
escaped on foot by the way of a water drain,** with
her life only, to Kooli Droog, five kose from
Nuggur, a very strong place, surrounded by a thick
forest. This place she strengthened still more, and
remained "there, lea^^ng the whole of the country,
treasures, and valuables, of her husband and fore-
fathers to the iron grasp of the renowned Nawaub.
138
As soon as the Nawaub knew that the Rani had
escaped, he placed a garrison in the fort of Nuggur
and immediately followed her steps, and invested
the mountain fort, with every care and caution, and
closely besieged it. The siege continued for some
time ; but, at length, after a month's resistance,
when the garrison had been completely subdued by
the bravery of Hydur's troops, they surrendered the
hill to the Nawaub, and the Rani being taken was
brought to the presence. This being effected, the
Nawaub returned to the fort of Nuggur, and put
the Rani in prison, and afterwards, placing her in
a meeana or palankeen, he despatched her by the
route of Sura to Seringaputtun. He then, with
the greatest pomp and display of force, and at a
fortunate moment, made his entry into the fort
of the capital of Bednore, bestowing honour on
the seat of Government; and for fifteen days he
held a banquet, during which season of festivity he
enjoyed the sound of music and the abundance of
good things provided for the feast. He then gave
to the poor, the religious, the musicians, and
dancing women, presents of gold and silver orna-
ments, valuable cloths, and shawls. Also, to the
brave chiefs of his army, and his soldiers, who had
distinguished themselves by their gallantry, and had
perilled their lives in this conquest, besides what
139
they obtained in the assault of the fort, which, by
Hydur's orders, was what they could take, of heaps
of gold and silver, valuable stuffs, jewels, pearls,
arms of all kinds, and a great number of beautiful
women, the value of all which was sufficient to place
them above all wordly wants, to these valiant men
he now again gave costly presents and honorary
dresses, gold bracelets, pearl necklaces, jewelled
gorgets, splendid swords, and lastly, jageers or fiefe
(for conditional service), according to their rank and
respective capacities. Hydur likewise selected a
man of the name of Oojni, a Kolur, an old servant
of his, and an intelligent able man, and, having
given him the title of Raja Ram, committed the
charge of Nuggur to him, giving him orders to re-
pair the fort, and its defences ; and, having bestowed
on it the name of Hydur Nuggur, he again entered
his tents.
110
CHAPTER XII.
An accoant of the incursion of the Afghans of Shanoor, who
came to the aid of the imprisoned Rani of Bednore, and the
punishment of the Chief of Shanoor, by the sharp sword of the
Nawaub Bahadur, with the conquest of other places, occurring in
the year 1175. Hijri. A.D. 1761.
During the period the Nawaub was occupied in
the siege and assault of Nuggur, the Afghans of
Shanoor, who had arrived to the aid of the Rani,
were the cause of great annoyance to the troops of
Hydur, and even prevented the arrival of their pro-
visions and supplies ; in fact, they let slip no oppor-
tunity of giving the Nawaub a good deal of trouble ;
and, although the Bukshi, Hybut Jung, was ap-
pointed to oppose them, still, encamping under
cover of the forests and hills, they fought his
detachments daily, sometimes beating them, and
being themselves sometimes beaten. The Nawaub,
therefore, after he was freed from the necessary
arrangements for the safety of the dependencies of
the fort of Nuggur, which was effected in about two
years, in person marched straight towards Shanoor.
141
And on the morning of his arrival, when the Kuzzak
horse appeared wheeling round the Afghan army,
the Afghans who thought them the horse of Hybut
Jung, advanced quickly into the field of ambush to
oppose them, like men without discretion or fore-
sight. The Nawaub, therefore, gave orders to the
regiments of regular infantry, the horse, foot, and
artillery, all which were posted in ambush im-
mediately in front of them, to fire and charge ; and
accordingly, firing vollies, they rushed upon the
Afghans, and most of their men of valour and chiefs
of note, were sent to eternity by the showers of
cannon and musket-balls in that charge.* Having
lost their presence of mind, the rest of the Afghans
fled, and never drew the breath of courage until they
reached the river Bala. Hukeem Khan, the Chief
of the Afghans, having also lost his senses, left the
whole of the baggage of his army, that is, his tents,
standards, drums, camels, elephants, &c., and retired
to his capital. The Nawaub, however, followed
close on his heels, and appointed his Kuzzaks, (pre-
datory horse) to pursue him from the field of battle
to the gates of the fort ; and they took many of
his cavalry and their horses, nor did they draw
back their hands from the discomfiture of their
enemies. The Khan of Shanoor, being thus com,
^ Toorki i A
142
pletely humbled, attempted no further opposition ;
but, taking the road of safety, made peace by pay-
ing a krore of rupees — versed " Who did (evil),
who did not find (retribution) ?"•
In place, however, of the sum demanded, the
Khan gave up elephants, camels, tents of velvet,
bechobas embroidered with gold, (a kind of tent
without a pole,) Boorhanpoor cloths, of great value,
arms of costly price, and a sum of money. These
articles the chiefs of former times had accumulated
at the expense of hundreds of thousands of pounds ;
but all these articles were at once given up, and
then he was released from the violence of Hydur*s
brave soldiers.
When the Nawaub had completed his airange-
ments here, he placed garrisons in the forts of
Bangalore, Chenolee, Hurnee, &c., and then re-
turned victorious to Nuggur ; and from that place
despatched Hybut Jung, with a large force, to-
wards Hurpun Hully, Kunakgiri, &c., to reduce
the Poligars of the Suba of Sura, and to collect the
amount due for the customary tribute or Paishkush ;
there being due, also, from every Poligar, besides
the Paishkush, one-tenth for the horse-shoeing of
• What man e'er yet performed a guilty deed.
But righteous retribution was his meed ?
143
the.Foujdari/ Hydur himself, at the same time,
crossed the Ghauts to the westward of Nuggur, to
reduce the forts and country on the sea-side de-
pending on that state; and Mirza Husseini Beg,
his brother-in-law, the maternal uncle of Kureem
Sahib, the Nawaub's youngest son, was sent with a
detachment to reduce Buswa Rai Droog.
As soon as he obtained his audience of leave, the
Mirza marched to the sea-side, and, having seized
some fishermen's boats, embarked with his followers,
and sailed towards the Droog, which lies about two
fiirsungs (nine or ten miles) distant from the shore,
and is surrounded by salt water. When they ar-
rived there, he with his troops encompassed the
hill, and despatched a message to the garrison, in-
forming them of the capture and plunder of the
town of Nuggur, and the captivity of the Rani;
sending also a separate Kowl Nama from himself.
The garrison losing heart (at this intelligence), after
three days, surrendered without resistance. Having
placed a strong garrison on the hill, the Mirza re-
turned with the whole of the property of Shoom
Shunker, the Raja of Nuggur, deposited there for
safety, which consisted of two or three boxes of
pearls and diamonds, two boxes of jewelry, two
elephant housings, richly embroidered and curiously
' One-tenth of tlic tribute ? ^**-»
144
wrought in gold and silver, a jewelled chain for the
foot of an elephant, two sets of gold and silver bells
for the necks of the royal elephants, and two gold
embroidered saddles. These, on his return, he
presented to the Nawaub, and was highly com-
plimented by him.
The Nawaub himself, having in a very short time
settled and regulated that part of the country, and
having placed strong garrisons in the forts of Mirjan
and Angola, (which are on the boundary of the
Kokun Ghauts, and were built by Syfe ul Moolk,
the governor of the Kokun, an ameer of the Adil
Shahi dynasty,) also in Gorial Bunder (Mangalore)
Sudasheo Gurh, Mykuni, Moleer, Honawur, Pykul,
&c., returned to Seringaputtun .
When Hybut Jung, with a large body of troops,
had taken leave of the Nawaub, he marched to
Kunakgiri, and having realized there three years'
Paishkush, or two Lakhs of rupees, he next pro-
ceeded to Hurpun HuUy, and, by fair and foul
means, made the Poligar of that place pay three
Lakhs of rupees. He then marched to Chitul
Droog, and obtained four Lakhs of rupees Paish-
kush from the Poligar, and, marching thence by
Jureemli and Goori Kota, arrived at Rai Droog,
from the Chief of which he demanded the tribute.
In his reply, the Chief pleaded poverty, and de-
scribed the devastated condition of his country, and
146
delayed payment of the tribute under different pre-
texts. It is not, however, to be suppressed, that
the Poh'gar of Bellari had made an excursion into
his territory, and had plundered and laid it waste.
Hybut Jung however, for an example, besieged the
little fort of Kanikul, depending on the Droog, and
laboured to effect its capture. The Poligar, there-
fore, assembled five or six hundred cavalry and two
thousand foot, and, by occupying the roads in the
vicinity, stopped all supplies for the army. At this
time, which was the period of the return of the
Nawaub from Nuggur, he despatched a letter, by a
pair of camel sowars, or riders, to Hybut Jung, re-
quiring .him to send him from his force a thousand
able men, without arms. Hybut Jung accordingly
selected a thousand young men from his division,
and despatched them from the northward of Rai
Droog to Simoga, under an escort of five hundred
horse and two battalions of regular infantry, with
arms. This body of troops had proceeded two or
three frirsungs (ftirsung here apparently means
kose), when suddenly the horse and foot of the
Poligar made their appearance, and, at first pre-
tending to be friends, charged the escort without
hesitation; and although the escort fired briskly,
and the horse attacked the enemy, sword in hand,
still the infantry of the Poligar, having the cover
146
and protection of the forest, mastered and threw
them all into confusion, and most of the old sol-
diers or men of experience were without pity put
to the sword. Some, however, escaped from the
carnage to the protection of the mountains.
When Hybut Khan heard this he left his bat-
teries, and marched with his collected force, and,
in the twinkling of an eye, attacked the troops
of the Poligar, and gave them such a defeat, that
the runaways did not look behind them until they
reached the ditch of the Droog before mentioned.
He then, in the same place, that is, to the east-
ward of Rai Droog, planted his colours, and pitched
his tents, and wrote a letter to the Poligar, stating
that his insubordination arose from the kindness
and lenity with which he had been treated by him,
(Hybut Jung) ; and that certainly he had intended,
by every means in his power, to intercede with the
Nawaub,so as that the Poligar's district or country*
might remain to him as it was without diminution,
and then return with a good name for mildness
or lenity ; but that, now, he was not to look for
any indulgence, but wash his hands of his life and
property. When the letter was received by the
Poligar, and he understood its contents, he des-
patched Kistnapa, his Dulwai, or Minister, to in-
147
tercede for the pardon of his offences ; and by his
negociations he engaged to pay three lakhs of
rupees as a Paishkush^ two lakhs for his rebellion,
and one lakh as a present for his life. He also paid
for all the property and cattle belonging to the
detachment he had attacked and destroyed, every
article being returned ; and, after this, Hybut Jung,
taking the Dulwai and the money with him, pro-
ceeded to the presence. About this time, Meer
All Ruza Khan was appointed to the Foujdari of
Sura, and took leave.
148
CHAPTER XIII.
An account of the Invasion of Mysoor, by the Pabhwa Siwaee
Madhoo Rao, Mahratta, and his taking a number of Forts, and
the Souba of Sura, &c., with other events of the year 1076, Hijri.
A J). 1762.
When Ballajee Rao Nana, the Poona Paishwa or
Purdhan (Minister), died, Siwaee Madhoo Rao, his
son, seated himself on the Musnud of his Govern-
ment, and remained for some time occupied in the
internal regulation of his own dominions ; sometime
after that, however, he began to collect troops^stores,
and heavy artillery, so that he at length assembled
near one hundred thousand horse, sixty thousand
Pindarehs, and fifty thousand matchlock foot, in
addition to the troops of Ali Bahadur, the son of
Shumshire, Bahadur, (who was a son of Ballajee
Rao Nana) and, with this immense force, he made
an incursion into the Kamatic Balaghaut. An ab-
ridged account of Ali Bahadur is as follows : — ^
^ I have been compelled to change the form of the narrative
here, as the account of Ali Bahadur in the original is a long
pne&thesii.
149
After the ruin of the Adil Shahi dynasty^ a Hindos-
tani dancing girl travelled from Bijapoor to Poona^
and took up her residence in that city. This woman
being the most beautiful and most accomplished
dancer of her time^ Ballajee^ beguiled by the ele-
gance of her person and accomplishments, fell in
love with her, and selected her for his bedfellow,
and, being deceived by his professions, this vile
woman consented.* Being fond of each other,
after sometime a son was bom, who was brought
up by his mother as a Muhammadan. When,
however, this boy grew up to manhood, his father,
that is Ballajee Rao, gave him the title of Shum-
shire Bahadur, with a munsub, and jageer of twelve
thousand horse. This Bahadur was present in the
battle of the Sirabdalli (the battle of Paniput), with
the Rao, and was killed there, with him ; and his
son, AH Bahadur, was there also.
In reference to the Pindarehs, it is not unknown
that they are a low tribe of robbers ^ entertained by
some of the princes of the Dukhun, to plunder and
lay waste the territories of their enemies, and to
serve for guides, or as an example to their own
troops. They give these men no certain pay from
^ It is to be recollected that it is a Muhammadan who writes
this work.
^ iij>^^ This word in Turkish signifies a He-Goat, and I can
find no other interpretation.
150
their treasury; but when the troops halt^ these
people bring hay and wood to the camp for sale,
and the price of these articles provides them with
necessary subsistence. In time of active service,
they are highly pleased to obtain, from the Com-
manding Officer of then: army, permission to plun-
der; and then they lay waste the country of an enemy
so completely, that even the owl and bat would
be afraid of such a desart. Indeed, in time of
war, they generally pay the Chief of their army a
sum of money, under the denomination of horse-
shoeing ^ money. But, to return, when Madhoo
Rao marched towards Mysore, he visited Shanoor,
and took the Hakim or chief of that place, and
his troops with him. He next sent for Morar
Rao, and then, crossing the river Tungbhudra, by
the Gooraknauth Ghaut, marched by the route of
Chituldroog, (the Poligar of which also accom-
panied his army), to the Souba of Sura* The Meer
before mentioned, (Meer Ali Ruza Khan,) on the
first day, marched out of the fort with his troops,
and having viewed the Mahratta army, he returned,
and prepared to defend himself. The Rao sta-
tioned his artiUery on a tank, to the northward of
the fort, and began to breach the fortifications at
a considerable distance. The Meer, however, de-
151
fended himself for ten or twelve days ; and then,
after exacting good conditions, gave up the keys of
the capital of the Souba to the Mahratta, and he
himself entered his service ; Madhoo Rao, treating
him with great kindness, and keeping him about his
person. Madhoo Rao next marched to Mudgiri,
and, after a siege of about a month, took that
hill fort, and leaving there a garrison of his own
men, marched onward.
The Nawaub although he marched to Bangalore,
with the whole of his horse, foot, and artillery,
yet, from the strength of the Mahratta army,
which was ten times more numerous than his own,
he did not consider it piudent to come in contact
with them ; agreeing with the words of the wise—
Verse^ "You may overcome a proud enemy by
humbling yourself, Ac." " Making, therefore, no
opposition, he returned to Seringaputtun, and threw
up batteries round the fort for its protection, and
also stationed his artillery, and his regular and
Kamatic infantry in different places, and remained
at his own quarters, in perfect readiness. All this
seeming n^ligence, or quiet indifference, ° was
however put on merely to try and ascertain the
m Humility if thou wilt show.
Thou may'st o'ercome a haughty foe.
152
intentions, strength, courage, and ability, of the
Mahrattas; and Hydur*s stable horse, and the
PindarehSj were kept concealed in the jungle or fort
of Makuri Droog^ and had orders to make plun-
dering expeditions against the enemy.
After sweeping hill and dale, mountain and forest,
the Mahrattas at length sat down before the fort of
Nijigul, and despatched a summons, demanding
the surrender of the fort from Hydur^s Killadar,
whose name was Sirdar Khan, a brave man, of
good family, and faithful to the Nawaub. That
trustworthy and brave oflScer, however, who, by his
ability and liberality, had secured the affections of
his men, and was certain of their loyalty, replied
to the summons by sending them a few cannon
balls; upon which, being much incensed by the
steadiness and courage of Sirdar Khan, Madhoo
Rao immediately assaulted the place, in hopes to
break down the defences. The Mahratta troops
came on, making a great noise, like a swarm of
bees buzzing round their honey. But Sirdar Khan,
who thought himself more than equal to a thou-
sand Mahrattas, advanced with his men, and made
the breasts of his enemies butts for his cannon and
musket balls and arrows, and killed a great number
of them ; aud from the marks of their blood on the
stone steps and rocks of the mountain, he acquired
153
honourable distinction/ and remained victorious.
The Mahrattas, having received a total defeat^ re-
tired. Nevertheless, they did not delay before
they again made another very gallant attack, which,
however, had again the same result, and the colour
of their faces departed. The next day Madhoo '
Rao mounted his elephant, and, all being ready,
he gave his officers and troops, horse and foot,
orders again to assault the hill fort. On this day
also, this gallant officer. Sirdar Khan, faithful to
his master, fought desperately, and succeeded in
repelling the Mahrattas ; and, from the conti-
nual fire of the artillery and musketry, from the
foot of the mountain to the walls of the fort, heaps
of the assailants lay rolling in their blood. Seeing
this carnage, the Mahratta began to pause and
reflect ; and, having raised the hopes of the
Poligar of Chituldroog and others, by valuable
presents, and the promise of the remission of their
Paishkush for two years, and giving orders also
to put to death the whole of the garrison, he
employed them to take the fort. The Poligars
having in consequence directed their own Bedurs, "^
® Alluding to a Hindu custom.
p In speaking of Madhoo Rao, the author generally calls him
the Chief Mahratta, or the Ghuneem, or Plunderer.
4 Footmen, i^parently.
154
men particularly well acquainted. with the country,
to attack the fort^ now sent them on for that
purpose. These men, therefore^ climbing up at
the back of the mountain, through a thousand
difficulties and dangers, scaled the walls and towers,
by the help of ladders, and ndsed their shouts of
'' Koo! Koo!*' Sirdar Khan, although he with a
party of his men, immediately attacked them des-
perately, and killed many of them, yet the garrison,
seeing their enemies in the fort cutting off heads,
became so terrified, that they threw away their
arms, and at the same time their lives. Sirdar
Khan was wounded, and taken prisoner. Madhoo
Rao, however, sent for this brave man, whose
forehead shone bright with courage, and seated
him in the place of honour, and, bestowing on
him great commendations, took him on with him.
Leaving a detachment in Nijigul, Madhoo Rao
marched forward ; but the Nawaub's Kuzzaks made
great havoc among his foraging parties, and also
attacked his advance and rear guards, and dis-
played so much bravery, that the Pindarehs of the
Mahratta camp, who, in thieving, cheating, and
roguery of all kinds, were the ablest men of their
time, were, by the daring and villany of Hydur's
Kuzzaks, completely outdone, and unable to leave
their camp. The Mahrattas themselves, also, not-
155
withstanding the strength of their army, were
frightened at the Nawaub*s troops. But, to return —
in time Madhoo Rao took Balapoor the greater;
and intending, in the first place, to reduce the forts
in the neighbourhood of Puttun, and make the
Poligars of that quarter join and assist him in the
conquest of the capital of the Khodadad State, he
directed his march towards Balapoor the less.
Budruzzuman Khan, who was Foujdar there, see-
ing the strength of the Mahratta army, was alarmed,
and considered that opposition could be of no avail ;
nevertheless, Budruzzuman Khan was a brave and
fiiithful man ; but the state of a man's temperament
is never long the same, and, according to his view
of the case, it seemed to him that his best policy
lay in surrendering the fort, and he accordingly
gave up the keys, and those of the stores, to Mad-
hoo Rao, and, being allowed to depart freely, he
retired to Kirpa.
The Mahrattas now marched to Kolar; and,
taking a siun of money from Delawiu: Khan, they
allowed him to retain his Jageer. They then
besieged the hill and fort of Murwakul, in which
was a garrison of the Nawaub*s ; and, after several
assaults, and the loss of thousands of brave men,
the fort was taken, and the Killadar and garrison
all put to the sword. From that fort they marched
156
towards Goorum Kondah^ which fort was also in
charge of one of Hydur*s officers ; and, after some
opposition, they took that also. Madhoo Rao gave
this fort in Jageer to Meer AH Ruza Khan, who was
with him as an Omeidwar, ' and whose father and
grandfather had^ in former times, held its Killadari
or command for several generations, with authority
to raise a thousand horse, and two or three thou-
sand foot, to keep the country on that side in sub-
jection, and with strict orders to reduce the Po-
ligars. — Madhoo Rao then marched to attack
Puttun.
The Nawaub had however obtained information
of his design ; and, with the whole body of his
cavalry sought cover in the Jungul of Makuri, and
waited there, like a hungry lion looking out for
his prey. While he was thus waiting, it happened
that suddenly the advanced guard of the Mahrattas,
which, in the Persian language, is technically called
Beeni-i-Usakir, ■ with a great quantity of stores,
provisions, artillery, and the standards of the
Paishwa, arrived, and encamped in the neigh-
bourhood of Ootri Droog, ignorant of the presence
of the Nawaub's troops. The first day they halted,
and the next day resolved to proceed, to besiege
the fort of Seringaputtun ; all the Mahratta troops
' A volunteer. ' The nose of the army.
167
being void of apprehension of meeting with the
Nawaub*s forces. Having received this information
from their encampment^ the Nawaub forbade and
prevented^ for the whole day, a single man of his
force from quitting the Jungle, keeping them in
constant readiness. But, as soon as night drew
on, the Nawaub marched, and, about midnight,
came upon the rear of the unwary Mahrattas, and
attacked them so vigorously and successfully, that,
with all their overwhelming numbers, amounting
to between ^ forty and fifty thousand men, they
lost the use of their senses ; and, unable to stand
against the sword and spear, mostly hid themselves
in rice and camel bags, • which they had previously
emptied, and some, by the active employment of
their hands and feet, and by resorting to a hundred
tricks and subterfuges, escaped from the battle.
Some Chiefs of the Mahrattas, with abject fear,
laid their heads under the feet of the horses of
the Nawaub*s brave soldiers ; and the Commanding
OflScer of the Mahrattas, mounting a horse without
a saddle, fled to his great camp or head quarters.
Victorious in a degree above all his former vic-
tories, the Nawaub ordered his drums to beat and
trumpets to sound for joy, and despatched the
whole of the Mahratta spoil, as artillery, standards.
158
&c. to Seringaputtun^ and took up his ground of
encampment on the same spot.
When Madhoo Rao heard of the shameful defeat
which his Beenee, or advanced guard, had received,
he was greatly afflicted, his colour fled, and he
shed the fast tears of sorrow and anger, and bitterly
reproached the pale trembling officer, who, afler
the destruction of his troops, had found means to
escape, saying to him in great displeasure ** by thy
folly thou hast cut off the Paishwa's nose,*"* mean-
ing that he had lost or sacrificed the Paishwafs
honour.
Madhoo Rao after this, left the neighbourhood
of Chintamuni, where he was encamped, and went
to seek refuge in the mountains of Ambajee Droog.
At this time the Nawaub, by a night march, sur-
rounded the fort of Balapoor the greater, carried it
without difficulty at the head of his cavalry, and
put the whole of the Mahratta garrison to the
sword, and the next morning he returned to Ma-
kurri Droog. When this intelligence reached also
Madhoo Rao, it threw him into great perplexity.
About this time, also, an officer from the Ma-
hratta camp, with five or six thousand horse, plun-
dering the country, as they went, arrived in the
Barh Mahl ; they were, however, followed and
™ A pun on the word Beenee.
159
tracked by Hydur^s Kuzzaks, and by their exer-
tions entirely dispersed or destroyed. And here,
is it not natural to pause, and consider how won-
derful it was, that, notwithstanding the exceeding
great number of the Mahratta host, the intrepidity
of the Nawaub's Pindarehs so straightened them that
they dared not quit the ground of their encamp-
ment. The words of the holy book,* " How often
has a small company conquered a large army."^
were thus completely verified.
After this, however, the Nawaub, consulting his
good sense and discretion, and adapting his conquer-
ing policy, to the times; according also, to the
verse f *' A wise man will not give cause of offence.** —
** To a proud enemy he will be humble : — " When
fire flames high water is thrown on it.** — '* No
one would put out fire by adding fire,"* — he des-
patched several able ambassadors to Madhoo Rao^
with some presents, which had fallen into his hands
in the plunder of their camp, seven lakhs of ru-
pees in money, and a message to this effect ; that
r Full oft have mighty hosts been known
By scanty bands to be o'erthrown !
* The wise man studies never to offend.
And to a haughty foe will humbly bend :
When blazes high the flame, we water throw.
Nor heap on fire, and make it fiercer glow.
160
" it was not just for men of rank and courage,
(meaning Madhoo), without cause to slay the poor
or plunder the peaceable, but that there was no
help for what was past ;' that it became the dignity
of Madhoo Rao to withhold his hands from slaying
and plundering God's creatures, and restrain his
heart from devising injiu-y to mankind ; that he
should return to his own country, where he would
recommend that the money now sent should be de-
posited in his treasury, and be received by him
as the profit or the produce of his invasion ; and
that he might consider the Khodadad state, (Mysore)
as the aid and support of his own.** ^
When these able, clear-sighted agents reached
Madhoo Rao, they delivered their message to him
in distinct terms, and handing over the money, with
fair and flattering words, brought him to agree to
extinguish the fire of discord, and make peace.
Madhoo Rao, who had done nothing in two
years and three months, in that time had made no
permanent acquisition in Mysore, but on the con-
trary, had witnessed on all sides the ruin of his own
army ; now, therefore, saw his best policy in the
terms of the message, and accepted the propositions
^ All this is addressed to Madhoo Rao, hut, I do not helieve H y-
dar ever sent such a message.
161
of the Nawaub ; sending to him the prisoners he
had made of the Nawaub's troops^ with presents of
money and clothes; and, after that, returned to
Poona.
The Nawaub, with his army, followed the Mah-
rattas as far as Balapoor the less, and then Visited
the Talookas or districts plundered by them, where
he pleased the hearts of the farmers and husband-
men, by advances and aids of money, bullocks for
the plough, seed and instruments'" for the cultiva-
tion of the land, and he moreover gave strict orders,
to foster the population, and increase the cultivation,
and remitted the share of produce belonging to
government for one year. He then returned to
Bangalore.
At this time. All Zuman Khan Nayut, who was
married to a sister-in-law of Budruzzuman Khan,
arrived at the presence, as the agent of Muhammad
Yousuf Khan, commandant of Mudhra, (Madura),
against whom Muhammad All Khan, the chief of
Arkat, had marched a body of troops falsely accus-
ing him of rebellion. All Zuman was sent to solicit
aid to repel this attack. As, however, the Nawaub
had objects of great necessity and importance on
hand, he did not consider it convenient or safe at
that period to detach any part of his army. For
M
162
some time therefore the negotiation was prolonged^
on different pretexts, until, about this period, the
chief of Arkat defeated the commandant, and the
fort was taken, through the treachery of Seonas
Rao, a Brahman of Tanjore and other Jamadars,
and the said commandant was impaled : the date
of his execution will be foimd in the words ; ' the
rebellious commandant/"* Meer All Zuman Khan,
after this, remained with the Nawaub, who, being
pleased with his polished manners, his mild disposi-
tion, and the charms of his conversation, made him
a constant companion. Sometimes, however, he
was offended with him, or treated him with caprice.
Being a very stout man, the Khan was not able to
mount a horse, and therefore, when he went out,
Hydur was used to give him the loan of his own
elephant
About this time, also, Fyze UUah Khan Hybut
Jung, who had quarrelled with his father-in-law,
Delawur Khan, sought refuge with the Nawaub, to
prefer a claim he had on that person, to jewels and
articles of value, belonging to his wife ; and, oppor-
tunities offering themselves, he repeatedly com-
plained to the Nawaub, and excited him greatly
against Delawur Khan. The Nawaub, therefore,
despatched his own elephant, with the equipage and
163
a few horse, to Kolar^ with a summons for Delawur
Khan.
The Khan being a wise man, and seeing that his
ruin impended, and fearing the mischief produced
by his foolish son-in-law, also that he could not
with safety to his life reject or refiise the Nawaub's
invitation, without any equivocation set out on
his journey. When, however, the Nawaub heard
of the venerable Khan's arrival, he took the veil of
enmity off his honest heart, and advanced to the
enclosures of his tent, to meet and do him honour,
bringing him into the tent, and seating him on the
Musnud with himself, with all the respect and defer-
ence which distinguish a man of perfect good breed-
ing,— ^as one of the poets says, *^ That man is perfect
among the perfect, who shows he is master, while
humble as a slave/* Hydur told the Khan that he
must have considered him, (Hydur), as one of his
most faithful servants, to have made so long a jour-
ney to see him ; — that he, Hydur, was an ignorant
man, who yet had much to learn ; but he hoped
that, by his advice and instruction, he might be
brought to the good way. After Hydur had been
gratified by the visit of the worthy Khan, and had
been made acquainted with the real facts of the
* Perfect among the perfect men
That man wiU surely be.
In whom, while humble as a slave,
We can the master see.
164
case, he considered the claim of Hybut Jung to be
entirely false, and discharged it from his mind. The
sons of Hybut Jung, whom Delawur Khan had
brought with him, were, however, sent to their
father ; and a separate tent, being cleared and
provided with articles of use and comfort, Dela-
wur Khan was placed therein, and proper servants
appointed to attend him, and for his expenses a
thousand rupees a month were allowed ; besides
which, he ate twice a day at the Nawaub's table.
About this time, likewise, Noor Ulabsar Khan the
son of Dileer Khan, and the nephew of Delawur
Khan, was selected by the Nawaub as his son-in-
law, and the usual marriage ' ceremonies were duly
performed.
After awhile, the Nawaub, intending to reduce
the Poligars in the vicinity of Kolar, and Murwakul,
marched a force in that direction ; and, at the same
time, by the mediation of Khaki Shah Durvesh,
one of the Nawaub's counsellors, Hybut Jung, and
Muha Mirza Khan, the Bakshi of the Paigah,« (a
person who had been sent for from Aurangabad, and
treated with great distinction and honour,) Meer All
Ruza Khan, by the promises of a large Jageer, and
an increase of rank, was invited and induced to re-
^ The name of Hydur's daughter married on this occasion was
Paupa Bibi, according to Mr. Marriott.
9 Troop of horse.
165
turn to the presence ; and, as he was a brother-in-
law, and otherwise related to the Nawaub, he re-
turned with confidence, and, to secure his attach-
ment, the Nawaub presented him with the hill fort
of Goorum Koondah, and the whole of the district
of Dindigul in Jageer, and also honoured him with
an order to enlist troops.
The Nawaub in about six months had reduced
the Poligars of that vicinity ; that is, the Poligar
of Punganoor, Mudun Pally, Komneer Palah, &c. ;
and, having finished his arrangements, he returned
to Seringaputtun, where he remained for two years,
occupied in pleasure and enjoyment ; also, in the
collection of military stores for future conquest, in
the acquisition of which he expended hundreds of
thousands of rupees in gold and jewels, as he like-
wise did in the enlistment of horse and foot, and
the purchase of horses.
Yaseen Khan, Wanti Koodri, came, about this
time, from Nuthur Nuggur, otherwise Trichinopoly,
and entered the Nawaub's service. Muhammad
Omar, commandant, about this time fell sick and
died, and his son Muhammad All, who, during the
life of his £ither was a Soubadar,** was promoted to
the command of the same Risala.
As soon as, in all respects, his army was ready
** Native captain.
166
for the field, the Nawaub turned his thoughts to cer-
tain arrangements required at Nuggur, and marched
thither with a well appointed force. On this expe-
dition he took with him Delawur Khan ; and, on
the days of march or action, the venerable Khan
was mounted on Hydur's own elephant, and
marched surrounded by the horse of Hydur's stable
or Paigah, and accompanied by his Julow or per-
sonal guard. Hydur himself rode on horseback,
and in front of the regular infantry, and artillery.
From Nuggur he despatched a force under the
command of Vinkut Rao, Mooshrif, (inspector), a
faithful officer in his service, accompanied by Hy-
but Jung, towards Shanoor ; that, by this manifes-
tation, they might collect an adequate Paishkush
from the chief of that place, and also reinforce cer-
tain garrisons in that neighbourhood. In about a
twelvemonth, the Nawaub returned to Puttun, and
remained there for some time.
167
CHAPTER XIV.
The Second Invasion of Mysore by Sewaie Madhoo Rao, and
the march of the Nawaub Bahadiir to the neighbourhood of
Shanoor, to oppose him ; with other events of the year 1078,
Hejm. A.D. 1766.
TVhen Madhoo Rao, after peace had been con-
cluded, returned for the first time from the Kar-
natic Balaghaut to Poona, he left a Thana, or
garrison, in Sura. The Killadar of that place, now
hearing of the assembling of the Nawaub's army,
and his advance towards Nuggur for the regulation
of his affairs there, and becoming alarmed, des-
patched a full account of these matters to Madhoo
Rao, who being also troubled and perplexed, and
considering his own destruction to be threatened
by the assemblage of the Nawaub's forces, again
commenced to collect his troops and chiefs. Having
commenced his march towards Mysore, he des-
patched a body of troops, to reduce all the forts
on the frontier, which were held by the Killadars
168
of the Nawaub. Hearing of the march of the
Mahratta army, the Nawaub marched also with
his victorious troops by the route of Seo M ooka, (or
Simoga,) and Buswa Puttun ; and, having crossed
the Tung Bhudr^ advanced to Hur Hur, and Amee,
and from that to Meduk, known also by the name
of Shikarpoor, where he encamped.
The army of the Mahrattas, after taking the
forts before mentioned, marched towards the Na-
waub, and encamped about three miles distant from
him, and the next morning advanced to attack him.
The Nawaub was, however, all ready to receive
them, and his troops, ready formed for battle, kept
their ground. The Poligar of Chitul Droog, with
his force, was present with the Nawaub's army on
this occasion. The Mahrattas now surrounded the
Nawaub's troops, forming a ring round them ; but,
although they charged desperately, still the Ghazies,
or Mussulmans, constantly repelled them with the
greatest steadiness and courage, and maintained
their ground throughout the whole of the day. At
night, however, the Nawaub quitted that ground,
and marched straight to Cheroli, Anoti, and Jara,
and there, placing his rear to the Jungul, he en-
camped ; and for the further security of his camp,
he mounted his artillery in batteries on all the
rising grounds surrounding it; and, being in rea-
169
diness^ he waited for an opportunity to destroy his
enemies. After the Nawaub had taken up this
position, Madhoo Rao was not able to march and
quit him, or to attack any other place. The Chief
of Shanoor, however, had made a treaty with the
Mahrattas, and gave them his aid.
After a few days, therefore, parties of both armies
daily met in the field, and did justice to their man-
«
hood by keeping the field of battle constantly oc-
cupied by combatants. The Mahrattas likewise
placed on the top of a small hill all the guns of their
artillery which carried furthest, and from thence can-
nonaded the Nawaub's camp, and caused great in-
convenience to his camp followers. To remedy this,
the Nawaub, after some consideration, one night
marched with a body of five thousand matchlock
infantry marksmen, about fifteen hundred horse,
and four light* guns of his Julow, or guard, all
selected men, leaving the rest of his army under
the charge of Hybut Jung Bukhshi, and the re-
gulation of the treasury and Tosheh Khana, &c., to
the superintendence of Delawur Khan ; the Na-
waub's object being to make a night attack, he
marched, under cover of the thick jungle, straight
on the Mahratta artillery. The time, however, was
unlucky, and the hour favourable to his enemies ;
170
for, by reason of the badness of the roads, his troops
being obliged to cut down the trees to obtain a
passage ; by the time they had arrived on a plain
near the Mahratta artillery^ night vanished, and
the morning shone forth brightly. The Mahrattas,
therefore, being aware of the approach of the Na-
waub's troops, immediately surrounded him, and,
setting up shouts of *' take, and kill I " and curvet-
ting^ and leaping their horses, charged on all sides.
The Nawaub had very regularly and skilfully formed
his infantry into a fort, or square ; ^ but, although
he gave orders to commence a fire from his guns,
not one of them would go off, and fire seemed
to take no more effect on them than on so much
ice. At length the Nawaub himself dismounted
from his horse, and, taking a match in his hand,
placed it on the touch-hole of the gun. It was,
however, of no use, as the fiise did not take fire ;
and now, hopeless of any service from his artillery,
he kept off the Mahrattas by a sharp fire firom
his musketry, and still fought to the very extent
of his means. At last, the Mahrattas, like a flight
of crows, charged in a body and mixed with the
Nawaub*s troops, shoulder to shoulder, and the
^ Any one who has seen the Mahratta cavalry about to charge,
will understand this description.
' A hollow square.
171
ranks of the Nawaub's troops were broken, and
thrown into confusion^ and their lives uselessly lost.
Vinkut Rao> the Dewaun^ was killed^ and All Zuman
Khan, wounded ; and some of the Nawaub's troops,
under pretence of bringing aid or ammunition, ran
away. When they saw the field their own, the Mah-
ratta army followed the fiigitives, and as long as
they were able, plundered and slew them. The
Nawaub, by his intelligence and activity, escaped
from the slaughter, and like the sun without a
peer, and alone, sat down under a tree, and sur-
veyed with wild passion the field so favourable to
his enemies. Just at this time, a drummer with
his drum arrived at the place where he sat, and
stood before him. Thinking his arrival a very
fortunate occurrence, and a happy presage of the
fortune of his troops, the Nawaub ordered him
to beat (a charge), and he accordingly beat his
drum in such a way that the sound shed terror
on the Mahrattas ; and they fearing, from the
beating of the drum, that a re-inforcement had
arrived to the aid of the discomfited Mussulmans,
left all the baggage they had taken, and began
to run away. The Nawaub had scarcely collected
the remainder of his force, which the sword had
left to him, and arrived in the plain, when Hybut
Jung, with the artillery, regular infentry, and ca-
172
valry, arrived to his aid by a forced inarch. The
Nawaub*s mind now being fully at ease, he took
the troops with him, followed the enemy at speed,
and gave orders to his artillery and infantry to
fire as fast as they could, to break the heads and
legs of the runaway Mahrattas and their horses ;
which they did successfully. The Mahrattas now
retired, dragging with them their guns ; but, leav-
ing their dead and wounded on the field, for want
of time to carry them away. They, however,
carried off the artillery which they had captured. —
When the Mahratta army was out of sight, the
Nawaub collected all his own dead, and wounded,
with the wounded Mahrattas, and brought them
to his camp, and ordered their wounds to be
sewn up and dressed, giving, at the same time,
the allowance of Murhum Putti, (a compensation
in money for wounds), to every one.
The Mahrattas, with their troops, now marched
towards Binkapore, where they halted ; and, as the
rainy season had arrived, they placed themselves
in cantonments there. The Nawaub halted on
the same ground, (that of the battle.) — Madhoo
Rao, however, notwithstanding the rainy season,
despatched Gopal Rao, the chief of Mirch, with
his force, to plunder and destroy the coimtry on
the other side the river Tung Bhudr. Gopal
173
Rao, therefore, crossing that river at the ford of
Horul, advanced, plundering the people, and firing
the villages, all the way he went. From the
Poligars of Hurpun HuUy, Rai Droog, &c., he col-
lected the Paishkush by force, and plundered the
dependencies of Chitul Droog, and filled the four
quarters of the Karnatic with the noise and tumult
of calamity and oppression. Gopal Rao, having
made the teeth of rapacity sharper than the claws "
of a dog, with perfect confidence, and a loose
rein, encamped near Hussdroog, a dependency of
Chituldroog.
When this intelligence reached the Nawaub, he,
leaving the whole of his troops and baggage in the
same place, with only six thousand stable horse,
nine thousand Sillahdars," four thousand regular
infantry, and six guns, lightly equipped, marched
secretly and rapidly towards them, and, on the
third night, he fell bravely on the Mahrattas, who
were seized by the hand of death, and ignorant
of the change brought about by the revolution
of the heavens, pouring such a fire upon them,
that all at once their union as a body, and the
firmness of their minds, were broken by fear, and
°* A queer simile.
" The SiUahddr is a trooper hired with his horse and arms at a
certain rate of pay for all.
174
they were scattered as the falling leaves before
the desolating winds of autumn. Those men only
of the Mahrattas who, throwing down their arms,
abandoned their horses, and, shewing their teeth,
held up the hand of supplication for mercy to
Hydur's brave soldiers, were spared. The officer
in command of the Mahratta troops, whose name
is above mentioned, (Gopal Rao), withdrawing the
hand of courage and honour from all things de-
noting his rank and authority, took what was
present of his property, and some plunder obtained
by his rapacity and oppression ; and, in astonish-
ment, repeating these lines, — *' Every one carries
away some worldly goods,** — *'we, for our parts,
have withdrawn our hearts from the things of this
world/' accompanied by a few men, escaped on one
side, and took the road to Sura. The camp fol-
lowers, and women of the soldiers, all that had
escaped the sword, and were seeking their safety by
flight, never stopped until they arrived at the pro-
tection of the ditch of the fort at Sura. Some, by
a thousand stratagems and labours, fled with all
speed, and falling and rising again, and thinking
every moment the last, arrived at the head quarters
of the Poona army. The victorious Nawaub re-
mained the whole of that day on the Mahratta
ground of encampment, and collected all the bag-
176
gage; as tents^ standards, and arms, and having
laden with them all the elephants, horses, and
camels, taken from the enemy, and setting fire to
the remainder, which lay about in heaps, he re-
turned to his camp.
When the Mahratta, (Madhoo Rao), heard of
this exploit of the Mujahidan, or Mussulmans, he
became convinced he would scarcely be able to
preserve his own life in the present campaign,
and was fearful that, by some sudden change,
his power and authority might be scattered to
the winds. About this time, also, the Kuzzaks
of the Nawaub*s army, who, in the arts of de-
ceiving and plundering their enemies might be
considered perfect, by changing their dress and
altering the cut of their beards, &c., joined the
foraging parties of the Mahrattas without sus-
picion ; and, after associating with them for some
time without discovery, when they found an oppor-
tunity, raised a tumult, which might be likened
to that of the day of judgment, among their
quondam friends, relieving them from the charge
of five thousand horses, nineteen elephants, and
ninety head of camels, besides slaying them with-
out compunction.
When Madhoo Rao saw his troops in these
difficulties, and that, notwithstanding their great
176
number^ they could take no rest at night for fear of
attack ; that, during the day, for fear of their lives,
they did not dare to quit their encampments; that,
above all, from the violence of the rains of that year,
the earth was more over-flowed with water, than
the eyes of an unfortunate lover; and that both
men and beasts had lost the use of their limbs from
extreme heat and cold, and that, like as if frozen,
many of them slept in the arms of death ; when,
therefore, Madhoo Rao found himself surrounded
by such difficulties, his heart gave way, and, with-
out the accomplishment of his projects, and after
the lapse of one year and some months, by the
mediation of able Vakeels or Ambassadors, the war
was concluded, on the payment of two Lakhs of
rupees, (by Hydur), although, in its prosecution,
Madhoo Rao had incurred the expense of a great
many Lakhs. After this settlement, Madhoo Rao
returned to his capital, Poona.
The Nawaub, victorious, after making some
necessary arrangements in that quarter, returned
by the route of Nuggur, happy and rejoicing.
When he arrived at Seringaputtun, Delawur Khan,
pretending to be sick, obtained leave of absence
and retired to Kolar; from which place, secretly
. and at night, he, with his baggage, valuables, wo-
men, and his whole household, without any evident
177
cause, took the road to the Payanghaut ; and, on
his arrival there, selected Arkat as his residence
The Nawaub, when he heard of his flight, was
much surprized ; but lost no time in sending a
detachment of troops to garrison the fort of Kolar,
and took possession of the district for himself.
N
d
178
CHAPTER XV.
An account of the conquest of Koorg, and the reduction of
Kalikote, (Calicut), &c. ; events which occurred in the year 1 181»
Hijri. A.D. 1767.
Prom the time of the Kings of Bijapoor^ the
Zemindars of this part of the country^ (meaning
the south of India), such as the Chiefs of Koorg,
Kalikote, (Calicut), &c., paid each of them a pro-
portionate Paishkush, at the capital of the Kings ;
through the medium of the governor of the Souba
Sura, and after the fall of that dynasty, they paid
their customary tribute to the Nazim, or Soubadar
of the Dukkun, that is, to the Nawaub Asof Jah ;
sometimes virithout denial or delay, and sometimes
when troops were marched towards them to en-
force payment In the last days, however, of the
Nizamut of Asof Jah, who, by reason of the arro-
gance and incursions of the Mahrattas, and his
constant conflicts with them, had no leisure to
collect or confirm the dues of Government in this
quarter, the whole of these men, taking advantage
of the opportunity thus afforded them, rebelled.
179
and without further hesitation each became a sove-
reign prince in his own territory. The governors
of the Souba Sura, also, who had been ordered by
the Nazims of the Dukkun to correct and chastise
the irregularities of these Zemindars, not only
slothfuUy neglected their duty, but, from the in-
fluence of bribes, connived at the irregularities of the
Poligars. When, however, by the strength of his
arms, and the exertion of his courage, the power
. of the Nawaub increased he reduced them all to
subjection, and drew them into the circle of those
obedient to his commands, making them the ser-
vants of his will, and the slaves of his policy. At
this latter period, however, from the incursion of
the Mahrattas into the Nawaub's country, and the
Nawaub's full occupation in repelling them, they
again became insubordinate in their own districts,
lifted up their heads to rebellion, plundered and
murdered the garrisons of the Nawaub, stationed in
all the forts in their vicinity, and reduced the whole
country under their own authority. These cir-
cumstances having been reported to the Nawaub,
and he being now relieved from the Mahratta
contest, he, like an angry lion, marched by the
way of Nuggur and the sea-shore, towards that
wild desert, (Koorg) ; and having collected six or
seven hundred fishermen, with their boats, and
180
directed his supplies and stores to be sent by sea^
he himself marched with his regular and irregular
infantry, and artillery, and fell on the heads of
these rebels like a sudden calamity. The first on
whom he fell was the Poligar of the Bui district,
who, when he had an opportunity, had attacked
the dependencies of Seringaputtun, and plundered
them, carrying off the goods and cattle of the
peasants of the Sirkar.® This violence had un-
settled the minds of the people, and made them .
abandon their homes. The re-assurance of their
minds, and their safety and comfort, the Nawaub
thought could, therefore, by no means be so well
secured or established as by the destruction of these
rebels. He consequently attacked them briskly, and
plundered and devastated their country. Not being
able openly or alone to oppose the invincible Na-
waub, the Poligar abandoned his fort, and, with his
property and family, slunk away like a fox, to the
protection of the forest, and, in confederacy with
the Chief of Koorg, prepared for war. The Na-
waub, seeing this, left a strong detachment in the
fort of Bui, and instantly marched forward, and
courageously threw himself into the terrible forests
** The historian feelingly describes the plunder of the Nawanb's
territory, but makes very slight mention of the territories of other
states ravaged and desolated by him.
181
and wilds of Koorg, like a wild elephant, and near
Akrubnar, (a town or village so called), a great and
well contested battle was fought between him and
the Poligar of Bui— so fiercely contested, indeed,
that, at the commencement of the engagement, the
discipline and order of the Nawaub's troops had
nearly given way. While, however, they were in
this state, the Nawaub himself, with a few brave
men, under the thick cover of the trees, marched
and attacked the rear of the enemy, and wielded
the sword with such vigour, that the great actions
of Rustum and Isfendiar were again presented to
the admiration of the world ; so that most of the
rebel Chiefs and soldiers were slain, or ran away,
and some sought refuge ampng the troops of the
Khodadad.
Tippoo Sultaun, Hydur's son, on this day first
displayed the innate courage of his nature, and the
honour he obtained by his prudence and bravery,
enlightened his daring countenance. The mode in
which the circumstance occurred was this : — When
Hydur^ with his select band, attacked the rebels,
and overthrew them, Tippoo, who was then only
eighteen years of age, fortunately obtained a clue
to the place where the dependents, (that is, the
women,) of the Poligar had taken refuge. This
place was five or six miles from the field of battle.
182
and through a thick dark forest, as full of turnings
and windings as the curls of a Lady's ringlets.
With two or three thousand brave and experienced
men, Tippoo, by a forced march, came suddenly
upon them, and, although the guardians of the
honour, (the women), of the Poligar were aware of
their coming, and steadily opposed their advance
with spears, swords, and matchlocks, yet the
bravery of Hydur's men was irresistible, and their
first attack effaced the memory of the great actions
performed by the brave son of Zal, (an allusion to
Rustum the hero of the Shah Namah). The rebel
guards, giving their honour to the winds, saved
themselves by covering or concealing themselves
under the robes' of the women, and some even
dressed themselves like women, and trembling fell
down before the swords of the brave soldiers ; and
some, who fought fearlessly, were slain without
accomplishing their object. The fortunate son of
Hydur, therefore, rubbing the forehead of gratitude
and thanksgiving on the threshold of the true and
only giver of victory, with (the honour of the dis-
honoured) the women, and other valuables, returned
to his father, and was received with great fovour
and distinction.
^ SpL> ^ ^^^^ worn by women in India, extending from the
hip to the ancle.
183
When the Poligar saw the miserable state of his
dependents and servants he was thrown into deep
affliction; but now^ in addition to this, he was
doomed to hear of the plunder of his house, and
the capture of the women of his family ; and, over-
whelmed by this calamity, striking the hand of
grief on the head of his pride, he, in the most
abject manner, with his hands bound, accompanied
by some of his servants, presented himself to
Hydur, and, like a slave girding his loins to service,
was obedient to the orders he received. He also
brought valuables, treasure, and elephants' teeth, of
which there was about fifty camel loads, collected
in a long period by his forefathers, and presented
them to Hydur, who, pitying his condition, re-
ceived him with favour and encouragement, took
him with the army, and soon after gave him back
his women and his territory ; and having taken
assurances from him, for the protection of the
peasantry, and the improvement of the country,
Hydur marched on.
Hearing of the ruin and desolation which bad
fallen on the Poligar of the Bui district, part of
which, indeed, he had seen, the Koorg Chief began
to fear what would befal himself; and he, therefore,
commenced to devise means to secure his own
safety. The result of his reflections being that
184
submission to the Nawaub was the best and safest
pohcy, he submitted, became tributary, and paid a
large sum of money, and Kkewise gave valuable
presents of the rarities of the country. By these
means, he was received as one of those to whom
forgiveness is extended^ The Nawaub, however,
placed a garrison of his troops in the fort of Mur-
kera ; but left the country in his possession, and
proceeded further on. All Raja, the Chief of
Cananore, who was a Muhammadan, and of the
tribe called Mapilla,"^ rejoiced at the success and
conquests of a Muhammadan Chief, and con-
sidering obedience to him as an increase of honour
to himself, submitted without delay, and entered
into public affairs, in aid and support of the Na-
waub's measures. Hydur, also, by presents and
kindness, gained his confidence ; and, because this
chief was known to be well acquainted with the
secrets of that country, he associated him in his
plans, and marched to the reduction of the en-
virons of Kalikote, The rebels of that place, who
were of the Naimar caste, brave and hardy, as
they undoubtedly were, were soon conquered by
the ability and bravery of Hydur ; some were slain,
and some were put in irons. The Poligar of Char-
*i The MapiUas are the descendents of Arabs, by Teer or Nair
iwomen ; they follow the religion of their fathers, althoagh their
name signifies that they are the sons of their mothers.
185
kul being likewise subdued^ his wealth and country
were assumed by Hydur ; but, as he was not taken
alive^ being slain^ his son^ who was about seven
years old, and a prisoner, was honoured by being
adopted by Hydur, and was named lyaz Khan.
This young man had other brothers. In short,
when the Nawaub prepared to commence the siege
of KaUkote, the Chief of the Naimars, seeing that
his affairs were going to ruin, that all his country
had been conquered by the brave soldiers of the
Nawaub, that he was not able to oppose him in
open fight, nor had he the means of escaping from
him, and, being therefore resourceless, despatched
Vakeels with presents, and provisions' for the army,
and the tribute money, and asked forgiveness of
his offences. The Nawaub, from convenience and
policy, called the Envoys to the presence; and,
having severely reproved them, he honoured the
Chief with a Kowl Nama, or security, to set his
mind at ease, and sent for him ; and, after they
had met, Hydur gave him his life and property, and
forgave his offences, but took the country out of
his hands, and instead of it gave him a monthly
pension, and thus freed himself from all further
trouble with him.'
* Taking possession of the Poligar's country, under written
assurances of life and property.
186
When this intelligence became known in that
neighbourhood, that the Nawaub received those
imder the shadow of his protection who sought his
forgiveness, and that he punished the rebels to his
authority with a strong arm, by plunder and desola-
tion, and to such a degree, that the names and
signs of them and their families were no longer
found on the page of existence^ the Naimars and
Mapillas placed the ring of obedience in the ear of
their affections^ and bound the girdle of devotion on
the loins of service. From this place the Nawaub
marched to Koochi Bundur,^ from the inhabitants
of which neighbourhood he exacted a large sum of
money, and drew the whole of the Naimars under
his authority. The Chief of Malabar, also, dread-
ing the courage and lion-like qualities of Hydur s
soldiery, and fearing lest his territories should be
ravaged, sent Hydur twenty- eight elephants, and
seven Lakhs of rupees, as a present ; and, by that
means, turned him away from his quarter. The
victorious Nawaub remained nearly two years
making arrangements for the regulation of the
Naimars of the hilly tract of country, and the
neighbourhood of Coimbetoor, &c. ; and Sirdar
Khan, an officer of great courage, was appointed
Subadar of that province, with a sufficient military
Cochin, on the Malabar coast.
187
force attached to him ; and then, after having given
him orders to punish the insubordinate in that
neighbourhood, Hydur marched to reduce the
Poligar of Dindigul.
188
CHAPTER XVI.
An account of the incursion of Trimuk Rao Mama, the ma-
ternal uncle of Madhoo Rao, into the Karuatic Balaghaut, and
the terrible defeat the troops of the Nawaub sustained in the
battle of the hill of Churkooli, a place about four or five miles to
the northward of Seringaputtun ; and, lastly, Trimuk Rao's boot-
less return to Poona ; with other fearful events of the year 1 1 82»
Hijri. A.D. 1768.
Madhoo Rao having returned from his first and
second expeditions without success^ and brooding
over his failures, in the same fit of despondency
was seized by the palsy," and died. Narayen Rao,
his brother, succeeded him, and remained for some
time occupied in his own regulations and govern-
ment. After that, however, the thorn of his
shameful failure in the Balaghaut, wounding his
heart, to relieve himself from painful reflection and
sorrow, he formed a deep scheme or plan, and des-
patched Trimuk Mama, his maternal uncle, with
a hundred and twenty thousand horse, and sixty
U I ~ • •
189
thousand foot, and a hundred pieces of light
artillery, to conquer that country, and he himself
proceeded to Sitara.
As soon as Trimuk had received his orders
to proceed to this quarter, he marched on, and
soon arrived in the Balaghaut ; and all the Poli-
gars of this part of the country, such as Morar Rao,
the Chituldroog chief, the Ruttun Giri, the Mer-
kaisi, the Khut, Kumneer chiefs, &c., who had all
been spared by the heavy hand of the Nawaub,
all now at once turned against him, and joined
the Mahrattas ; and every one took upon himself
the responsibility of guarding the Mahratta camp,
and escorting supplies to their army. The chiefs
of Shanoor and Kirpa,"" also, followed the same
path. Trimuk, consequently advanced, and took
possession of some forts, depending on Puttun,
which were out of repair, or not well garrisoned,
and, giving them over in charge to his own officers
and men, he marched towards Puttun, and, with
the hand of oppression, plundered and destroyed
the poor inhabitants of the country, and so com-
pletely desolated most of the towns and districts,
that they have not been repeopled to this day.
In whatever place his ill-omened troops encamped,
were it but for a single day, that place remained
▼ CaUed Cuddapfth. by WUks.
190
uninhabited for years, and the abode of bats and
owls ; and on whatever ground the plundering
troops of this oppressor halted, even but for an
hour or two, from beneath the earth cries of
Aman,"" (mercy,) and the sound of lH Hafeez,"
(God the Protector), arose, and reached the ears of
the oppressed world/ When Trimuk found that the
plains of this part of the country were free from
the presence of the raging lion,' he, without any
constraint or fear, extended his steps to the plun-
der of the wealth and property of the inhabitants
of the Balaghaut. The Nawaub, however, when
he came to know Trimuk*s intentions, and his in-
vasion of this neighbourhood, returning rapidly
with his troops and artillery, arrived at Seringa-
puttun ; and, after making some arrangements
there, marched by the way of Chenputtun, towards
the jungul of Makri Droog^ with this intention,
that, whenever the Mahratta, (Trimuk), should
besiege Puttun, he would attack and harass his
rear. Having arrived and obtained cover there,
he remained waiting for an opportunity to carry
his design into effect, while Trimuk, on hearing
that the Nawaub had arrived near the said Droog,
immediately marched with his troops and artillery
in that direction. The Nawaub, being also in-
191
formed of this movement, marched at night, and
having defeated the advanced guard of the Mah-
rattas, he entered the mountains of Milekote. On
the following day, the Mahrattas moved from their
encampment, and besieged Milekote.
The first day of the siege, the Nawaub, with
the whole of his regular infantry and artillery, made
an attack on the Mahrattas ; and, by a constant
fire of artillery, and vollies of musketry, drove them
off the field of battle. Notwithstanding this, the
troops of Trimuk still surrounded the fort, at a dis-
tance. Hydur, meanwhUe, maintained his position
for fifteen or twenty days, and kept the hill against
his enemies, fighting hard with them every day. At
length, however, as his provisions were failing him,
and as he could procure no hay or com for his
horses, he determined to return to his capital,
Puttun. At night, therefore, Hydur cut down the
jungul at the back of the hill, and, having despatched
his artillery under Meer All Ruza Khan, he himself,
with his horse and regular foot, marched to amuse
and occupy the Mahrattas, and, after forming his
lines, at the foot of the mountain, and displaying
his strength to them, he marched on.
The road to the rear of the mountain was, how-
ever, very bad, the surface being up and down,
and full of ravines and holes, and the guns and
192
stores were not able to get on, until by the
exertion of great labour* they proceeded seven
or eight miles. At this distance, the jungul or
forest ended ; the night also closed, and morning
appeared. The Mahratta scouts, or sentinels, now
gave information to IVimuk Rao, that the Na-
waub's artillery and stores were proceeding to-
wards Puttun ; and, immediately on hearing this
intelligence, he marched off all his troops, with strict
orders to take the artillery, and bring it back to
him ; he himself following. By this time the
Nawaub had advanced four Fursungs^ (perhaps
Kose), and had arrived near Kurri Goorah, (a
place situate north-east* from Puttun, and three
or four Fursungs distant from that town, when he
heard that Trimuk, like a salamander had at-
tacked his fire department, or artillery and am-
munition, and had not only taken the whole, but
was actually returning with it. Hydur imme-
diately gallopped off with his cavalry, to the main
body of his enemies, who, being crowded round
the artillery, formed as good a mai k as a butt on
a mound, and attacking and breaking in upon them
^ Nearly sixteen miles. A Kose is one mile and a half; a
Fursung, four miles and three quarters.
193
on one flank, he dispersed them, and reached
his guns, ** and then, without stopping, marched
straight from that place towards his capital, having
his horse in the centre, and his right and left
wings, and his advanced and rear guards, formed
of his regular and irregular infantry, and artillery,
and keeping up a continual fire. In this movement,
notwithstanding troop after troop of the Mahratta
cavalry leaped or sprang their horses against the
rampart formed by his infantry, the fire of his ve-
terans blackened the faces of their manhood, and
sent them away in despair. During this time, how-
ever, the Mahrattas had placed seven or eight long
guns on the bank of the Mooti Tulaub, or Pearl
Tank, and had blocked up the road of safety to
the Nawaub's troops ; and from that position they
commenced a brisk fire, the shot of which threw
the Nawaub's baggage and followers into great con-
fusion. The Nawaub, therefore, taking with him a
number of his brave fellows, and two guns, ad-
vanced, fighting desperately; and, not giving the
enemy time to draw off the guns or retire in safety,
fell on them hke the stroke of fate, and, at one
charge, took their guns and ammunition, and this
done, halted there. As the whole of the Nawaub's
army and artillery had come up from the rear, they
^j^ ijKsriyj It appears he could not retake his guns.
O
194
halted there also, for a short time, to take their
breakfast ; and although the wiser servants of the
Nawaub, and the experienced officers of his govern-
ment, represented to him that for that day he had
better plant his standard and pitch his tents where
he was; and that the next morning they might
proceed with perfect ease to the capital, still, as
the heavenly bodies do not always revolve after the
same fashion, and those intrusted with the decrees
of fate are not always guided by the same rules ;
so, the ruin of the God-given • state had arrived,
and there was no help for it ! " In truth, an
unlucky day will never be seen fortunate."* — " On
his burial night no one will sleep in his house.** —
"What fate has from eternity prescribed," — ^'^ power
has no choice but to meet at the appointed time.**
The suggestions of the able men about the Na-
waub did not agree with his opinion for the reason
that " When ruin comes to any one, folly or madness
shuts up the path of wisdom.** — " On an unlucky
day sense or wisdom is taken away ; ** and the Na-
waub, therefore, let go the thread or clue of care
and caution ; and, after eating and drinking what
was presented to him, he arose, and the troops,
forming by his directions, commenced their march.
The forces of the Mahrattas were, in num-
195
bers, like ants or flies, and, surrounding him as
he moved on, they made continual attacks on
him. On their arrival near the hill of Churkooli,
it chanced that a shot from one of the Mahratta
guns, fired at a considerable distance, fell among
a string of camels carrying rockets, and threw them
into disorder ; and, in the tumult and crowd of
men, the rockets took fire, and flying among
the baggage and followers, threw them into utter
confusion. To increase their misfortunes, a rocket,
which had taken fire, fell on one of the boxes
of ammunition, and blew it up ; and in the black
cloud of smoke, which rose up to heaven, many
of Hydur's brave soldiers were carried up to a
great height, and then cast down head foremost
on the ground. Fate having thus broken the
bonds of discipline and order, which held the
army together, the enemy's Pindarehs, taking ad-
vantage of this disaster, like a new bride in the
house of a son-in-law,' with the greatest confidence
insinuated themselves into the mass ; and, notwith-
standing the Nawaub's troops used their arms with
effect, and resisted to the utmost, they could avail
themselves nothing, but were completely subdued
and cut up ; and, therefore, like the humblest and
most patient, they bore whatever insult or injury
196
the Mahrattas chose to inflict on them. Lala
Mean, the favorite ^ son-in-law of Shahbaz Sahib,
after making a desperate resistance, and giving
worthy proof of his courage, drank the cup of
martyrdom. Meer Ali Ruza Khan, and All Zu-
man Khan, with many other chief officers, were
taken prisoners, and most of the soldiers, both
horse and foot, considering flight as a stain upon
their honour, fought as long as they could stand,
and then resigned their heads, as a religious offer-
ing or sacrifice, to the swords and spears of the
Mahrattas. Yaseen Khan, Wunti Koodri, a faith-
fiil friend and servant of the Nawaub*s, who was in
some respects like him in person,*^ entered the
ranks of the Mahrattas, and gave himself out for
the Nawaub ; and, having taken more draughts of
the Sherbet of sword wounds than his strength
could bear, was lying senseless on the ground,
when the stupid Mahrattas thinking he was the
lion-hearted Nawaub, and, rejoicing, took him up
and carried him away to Trimuk Rao. Thus the
whole of the equipment of the army, which had
been collected with so much labour, was now plun-
dered and trampled beneath the hoofs of the Mah-
ratta horse, and the excellent store department, and
artillery, small and great, all fell into the hands of
197
the Mahrattas. The Nawaub, however, while he
repeated these h'nes. Verse ^ — "If thou art fortunate,
it is not owing to thy prudence.** — '^ Or if thy plans
be bad, it is not thy fault." — *' Be resigned and con-
tented, and live happy." — ^* Thou art not qualified
to know any thing about fate, good or bad,** —
mounted the hill of Churkooli, and, standing on a
millstone, viewed on all sides, with furious anger,
the victorious career of these wild men, the Mah-
rattas, as they charged and pursued his troops. At
that moment, Ghazi Khan Bede, (a Pindara), pre-
sented himself, and with the greatest difficulty
forced him from the field, and, attended by only
fourteen good horse, escorted him to Puttun.
The Nawaub, however, in his absence from his
brave son Tippoo, who had been separated from
his side in the battle, lost all rest and peace of
mind; and was overwhelmed with affliction, and
having visited the tomb of the saint, Kadur Wuli,
a Peer Zadah, which is situated N. E. (Eesani) of
the fort, near the bank of the river Kauveri, he
made his arrival known to Meer Ismael Khan,
who was commandant of the fort. Having made
all necessary arrangements in the fort, Meer Ismael
waited for his coming and when the time of even-
ing* prayer arrived, Hydur's son, of auspicious
198
presage^ came in without injury, attended only
by two or three horsemen^ and in the garb of a
Mahratta Pindara. The Nawaub's Ufe was restored
to him by the sight of his son, and, immediately
entering the fortj he threw open the door of his
treasury of gold and jewels, and to every horseman
or foot soldier who had escaped from that disastrous
battle, he gave his two handsful of gold, and to
every man, who returned with his horse and arms,
he gave, besides an honorary dress, a present of
five handsful of gold. " The fortunate Feridoon
was not an angel.** — ^^ He was not formed of musk
and amber."* — ^ He owes his name to his liberality.**
— ^' Give and thou shalt be Feridoon.**^
But, (to return to the combat,) Muhammad AM,
commandant, when he saw his troops in this con-
dition, and being at the same time ignorant of the
safety of Hydur, determined to devote himself to
death, and repeated to himself the following lines. —
^' I call myself a man as long as I have life in my
body," — " but of what use will my life be if I be
without manhood.** — " To be fearfid in the day of
^ To angel birth had Feridoon no claim ;
Neither of musk and amber was he formed :
His heart a largely-bounteous spirit warm'd ;
And thus he gain*d a never-dying name.
Be of thy gifts as liberal as he.
And thou thyself a Feridoon shall be.
199
battle^ is for cowards.'* — '''It is the custom of brave
men to leave their heads on the field of battle." The
commandant, therefore, with the utmost coolness
and bravery, collected his own men, with others of
Hydur's troops, and mounting the hill, and taking
advantage of the cover of the rocks, without water
or food, and carrying on his body three sword
wounds, and still keeping up his courage, he fought
till the evening. During this time, his well sustained
fire of musketry slew numbers of the Mahrattas, and
every one of the Nawaub's men, who was able, by
every art and means in his power, joined the brave
commandant's company, and fought valiantly. Tri-
muk Rao himself was pleased with his courage and
devotion, and, by the medium of Muhammad You-
suf, a commandant in his own service, sent them a
Kowl Nama, or assurance of safety, and by that
means at night brought down the gallant com-
mandant and his party with their arms, to whom
he also sent a dinner. The arms of his men were,
however, taken from them, and a guard was placed
over them. And now, at the instance of his mas-
ter, the oflScer of Trimuk, however much by fair
words and every art, he endeavoured to induce
Muhammad All to accept service with the Mah-
rattas, still, the brave commandant refused; but,
to please and deceive them, he said, that, if they
would give him leave to return once to Puttun, he.
200
after he was cured of his wounds, would bring his
family, and then serve them according to the best
of his judgement and ability. The next night,
therefore, he was released, and marched towards
Puttun, with sixteen hundred men. On his route
it happened, accidentally, that two thousand Mah-
ratta matchlock men were stationed as an outlying
picket, or outpost, about two fursungs from the
camp, and were sleeping in great security, with their
arms stacked or piled ^ about them. The com-
mandant, on seeing them, thought them a valuable
prize, and with his unarmed men having broken
with stones the heads of those who were lying
about, and having seized all their arms and ammu-
nition, he marched, firing at the Mahrattas, until
he arrived near the fort of Seringaputtun, where he
learned that the Nawaub was safe, and soon after
joined him. On the commandant*s arrival, the
Nawaub, knowing his fidelity and his bravery, and
having heard the fire of the muskets of his party,
(when engaged with the enemy), returned thanks to
God ; and, considering the life of that brave man as
one of the best supports of his government he em-
braced him warmly, and made him presents of
honorary dresses, money and a new musket, or
rifle, fabricated in his own arsenal.
The fort was now strengthened on all sides, by
201
new works, and guns were mounted on them ; and
being quite prepared, the Nawaub waited for his
enemy, he, however, was daily engaged in enlisting
recruits, and collecting warlike stores.
The victorious Mahrattas now despatched to the
Souba of Sura, the prisoners of the Nawaub's troops,
which they had made. Meer All Ruza Khan, how-
ever, (who, after much solicitation, had entered the
service of Madhoo Rao and been appointed to the
government of Gurum Kondah, but who, after that,
in consequence of his ties of kindred, with the Na-
waub, had again returned to him, deserting the
Paishwa's service,) was sent for by Trimuk, who,
after reproving him in no very proper or delicate
language, despatched him a prisoner to Poona. Still
believing that Yaseen Khan was no other than Hy-
dur AH, himself, Trimuk Rao had a separate tent
pitched for him, and all means were taken to con-
sole and comfort him, and he was requested, with
much importunity, to send for his family and his son
Tippoo. Yaseen Khan, being a prudent man, who,
merely from gratitude, endeavoured to shield his
master from injury, (under the shadow of whose pro-
tection thousands and thousands of men found sub-
sistence), and who had borne the hardships of the
fight, and had made convenient to himself both the
heat and cold of fortune, laughed in his sleeve at
202
the soft flattering words of Trimuk, but gave him
no answer. When, however, in the course of about
eight or ten days, Trimuk was informed, that the
Nawaub was safe, and that he was assembling
troops, collecting stores, and mounting guns, to
strengthen the fort, he became aware that his pri-
soner was one of the Nawaub's faithful and devoted
servants, and was ashamed of his own want of dis«
cemment ; and he marched forthwith to attack the
fort. He, therefore, raised batteries, commenced to
carry on his approaches," and opened the fire of his
guns. The rumour of the generosity and profusion
of the Nawaub, was, however, so prevalent in Trim-
uk*s camp, that most of the brave and experienced
soldiers, who served under him with degradation"
and despondency, taking their arms and horses, re-
paired to Hydur, enlisted in his service, and pre-
pared to chastise his enemies. In a very short
time, ten or twelve thousand horse, and regular in-
fantry, were thus collected, and the Nawaub had
gained the hearts of his servants to such a degree
that all were ready to die for him, and breathed no-
thing but defiance.** One night, therefore, Hydur
sent for Muhammad All, commandant, and said
" the Mahrattas having become insolent, fearless,
^f CI^U^ " Being in the service of a Kafir.
203
and very rash, we have determined that their cor-
rection shall fall to the share of our Khodadad
(state) ; but what is your advice T The brave and
veteran commandant in reply immediately took the
responsibility of the plan on his own experience
and ability, and, with two thousand matchlocks,
lightly equipped, leaving the city by the Mysore
gate, and then crossing the river and passing under
cover of the walls of the Soomar Peenth, or
suburb, he fell upon the enemy, stationed near the
Eed Gah, to tlie amount of three thousand foot
belonging to the Poligar of Chitul Droog and two
thousand foot belonging to Morar Rao, who with
four guns and one thousand horse had established
themselves there ; these troops he immediately at-
tacked, and with sword and bayonet roused the men
whose fortunes were sleeping, from the bed of life,
and those awake, whose good fortune was also sleep-
ing, were laid to rest in the bed of eternity. The
remainder both horse and foot, were made pri-
soners, and their hands tied behind them,^ and
placing all the arms and equipment of the defeated
party on their heads, sent them with their horses
and guns to Hydur. He for his own part remained
in the same place about two hours, and in the
morning returned victorious. The Chief of the
Droog and Morar Rao escaped with shame and dis-
204
grace**. The Nawaub was rejoiced at this victory,
and beat his drums^ and fired a salute on the oc-
casion. The Mahrattas, however, being very nu-
merous now without any fear or hesitation raised
a large and very strong battery on the north of
the Kurri Khet ' Hill, and near the river, this was
called the Khas or Trimuk's battery and they
mounted some large guns on it and by the shot and
shells* from this battery the people in the fort suf-
fered much. The brave commandant seeing this
presumption of the Mahrattas, and the injury sus-
tained, was exceedingly angry and several times
represented to the Nawaub that if he had permis-
sion he would raise a storm on Trimuk Khas's
battery, and compel the occupiers to quit it, and
that then he would give the rest of the Mahratta
troops a great shock by pouring voUies of arrows
and musketry on them.* The Nawaub, however,
was alarmed at this proposition considering the im-
mense army of the Mahrattas, and, therefore, kept
him back ; he, however, by importunity and repeated
requests at length obtained leave. " Oh truly the
' This hill is called Karighat by Mr. Thornton and others.
^ A strictly literal translation of this book would be an absurd-
ity.— I have therefore in some places deviated from the original,
but not more than I could help.
205
hearts of the brave are restless as quicksilver until
they efifect the destruction of their enemies" — hav*
ing therefore obtained leave he set out at night with
three thousand regular infantry and one thousand
Karnatic foot, taking nothing with him but his am-
munition marched by the road of Sosili and having
crossed the river at the distance of two Kose and
taking the cover of the forest, "* he proceeded above
the villages of Kurkawul, and Arkera, and pass-
ing towards the small hills of Hurroor, advanced
steadily straight from the rear to the battery under
the pretence of being a reinforcement and relief
to the Mahrattas stationed in it. The Mahrattas
in charge of the battery hearing of the relief of the
advanced parties'" were highly pleased and anxiously
expecting them ; when the brave commandant
found, that the time was favourable and his good
fortune aiding him, and that by deceiving his
enemies he would attain his heart's desire, he
without any hesitation marched into the battery
and instantly gave his orders to his men to attack,
and throwing their hand grenades'" on the heads
of these worshippers of pride, they raised out of
them the black smoke of destruction,* and with
the merciless sword cut off the heads of the sol-
diers, pioneers, and men lying in the battery and
trenches, and laid them up in heaps. They then
206
buried all the larger guns, but the light guns, being
more useful and available, were sent oflf to the pre-
sence. Although, as soon as they were aware of
this assault, the Mahrattas behaved very gallantly
in attacking the Nawaub's troops, and trying hard
to regain the battery and expel them, still they
could efifect nothing, and, placing their hands on
their heads, they returned hopeless. The com«
mandant having thus conquered his enemies, before
the rising of the sim, levelled the trenches and
battery with the earth, and, setting fire to the
materials, returned to the presence, and was
honoured by being addressed by the title of Son by
Hydur, and, moreover, received the praise and
applause of all ranks.
When Trimuk saw the distressed state of his
troops, and their want of confidence, he gave up all
thoughts of restoring the battery, and commenced
to plunder and devastate that part of the country,
which had as yet remained untouched ; and, having
spread abroad his Pindareh horse, he and his army
took up their encampment in the plain of Chuttur ;
while here, however, on the day of the Hindu Eed,
Trimuk with his officers mounted their horses,
and came from the eastward of the hill called
Kurri Khet, to bathe at the confluence of the two
rivers, which is called by the Hindus Sungum,
and is near the Lai Baugh. Having received
207
intelligence of this movement, the Nawaub im-
mediately sallied out of the fort with his troops,
and took his station near the Mana Munduf,
(or Mundip), and placed his son Tippoo, with all
the horse, in ambush near the temples of Kurun-
kote, (written also Kurun Koor), which are on the
other side of the river. The brave commandant,
Muhammad AH, with the gallant Ghazi Khan, and
four thousand matchlocks, four hundred Pindarehs,
and four guns, for display, and after the manner
of scouts, or an advanced guard, were sent to the
south of the hill above mentioned. When the
cavalcade of the Mahratta Chief arrived at the
river, they dismounted, and began to amuse them-
selves, and swim about in the water; the horse-
men of their rear guard following, caracoling and
curvetting as they came along. The commandant,
in the meanwhile, posted his guns and matchlock
infantry in the dry bed of a nullah, or river, and
made a concerted sign to Ghazi Khan ; and that
brave man no sooner saw it than, with two or
three hundred tried men, he galloped towards the
rear guard, and by tricks and wiles, and teaching
the fools how to play the lion, drew them gradually
in front of the guns and musketry of the ambus-
cade, and having brought them there, his whole
party suddenly facing about dispersed, and every
208
one retiring placed himself under cover of the con-
cealed party. The commandant now suddenly
charged them, and with the fire of his guns and
musketry broke their ranks, and sent a great many
to their eternal abodes. In this skirmish, two or
three Chiefs of the Mahrattas were killed, and the
elephant which carried the flag and kettle drums
was also killed. As soon as the body of the ene-
my's troops became disordered, Ghazi Khan, and
Hydur's son, esteeming this a most favourable op-
portunity, galloped their horse at once into the
midst of the fugitives ; and, as long as they had
strength, withdrew not their hands from spoil and
slaughter; following the fugitives half a fursung,
taking four or five thousand horses, and two thou-
sand prisoners, and then returning with them,
and a great quantity of plunder. The face of
Trimuk, on his hearing this intelligence, became
yellow ; and, in the greatest haste and trepidation,
with his clothes wet, and his lips dry, he returned
and encamped near the Mooti Talaub, or Tank.
The Nawaub manifested great joy at this victory,
and, prostrating himself at the threshold of the High
and Mighty Bestower of all blessings, returned
his thanks, and, beating his drums in honour of his
victory, entered the fort. But, to say the truth,
the skirmishing and fighting of the brave men of
209
both armies continued daily: but, for the most
part, the Mahrattas were worsted and put to flight.
Trimuk, therefore, now put a stop to the fighting,
and began to plunder and devastate the country of
the Payan Ghaut, that is, the territory in the Na-
waub's possession to the southward of Puttun,
namely, Koimbetoor, Palghaut, and Dindigul ; be-
cause he had heard that supplies from those parts,
escorted by the Naimars and Mapillas, arrived in
the camp of the Nawaub; and, moreover, that
levies of horse and foot were made there, and that
considerable bodies of these troops had joined the
Nawaub's camp. In consequence of this, he raised
a storm of mischief in that unfortunate country, and
destroyed and desolated it to that degree, that not
a root of green herb or blade of grass remained in
the earth, all being torn up ; and even the branches
of the trees of that depopulated waste held out their
oppressed hands,* to crave mercy from the giver
of life. The commanders of forts, however, in that
direction, strengthened their posts, and defended
and preserved them well.
When Trimuk departed to the Payan Ghaut,
the Nawaub prepared to follow him, and had ac-
tually planted his colours, and pitched his tents,
' Alluding perhaps to the position assumed by the Brahmans
when asking alms.
210
near the hill'^ which has been before mentioned.
The commandant, Muhammad Ah, however, re-
presented to him, on this determination, that his
quitting his capital at that time was not advisable,
lest any treachery or sedition should arise; for,
that the enemies of his power were innumerable,
while, on the contrary, those friends and servants
who were ready to sacrifice their lives for him were
few ; that he had better take the matter into his
deepest consideration ; that he, (the commandant),
would exert himself to the extent of his ability,
and not fail in devoting his life to his service ; but
that it was necessary Hydur's son, Tippoo, should
be left in the Barh Mahl district, with the whole
of the cavalry and Kuzzaks or Pindarehs. The
Nawaub adopted this advice, and accordingly des«
patched his son with six or seven thousand horse,
all he could collect, to the Barh Mahl ; while the
commandant, with four thousand regular infantry,
two thousand Kamatic foot, and six guns, followed
him. The two divisions joined on the Ghaut of Rai
Kote, and the Prince (Tippoo), with all his horse
encamped in the plain of Kauveri Puttun, while
the commandant, Muhammad All, with his troops,
remained at Kishengiri.
At that time intelligence arrived, that four or
T Karighat.
211
five thousand M ahratta horse, with stores in great
quantity, and cattle innumerable, being plunder
which they had taken from the army of the Na-
waub, and in the country of the Balaghaut and
Payanghaut, and accompanied by the bankers of the
Mahratta camp, with great store of gold and jewels,
had come in obedience to the orders of Trimuk,
from the Ghaut of Tuppoor, and passing above the
towns of Wanambari and Tripatoor, and across the
pass or mountains' of Kurunpaut, were marching
direct to Poona. As soon as he had heard these
tidings, the brave commandant marched, at night,
with five hundred regular infantry, two hundred
Chittikars, ' and a thousand irregular foot, by the
road of Gungindi Pala, (the Poligar of which was
still obedient to the Nawaub) ; and, descending by
the Ghaut of Tubul PuUi, took up a position on
the side of a hill, on the road to Kurunpaut, and
there halted, despatching the Chittikars to the top
of the Ghaut, which belonged to the dependencies
of the Nazim of Arkat. It is to be observed here,
that the Arkat chief was then acting in concert, or
secret collusion, with the Nawaub, and that, con-
sequently, the guards at the gates of the Ghauts
• The Chittikars arc so called, I believe, from their clothing.
Perhaps the tiger-striped cotton.
212
offered no impediment to their march. The Chit-
tikars, therefore, took possession of the gates of tlie
Ghauts, which were fortified by walls and towers,
and, after that, they remained there. It happened,
the next day, that the Pindarehs of the Mahrattas,
with an immense quantity of baggage, and herds
and droves of cattle and horses, came on without
any suspicion or apprehension, in truth, like game
coming of its own accord to the kitchen to be
roasted. The vigilant commandant soon knew of
their coming, and immediately sent information to
his concealed parties in the Ghaut, while he him-
self remained in readiness where he was. In the
meanwhile, when the Mahrattas advanced nigh
the gate of the Ghaut, and their rear guard arrived
opposite the hill, where the commandant had sta-
tioned himself, he attacked their rear like a furious
lion, pouring volley upon volley on them. On
hearing this fire, the parties in ambush in the Ghaut,
rushing forward, charged them in front, beating
their drums, and with the sword and bayonet, made
as many holes in the breasts of their antagonists as
there is in a bird cage ; while those who attacked in
the rear, broke the backs and sides of their enemies
with their spears and muskets. When the ofiicers
and soldiers of the Mahrattas saw that the road of
their safety was as small as the eye of an elephant.
213
they, in a cowardly manner^ without making that
resistance which they might have done^ and leaving
all their baggage^ hid themselves in the caves and
ravines of the mountain. The commandant now
made his two detachments form a junction^ and,
collecting the baggage and stores of the fugitives,
with their horses, and bullocks, and the bags of
silver and gold, placed the plunder in loads on th e
heads of the prisoners, and sent them, by the route
of the Ghaut of Tubul PuUi, to Kishengiri, under
the escort of the Kamatic infantry. As for himself,
he halted where he was, near a pool of water, at
the foot of the Ghaut. No sooner, however, had he
done so, than a detachment of Mahratta cavalry,
which had come up in the rear of the escort and
baggage, arrived, and, seeing the small number of his
party, instantly surrounded them, and commenced
sniping at them ft*om a distance. The commandant
had sustained their attack for near two hours, when,
taking advantage of the cover given by the hedges
and bushes, he got close to the Mahrattas, and
gave them such a warm discharge from his mus-
ketry, that at once two or three hundred horsemen,
horse and man, fell killed or disabled. The rest,
pushing their horses, fled as fast as they could, and
the commandant, quitting the ground victorious,
crossed the Ghaut to Kishengiri.
214
When Trimuk heard of the plunder and disper-
sion of his detachment, he discovered that the Ghaut
of Kurunpaut was a dependency of the Nazim of
Arkat, and was therefore surprised how it was pos-
sible the troops of the enemy should penetrate
there ; he consequently inferred that some col-
lusion had subsisted between the two chiefs, that is>
Muhammad All Khan and the Nawaub, and, further
inferred, that in the event, (which he hoped God
would forbid,) those chiefs should unite together to
attack the Mahrattas, and shut the passes of the
mount^s, on their route, the honour of the Paishwa
might be thereby endangered, and many lives use-
lessly lost. Trimuk, therefore, made forced marches
from that quarter, and, having crossed the Ghaut
of Tuppoor, encamped near the town of Ootangiri.
The commandant, Muhammad Ah, immediately ap-
prised Tippoo of the arrival of tlie Mahrattas, and
advised him to march to Puttun. As soon, however,
as that fortunate and brave young man knew of the
rapid march of the Mahrattas, he sent the whole of
his baggage and followers, that is, his tents, stores,
colours, &c., to Puttun^ and he himself, with a
body of three or four thousand horse, marched
towards Trimuk's force. It happened, on that
day, that the Mahratta light troops had foraged to
wards Dhurrumpoori, and thrown that neighbour-
215
hood into great disorder, and had plundered several
towns, and were then busy in collecting wood and
forage. Tippoo soon joined these men, and affected
to collect wood and grass, as they did ; but he was
looking out for an opportunity, which at last he
found. Having made up their loads, the Mahrattas
put them on their horses, camels, and elephants,
and, without any precaution as to friend or foe,
marched towards their own encampment. Tippoo,
the moment he was able, threw upon the ground the
loads from his horses, and, without delay, stretching
forth the hands of manhood, with little trouble, put
the Mahrattas into such confusion, that, from the
shouts of '^ kill and take," ^ fear fell on their hearts,
and they saw no remedy but to fly, and save their
lives. Tippoo, in consequence, with three or four
thousand horses and bullocks, fifty or sixty camels
belonging to Trimuk*s Tosha Khana, or wardrobe,
and fifteen or twenty elephants, with other equip-
ments of the M ahratta army, returned victorious to
Puttun. Trimuk, struck with alarm at this attack,
marched with his army to Kauveri Puttun, and en-
camped there. The commandant, however, having
on the same night obtained information of the en-
campment of the Mahrattas, and having his force in
readiness, determined to surprise them by an attack
216
under cover of the darkness, and he marched for
that purpose. It liappened, that by the time he
had arrived near their encampment, the night was
spent, and the cock sounded his loud call to at-
tention, and to arouse the lovers of sloth ; he, the
commandant, therefore, quickly countermarched,
and sought refuge in the low ground, near the foot
of the mountain of Gugungurh. Trimuk, also,
halted during that day where he was ; but was
still ignorant of the arrival of that lion of the field
of valour, who, from the morning to the evening of
the same day, passed his time under the cover of
the jungul. But at night, when the veil of sleep
and forgetfulness was thrown over the world, he,
having all in readiness, attacked the left wing of
the Mahrattas, and most gallantly captured the
whole of their stores and artillery, and released
. several prisoners, who had been taken in the con-
fusion of the defeat at Churkoli, and were still
confined in the Mahratta camp. Having com-
pletely dispersed the followers and baggage of the
enemy, and set fire to their tents and standards,
the commandant, before the rising of the sun, re-
turned with five hundred horses, six elephants, and
eleven camels, laden with treasure; and, skirting
or keeping close to the hills, entered Rai Kote.
He, however, still marched on, and, at night, pro-
217
ceeded to Anikul, where he had scarcely arrived
when Trimuk, having been informed of the pre-
sumption of the Nawaub's troops, despatched his
light horse in pursuit of them, he himself following.
When the commandant arrived at Khan Khanhully,
the Mahratta troops had anticipated him^ and had
occupied and blocked up the roads by which he
could pass with safety, and they then surrounded
him. The brave commandant, nevertheless, halted
all day in a ruined fort, and at night, having lighted
fires all over his ground of encampment, and hung
up old dirty clothes on the walls and gates^ he,
with his troops, passing to the rear, through nar-
row and deep roads, jungul, and over high and low
grounds, with much labour, but without the know-
ledge of the enemy, arrived after his march, on the
rear of their picquets. The Mahrattas, meanwhile,
seeing the fires, and the white cloths hung upon
the gates and walls, thought Hydur's troops still
remained in the fort, and. without fear left their
horses picketted, and were busily occupied in smo-
king their hookahs, and cooking their victuals.
They were thus employed, when, all at once, the
commandant, the deceiver of his enemies, arrived
on the heads of the picquets, and commenced to
fire upon them, and also opened a fire from his
218
guns, which were loaded with grape. The picquets,
although numerous, were soon dispersed; but a
body of five or six thousand cavalry, in armour,
behaved with the utmost gallantry ; for, although
the shot from the cannon and musket rained upon
them on all sides, so that scarce any one could
escape with his life, from the field, they still, with
the greatest bravery, gallopped at speed straight
into the ranks of their enemies, and fought so des-
perately. Verse J *^ Yes, men will never clothe them-
selves in the garb of hermaphrodites,*** — ^that they
soon killed and wounded five or six hundred of the
commandant's matchlock men. Nevertheless, the
fortunate and brave commandant, victorious, with
the horses and arms of those that had been slain,
and taking his wounded with him, contrived, under
the cover of the Makri jungul, to retire safely to
Puttun. The remainder of the Mahratta picquets,
on account of the darkness of the night, could not
come to the assistance of those which were at-
tacked, but fled into their own lines, and informed
Trimuk of the plunder and dispersion of his ad-
vanced post ; and he, being placed in great difl&-
culties by the enterprise and stratagems of the
*^ Whoever bears roan's heart within his breast,
Will ne*er like base hermaphrodite be dress'd.
219
Nawaub's troops^ fell into deep reflection, and,
leaving his ground of encampment, marched by
the route of Munda, towards Milekote. There he
encamped, and remained, until the Nawaub, by the
advice of the wisest of his counsellors, but ex-
tending his views particularly to the advancement
of the peace and happiness of mankind, despatched
a person, of the name of Apajee Ram as an agent,
to arrange the terms of peace with Trimuk, (for it
is a saying of the wise, — " True and straightforward
men have (often) no choice but to seek the friend-
ship of the crooked." — " The arrow is compelled to
obey the bow/')
Trimuk, however, walking in his own conceited
proud way, declined making peace ; but still kept
the Vakeel or agent near him, giving him sometimes
a few words of good advice, and frequently boasting
of his prowess. The Vakeel wrote all this to the
Nawaub; but, after a short time, the Mahratta
turned his heart from this country, (Mysore), and,
being foiled on every side by the arms of the Na-
waub, bent his thoughts on the pillage of Nuggur,
a country very wealthy and populous ; and, accord-
ingly, he despatched his tents, (Paishkhana,)^ in
that direction. Hydiur's agent informed his master
of this plan ; at the same time advising and press-
"jliU
220
ing him to make some provision for defence in that
quarter.
On hearing these tidings^ the Nawaub was thrown
into deep thought, and sent for the commandant,
(Muhammad Ali), apprised him of the intentions of
the Mahrattas, and consulted him as to the method
by which their design might be defeated. The brave
commandant again immediately took the whole re-
sponsibility of the expedition on his courage and
ability, and rose up to depart; and the Nawaub
ultimately sent him forth with six thousand veteran
matchlock men, ten guns, and two thousand of his
stable* horse, to achieve the discomfiture of the
Mahrattas.
As soon as he was dismissed, the brave com-
mandant marched, by the route of Periaputtun, to
the Koorg Ghaut, named Siddapoor. The Koorg
chief, however, having at that time unfiurled the
standard of rebellion, by treacherously cutting off
the heads of the Nawaub's garrison stationed in the
fort of Murkera, and taking the whole country into
his possession, had occupied the road in force ; so
that the commandant could not pass that way. The
commandant did not consider his involving himself
in hostilities with this wild but cunning race,' as
consistent with his views and convenience, and he
• JJa-^^ The Koorg people.
221
therefore retired, and continued his march, leaving
the forests of Koorg to the left. Knowing, how-
ever, that the passage of troops, with heavy baggage,
over mountains and through forests, was difficult, if
not impossible, he took with him only four thousand
well trained light infantry, and two hundred good
horse, and left the rest of the troops, artillery,
horse, tents and baggage, under the care of Assud
Khan, commandant, and Jehan Khan, Khokur, '
Risaldar, and, having at night despatched them to
the presence, he himself, without guns, and with his
small force alone, took post on some high ground.
When the day broke, Trimuk became acquainted
with the arrival of the lion commandant in the
field, and, being aware of his having sent his artil-
lery to Puttun, he . immediately despatched troop
after troop of his force, to pursue in that direction,
and he himself mounted his horse and followed their
track. The scouts or sentinels of the commandant,
who were stationed on a small hill, and who had
sent out spies in all directions, now reported to their
commanding officer, that troops of M ahratta horse
were marching on the road by which the artillery
on the night before had proceeded. The expe-
rienced commandant, the moment he heard this in-
telligence, gave orders to his men to fire vollies in
the air ; his object being to attract the enemy to his
B A tribe of Afghans.
222
quarter, that the artillery might arrive unmolested
at the Presence ; and so it happened, for the Mah-
ratta horse, at the report of the first discharge, im-
mediately returned, and attacked his party. When
the commandant had, by his address and ability,
drawn off the Mahratta troops to his side, he faced
about, and began to retire by easy paces through
the jungul of Makri. Before, however, he could
attain the skirts of the forest, Trimuk himself ar-
rived; and, with all his horse, surrounded and
attacked him, sniping^ at him and galling him with
a distant fire. The commandant had scarcely time
to arrange and post his men in ambush, when, all
at once, a body of fifty or sixty thousand horse,
gallopped on to the charge, and, with sword and
spear, engaged rank to rank, and hand to hand.
Having warned his men, who, ready formed on their
ground, had loaded and were silent, the valiant com-
mandant now gave the word to fire ; and the brave
and experienced fellows arose and poured such close
and heavy voUies * on their enemies, that the earth
ttembled at the shock, and the ears of the heavens,
were deafened at the sound.
For two hours the battle raged with the utmost
violence ; the troops of the commandant advanc-
ing and firing ; and, from their heavy fire and
desperate charges, it is estimated that not less
223
than ten thousand brave fellows of the Mahratta
army, slept the sleep of death ; for, they fought
in such throngs, that they had no room to turn
or retreat, and their lives were, therefore, thrown
away. About forty or fifty chiefs of note among
the Mahrattas were killed on this occasion. The
standard and Howda elephants, and camels, bear-
ing the kettle drums, were also killed or wounded
by musket balls. (Translation of some verses,
from the Shah Nama apparently) — ^^ In that field
contested by the brave** — " Strife was awake, and
Safety asleep *• — " Peace had fled many fiirsungs
away'* — '' And Fate in the mean time was in the
midst (of the throng) doing its own work" — '* The
road of Life was lost*' — '' The horseman fell under
his horse's hoofs,** — '^ Death like a shadow fell on
every one.** — '' So fast did the souls of men fly hand
in hand, (to Paradise) that even Death bit his hand
in grief" — '^ One shouting take, and kill,'* — '' The
other opening his mouth to wail," — " The brother
bewailing his brother" — '' The mother weeping for
the blood of her son" — '* The father mourning for
his son,* — ^^ And the son shedding fast and bitter
tears for his uncle and father." — But, to return, — a
river of blood flowed from that field, and the Mah-
rattas sustained a shameful defeat, and they fled so
frtst that the plain was too narrow for them, and the
224
Mussulmans, planting their feet firm in the field of
honour, remained victorious.
On seeing the condition of his own army, and
the intrepidity of the Muhammadans, Trimuk was
greatly enraged, and became heated like a horse*
shoe in a forge, and having sent for his artillery
he established his batteries in front of the Mussul-
mans, and gave orders to commence firing. His
artiUery men fired from a considerable distance,
but as if firing at a mark ; and their balls gave
great annoyance to the troops of the commandant,
damping their ardoiu- by breaking their arms and
legs ; so that one hundred and fifty excellent sol-
diers lost their lives without advantage. But, al-
though it went very near that the discipline and
order of the troops were entirely broken, and the
page of the book of shame disclosed, still the able
conimandant, having given the curl of manhood
and intrepidity to the moustache of perseverance,
arrested the wavering of those who had acquired
the properties of quicksilver, and, having cahned
and allayed their disorder, he gave orders that
those men who were desperately wounded, and the
bodies of the slain of the Mahrattas, of whom a
great number had fallen, should be dragged to-
gether, and piled round his troops Uke a breast-
work. Then, he himself, with his confidence firm.
225
and a pure faith, perfonned his ablutions,^ after
which, turning towards the Kibleh, he repeated with
a loud voice the iJzan or call to prayer. He next
encircled or stockaded his position with branches of
trees; and made his men lie down in their ranks.
From this time, the saintly influence of the com-
mandant appeared evident ; for, after he had re-
peated the call to prayer, though the Mahrattas
fired thousands of cannon shot at his party, all
passed over their heads, and injured no one. " If
the sword of the world fly out of the scabbard ** —
" It will not cut a vein except by God's com-
mand.**" In fact, the Mahrattas, by the evening,
had expended many Tumbrils of ammunition, but
had effected nothing, and could obtain no advantage
over this little party. At night, therefore, they
drew off their guns, and returned to their encamp-
ment, which was about two Fursungs distant.
The commandant, who had so manfully fought,
and with his brave companions, had maintained the
field without food or water the whole day, and
thereby gained so much honour, at night, finding the
it*^ rubbing the face &c. with sand or earth instead of
water.
1
■■ Though the sword of the world from the scabbard should fly.
Not a vein could it, cut, unless bidden from on high.
Q
226
coast clear, without fear marched with his men form-
ed in order of battle towards Mysore, leaving all his
wounded, whose power of movement had been cut
off by the balls of the enemy, on the field of battle,
telling them to be of good cheer, for that he would
send Doolies" for them from Astara, a town on
the road to Nuggur. The Mahratta picquets and
videttes, on the flank on which they marched, al-
though they were quite aware of his movement, and
had mounted their horses, and formed to the right
and left of the road, looking on, still offered no op-
position to the night travellers ; nor did they make
any report of their march to Trimuk, but wilfully
allowed them to pass, and even extolled their ac-
tions as they marched along. When the morning
appeared, the foolish Mahratta, posted his guns
in the same place they had before occupied, and
commenced to fire ; — but, when the sun had
risen high, and the veil of cowardice was withdrawn
from before their eyes, they found the field clear of
the Mussulmans, and, running forward, soon ob-
tained information of them from the wounded who
were left the ground, and a clear detail of what
had occurred the night before. Trimuk, therefore,
hastened off to Astara ; and the commandant, with-
out opposition from any one, entered the fort of
° A kind of litter in which sick men are carried.
227
Mysore. On the same night the Prince, (Tippoo),
with five or six thousand horse, and two or three
thousand regular and irregular foot, attacked an
escort of the Mahrattas, coming from Poona, con-
sisting of eight thousand horse and ten thousand
irregular infantry, conveying an immense supply of
stores, provisions, and treasure, which was carried
on thirty elephants, a hundred camels, and fifty
mules, and accompanied, also, by merchants with
gold and jewels of great value, and a supply of am-
munition. These men were encamped near Chund-
raiputtun, perfectly at their ease, and not having
the slightest intimation of a night attack, Tippoo,
therefore, at once assailed them and put forth the
hand of exertion to the slaughter and plunder of the
convoy ; in such wise, that he did not allow one
among them to escape in safety, or fail to take every
article of the least value belonging to the Mahrattas^
including their treasure ; and, this done, he sent
them all off to the capital, Puttun, or rather to his
illustrious father, while he himself marched towards
Nuggur.
On hearing of this exploit, Trimuk let fall the
hands of weakness on the earth of despair, and
drew his head deep into the collar of reflection, being
unable to divine what he should do in the end, or
by what means he should subdue the victorious
228
Mussulmans. While he was in this state of sus-
pense^ a pair** of Hurkaras^ brought news from
Poona, that Raghoba had murdered his nephew
Narayen Rao, and had seated himself on the Mus-
nud, and was making his own arrangements in the
government. On receiving this intelligence, Tri-
muk was immersed in the whirlpool of dismay and
affliction, and considered that the best thing he
could now do was to make peace ; and, therefore,
by the medium of the Nawaub's Vakeel, he began to
trace his steps in the path of conciliation. He, how-
ever, insisted on being paid the expenses of his
army ; for which he had disbursed Krores ^ of rupees.
The astute Vakeel returned for answer, in the
words of the Nawaub Bahadur, that all the wealth
of the (Mysore) state was taken at the field of
Churkooli ; that even the wearing apparel of the
Nawaub was presented to the army of the Paishwa,
on that occasion ; and nothing was left — that the
whole of the country had become a grazing field
for the Poona horse ; that, consequently, the state
now, (instead of paying), required assistance ; that
the profits of present peace would be seen in the
future prosperity of the Mysore' state ; that (the
Nawaub hoped) Trimuk by any means would be
i^jy^ Hindi. p Letter carriers.
4 A Krore is ten millions.
' The terms used here are amhiguous.
229
generous enough to return to his own country ; and
that he was to consider the increase of the pros-
perity of Mysore as an increase of his own dignity.
In fine, the offer of such cajoling and fool-deceiv-
ing words and the payment of two hundred thou-
sand rupees, having satisfied Trimuk, he released
the prisoners of Churkooli and the Nawaub was
allowed to remain unmolested. Trimuk now from
the pressing circumstances of the time, considering
his own safety as victory and conquest, withdrew
his garrisons from the forts depending on Seringa-
puttun, and dismissed his prisoners with presents
and honorary dresses ; and having appointed Ba-
pojee Sindiah to the government of the Souba of
Sura, he commenced his march to Poona ; and,
from political motives, joined the camp of Raghoba.
The Kuzzaks of the Nawaub, however, followed his
camp to the river Tungbhudra, and under the
cover of the hills and jungles, slew many of the
Mahrattas, took many prisoners, and returned with
great spoil. After enduring much mortification, and
discomfort, Meer All Ruza Khan, by the mediation
of Nana Fumavees, was allowed to quit the Mah-
rattas, and again joined the Nawaub, and Gurum
Khoondah and Dindigul were again assigned to him
in Jageer.
230
CHAPTER XVII.
The usurpation of Raghoba, the uncle of Narayen Rao» and his
invafiion of the Balaghaut country ; and, at length, his hopeless
and fugitive retreat. Also, the conquest by the Nawaub, during
this opportunity, of the countries of Badami, Hulihul, Nowul-
goondah, Dharwar, &c. ; with other events of the year 1 1 83,
Hijri, A,D. 1769.
When Narayen Rao was murdered at the insti-
gation of his uncle Raghoo, by the instrumentality
of the relations of Muhammad Yoosuf, commandant^
Raghoo, who, from the time of the government
of Balajee Rao and Madhoo Rao^ had been in con-
finement, seated himself on the Musnud, and made
his own arrangements to carry on the govern-
ment ; sending some of the chiefs of the Mahratta
state, whom he had attracted to his party, with a
large force towards Hydurabad. The Nazim* of
that place although he with his troops and artillery
soon entered the field to oppose the invaders,
still, from the immense force of the Mahrattas,
■ The author writes N^im for Nizdni, out of contempt.
231
and because the Moghul soldiers are a motley as-
semblage of proud, indolent, and effeminate men,
could not stand against the Mahrattas in the field,
but in one battle was overthrown, and his troops fled,
leaving their master at the mercy* of the Mahrattas.
When he saw that his troops would not fight, but
that they fled to their own homes, abandoning
their artillery, stores and ammunition, to the enemy,
the chief of Hydurabad was obliged to sue for
peace, Rooknuddowla, his minister, being unable
to carry on the war any longer. Monsieur Ray-
mond, a Frenchman, however, with two thousand
regular infantry, and two guns, formed round the
body guard and elephant of the Nizam, and, fight-
ing the whole way, safely escorted him to the fort
of Budur. Raghoba, nevertheless, still followed
him, and besieged the fort, and compelled the Ni-
zam to assign to him in the fullest and most satis-
factory manner, the revenues of certain districts,
such as Budur, Ourungabad, Berar, &c. He then
turned his steps and his views towards the conquest
of the Balaghaut, or the country belonging to the
Nawaub, and marched thither. During this time,
Fumavees, the prime minister at Poona, who had
remained at the capital, pretending to be sick, now
forming a deep plan, secretly wrote to the Nizam
^ The Author says they left him in the hands of the Mahrattas.
232
of Hydurabad, that Raghoba, being insane and in-*
stigated by an insatiable desire to obtain wealth and
rule, had murdered his own brother's son, who was
the rightful heir to the musnud, or throne of that
country, and had himself usurped the chief authority,
and that it was desirable the Nizam should unite with
the Mahrattas, and put him out of the way. He
also wrote and despatched letters in the same strain,
to the Nawaub. The Nawaub, with his newly
reformed army, was holding himself in readiness,
and looking out for times and opportunities, when
the minister above mentioned wrote also to the
chiefs of the Mahratta government, who in the
dialect or language of their nation are called Put-
kuh," and who from policy had accompanied Rag-
hoba ; that, they might be sure the sinner Raghoba
had smeared the blood of his nephew on the fore-
head of his own condition,"" and that he had hung
round his neck the Zoonnar, (or Braminical cord,)
of infamy and shame, and was now dark and
entirely reckless. It was therefore, he said, only
consistent with their loyalty that they should unite
and take revenge on him ; that the wife of the
murdered Narayen Rao was with child, and should
be considered as the sovereign and heir to the go-
^ Alluding to the custom of the Brahmins, who mark their fore-
heads with sandal, and a red powder, to denote their caste and sect.
233
vernment, and that they should not turn aside
from her authority ; and that it was evident what
worldly advantages they might expect from a man
who acted so barbarously to his own nephew. The
Mahratta chiefs, with the army, when they were
acquainted with the contents of this letter, became
satisfied that no one could ever be profited by a
connection with Raghoba, and therefore every day
some one of them, with his contingent, returned
without Raghoba's knowledge to Poona ; and, be-
sides this, troops of his best soldiers left the camp
under the pretence of joining the picquets, or out
guards, and thence returned to their homes. In
fact, Raghoba's army in marching from Budur, to
Rai Droog, to which place they had proceeded by
the route of Gopul, Bahadur Bundah, and Kunuk-
giri, was completely disbanded, except the Kuzzaks
or Pindarahs, a body whom he had himself col-
lected, and which amounted to about thirty thou-
sand men, and they were the only troops remaining
with him. When Raghoba saw that so much disaf-
fection had crept into his camp, that the key to the
authority of the government was lost ; that the
chief of Hydurabad, according to the hint given
him by Nana Furnavees, was also actively occu-
pied in collecting troops, and military stores ; also,
that, the Poona Chiefs, who had separated them-
23i
selves from his army, had united with an intention
to punish him, were actually following him like a
hawk pursuing a partridge ; and lastly, that the
road of safety was closed, and the field of murder,
and rapine wide open ; he became uneasy and per-
plexed, and began to seek the path of accommodation
with the Nawaub. He therefore despatched a Va-
keel, with a request for aid, and for the Chouth, or
fourth part of the revenue of Mysore. The Na-
waub, however, seeing his actual necessities, and
the disordered state of his affairs, declined to grant
his requests ; and, in apology, urged the ruined state
of the country, and the plunder and destruction of
his property and resources, and wrote plainly, in
answer, that he must be excused from agreeing to
any such measures. Raghoba, however, from policy
again sought his protection, and offered the whole of
the Souba of Sura ; and not only that, but declared
that the whole of the country on this side of the
river Kishna, to Badami, Jali Hulli, &c., should be
given up to the Nawaub's officers ; but for this, the
Nawaub was to furnish, by any means in his power
ten Lakhs of rupees. As the Nawaub lent a wil-
ling ear to this proposition, Raghoba despatched his
half brother, Bajee Rao, with three hundred horse,
to withdraw the garrison from the fort of the Souba
of Sura.
235
When this chief arrived there, he forwarded
Raghoba's letter to Bapojee Sindiah, the governor,
requiring the fort to be delivered up. Bapojee,
however, got the guns of the fort in readiness, and
sent for answer, that Raghoba was the murderer
of his nephew, and what power or authority had a
foolish, unfortunate man, like him, to issue orders to
the officers of the Chief of the Poona State, that
is, to the children of Balajee Rao Nana ; — and that
if the messengers wished to preserve their lives, they
had better take themselves off, as if they did not, he
would blow every ungrateful rascal among them
from the mouth of a gun. On hearing this sturdy
message, Bajee Rao, losing all courage, took the
road to Seringaputtun, where he was introduced to
the Nawaub Bahadur, and represented to him the
measures necessary for the conquest of the Souba
Sura &c. ; and, in consequence, the prince, (Tip-
poo), was sent with him, accompanied by a large
force.
At this very time, letters to the Nawaub arrived
from the minister, above-mentioned (Furnavees),
to the effect — '* that he was on no account to move
or act on the deceitful words of the murderer of his
nephew, namely Raghoba; that please God, after
the punishment of that wicked man, all arrangements
relative to the brave Nawaub's possessions and dig-
236
nity would be settled by the Chief and ministers of
Poona on a sure footing (this part is rather obscure)
and that, even now, the Nawaub was to consider
the punishment of that villain Raghoba as incum-
bent on him.**
The Nawaub therefore, in compliance with the
request of the minister, marched with a large force
from his capital, and encamped at Chundrai Puttun.
Tippoo, on leaving his father had marched, with
the Rao before mentioned, to Sura, where he found
the Killadar ready for action. But having thrown
up batteries, and attacked the works, he in two or
three months took the fort, and, leaving a garrison
there, moved on quickly to Mud Giri, and in four
days finished the conquest of the fort of that place,
and made all necessary arrangements. He then
proceeded to Chundrai Droog, which he besieged,
and, at the end of a month, by a gallant attack on
the place, he took it.
The Nawaub having marched from Chundrai
Droog, proceeded by slow stages to Tumkoor ;
when Raghoo, seeing the field of prosperity and
safety closed against him on all sides, hearing of the
warlike demonstrations of the Nawaub Bahadur,
his neglecting to send the money required of him,
and the capture of his forts by the bravery of the
Prince (Tippoo) and being grieved to the heart by
237
these accounts, he saw no remedy but to fly, and
save his life as best he could. He, therefore, with
the troops he had present, about sixteen thousand
horse, commenced his return, bootless, and wound,
like a black snake, his devious way to Hindustan
through the mountainous and woody parts of the
country ; the troops of Poona and Hydurabad fol-
lowing him successively to Boorhanpoor, and from
that to Khandees, and Gujurat.
The Nawaub, considering this opportunity very
fortunate, now marched on, and, without the least
opposition from any one, took possession of Gopul,
Bahadur Bunduh, Mondergi Droog, Gujindur Gurh,
&c., all belonging to the Mahrattas. Some of the
Talookas and forts were taken by force of arms ;
but mostly they surrendered from fear. He also
collected Paishkush from all the Poligars of that
neighbourhood; and, having honoured the Poligar of
Surhutti with a Khilut and presents, he left the
charge of that quarter to his management, and,
marching on, in a very short time made conquests
of Nowul Goondah, Jalli Hulli, and Badami ; and, at
length, arrived near Hoobli and Dharwar.
It is not to be concealed here, that, in former
time, that is, after the conquest of Nuggur, the
Nawaub, by management or stratagem, but accord-
ing to the desire of Meer Rustam Khan Farooki, the
238
governor on the part of Asof Jah, took possession
of Dharwar, and stationed a garrison of his own in
it, giving the Meer above mentioned according to
his rank, five hundred rupees a month, and after-
wards the office of Bukshi, or paymaster of horse.
When, however, Madhoo Rao marched towards the
Balaghaut, he took this place, and retained it in his
possession. The Nawaub Bahadur now promised
the Killadar, whose name was Biswunt Rao, a re-
lation of Gopal Rao, the Chief of Mirch, certain
Jageers and Inams, or presents, if he would give
up the fort, but he, not agreeing to this pro-
position, the fort was besieged, and a fire com-
menced on it from a distance. While the siege was
proceeding, Hydur formed a deep plan to take the
fort ; and, on the third night, he sent for a pair of
Hurkaras of the Mahratta tribe, inhabitants of Mirch,
who were acquainted with the names of the chief
persons there, and with the Mahratta dialect, and
ordered a letter to be written, as from the minister
of the chief of the Mirch state, who, at that time
was Soobrao Tatia, the elder brother of Purusram
Bhao ; but he having followed in pursuit of Rag-
hoba, his agent, a man named Appaja Rao was in
charge. The letter was to this effect : — '* That in-
formation had been received that Hydur All Khan
Bahadur, with a strong force, had arrived at Dhar-
239
war, and that he intended to make a conquest of
that place. It was therefore necessary that he, the
Killadar, should perform well the duties of his sta-
tion, and exert himself to repel the enemy, that
relief should soon be sent, and that, until the
arrival of this aid he was to take care he was not
betrayed.** When the letter was wiitten, it was
placed in a cover, and, the seal of Appajee Ram, one
of the Nawaub's own servants being affixed, it was
then forwarded on. Having changed their dresses,
the Hurkaras entered the fort, and detailing the cir-
cumstances as from the agent of the Mirch state, pre-
sented the letter, promising aid. The commandant
of the fort, at the contents of this letter, was highly
pleased, and repaired and strengthened the walls
and towers, and remained ready for the attack.
Three or four days after, the Nawaub selected
two Risalas of foot and three hundred horse, from
his Mahratta and Rajpoot soldiers, and, clothing
them like Mahrattas, sent them on the road from
Mirch towards the fort, and, encircling this detach-
ment, the Nawaub appointed a separate body of
troops, to fire at them from their guns and mus-
ketry, without ball. When the report of the firing
was heard by the garrison, they were much (re-
joiced that the aid which they expected had ar-
rived,) and opened the gates of the fort in readi-
240
ness to receive their friends. The officer com-
manding Hydur's troops above mentioned accord-
ingly entered the fort, and requested the Killadar
to assemble his men in one place, and put. them
under his authority, that they might be in readi-
ness to make a sortie at night, on the enemy and
put them to the rout ; and he also required that
his (Hydur's) men should be stationed on the
walls and at the gates, as they had travelled and
were fatigued. The foolish Killadar did as he was
directed, that is to say, he assembled all his men
in one place. The experienced officer (Hydur's)
having now sent a few matchlock men to different
parts of the walls they made signs to the horsemen
outside the fort, who immediately dismounted, and
leaving their horses, ran on and laid hold on the
Killadar, whose hands they tied behind his back ;
and then, having seized the arms of the garrison,
they made prisoners of every one of them. The
fort having been thus, by the felicitous fortune of
the Nawaub, taken without opposition, his brave
officer, after returning thanks to God, the giver of
all gifts, fired a salute in honour of his success ; and
the Nawaub, hearing the guns, became certain that
the fort had fallen into the hands of the Khodadad
Sirkar. The next morning, therefore, he came to
the fort, and having made the requisite arrange-
241
ments, (for the good keeping of his conquest) he
returned to his tents.
Having thus in one year taken all these forts and
districts, he placed in all the hill forts strong gar-
risons, with brave officers, to command them, and
able civilians, to fill their respective departments.
He also settled accounts with all the Poligars of
that quarter, and collected from them an immense
amount. Of this, however, he sent, by his Vakeel,
five Lakhs of rupees, and some valuable presents,
to the minister Furnavees, at Poona, to remove
any bad impressions or feeling which might have
arisen from his taking possession of the country ;
and then, victorious, he returned to Seringaputtun.
Bajee Rao, the half brother of Raghoo, was now
sent for by the Nawaub, who told him that, if he
wished, he might have permission to go to any
place he chose ; but Bajee Rao, aware of the un-
fortunate condition of his brother, and knowing that
all the Ameers of Poona, and the Moghul chiefs of
Hydurabad, were the inveterate enemies of him and
his family, and were seeking their destruction by
all the means in their power, and seeing, therefore,
that he had no asylum but the Nawaub, and that his
safety and prosperity in all respects were centered
in him, said in reply, that he hoped the Nawaub
would consider him as one of his old servants, and
R
242
employ him in some office, that he might have an
opportunity of shewing his attachment, by his de-
votion to his service. The Nawaub, therefore,
having cast an eye of compassion on this poor
man, raised him to the command of five hundred
horse, and gave him an elephant, Howdah, and
standard, and enrolled him among his old servants.
About this time, a Brahman, named Poornea, who
was in a low station, as a servant to a certain
banker, named Andan Sheth, at an allowance of
two Hoons, (Pagodas) a month, and who being a
good accountant in the Kinhiri, (Canara) language,
was also employed in some way connected with
the Tosha Khana, and whose method of keeping
the accounts had pleased the Nawaub, was taken
from the service of the banker, and placed in charge
of the Duftur'' of the Kinhiri accounts, with a com-
petent salary. Kishen Rao, also a Brahman, had
charge of the Hindi or Mahratta Duftur, and these
two together kept in good order the accoimts of
the receipts and disbursements in the Tosha Khana
and treasury.""
As the Nawaub, after his return from his last ex-
pedition, employed himself in collecting arms and
stores of all descriptions, and also in raising horse
and foot, in a very short time, he collected and kept
^ Account book. ir^Vc Aiy>-
243
ready in a very perfect degree the means of at-
tack and defence ; for troops of brave and ex-
perienced soldiers, with horses and arms complete,
flocked to his victorious standard, where they were
entertained in his service, and placed in the receipt
of pay according to their merits. His Dustahs
that is, his stable horse, or household cavalry, be-
came in appearance like a Gul Dustah, (a handful
of roses) ; his matchlock-men, or infantry, were
clothed in red, yellow, green, or black broad cloth ;
and near a thousand head of camels, taken from
the Mahratta army, were trained to carry swivels/
He had also two or three thousand select cavalry, in-
telligent and brave men, clad in complete armour.
His irregular infantry, blood-drinkers, were assem-
blied from every country. He had, moreover, twenty
thousand horse, and sixteen thousand regular in-
fantry, with nearly forty thousand Kamatic foot,
and having these always ready for service, he re-
mained free from apprehension. The noise of his
victories, and the destruction of his enemies, re-
sounding through all parts of the world, troops of
brave men, well equipped and mounted, flocked to
him, not only from Hind, and the Dukhun, but
even from Iraun and Tooraun ; and, giving them
high pay, he retained them in his service.
244
CHAPTER XVIII.
An account of the encroachments or nsurpations of the Elnglish
in the country of the Kamatic Payangbaut, by the instrumentality
of Muhammad Ali Khan, Surajuddowla ; and the detail of the war
commenced by the Chief of the Dukhun, Niz&m Ali Khan, in con-
cert with the Nawaub, Bahadtir. Also, a description of the battles
fought between the Elnglish, and the courageous Nawaub, in the
commencement of the year 1185, Hijri. — A. D. 1771.
When Muhammad Ali Khan, the Soubadar of
Arkat, after the murder of his father and the Na-
waub Nasir Jung, was besieged in the fort of Nu-
thur Nuggur, (Trichinopoly,) and Hussein Dost
Khan, otherwise called Chunda Sahib, aided by the
Frenchmen of the port of Pondicherri, was en-
deavouring to take that fort; the besieged Khan
sought and obtained succour from the chiefs of
Mysore, and the governor of the port of Devna
Puttun ;' and by their assistance gained the victory
over his enemies ; and the head of Chunda Sahib
was gratuitously given to the winds. The Chief of
■ Fort St. David, I believe.
245
Mysore having been driven away by the violation
of the treaty made with him by Muhammad All,
as has been before related, the latter, by the. help
of the English, conquered the French, and took the
city of Pondicherri. Having then without opposi-
tion completed the reduction * of Arkat, Muhammad
AU plundered all the Munsubdars and Jageerdars
of that Souba, belonging to the Nowayut tribe,
raised the standard of independence, and rebelled
against the Nizam of Hydurabad.*" Now, there-
fore, when the Nizam was relieved from the con-
flict with Raghoo and his pursuit, — that Prince con-
sidering that, as Muhammad All Khan had rebelled
against him, and by the powerful aid of the English
had usurped the country and wealth of the Karnatic
Payanghaut, it was necessary to punish him, but
knowing, also that he could not alone contend with
the troops of Surajuddowla and the English com-
bined, he desired that, by the aid of the Nawaub
Bahadur, he might be enabled to displace Muham-
mad All, and take possession of the Karnatic him-
self. After having consulted with his Chiefs upon
the subject, and framed his plans for this end, he
wrote to the Nawaub, setting forth that a body of
English merchants, through the medium of the
^ These statements are not very clearly expressed in the original.
246
rebellious Souba of the Karnatic, had taken into
their heads a vain desire of chieftainship and rule,
and had fearlessly raised the standard of usurpa-
tion in that quarter ; and that his, the Nizam's
desire was, that, in conjunction with that pride
of the house *" of power and good fortune, (meaning
Hydur,) they should regain the country which had
been thus lost. The Nawaub lent a willing ear
to these proposals, and with his troops remained
ready for service. In the mean time, the Nizam with
his army marched to Adhoni, and, taking his brother^
Busalut Jung, with him proceeded by the road of
Kurpa Kumoul to Cheenputtun.
Another historian has, however, related this
occurrence in a different manner He states, that
Muhammad Ah' Khan Surajuddowla, when he
heard of the prowess and discipline of the Nawaub's
troops, and the promptitude of his military equip-
ments, became perplexed and uneasy, and regard-
ing the spring of the Nawaub's fortunes as the
autumn of his own prosperity, and moreover, ap-
prehensive that the affair of Trichinopoly^ where
he had so grossly violated his faith^ still rankled
like a thorn in the breast of the Nawaub, and, God
forbid ! lest he should consequently, turn his views
towards Arkat, and with the energy of the Khoda*
dad, seize his country and wealth ; he, (Muham-
mad All), therefore, intimated his wish to the En-
^^JJU- Family.
247
glish, that the governor of Madras, otherwise Chena-
puttun, should send a Vakeel with a body of troops
to Hydurabad, and persuade the Nizam to under-
take the conquest of the Balaghaut ; and they, in
consequence, having done this, prevailed so far with
the Nizam, that he suddenly marched with a large
force towards that province. His secret plans,
however, were, that he would first meet the Na-
waub Bahadur, and ascertain his views, and, under
the contingency of favourable opportunity, if he,
the Nawaub, should be daunted by his warlike
manifestations, he might then seize upon his terri-
tory, and retain it in his own hands ; and if not,
still, that he the Nizam might be able to operate
advantageously in the destruction of his rebel Sou-
badar. He, however, still kept the English troops
in his suite ; but. Monsieur Raymond, his servant,
with two thousand matchlock infantry was always
present with him.
But, to return — when the Nizam raised his tent
in the plain of Chenputtun,* he sent for the Nawaub
to visit him ; but, although the Nawaub, also, with
his army and artillery, had encamped eastward of
Muddoor, (a short distance from Chenputtun), still
as he considered that his meeting with the Nizam
^ Chinaputtun and Madoor are in the Mysore territory, I^at.
12.30 North.
248
should be deferred to another time, he sent his son,
(Tippoo), with a well appointed force ; Meer All
Ruza Khan, Mukhdoom Sahib, Meer Ismail Sahib,
Ghazi Khan, Muddoo Khan, &c., all of whom were
experienced officers being appointed to accompany
him. Five elephants, and ten beautiful horses, were
sent likewise as presents.
When the Prince arrived near the Nizam's tent,
the crash of the drums and kettle drums of his
body guard struck fear to the ears of the Nizam,
who, ascending a balcony on his tent, saw and
admired (nevertheless) the pomp and parade of
Tippoo's cavalry escort; and the discipline and
order of his troops. The Nizam, after that, received
him with great liberality and kindness, and, having
gained his heart by honied words and phrases, ad-
dressed him by the title of Nuseebuddowla,* and,
casting his plans and schemes, aside, consulted him
on the feasibility of chastising Muhammad All
Khan, the Soubadar of Arkat, and the English ;
and then dismissed him, with the present of a Khi-
laut, and the shawls the Nizam himself wore.
Tippoo now returned to his father, and, on his
arrival, related with minute exactness every word
spoken by the Nizam on this occasion. Agreeing
in the objects and wishes of the Nizam, the Nawaub
* The fortune of the State.
249
Bahadur marched on with his army, and the Nizam
giving the Enghsh their dismission, sent them off.
These two powerful chiefs now united^ and having
passed the Barh Mahl district, they encamped on
this side the pass of Chungum, where, on the op-
posite side, at the same time arrived also a Colonel
Hewit/ or Howard, an English officer with a body
of five thousand regular infantry, and a thousand
soldiers, ^ or Europeans, to secure the pass against
the Nawaub, and this officer had taken up his
quarters in a small fort, on the other side of the
pass of Chungum. As soon, therefore, as the
two Chiefs had received information of the arrival
of the English army, they dispatched a force in
advance, to besiege the above mentioned fort.
This force accordingly marched in the night, and
surrounded the English troops, stationing them-
selves as scouts or reconnoitering parties, and then
began plundering and killing the stragglers, and
followers, of the English troops. When the colonel
became aware of the great strength of the com-
bined armies, he acted according to the saying,
" Whosoever strikes his naked hand on steel," —
" is sure to bruise his knuckles ;"*' and, seeing that
' Written Cl^ji^ * >^^ ^ *Xcl-
Who strikes with naked hand the steel.
His knuckles sorely bruised ah&W feel.
250
his stay there was not advisable, he the same night
marched on the route to Tumamul. The Chiefs
of the advanced guard immediately sent to their
masters an account of the Colonel's march ; and,
on receiving this intelligence, the Nizam and Hydur
immediately followed him. At the distance of two
Fursungs, (about seven miles,) from their encamp-
ment, the Nuwaub, who had hastened his march,
overtook the English troops, and commenced on
them a fire of cannon, from different points. The
Colonel, nevertheless, having taken up his ground
on the slope or skirt of the hills, halted there, and
with his guns and musketry broke the heads and
necks of his assailants until the evening ; and, how-
ever, great and vigorous were the efforts and exer-
tions of Hydur's and the Nizam's troops, to plunder
and destroy this detachment, they were of no avail.
The English troops, however, suffered much from
want of water, and many were killed by the con-
tinual shower of cannon balls which fell on them.
At night, therefore, the Colonel above mentioned^
with his troops, in order of battle, proceeded to
Tumamul, and the two Chiefs, Hydur and the Ni-
zam, encamped on the river of Kilpauk, whence
they pushed forward strong outposts on all sides of
the English troops.
The Nizam now, after a consultation with Rukn-
251
uddowla^ sent a message to the Nawaub Bahadur, de-
siring that he should despatch a body of his own troops,
well acquainted with the country, to plunder, and lay
waste the Souba of Arkat, and the vicinity of China-
putt un, (Madras), &c. and likewise, to collect cattle,
and provisions ; that they might strike fear and dis-
may into the hearts of Muhammad All Khan, and
the English. Although, in time of need, the Na-
waub did not mind attacking a wild elephant, still
he did not relish this division of his army ; the Ni-
zkm, however, was so importunate and troublesome
in this matter, and used words so exciting, and was,
besides, so infatuated in his opinion of his own
troops, that at length he prevailed, and brought
the Nawaub to consent to despatch his cavalry,
regular and irregular infantry, and light guns,
under the command of his son (Tippoo), selecting,
to accompany him, Meer AK Ruza Khan, Mukh-
doom Sahib, Muhammad All, commandant, Ghazi
Khan, &c. Chiefs of note, — and he was acccordingly
despatched to that quarter ; the Nawaub leaving
himself but few troops, — that is to say, five or six
hundred horse of his own stable,* two thousand
regular infantry, four thousand foot, and his artil-
lery ; but all ready for action. Hybut Jung was
nominated to the command of the troops remaining
252
with the Nawaub. The Nawaub, however, at that
time had not let fall the reins of caution ; and, as he
had no confidence at all in Rooknuddowla, and the
other Chiefs of the Moghul army, wherever he en-
camped he surrounded his encampment with a
stockade, or an abattis,^ and to this defence he
directed there should be four gates or roads, on each
of which he stationed strong guards and artillery.
When the English officer arrived at Turnamul,
he detailed the strength of the combined armies,
(Hydur's and the Nizam's), and their numerous
artillery, to the government of Madras ; and Gene-
ral Smith, a brave and able officer, who was then
employed m urgent duties near Nuthur Nuggur,
(Trichinopoly,) was despatched, by the governor of
Madras, to oppose the Nizam and Hydur, with four
thousand regular infantry, eight hundred Euro-
peans,^ three thousand horse of the Souba of Arkat,
four thousand Karnatic foot, and a great quantity of
provisions and stores ; and he proceeded, by forced
marches, by the route of Runjun Gurh, and arrived
at Turnamul. When these two Sirdars or officers,
blood-drinkers,* met and made themselves acquainted
with the strength and description of the Nawaub's
and Moghul armies, they did not estimate the Mo-
ghul army at the value of a grain of barley. After
253
having halted for a week, they formed their troops,
and marched on, straight forward, without deceit or
guile, like lions, to attack the combined armies ;
firing their guns as they moved on. The Nawaub,
with the same number of troops that remained with
him occupied his ground of encampment, and di-
rected his artillery men to open their fire on their
enemies. The Nizam, in the meanwhile, had sta-
tioned hinself on the right flank of the English
troops, and was firing away with his guns, without
aim or object. His horse, also, in number like
ants, or locusts, surrounded the English army in
clusters. The English officers, however, by their
penetration and experience, soon perceiving that
the Nawaub had arranged his troops in the best
order and position possible, and had kept his
ground firmly, and that the Moghul army, like a
herd of timid deer, was standing about without
order, now, with a view to deceive their opponents,
advanced quickly from the flank, and immediately
charged the Nizam's body guard, giving them
several quick discharges from the guns, and, with
very little fighting, completely routed them, and
took the whole of their cattle, stores and artillery,
with the tents, standards, and Bazar of their camp.
Spiritless and ashamed, the Nizam now quitted the
field, and retreated, venting his spleen in cursing
254
the want of judgment shewn by his Dewaun, Rookn-
uddowla, and the rest of his Ameers and Khans.
His troops, who had never been engaged in a hard
fought or well contested battle, left their master to
his fate, and, like a flock of sheep at the sight
of a wolf, were so scattered, that even round the
elephant of the Nizam, scarcely two thousand horse
remained. On witnessing this want of colour, the
Nawaub bestowed many maledictions on the female
relations" of the runaways, and ordered his artillery
off quickly to Singar Peeth ; but he himself re-
mained on the field with ten light guns. The
English oflBcers having completely plundered the
Moghul camp, now returned to attack Hydur.
The brave Nawaub, dragging off his guns, and fire-
ing, and retiring step by step, halted and fought,
occasionally, at different points on his route. The
Nizam; at length, arrived at Singar Peeth, where he
encamped ; and the Nawaub, sorely displeased at
the irregularity and disorder of the Moghul army,
pitched his tents at the distance of a fursung from
them ; while the English General and his troops,
victorious, encamped on the battle field. The Na-
waub now quickly despatched his camel riders and
Hurkaras, (messengers,) \>ith letters, to his son
Tippoo, who had been plundering the country in
255
the environs of Madras, commanding him to return.
He, also, sent a message to the Nizam, to the ef-
fect,— that the expectations formed of his, the Ni-
zam's, brave troops and the ability and experience
of his Ameers and officers, had been well proved,
in as much that, in time of need, not a thousand
men with their arms, nor one Ameer of respecta-
bility had remained with the stirrup — i. e. the Ni-
zam ; that with such troops therefore, strong only
in numbers and shew, it was evident they could
never expect to conquer the stormy, warlike,
English ; " that the wisest course to be followed,
was, that the Nizam should encamp at Kaveriput-
tun ; and he, (Hydur,) his particular friend, by
every art and device which knowledge could supply,
would oppose and defeat the English, and put them
to flight. The Nizam followed his advice, and ac-
cordingly marched from this place, and encamped
at the said town of Puttun,
In the meanwhile, until the arrival of his son, the
Nawaub moved about in the vicinity of Singar
Peeth, Barh Mahl, and Ootangiri, and when Tip-
poo arrived, with all the officers and troops, and
great store of provisions and cattle, the Nawaub
was freed from all thought and apprehension ; and^
having ranged his right and left wings in order of
battle, he remained in readiness for action. At this
256
time, the Nizam, sending his Ameers to Hydur,
begged with great importunity that he would visit
him ; and, although the Nawaub in his heart was
unwilling to accede to his request, yet to keep on
friendly terms with him, he marched with his army,
and they met, and embraced and conversed to-
gether. They then consulted how they were to
overcome their strong enemy, and the Nawaub,
seeing on the forehead of the Nizam the signs of
grief for the late defeat, essayed to comfort him, and
said, with a view to his encouragement, that victory
and defeat came from God ; that similar mischances
had often befallen kings and princes of great renown,
who, nevertheless, had attained the very highest*
ranks of fame for strength of mind and courage ;
and that it was only consistent with the character
of Chieftainship, that he should not allow the rust
of doubt and despondency to rest on the clear
mirror of his heart, nor permit the dust of shame or
regret to stick to the skirt of his intentions and
projects.** That he recommended therefore that
with the care and caution worthy men of rank and
station, he, the Nizam, should march with his army
to Huskote ; and he, Hydur, his well-wisher, by
policy and management would subdue his enemies,
and conquer the Karnatic Payanghautin the best and
easiest manner. The Nizam agreed to this proposal
® A verse omitted.
257
and marched towards Huskote. Rooknuddowla,
however, his minister, with Manuvvur Khan, Kur-
nooli, Ismail Khan, Elichpoori, Rai Rumba, and
twenty thousand horse, were attached to the Na-
waub, and remained with him.
The Nawaub now, with his own troops, and ac-
companied by Rooknuddowla, crossed the Ghaut
of Tubul Pulli, and besieged Amboor Gurh, which
was held by an English garrison, and left no means
untried to take the place. Khaki Shah, a Fuqeer,
a companion and friend of the Nawaub's, was here
killed by a cannon shot from the fort. As soon
as the Chiefs of the English army became aware
of the siege they advanced by forced marches, by
the route of Karnatic Gurh, Dhoby Gurh, Kylas,
and Pulli Koonda, to Amboor. The Nawaub,
therefore, when he heard of the arrival of the Eng-
lish troops, raised the siege, and encamped in the
neighbourhood of Vud Cheri and Bapun Pilli.
The English officers halted for one day at Am-
boor Gurh, and, on the next, advanced to attack
the Nawaub. As soon as they approached near to
his army, he placed his cavalry under the command
of his son, Tippoo, and forming the right wing, and
committing his left to the command of Rooknud-
dowla, and others, he posted himself in the centre
with his artillery, his bravest senior officers, and
s
i
258
Muhammad All commandant. In the meantime, the
English officers, by their skill comprehending the
Nawaub's disposition of his army, despatched one
battalion and two companies of soldiers, (Europeans)
with two guns, to attack Rooknuddowla ; and two
battalions of natives, and a risala or regiment of
Frengis, (also Europeans), with four guns to attack
Tippoo ; and the general, (Smith,) himself, marched
straight forward to attack the centre or main body.
In a moment, the flames of mortal strife blazed
forth, and the brave mussulmans, steady as rocks,
planted their feet firmly on the ground; and, from
voUies of artillery and musketry, they passed rapidly
to the active employment of the sword and spear,
hand to hand. Verses.^ " The fire of rage seized
both the right and left wings," — " The world again
saw the tempest of Noah." — " On every side glitter-
ing poisonous spears," — " like the eye lashes and
glances of the languishing fair." — " From the bloody
darts or spears flashing in the sun," — '' the heart
became like the Ruby Mountain of Budukshan.'' —
" From the blood of the brave, and the dust of
the army," — " the earth became red, and the sky
black."** The troops of Rooknuddowla, however,
P Battle of Dhoby Gurh.
<» Then, upon both the wings the fire of rage
Seized, and the world such tempest saw once more
As that of Noah's days. On every side
259
from the attack of one battalion, and a few shot
from their guns, cowardly gave up their ground,
and did not draw breath until they arrived at Wan-
um Bari. But, before the English could defeat the
main body, Tippoo, with his victorious horse, had
charged them several times, and then attacked their
rear guard,' (Chundawul), which was commanded
by two Jamadars, named Ibrar Khan, and Asrar
Khan, and consisted of three thousand horse and
four thousand foot, having in charge stores of pro-
visions and cattle collected by them ; and, like a lion
springing on a herd of deer, he fell upon this body,
and sunk the boats* of their existence in the whirl-
pool of eternity. A deadly shock was thereby
given to this force, and the whole were dispersed,
and put to flight ; the military reputation of the
officers above mentioned was destroyed ; tents,
standards, loads of baggage, grain, &c. were burned,
and several officers and soldiers of the English
The glittering poisonous spears were, quivering, seen.
Like glances and eye lashes of the fair.
Who softly languishes. From darts and spears,
Ensanguin'd, flashing in the sun, the heart
Assumed the semblance of the ruby mount
Of Budukshan. From blood of heroes spilt.
And clouds of dust raised by contending foes.
Red did the earth become, and black the skies.
■ This confusion of images is contrary to Asiatic rule.
260
army taken prisoners, with their horses and palan-
kins ; and, having effected this, Tippoo returned.
On seeing this condition of affairs, the General
to preserve his cattle and baggage, instantly halted.*
The Nawaub Bahadur, in speed outstripping the
lightning, now fell upon the battalion sent to pur-
sue Rooknuddowla ; and, in one irresistible charge,
overthrew it, and, with such spoil as had fallen
into his hands, returned to Wanum Bari. Tippoo,
also, returned victorious, and rejoined the Nawaub's
force. The English officers and army remained
on the field of battle.
The Nawaub now sent for Rooknuddowla, and
made him listen to a bitter expostulation ; for he
told him that, without doubt, his companions were
fine fellows for shewing their heels, and, there-
fore, it was better that he and his city champions
should return to his master, seeing that, by the ex-
ertions of such men, hte, the Nawaub, could never
expect to see the face of victory, and God forbid
that the contagion of their cowardice, or want»of
manhood, should, by association and companionship
infect his gallant fellows, and cast their courage
and enterprise to the winds. As Rooknuddowla
in reply, repeated his boasting and did not wish
to go away, it was settled that he should always
— >^ Ceased his pursuit, according to Marriott*
261
encamp at the distance of half a Fursung, (two
miles), from Hydur's army, and that none of his
men should enter Hydur's camp ; but, in case of
need, messages should be sent by Hurkaras.
But, to return — after four days, the English
officers, with their army, marched towards Wanum
Bari. The Nawaub, on this, quitted his encamp-
ment, and the first day encamped at Tripatoor, the
next day, he marched with his troops and artillery,
and pitched his tents near Kavuri Puttun, in a
plain, surrounded by a plantation of Saul trees" and
a marsh or deep mud. Here he threw up round
his army, four batteries, or redoubts, and mounted
guns in them. Rooknuddowla was stationed outside
the limits of his camp. The English General now
left the troops attached to the Colonel, (Hewitt),
in charge of Wanum Bari and Tripatoor, and he
himself encamped on the slope of a hill, at the dis-
tance of one measured Fursung from the army of
tho. Nawaub. The outposts'" of the Nawaub, how-
ever, pressed the English army closely on the
flanks, and on one side, the horse of Rooknuddowla
were stationed to guard the road. At night, how-
ever. General Smith, intending to make a nocturnal
attack, got his troops in readiness, and marched by
" Saul is a tree, the wood of which is used in bailding ships, &c.
A^ub or **i« Signifies scouts or reconnoitring parties.
262
the very road which was held by the brave^ picquets
of Rooknuddowla ; and, although these troops were
fully aware of what was going on, they gave no in-
telligence to the Nawaub, neither did they make
any opposition, but on the contrary retired out of
their enemy's reach — " Not every woman is a
woman, nor every man a man.** — ^' God has not
made the five fingers of the same length,** ^ until
the time when the General, with much exertion,
had arrived near the camp of the Nawaub. From
the ignorance of his guides, however, his troops had
been led among the Saul trees, and into the marsh
or mire ; so that his guns had stuck fast in the
mud, and they had all been much delayed and dis-
tressed, and by this time the harbinger of morning,
the cock, sounded his awakening call to the sleep-
ing army, that is, the dark night suddenly broke
into the light of the morning, and the soldiers,
awakening in the batteries of the Nawaub, began
to pour forth such a fire from their guns, and other
arms, as soon made the Saul plantation like a bed
of spring roses, with the blood of the English
troops wading through the mud ; and at the same
moment, also, the picquets of the Nawaub arrived
* Ironically brave.
J^ *^j^j^ ^ \::^ Oj Oj j^ *^
263
in their rear, treading on their heels, and, with
arrows and musketry, made the red coats drink the
red wine of death.
The same night, having concerted and taken the
path of union with the English, Rooknuddowla made
a treaty with them ; and although he on one side
was all in readiness, pretending to give aid to the
Nawaub, yet, in fact, he was only looking out for
an opportunity, to attack and plunder his army.
The Nawaub, therefore, who had before heard that
his conduct shewed evidently a siding with the
English, being now confirmed in his opinion by the
circumstance of his being in readiness, and yet giv-
ing to the Nawaub no warning or information of
the night attack, clearly perceived that he and his
troops were changing sides, and he, therefore,
ordered to Payindah Khan Bukhturi, Risaldar, to
advance with his Risala, and fire a few cannon shot
at him, by way of congd, and that drove him away.
The General, (Smith), in despair, now wheeled
about, and returned to his own ground of encamp-
ment.
264
CHAPTER XIX.
An account of the establishment of a lasting peace between
Niz^ All Khan and the English, without the knowledge of the
Nawaub fiahadi6r, by the intrigaes* of Rooknuddowla ; — and of
the battles which followed, about two months after, between
the English and the Nawaub, near Nuggur, Trichinopoly, and the
Barh Mahl ; with an account of the victories gained by Hydnr's
gallant army in the same year, and the re-establishment of Peace,
1185, Hijri.— A. D. 1771.
W^HEN the General had returned to his ground of
encampment, and Rooknuddowla proceeded to the
presence of the Nizam of Hydurabad, he persuaded
him to make peace with the English Bahadur ; and,
having settled the articles of the treaty, opened a
communication with the English by letter. The next
day the English army marched back, and took
the road to Amboor Gurh. The Nawaub was
surprised at this movement, and fell into deep
thought ; when Hurkaras arrived, with intelligence
that the Nizam had marched from Huskote to-
265
wards the Ghaut or pass of Kurunpat^ and that
his Vakeels or ambassadors had reached the Eng-
lish camp^ and also that Rooknuddowla, had pro-
ceeded to visit Muhammad AH Khan. The Na-
waub was now convinced that that old* wolf, the
Nizam, was playing some artful tricks, and that he
was travelling in the path of treachery and deceit.
Nevertheless, as " men of courage, do not put their
trust in the aid of others" — " the canopy or tent
of the heavens, stands without pole or pillar,'*^ and
relying on the exertions of his faithful servants,
the Nawaub formed his plans, and was ready to
carry them into execution, when the Nizam, for the
security of his dominions, and by the advice of
Rooknuddowla, gave to the English government,
as payment for a subsidiary force to aid and defend
him, the country of Sikakole,"" and Rajbunduri, the
collection of the customs of which was thirty Lakhs
of rupees ; and which was first under the authority
of Anwuruddeen Khan, and afterwards assigned for
pay to Monsieur Bussy, a French officer. Having
done this, he without the knowledge of the Nawaub,
*> The man who owns a firm courageous soul
Relies not on the aid another lends :
Nor prop, nor huttress, keeps sustained the whole
Of heaven's vast canopy that o'er us hends.
^ Spelt by the English, Chicacole.
266
returned to Hydurabad, by the route of Kirpa^ and
Kumole.
But, to continue — In two months and a few days,
General Smith and Colonel Hewitt collected to-
gether a force, and made preparations, with the in-
tention, of conquering the Kamatic Balaghaut, ac-
cording to the instructions of the Nizam ; and,
taking with them Muhammad AH Khan, the Souba
of Arkat, they advanced from Amboor Gurh. The
Nawaub, however, not thinking it prudent to oppose
the English openly in the field, harassed them with
his Kuzzaks or predatory horse only, and despatched
the heavy baggage of his army, with his heavy
artillery, towards Anikul and Makri Droog ; remain-
ing with his horse, foot, and rockets, &c., ready for
battle. In the mean time, he attacked the English
army on all sides, with parties of his light troops,
while he himself was forming schemes to destroy his
powerful opponents. At this period, his Hurkaras
brought intelligence that by the route of Nuthur
Nuggur, (otherwise Trichinopoly,) and from Tan-
jore, a large convoy of stores under the escort of
two thousand foot, a thousand English musketeers,
four hundred horse, and two guns, was advancing,
by the Ghaut of Chungum, to join the English
army, and that they had a great number of cattle
^ Written Kuddapah by the English.
267
with them. The Nawaub, therefore, who was look-
ing out for news bringing such good luck, marched
without delay, and, keeping under cover of the
hills and forests, brought the day of Judgment on
the convoy and its escort ; for, at the first attack,
the escort were mostly killed, and the whole of
the convoy taken. The English General was
thrown into perplexity by this occurrence, and,
having encamped at Tripatoor, he sent to Madras
for stores and provisions. At this time news was
brought from Nuggur, that an English army had
arrived from Bombay, and had taken the fort of
Gorial Bundur, (Mangalore), and was spreading
terror over that country ; and that it was to be
feared the territory of Nuggur would likewise soon
fall into their hands. Tippoo was, therefore, des-
patched with two thousand regular infantry, four
thousand horse, and a thousand irregular foot, to
protect and defend that quarter ; while Hydur him-
self remained involved in the tempest of battle and
slaughter, with these two officers, Smith and Hewitt.
Other letters were now received, from the Chiefs of
Koimbatoor and Kalikut, that, on the side of Nu-
thur Nuggur, a Captain, with two or three thousand
regular infantry, and four thousand KuUars,* the
servants of Ram Raja, the Poligar of Malabar, had
268
entered Karroor ; and that his intention was to re-
duce the districts in that vicinity. On hearing this,
Hybut Jung was appointed, with four thousand
horse, to repel these invaders.
When Tippoo arrived by forced marches at
Gorial Bundur, the commanding officer of the
English army, there, strengthened the works of the
fort, and, to the distance of a Fursung, surrounded
them with redoubts, which he occupied. Tippoo
wrote an account of this to his father, whose sole
object being the order and safety of his territories^
he considered the reduction of that part of the
country necessary, prior to all other measures,
and he, therefore, taking with him four Risalas
of regular infantry, with four guns and selecting
two thousand good horse, from the whole- of his
army ; left the rest of his troops, his tents, stand-
ards, drums &c. to the charge of Meer All Ruza
Khan, Mukdoom Sahib, and Muhammad All,
commandant, with Ghazi Khan Beed, &c. ; and in
the space of a week, entered the fort of Nuggur.
He then despatched orders, to collect men, to
all the Killadars and officers in that neighbour-
hood, and, in about ten or twelve days, assem-
bled twenty thousand of the peasantry of the
country. Having provided these recruits with
wooden muskots of ebony and also furnished them
269
with standards of black, white, and yellow cloth,
one flag or Beiruk, being assigned to a thousand
men, he moved forward with this showy semblance
of a force. When he arrived near the batteries of
the English, he formed his lines, and, having
marched, and countermarched his troops before
them, he encamped on an open space on some high
ground, and ordered his son, (Tippoo), to attack
the batteries in flank. This being done, Tippoo,
after some fighting succeeded in taking them, and
putting the infantry stationed in them to the sword.
This success having thrown the enemy into some
confusion, the chief officer of the English, from
fear of the Nawaub, whose army appeared numerous,
while his, (the officer's) troops were but few ; and
with a view, also, to preserve his men, which is the
duty of every commanding officer ; left the batteries
the same night, and took the road to the fort. In
this movement two European soldiers ran away
from their comrades, and came to Tippoo, and gave
information of the retreat of the English. Tip-
poo instantly despatched this intelligence to his
father ; but before the Nawaub could put his force
in motion, or the retreating parties of the enemy
could reach the fort, he with the greatest rapidity,
moving on the flank, advanced before them, and
keeping up a smart fire, entered the fort, and put
270
to the sword those of the garrison who were man-
ning the walls. The Nawaub, on hearing the news,
followed with his cavalry at a gallop, treading on
his heels, and i-ained a storm of arrows and rockets
on the devoted detachment of the English ; and, at
length, their order being broken, and the men terri-
fied, they abandoned the road to the fort, and re-
tired to the sea side. The troops of the Nawaub,
however, dashed out after them to the sea shore, and
the whole were taken or put to death. The command-
ing officer of the English troops however embarked
on a vessel lying ready to receive him, and disap-
pointed, and hopeless, bent his course to Bombay.
After having left a strong garrison in the fort of
this sea port, (Mangalore), the Nawaub returned
with his European prisoners, and, in six weeks,
arrived at Bangalore. By this time, the two
officers. Smith and Hewitt, had taken the forts of
Wanumbari, Tripatoor, Gugungurh Nutkul, and
Jug Deo, and also the small fort of Dhurumpoori,
(after Payindah Khan, the Risaldar, who commanded
there, was slain), with the Hill Fort of Kishengiri,
which was plundered. Abdurrusheed Khan, the
Dewaun of the Nawaub Muhammad Ali Khan, was
also appointed to the charge of the Barh Mahl •/
f The historical account of the Barh Mahl, or twelve Parganas,
is to be found in the Persian copy of Mr. Marriott only.
271
and the general, having crossed the Kunuk Goon-
dah, Droog, or Ghaut, reduced the forts of Hus-
soor, Mashti, Moorwakul, Kolar, and Huskote.
It is to be obser>'ed here, that, in the reigns of
the Kotab Shahi dynasty, the Barh Mahl district
was included in the Souba of Arkat, which Souba
was depending on Hydurabad ; but, when Bahadur
Shah, the son of Alumgeer, gave Kirpa in Jageer to
Abdunnubbee Khan, the nephew of Azum Khan
Meeana, the Barh Mahl was added to that district.
But, to return — Muhammad AU Khan of Arkat had,
at this period, taken up his residence at Kolar, but
had sent for Morar Rao, Ghoor Purria, from Gooti,
to his assistance, and was making his own arrange-
ments, when the Nawaub returned, and re-entered
his camp, and disposed his army in the best order.
The English army, with the army of the Rao be-
fore mentioned, was now encamped near the town
of Nursipoorum, when the Nawaub finding one
night a favorable opportunity, marched towards
them to make a night attack, and, on arriving there,
without hesitation gallantly attacked and plundered
the whole of Morar Rao's force, and the Rao him-
self, being wounded, took to flight, leaving all his
guns and stores behind him. Some English sol-
diers, and horsemen of Muhammad All Khan, were
among the killed and wounded, on this occasion.
274
without any fear or caution. On hearing this, the
Nawaub immediately despatched two guns and a
thousand matchlock men after them ; and these in-
telligent brave fellows attacked this sleepy convoy,
and at one charge having thrown the escort into
confusion, made prisoners of them, and brought
them and their bullocks to the Nawaub, who im-
mediately attached the bullocks to bis own artillery^
and, after three days, moved towards Hurroor.
The Captain, before mentioned, being much alarmed
that his detachment and supplies did not return^
and by the want of intelligence respecting them
and being also ignorant of the arrival of the Nawaub,
despatched six hundred regular infantry, and two
hundred Europeans, with four guns, to Karroor.
This detachment had marched about four fursungs,
when the Nawaub heard of them, and he imme-
diately despatched his horse to surround, and draw
them on towards the range of his artillery. The
horse, accordingly, by caracoling round them, and
by pouring showers of arrows and rockets on them^
drew them gradually on to the front of the artillery,
when they dispersed and retired. Supposing that
the cavalry were those of Hybut Jung only, the
officer who commanded the English detachment
took little or no notice of them, but proceeded on,
when, all of a sudden, the artillery opened its fire.
275
and the discharges followed so quickly that the de-
tachment fell into confusion. The Kuzzak^ or light
horse, who were on the watch for such an oppor-
tunity, leaping their horses, dashed forward, and
without fear plunged into the midst of the fugitives,
and with the sword and spear destroyed many
guiltless' lives ; and although the men of this coun-
try, [the Dukhun,] had their lives spared on asking
quarter, not one of the Frengis,** or Europeans, ex-
cept two little boys, nine or ten years of age, were
left alive.
After this battle, the Nawaub marched on, and
pitched his camp opposite the fort of Hurroor,
whence he sent the following message, by these two
boys, to the captain commanding in the fort. *' Be-
hold the Nawaub Bahadur, like sudden death, is
upon your head. He has defeated and plundered
the armies of General Smith and Muhammad Alf
Khan, and has sent his army with his officers to
conquer* Arkat, while he himself has arrived by
forced marches with his personal guard, to complete
your destruction. He has also, put to the sword
all the convoy or escort on the road to Karroor,
with the garrison of that fort, and if you have any
wish to prolong your life, you must come and seek
i
A word of very wide fignification.
276
the protection of the Nawaub's skirt. If not, the
Nawaub has determined that on the morrow he will
not spare the life of a single man."
The little artless boys, who had seen with their
own eyes the men of their party destroyed, and
were still in great alarm, entered the fort, and re-
lated every circumstance with minute exactness to
the Captain. The Captain, therefore, being a simple
honest man, was deceived by this lying story, and
relinquished all intention of defending the fort, and
getting into his palankin, accompanied by two or
three servants, one or two pioneers,^ and seven foot
soldiers he went out, and met the Nawaub. The
Nawaub, who was highly pleased at his arrival, by
consoling and comforting him, quieted his appre*
hensions, and then ordered a separate tent to be
pitched for him and sent him off to occupy it. He
did not, however, allow any of his, the Captain's, ser-
vants except the pioneers, to remain with him.
When the Captain had retired from the presence,
and entered the tent, and saw that none of his
servants had remained with him, he sat down
alone in the chair of despondency looking about
him, and, placing the telescope of the discernment
of truth on the stand of patience, he viewed the
wide extent of the region of understanding,^ and
277
asked himself, what kind of business is this, and
how will it end r — In the meanwhile the civil ser-
vants of the Nawaub arrived, and, in sweet words
and soft language, began to treat with him, respect-
ing the surrender of the fort, and the military and
other stores contained therein, and requested he
would give an order, to that effect, on the second
in command in the fort, who was ready with his
troops to defend it ; and, notwithstanding the Cap-
tain objected and resisted the demand to surrender
the fort, unless after he was permitted to return, the
Nawaub*s servants would not allow his words any
weight, but by fair and foul means,* they at length
compelled him willing or unwilling, to write an
order to surrender the fort, and stores, agreeably to
the schedule made of them ; and then they returned
to the presence."
The Nawaub now despatched four Risalas or bat-
talions of regular infantry, and a thousand irregular
foot, with this order. The officer who was second in
command no sooner saw the writing of his superior,
than he without hesitation gave a return of the
troops, composing the garrison, and the guns, and
stores, with the keys of the fort, to the Nawaub's
officer, and quitted the fort, of which the Nawaub's
* 9^j^\ J-4UU ^r.Je-' J^\y^ is.hj
™ By this it appears they extorted the order required hy torture.
278
troops took possession^ and all the valuable stores
were appropriated by the Khodadad government.
The servants or troops of the Ram Raja^ and the
Kullers, who formed a part of the garrison^ the Na-
waub marched three times round his camp^ as an
offering, or sacrifice, for the safety of his troops,
and they were then dismissed. A few prisoners," of
the English garrison, were sent to be confined in dif-
ferent forts of the kingdom ; and thus, victorious,
crossing by forced marches the Ghaut or pass of
Gujul Hutti, the Nawaub returned to make head
once more against the English army.
At that period the General, who had returned
from Huskote, and had pitched his tents in the
neighbourhood of Kolar, despatched two battalions
and four hundred Europeans, to fetch supplies,
which had been collected and deposited in the
small fort of Hussoor, and when the escort for these
supplies had proceeded by night to Hussoor, and had
taken charge of the cattle and provisions, they
marched with them the next night on their return.
The Nawaub at the same time, marched from Ani-
kul, in pursuit of this convoy and escort, and de-
tached Muhammad Ah, conunandant, with four
thousand regular infantry, and guns, to attack the
fort of Hussoor ; while he himself, in the vicinity of
^ He put the rest to death most likely.
279
Nidra Mungul^ fell in with the convoy, and, sur-
rounding them, raised the clamour of the Resurrec-
tion'' and the tempest of destruction around them.
The fearless Kuzzaks now gallantly exercised their
predatory calling ; for, notwithstanding they lost
some of their best men in the attack, they drove off
the whole of the bullocks, with their loads, even to
the bullocks of the artillery ; and, moreover relieved
the shoulders of (many of) the escort of the heavy
burthen of their heads. On all sides, the field of
battle was straightened by bitter enmity,** and it
went near that a great loss had fallen on the de-
tachment. Their commanding officer, however,
withdrew his men into a ruined fort, which was
hard by ; and, by a continual fire of cannon and
musketry, repelled his assailants.
While matters were in this state, Muhammad
AH, commandant, after having placed a garrison in
the fort of Hussoor, returned to the camp with the
stores and prisoners, which he had taken ; and,
being now appointed to the plunder and destruction
of this detachment, he attacked them like a raging
lion, and, battering one side of the fort, soon
breached the walls, while he kept his men ready for
the assault. At this time, the General of the Eng-
® A favourite fig^ore with the author.
280
lish troops, who was encamped at Kolar, hearing
the report of the guns and musketry, knew that his
convoy had been vigorously attacked, and, in con-
sequence, despatched a body of troops to reinforce
them. When, therefore, after great difficulties
and trouble, these detachments of English troops
joined, the power of the besiegers became much
contracted, and the English marched at night and
joined their own camp. A single bag of grain
or stores, however, never arrived in the English
camp.
The Nawaub, after this, marched and besieged
Huskote, in which was an English garrison, and at-
tacked it on all sides. The officer who commanded
in the fort, however, repelled several assaults with
the greatest gallantry, and made known his situation
to the general, who instantly marched from Kolar
towards Huskote. The Nawaub's scouts or out-
posts immediately apprised him of the Generars
advance, and he, therefore, despatching the whole
of his cavalry, under the orders of his son Tippoo
and Meer All Ruza Khan, towards the Enghsh
army to amuse them, he himself remained with his
regular and irregular infantry, to take the fort.
He now ordered the brave commandant, Muham-
mad All, to plant ladders *> against the towers and
281
gates ; and with great exertion and bravery, the
assailants by their aid mounted the walls. The gar-
rison of the fort being few in number, they had not
power to repel the assault of such a multitude ; and,
therefore, threw away their shields, i. e. surrendered.
The merciful Nawaub gave the garrison, who had
defended themselves with great bravery, the surety
of their lives and property, and brought them out
of the fort, in which he placed a garrison of his own.
He was preparing, with his artillery, and regular
and irregular infantry, to repel the English army,
when the general himself, with his best troops, ar-
rived in front of the town of Huskote, under the im-
pression that the fort still remained in possession of
his Killadar or officer.
The Nawaub, who had now no choice but to light
up the flames of battle, arranged his artillery as
quickly as possible, in the plain of the Eedgah/ and
fired away with such vivacity, that the concussions
of the guns shook the breast of the earth to her
centre, and thousands of men were slain. The
General, meanwhile, prevented his men from throw-
ing away their lives or limbs uselessly, by making
them shelter themselves in the low grounds, and
then calmly resigned himself to the will of God.
' A mosque built to celebrate the Eedikorban, and £edi Fltr
festivals of the Mussulmans.
282
The Nawaub now signified to the officers of the
guards on the prisoners who had been taken^ of
the garrisons of Nuthur Nuggur, Huskote^ &c.
that they should release two or three men ; and
this being done^ these persons soon reached the
General, and detailed to him the circumstances
which had occurred at Huskote^ and the present
condition of the garrisons of Hydur Nuggur, Nu-
thur Nuggur, and Hurroor. On hearing these
statements the General hesitated, and having halted
during the day, from anxiety, he, in the evening,
returned to Kolar, leaving the heavy baggage of his
army, with two or three pieces of artillery ; one of
which, with its muzzle broken, still lies there, as a
remembrance.
Having taken possession of the abandoned bag-
gage, the Nawaub now advanced and encamped at
Nursing- poorum, where Hurkaras brought intelli«
gence, that a convoy of provisions was advancing
by the Ghaut of Tubul PuUi, to join the English
camp, under the escort of two thousand regular
infantry, a thousand Poligar foot, and a thousand
horse. On hearing this, the Nawaub himself with
his light artillery, and regular and irregular infantry,
marched and took post in ambuscade in front of
the Pass. The next day, the convoy having passed
the Ghaut, and arrived at Pudnainchuro, the Gha-
283
ziaun^ (the Nawaub*s troops,) sallied forth from
their ambush, and, commanded by the Nawaub,
attacked it on every side, and, like the famished at
a table laden with dainties, they put forth the hand
of plunder, and with the pitiless sword slew, and
then trampled many men of the escort under the
hoofs of their horses ; and the whole of the pro-
perty and stores taken being appropriated to the
Nawaub's provision and store departments, he then
returned.
When this news reached the General, in whose
army provisions and stores became scarce, he fell
into deep thought and perplexity, from the prospect
of a famine in his camp ; and the Nawaub, seeing
that the General confined himself in his movements
to the conquest of the towns and Talookas of the
Balaghaut, resolved that he himself, with the whole
of his army, would march to the Payanghaut. Ac-
cordingly, having crossed by the pass of Rai Kote,
he took the fort of Kishingiri ; and then, placing
garrisons in the forts of Tripatoor and Wanumbari,
he burned most of the towns depending on Am-
boor. Plundering as he went, he next marched
by the districts of Amboor Gurh, Santgurh, Rai
Vellore, Dhobigurh, Amee, and Jeeth-peenth, (or
Chittapet,) to Tumamul, where he encamped.
From this place he detached his son, (Tippoo,) to-
284
wards Madras, and Meer All Ruza Khan, towards
Tujawur, (or Tanjore,) and Nuthur Nuggur, and
Ghazi Khan, Maha Mirza Khan, &c., towards Chi-
toor and Niloor, to plunder the cities and towns
in those quarters ; and, in a very short time, the
whole of that part of the country was swept by the
besom of plunder and destruction, and most of
the population perished under the hoofs of the
Nawaub's cavalry.
The General, on hearing of this, and the pillage
of the Payanghaut districts, was immersed in the
whirlpool of anxiety ; and now, being compelled, of
necessity marched by the Ghaut of Kurrunpat to
Sautgurh, and thence towards Rai Vellore where
he halted.
Muhammad All Khan, when he saw the two
lions, (General Smith, and Hydur,) blood drinkers,
making these exertions from manly emulation, and
purely for the honour of their respective govern-
ments, and in the mean time shedding blood, and
plundering and destroying God's people uselessly ;
moreover, that, notwithstanding the destruction of
thousands of brave men, their hands were not yet
withdrawn from slaughter ; and that, in his Muham-
mad Alf s wish to obtain the country of the Bala-
ghaut, the whole of the Payanghaut would be lost ;
after considering all this, he, therefore, wrote letters
285
to the General, and persuaded him to entertain
thoughts of peace. Then, having appointed Nujeeb
Khan and Danishmund Khan his plenipotentiary
Vakeels, he despatched them with four lakhs of
rupees, and friendly letters and presents, to the
Nawaub, and, following the path of friendship and
truth, he manifested his wish to make peace.
The Nawaub Bahadur, who, also, in his engage-
ments with the English, had obtained nothing but
hard blows and loss ; who was laden with a burden
of hundreds of thousands of debt, and who was
himself seeking peace ; was in his heart rejoiced
beyond measure, by the application of Muham-
mad All Khan, accepted his presents, and with
great satisfaction, despatched All Zuman Khan, and
Mehdi AH Khan Nayut, as his ambassadors.
When these able deputies arrived, and met Mu-
hammad All Khan, they arranged the preliminaries
of the treaty in the best possible way, and laid such
a strong foundation to the conditions of peace and
amity, that on no account should tbe Chiefs of
these two governments ever again quarrel, but, on
the contrary, assist and support each other. In-
cluded in this negociation, the Vakeels of the Na-
waub again obtained the release from Muhammad
All, of the Nowayut dependents, that is to say,
the relations of Chunda Sahib, also the relations
286
of Imam All Bukhshi^ and their Zenanas, or wo-
men. Those persons and others being released from
the prisons of Muhammad AM Khan, solely from the
Nawaub's regard for his tribe, the Vakeels returned
successful.
By this peace the Khan also transferred the Ta-
looka of Kurroor to the Nawaub, and it was taken
possession of by his (the Nawaub's) officers. But,
besides this, most of the Munsubddrs, • and Jageer-
dars, of the tribe before mentioned (Nayut) as, for
instance, Mehdi Khan, the Chief of Awul Goondi,
Moortuza Hussein Khan, Munsubdar of Girkut
Palli, Muhammad Tuki, the Jageerdar of Wundi-
wassi ; Muhammad Saeed Khan, the Munsubdar of
Pur-Mokulgurh ; and also the Ilakadars, Muham-
mad All Khan Powloori, and Herasut Khan Saut-
gudi, who, from the oppression of Muhammad All
Khan^ were sorely afflicted and distressed. To all
these he sent pecuniary assistance^ and carriage,
and invited them to come to him ; and when they
arrived, he gave to every one service according to
his rank and abilities, such as the office of Bukh-
shi, or other civil offices, and honours. Many in-
habitants of the city and towns of Arkat, Vellore,
&c., also, who, being neglected, felt aggrieved, and
had retired from public life, now, taking advan-
■ Mantub is a stated rate of pay for military service.
287
tage of the time offered for the appreciation of
their merits^ and considering the opportunity as
presented by their good fortune, visited the liberal
and discriminating Nawaub, and according to their
titles or claims were entertained in his service.
The chain of strife and discord being thus cut
asunder by the shears of four lakhs of rupees, the
Nawaub returned victorious to the Balaghaut pro-
vince.
288
CHAPTER XX.
The march of the Nawaub and his troops towards Kirpa, Kur-
nole» Bellari, &c., and the collection of an adequate^ Paishkosh
(tribute) from the Chiefs of the above districts ; with other con-
quests, made in the end of the same year 1185, Hijri. — A, D.
1771.
At the period when the Nawaub had marched to
oppose the English, the Chief of Kirpa, Abdul Hu-
leem Khan, considering the time favourable to his
plans, despatched his horse to ravage and plunder
the districts and towns depending on the Nawaub,
and the towns belonging to the Souba of Sura, and
Kurum Goonda, and the villages of the tributary
Poligars of that Souba, were in consequence laid
waste. In the same way, Munuwwur Khan, the
Chief of Kurnole, in concert with the Chief of Gud-
wal, exerted himself to do as much injury as he could.
The Naik of Bullari, whose name was Doodapa,
also insolently caused a great disturbance in the
dependencies of Rai Droog, &c ; and continual
289
accounts of these excesses arrived at the hearing of
the Nawaub's servants. The settlement of that quar-
ter was, nevertheless, postponed by the Nawaub to
the end of the war with the red faced blood drinkers,
(i. e. the English), At this time, therefore, as the
heavenly mind of the Nawaub was set at rest by the
conclusion of treaties of peace with them, he sent
off to Puttun"* the heavy baggage of his army with
the dependents and families of the Nowajmts or
Nayuts ; and himself, with a determination to
punish his enemies, accompanied by all his horse,
and regular and irregular infantry, the whole of
which amounted to fifty or sixty thousand men,
accompanied also by his Atash Khana,* or artillery
raining fire, he proceeded by easy stages, as if tra-
velling for pleasure to see the country, toward
Kirpa, and he gave orders to a party of his Kuzzaks
to omit no means of laying waste the country in
the vicinity of Kirpa ; (and they obeyed his orders
so thoroughly,) as to leave not one of the well
wishers of that enemy, (the Chief of that place),
alive.
When this intelligence was carried to the Chief
of Kirpa, he became exceedingly alarmed and saw
no resource for his present and future welfare but
" In this book Puttun means SeringaputtuQ.
V
290
to seek refuge with the servants of the Nawaub, and
he therefore despatched a Vakeel with five lakhs of
rupees in money, two elephants, and four horses,
with jewelled or embroidered saddles and equip-
ments, as a present together with petitions for the
forgiveness of his offences, great and small, and
offering, as to the future, strong and repeated as-
surances that, from this time, he would never place
the foot of presumption beyond the boundary of
obedience to the Nawaub's commands, but would
act according to his orders ; and as a mode of
manifesting the strength of his attachment, he
further offered to send a portion of his troops to
serve as subsidiaries with the Nawaub*s army.
This petition the Nawaub granted from political
motives, and also accepted the money and presents,
according to the verse, " What comes unasked,
is given of God" — " refrise not what is sent by
God.**^ — and placed them in his treasury, and
having written" some directions, in the way of advice,
for the regulation of the Khan's conduct, now and
hereafter, and which might serve as the rule of his
life and welfare, he then despatched a newswriter
to his capital, with proper presents, and honorary
distinctions.
y What comes unasked, by God is given ;
Refuse not then the gift of heaven.
291
Budruzzuman Khan, who formerly gave up the
fort of little Balapoor to the Paishwa, M adhoo Rao,
and thereby threw the dust of shame on his own
head, and had since accepted the service of the
Hakim of Kirpa, now through the intercession of
All Zuman Khan his brother-in-law, had an assurance
of safety sent to him ; and, forgiving his faults, the
Nawaub invited him to return, bestowing on him
the Khilut, or honorary dress of pardon, and re-
storing him to his former office of Bukshi.
The Nawaub now immediately marched on, and
passing by the environs of Gunjee Kote, belonging
to the Kirpa Chief, arrived at Bheekun Pulli. The
Killadar of that place, who was of the Syud family
of Gholaum Ah, otherwise called Guloo, at first got
ready to fight ; and, his insolence and folly produc-
ing a kind of frenzy, he fired a few gun shots at
the Nawaub's body guard; the Nawaub himself
being present, and riding his favourite elephant,
called Poon Guj. The Nawaub was, therefore,
bound in honour to require and demand that this
insolent fellow should be punished in a way that
might serve for a warning to others, and accord-
ingly, gave orders to his brave officers to attack
him with their companies ; upon which they in-
stantly encircled him, putting forth their hands to
plunder and lay waste. Seeing this ravage, the
A
292
Killadar threw down his shield, and, placing the
ring of obedience and service in the ear of his life/
despatched a Vakeel with a present of fifty thousand
rupees, and he was then allowed to remain unmo-
lested. At the same time his cousins, Meer Hussein
AU Khan, and Meer Assud All Khan, being desirous
to serve the Nawaub, presented themselves to him,
and were appointed Bukshis of horse.
The Nawaub now marched two stages towards
Gudwal, the Poligar of which place, fearful of the
overwhelming attacks of the Nawaub, and trembling
like a reed shaken in the wind, despatched a Vakeel
with two lakhs of rupees, and some other presents,
and also with petitions for his Hfe and safety ; and
having done this, he considered himself out of
danger. When the Vakeel with the money, pre-
sents and letters, arrived at the presence, he de-
livered his message with much humility and suppU-
cation. From forethought and expediency, the
Nawaub accepted his money and presents, and
then marched in another direction.
Although tlie Nawaub passed with his army by
the dependencies of Gooti^ that is to say, those of
Morar Rao, yet, from policy, he took especial care
that no injury should be done, either to the Rao
or the inhabitants of that part of the country ; but
293
marched on hastily to Kurnole. As soon as Mun-
uwwur Khan was apprised of the arrival of the Na-
waub Bahadur's army, he determined to oppose
them, and got his troops in readiness, pitched his
tents, and raised his standards, outside the town.
A fanatical devotee, named Shah Miskeen, the
Khan's Moorshud or spiritual director, in whom
the Khan placed great faith and all whose com-
mands he obeyed, (to such an extent that no chief
of his rank was ever so obedient to his spiritual
guide as he,) now said *' Munuwwur, rejoice ; for I
will make thy enemies flee." The Khan was so over-
joyed, at hearing these glad tidings, that he nearly
fainted ; and, being now happy, fancied he should
certainly conquer the Nawaub's gallant army.
The Nawaub, when he became aware of the inten-
tions of the Khan, committed the right and left
wings of his army to his bravest officers, and,
mounted on an elephant, he himself, with his most
devoted troops, taking post in the centre, his artil-
lery in front, advanced opposite the walls of the town,
and there halted ; his intention being to attack im-
mediately and take the town and its chief together.
At this time, the mad* Shah or Devotee above
mentioned, sitting upon a naked or uncaparisoned
elephant, and accompanied by two or three hundred
294
Afghans^ careless of life, advanced towards the
Nawaub's army. On seeing this, a number of the
Nawaub's companions, and Khans, addressed him
several times intimating that he ought to relinquish
the attempt to conquer this place, in respect that it
was under the protection of one of God's most per-
fect Walis, or saints ; that the Aktab/ Outad,*
and Oulia,* whenever they cast an eye of fevour
on any one, placed him in security from all evil and
danger; that the manifestation of this intention
might be the cause of loss and injury to the
Khodadad government, and God forbid that in
the result his mind should be disturbed or person
injured; that it was best, therefore, that the
Nawaub should encamp his army in some place,
(near), and halt there, imtil the Afghan of Kurnole
should, of his own accord, present himself with his
hands tied, ready to obey the Nawaub's com-
mands ; and that, in this matter, haste was not be-
coming the servants of the Nawaub/ The Nawaub,
on hearing these opinions, and suggestions, so dis-
honourable to a man of courage and determination,
was much irritated, and, looking angrily in the faces
* Kotub, is the polar star.
** Wutud, is a tent peg, — symbolical of strength, also height, &c.
• Wuli is a friend or a saint — all these are degrees of religious
attainment among the Mussulmans.
' Meaning the Nawaub himself.
k
296
of these weak* men^ demanded of them if his troops
also were not under the protection of some Wali,
Kotub, or saints th^ he and his troops should be
supposed to be without support or aid? Nearly
the whole of those who were present, now wisely
held their tongues^ and were silent ; but^ some
took the liberty to reply, '* Yes, certainly they
were.*' The Nawaub then said, " in that case, the
saint who protects our army, will dispute Mrith
and oppose him who protects this place ;** and, in
the mean time, we ourselves will remove the
clouded brain from the vain head of Munuwwur
Khan ; for, added he, " I will stretch the neck of
his presumption with the halter of degradation, and
not allow him to remain alive/* After sapng this
he drove on his elephant, and had advanced aboujt
the distance of a musket shot, when the &natic
Shah above mentioned, who had determined to
charge and overthrow the Nawaub's troops sud-
denly turned about and retreated into the fort, and
retiring to the women's apailments of his house,
crept into a dark room, where he said to the Khan,
" Oh, Munuwwur I whatever thou hast, give up to
this brave man, and make peace; only thy fort
will we not give up to him." On hearing these
words from his priest, the Khan gave up all heart,
^ Called Kuuole aod Kumole.
296
and the strength of his loins was broken by the
staff of fear. He, therefore, sent his Dewaun, or
minister, to the Nawaub, with presents and provi-
sions for a feast ; and intreated he would encamp,
and promised the payment next day of as large a
sum of money as he was able to collect.
Casting the eye of favour, and the compassionate
regard of a master, on the condition of that repre-
sentative of an ancient house, the Nawaub agreed
to accept his propositions, and pitched his tents
and standards to the westward of the fort, on the
bank of the river Tungbhuddra, and entered his
tents, until the money was paid, until that however,
he would not allow the Dewaun to return to the fort.
The next day, in lieu of five lakhs of rupees, which
sum he had engaged to pay, the Khan sent out a
quantity of money, and ornaments of gold, and
silver, and, in sweet flattering language, professed
great regard and friendship for the Nawaub, and
thus escaped his ire and vengeance.
The Nawaub, desiring much to conquer and put
in order other places, took the amount above men-
tioned, and on the next day marched by the road
of Tripeti Goondeh, and Pundeh Goondeh, to
Kupthal, in the environs of BuUari, where he en-
camped his victorious army, with the intention of
reducing the Poligar of that place, and of leaving
a garrison of his own in his forts ; to cast the dread
297
of his victorious army into the heart of Busalut
Jung, the Chief of Adhoni, who was secretly in-
triguing with Morar Rao, and inciting him to the
plunder of the Mysore territory. Under the shew,
therefore, of lighting a fire among the villages of
Rai Droog, the Nawaub ordered the Risaldars of
the regular and irregular infantry to employ the
bravest among their number to run on approaches *
against the fort of Rai Droog, to breach the lower
and endeavour to take the upper or Mountain fort.
Accordingly, by the exertions of thirty days, the
tower or bastion at the north east angle of the
lower fort was battered down, by the continual fire
of the guns, and at night they made an assault*
The besieged Naik, however, defended himself
bravely, and did not suffer fear to influence his
exertions ; but successfully beat off the storming
party. The resolution displayed by the Naik, excited
the violent anger of the Nawaub, who brought his
large guns under the sweep of the hill to the north,
where he ordered his artillery to batter the walls of
the Mountain fort. The sureties of conquest, that
is, the artillery-men, now threw some large stones
from mortars ^ into the women's apartments of the
Naik, on seeing which, the women, in great distress
and confusion, filled the air with their cries, and
i They are called g^nt in the origioal.
• ••
298
obstinately insisted, that the Naik should imme-
diately enter into communication with the Na-
waub to make peace, and pay him whatever sum of
money he demanded ; and, they declared, that, if he
had not money enough, they would give up all their
most valuable ornaments, " for,'' said they, '* should
the Nawaub, which God forbid, take the fort, our
honour would certainly not remain inviolate." The
Naik being by this means agitated and perplexed,
sent a messenger of peace to the Nawaub, agreeing
to pay two lakhs of rupees, and thus he entered
the list of those who were spared by Hydur.
At this period, spies or intelligencers sent informa-
tion to the Nawaub, that Tattia Mahratta, the Chief
of Mirch, at the instigation of Govind Rao, the son of
Imrut Rao, the Chief of Gujindurgurh, had marched
a body of troops, with an intention to lay waste and
destroy the country, under the government of the
Sirkar Khodadad, (the Mysore State ;) and that he
was raising disturbances near Badami and Dharwar.
As the Nawaub was now compelled to reduce this
fort, and to chastise the Mahrattas, he accorded the
petitions of the Poligar, and taking two lakhs of
rupees in money, and leaving a newswriter there,
he marched on, and, having crossed the river
Toongbhuddra at the Ford ofGoruknat,he by long
marches arrived at Binkapoor. The enemy, being
299
aware of the rapid advance of the Nawaub, lost
their senses, from the fear of the desperate valour
of his troops,^ and returned hopeless to Mirch.
The Nawaub, therefore, now returning, arrived
at Shahnoor, where Hukeem Khan advanced to
meet him ; and, having professed his friendly senti-
ments, he presented the expenses of the army for
ten days, amounting to a hundred and thirty-five
thousand rupees, as a gift, and was thus freed from
further trouble. From this place he, Hydur, moved
on, and, passing Sirihutti, Dumul, and Kunugiri, and
collecting an adequate Paishkush from the Poligars
of that quarter, he next pitched his tents at Be-
januggur, otherwise called Anigoondi, and Tum or
Timraj, the Chief of that place, was sent for by the
Nawaub to visit him. As, however, these Chiefs are
the descendants of Kishenraj,^ and Ramraj, Chitri,
they salute or make obeisance to no one. In former
times, the country of the two Karnatics, and even
the Dukhun from the forts of Malabar to the banks
of the Nurbudda, were subject to their authority.
But the power of these Princes was broken and de-
stroyed, by the energies of the officers and troops
of the Kings of Islam, namely, Kotub Shah, Adil
Shah, and Nizam Shah, in the environs of Nyaul
Kote, a town on the banks of the Kishna, in 972,
cMj^ ' Meaning apparently, Ram and Krishna.
300
Hijri. The words *'Ram Raja" died on the day
of Adeena,** — give the date of his death. Sultan
Alumgeer during his reign gave the descendants of
this line of Princes, to provide for their subsistence,
the three districts of Howeli Anigoondi, Durwajee,
and Gungawati, as the writer of these lines has
detailed, in his History of the rise and fall of these
Princes, called the Tuzkirut ul Biladwul Ihkam.
But to return — when the Nawaub sent to Timraj
he pretended to be very sick, and sent his son, with
some presents and a lakh of rupees, and begged he
might be spared. Having taken into consideration
the high rank of the ancestors of Timraj and their
former greatness, the Nawaub excused him the pay-
ment of his Paishkush, and sent him from the pre-
sence an honorary dress, confirming him in all his
possessions. Hydur then marched, by the route of
HurpunhuUy and Jureemli, to the neighbourhood
of Chitul Droog. The Poligar there, from fear of
the spoliation and desolation of his country, sent a
Vakeel to the Nawaub, with three lakhs of rupees
as a present, and one lakh of rupees as one day^s
entertainment for the army, representing his de-
votedness, and that he Was obedient to the Nawaub's
orders. The Nawaub accepted the money, and
allowed him to rest under his powerful protection ;
- Friday, , • , j< j^ ^^ ^\^ j^
301
and having, by suggestion and advice, pointed out
the path he was to pursue, he despatched an able
newswriter and register to the residence of the
Poligar.
Hydur then marched by the route of Boka
Puttun, and encamped in the environs of Gulwari.
The Nawaub here gave orders for the attendance
of the Poligar of that place, whose eccentricity and
folly had frequently reached his ears. It is to be
remarked here, that the said Poligar was, without
doubt, entirely void of sense and understanding.
He was an opium eater, and spent all the revenue
of his Talooka, or district, in the purchase of opium.
He was accustomed, sometimes, to mount up into
the balcony of his house, and enjoy the prospect of
his hills and dales ; and there happening to be op-
posite his little fort a pond full of water, and a
small hill beyond it, he used to ask his minister, —
" If we had a quantity of pure opium as large as
that hill, and as much milk as that pond or tank
would hold, how long would it last ?" The minister
would answer, " Perhaps about a month ;** upon
which the Poligar would reply, " What — do you
take a man to be like a sparrow, that he should
pick a bit here and there, and drink by drops ?"
" If any one could finish the whole of it in a week,
then, indeed, I should call him a man." If he sat
302
down in the morning to wash his mouth and his face,
it was mid-day before he had finished, even although
his servants did their best to arouse him. His ge-
neral food was rice and milk, and his wife, after she
had caused it to be cooked, usually sent a servant girl
to call him to dinner. But it was not until the girl
had well shaken his head, and his shoulders, and re-
peated to him that his dinner was ready, that he
rose and retired to the women's apartments to eat.
He also had planted a small garden, about the dis-
tance of a musket-shot from the town ; but, when-
ever he wished to walk in his garden, it took him a
week to get ready. When, however, his ministers
had at last roused him, and he had walked to the
garden, after an hour or two he would ask his ser-
vant, " How many days is it since we left home,
and in how many days shall we return T The ser-
vant in answer, would say, that they would reach
home after two or three stages, when the Poligar,
laughing, would reply, ** No, no, we are not pigeons,
that we should fly so swift as that !" But, in fact,
there are so many stories told of this man, that it
would be impossible to relate them all.
When, by the order of the Nawaub, this foolish
man attended his Durbar, the Nawaub, seeing the
stamp of folly on his forehead, called to him to ad-
vance, and then said, — " How is it with you, and
303
what have you brought me for a present ?" — He,
with his hands respectfully crossed, replied, — " By
your auspicious fortune, there is in my treasury no-
thing but two or three maunds of opium ; but there
are also two hundred cows, giving milk, and a few
jewels of gold and silver are on the person of your
female servant, * meaning his wife,* if it be your
pleasure I will present them to you." The Nawaub
laughed very heartily at his absurdity, and gave
him leave to return home, and allowed him to
retain his town, to fiimish him subsistence, but,
stationed in it an Ameen, to regulate the admini-
stration of the Talooka. The Nawaub then re-
turned to his capital, Puttun.
304
CHAPTER XXI.
An account of the celebration of the Marriage of the S&hibzada,"
Prince. Tippoo, also that of the daughters of Shahbaz S&hib ;
and the Marriage of Hydur's own daughter, the year 1185*
Hijri.— A.D. 1771.
When the Nawaub Bahadur was freed from the
war with the English, and his arrangements with
the Poligars, &c., and had returned \dctorious to
his capital, he determined to celebrate the nuptials
of the Princes and Princesses ; and, therefore, with
the greatest pleasure, demanded for his son the
daughter of Imam Sahib Bukhshi, Nayut, whom he
had brought from Arkat, and he ordered the prepa-
rations for the banquet, &c. to be made. The
ladies of the curtain of chastity and purity, that is,
the mother of the Prince, and the wife of Hydur
Sahib, the elder, would not, however, agree to the
marriage of this lady ; but, agreeably to the choice
of the bridegroom himself, and that of their family,
° I have translated *J«j-^w Prince as I know no other
equivalent when speaking of Tippoo.
lb
305
selected Rukba Banoo, the daughter of Lala Mean,
(who was killed at Churkoli,) and the sister,
by both parents, of Biirhan-ud-din Sipahsalar.
The Nawaub, being angry at the rejection of his
choice, gave orders that the Prince should be mar-
ried ** to both these ladies the same night. Those,
therefore, to whom charge was given to prepare the
banquet for this happy occasion, commenced the
music of congratulation on both sides, ^ and the feast
was spread, and the customary forms of rejoicing,
agreeably to the usages of the Dukkanees, were all
celebrated in royal style and fashion ; and, for
nearly a month, the streets and markets of the city
were ornamented, like the nuptial chamber of the
bride and bridegroom, and the fame and noise of
the royal banquet extended to all parts of the world.
The joyful entertainment, music, and all other
appliances of delight, were provided so abundantly,
that, during the whole time, little and great, low
and high, either among the servants of the govern-
ment, or the inhabitants of the city, never dried "
their hands from eating and drinking. The chief
officers of the army, the brave men of the body
guard, the servants of the household, and the danc-
f^ykM^ ^^ ^ The bride and brideg^om.
4 It will be recollected that the people of Hindustan use their
fingers alone in eating.
X
306
ing girls, with countenances lovely as Venus, like
brides and bridegrooms, arrayed in their various
coloured raiment, excited by their beauty the envy
of the ever blossoming rose garden, and the poor
and needy of the world, by the gifts of pearls, and
jewels, made on this marriage, were placed inde-
pendent of poverty and want.
At length, at the fortunate and blessed moment,
after the ceremony of riding in procession, the bride-
groom was first taken to the gate of the Nayut's
house, and, after the reading of the Khotba and
Nikah, and the performance of other marriage cus-
toms, the bridegroom was again mounted, and taken
to the respected gate of Lala Mean, where all the
ladies of the Nawaub's family, and all his relations
assembled, and gave their sanction to the Khotba and
Nikah, and, with the assistance of able bride's wo-
men, the ceremonies of Julwah, &c., were performed
to their perfect satisfaction, and the sun and moon
were placed in auspicious conjunction. In truth,
it is the nature of most men and women, that al-
though women of their own tribe may be the
poorest' in the country, still they hold them in
respect and honour, and disparage the women
of other tribes by hints and allusions, even while
allowing their claim to lineage and nobility. But,
307
to return — when they had finished all this cele-
bration and congratulation, the two honourable
ladies were placed in the Serai of the prince, and
there remained.
After this, came the marriage of the two daughters
of the deceased Shahbaz Sahib. Shahbaz, after the
increase of the power and wealth of the Nawaub,
retired to his own house, and died of disease at
Kolar, leaving three daughters, and one son, named
Abdulkadir, who was slain in his youth by a can-
non ball at the battle of Anooti. The eldest daugh-
ter, whose mother was a lady of Shahbaz Sahib's
tribe or family, was married, during the life of her
father, to Lala Mean, and, consequently, now be-
came the mother-in-law of the prince, Tippoo.
The other two daughters were by a wife of a dif-
ferent tribe, not a first marriage. The Nawaub
now, therefore, honoured Turbeut All Khan Na)ait,
by bestowing one in marriage on him; and the
other he married to Yasin Sahib, the son of Yakoob
Sahib, Jamadar, one of the most noble among the
families of the Dukhun, and after the most liberal
fashion of that country.' After this, again being high-
ly pleased with the mild disposition, the propriety
of language and manners, and the correctness of
* This detail is so involved in parenthesis, as to he almost
unintelligible.
308
conduct of Hafiz Syud Ali, (the son of Shah Sahib
Dukkuni,) a worthy friend and companion of the
Nawaub ; who had been deputed on an embassy
to Hydurabad^ and had there negotiated a peace,
and strengthened and improved the relations of
amity between the Chief of Hydurabad and the
noble Nawaub ; and who, without the know-
ledge of the Nizam, or his ministers, with much
address had purchased a great quantity of valuable
articles and jewels of great price, and had forward-
ed them to the Nawaub ; and, also, had engaged a
number of brave and experienced men, well known
for their courage, and had sent them to the pre-
sence ; — taking, into consideration all these ser-
vices, and wishing to mark his approval of them,
he honoured him by uniting him in marriage to
his own daughter, and thus exalted his head in
both worlds.
As these affairs were all completed in about a year,
the Nawaub next occupied himself in the regulation
of the affairs of his territories, and despatched
officers of justice to all quarters ; that, wherever
thieves, highway robbers,* and cut purses, had ex-
tended the hand of depredation and cruelty, they
might be punished ; and, wherever the foundations
of oppression and tyranny had been raised, they
.1
rj
309
should cause them to be pulled down. As soon as
the Nawaub had completed the internal arrange-
ments of his state affairs, he appointed his confi-
dential servants to the charge and possession of
different governments and countries, and next em-
ployed his time in collecting warlike stores, and
soldiers of approved valour," (like Roostum and
Isfendiar) ; so that, in a short time, he assembled
under the shade of his victorious standard expe-
rienced and able men from all tribes ; and, giving
pledges of safety and aid to merchants, and the
leaders of Karwans of all countries, he attracted
(many of those persons, bringing with them) bales
of precious stuffs, droves of fleet horses from Irak
and Daman,"" and troops of the bravest men of Iran
and Tooran, who had been invited to enter his ser-
vice, and whom by Hberal treatment he made the
slaves of his will. He also appointed active dis-
ciplinarians, to exercise and teach his troops, and
maintained near two thousand able spies and news-
writers, in all parts of his dominions, and even in
Hydurabad, Poona, Madras, DehU, Bengala, Iran,
Tooran, and Kabul, and was supplied with intel-
ligence by them which he heard with great interest
and discrimination. But, especially in every dis-
trict of the tributary Poligars depending on him,
*^^ ^ Also written Maun.
310
(for he was never at ease respecting them), he em-
ployed spies and secret intelligencers, one upon
another, and required from them the most minute
information and a copious diary. He also, at an
immense expense, collected all implements of war,
as guns, firelocks, and other European articles, from
the ports of the French, Dutch and Portuguese
nations.
311
CHAPTER XXII.
The invasion of Tatia Mahratta the Chief of Mirch, Grovind
Rao, the son of Imrut Rao, and Suhoo Rao Ghatkia, &c.. Chiefs
of the Mahrattas, from Poona, with the intention to ravage and
conquer the country depending on the Nawaub Bahadur. Also,
the incursion of Ibrahim Khan, Dhoonsa, with the same purpose,
from Hydurabad ; and the making prisoners the chiefs of the
Mahrattas, by the hands of the brave soldiers of the Nawaub's
army. The retreat also of Dhoonsa, without attaining his object
and the conquest of Bullari by the Nawaub ; all which occured in
the year 1187. Hijri.— A. D. 1773.
A\ HiLE the Nawaub Bahadur remained in Puttun,
and was occupied in making some particular ar-
rangements, and collecting troops and stores ; Busa-
lut Jung, the Chief of Adhooni, and the promoter
of strife, Morar Rao, combining and concerting to-
gether, wrote and despatched letters to the Nizam
of Hydurabad, and the chief persons at Poona, con-
taining a request that they would despatch troops
into this country, (Mysore,) and pluck up the tender
plant of the Nawaub's prosperity and greatness, —
for, in the increase of his power and might, they
312
saw involved, to a certainty, their own decay and
ruin. They then remained waiting or looking out
for opportunities. Although he knew well the ini-
mical intentions of these treacherous people, still,
before some overt act on their part authorized him,
the Nawaub did not consider it consistent with his
character for courage and the conquest of his
enemies to molest or annoy any of them. Seem-
ingly like a listening deer, he was silent ; but, in
reality, like a hunting leopard, he was waiting an
opportunity to spring upon his prey, when, all at
once, his spies, from the banks of the Toongbhud-
dra, successively brought him intelligence, that, the
Governor of Mirch had again associated several
Chiefs of the Mahrattas with him, and was raising
disturbances in the neighbourhood of Badami and
Dharwar ; that, although the minister of Poona was
adverse to his plans, still he, vain and conceited in
himself, had raised the neck of pride, and was
marching in the direction of Mysore ; that the Na-
zim of Hydurabad, agreeably to the request of the
Chief of Adhooni and the Hakim of Gootti, had
also despatched Ibrahim Khan Dhoonsa, with a well
appointed force, artillery, and warlike stores, to this
quarter, that as a soldier Dhoonsa considered no one
his equal,'' and was exceedingly vain of the discipUne
313
of his troops, and the excellence of his artillery ;
and that he, like a mad elephant, with the proboscis
of fury raised, was advancing towards Mysore.
Also, that the Chief of Adhooni had despatched his
troops to take Bullari, and that Sufdur Jung, the
Commander in Chief of his army, and the French-
man, Monsieur Lalli, who had the title of Roostum
Jung, had already besieged that town, and were
prosecuting their operations ; but that the Naik,
who defended the place, had fought manfully, and
vigorously repelled his enemies. The Nawaub
now, therefore, appointed Muhammad Ah' com-
mandant, with five thousand regular infantry and
seven thousand horse, and the troops of Bajee Rao,
to attack and repel them, and he himself set them
forward on their march towards Dharwar. The
gallant Commandant accordingly marched with
such speed that, in fifteen days, he arrived at Dhar-
war, and finding to the north of the fort an open
plain, and the dry bed of a river, forming a good
ground of encampment, placing the river in his
front, he planted his standard and encamped there.
The tents, however, were not yet pitched, nor had
the loads of baggage fallen from the backs of the
bullocks, camels, and elephants, when the Chiefs of
the enemy it being the day of the Dussura,* with
* A festival of the Hindoos.
314
the whole of their force, guns and stores, ready for
action, came on by troops, to make a display of
themselves, and exercise their horses, and also with
the intention to encamp in that very spot of ground
which two days before they had seen unoccupied
by the Nawaub's lions. Taking no account what-
ever of the commandant's force, which appeared to
them small, while they in number were near thirty
thousand horse and twenty thousand foot with six-
teen guns, they without any hesitation advanced the
whole together, officers and men, and at once came
on to the attack. The brave commandant, with
great activity, posted his artillery in advance, and
formed his lines of musketry in the rear of the
guns ; having stationed on his right wing the Ban-
dars^ or rocket men. When, therefore, the Mah-
rattas had rashly advanced within musket shot, all
at once his guns, which had been loaded with
grape shot, and were ready for the match, succes-
sively opened their fire, — the volHes of musketry be-
ing given with aim and precision on the enemy's main
body — and, like as the ears of wheat and barley cut
by the sickle at harvest are scattered over the face
of the ground, so, the bodies of the Mahrattas were
scattered on the field of death. In the rear, again,
the cavalry, stretching forth the hands and arms
y Bhandars.
316
of courage, and shouting* *' Aid from God and
victory near," — threw the dust of defeat on the
heads of the conquered. The rocket men, also,
firing from the flank, (apparently formed enpotence)
lighting up the fire of strife, burned the camp fol-
lowers and baggage of the M ahrattas like dry wood
in the oven of devastation.
But, to return — The day of feasting became to
the Mahrattas a day of mourning ; and Tatia, who
was a fat heavy man, at the shock of the thunder of
the artillery and musketry trembled so, that he lost
his seat and fell from his horse on the ground, and
rubbed the forehead of his timiditv on the earth of
supplication. The other cowardly Chiefs, who, from
the clouds of smoke rising from the guns and mus-
ketry in this hard fought battle, lost their way to
safety, who, from the lightning of the swords of the
brave, lost the sight of their understandings, and,
the range of whose intellect was pierced through, or
fixed, by the flashing points of the spear, javelin and
mace, now, in the hope of saving their lives, covered
themselves with the clothes of the wounded and,
with their bodies uninjured, crying, and wailing,
rolled themselves about on the ground. The vic-
torious Kuzzaks, now put forth the hand of plun-
der, and took freely of all they liked to their heart's
~ *
316
content, &c. The brave commandant, for this great
and unexpected victory, prostrated himself in
thanksgiving before the throne of the true bestower
of all victory, and having twice* performed his
thanksgiving devotions, the Mahratta Chiefs were
dragged forward, in number ten or twelve, the head
of the whole being Tatia, and they were then con-
fined in a tent under a strong guard. Of the ele-
phants, camels, and horses, with other plunder, of
which an incredibly great quantity was taken, half
was given to the Silahdars, who in this battle had
perilled their lives nobly. To each of the Fa-
keers, or religious mendicants, who accompanied
him, and of whom, whether he was travelling or
stationary, forty or fifty always remained round
that generous man's door, he gave one horse or
camel. The Mahratta females who were taken he
divided among the dissipated and such as were
fond of women. He then encamped on the same
ground, the twin^ of victory, and despatched to the
Nawaub a congratulatory letter on this unexpected
success, with a list or return of half the plunder
taken, and likewise the names of the Chiefs taken
prisoners.
^ I do not understand this well, but it is so in the original.
317
When the Nawaub had heard the terms of the
letter from his distinguished servant, and the lists
of the captured property, he, in presence of those
assembled round him, involuntarily broke out in
expressions of admiration, at his valour and judg-
ment ; and immediately gave orders, that a salute
of one hundred and twenty five guns should be
fired, as a testimony of gladness and thanksgiving
for this victory, and also that his drums should beat
the rejoicing for good news. He also conferred on
the commandant kingly presents ; a jewelled girdle
and a horse with saddle and housings of gold, and
he exalted the standard of his rank and estimation
above all other of the officers and Khans of his
court. — Verse. " He raised him above his fellows" —
" and distinguished him with great honour and con-
fidence.**
During this time, the newswriters of Rai Droog
frequently wrote to the Nawaub, that Busalut
Jung's commander in chief, although he had be-
sieged the hill fort of Bullari closely for three
months, had effected nothing; that the besieged
Naik had made frequent sorties at night, and had
attacked the batteries of the besiegers, and had
killed a great many of the Moghuls f and that
Dhoonsa, with his ill omened force, had arrived
^ The troops of Hydurabad are always called Mogbuls in tliis
work.
318
near Kunukgiri and Gopul^ and that the people of
the country were terrified at his tyranny and cruelty.
As soon as he had heard the contents of these
letters^ the Nawaub immediately despatched his
orders to the commandant^ styling him Ghoonsa^*'
to this eflTect, that he, the Nawaub, had conferred
on the commandant the title of Ghoonsa, and that
he had appointed him to oppose the further pro-
gress of Dhoonsa; that he, (Ghoonsa), was to
proceed as early as possible, and attack Dhoonsa,
and chastise him as he deserved ; and that, please
God, he the Nawaub would also fall on him Uke
sudden death, by the route of Rai Droog. He
also commanded him to send his prisoners to
the presence. Immediately on receiving the Na-
waub's mandate, the commandant got his troops
in readiness, and marched by forced marches to-
wards the army of Dhoonsa. In the meanwhile
agreeably to the orders of the Nawaub, the pri-
soners and spoil were sent to Puttun, under the
escort of a thousand regular and two thousand
irregular foot.
The Nawaub now marched from his capital,* Put-
^ Ghoonsa means the fist, or a blow with the fist, in Hin-
dastanni ; and Dhoonsa, I believe, a rude push, or shove ; but
there appears to be some joke, or conceit, in these names.
* All mention of the unfortunate Raja of Mysore and his family
is avoided from the time of his imprisonment.
319
tun, and proceeded towards Ruttun Giri, where he
halted. Then, leaving there all heavy baggage,
the camp followers and artillery, under charge of
Purnia, a Mutsuddi oftheTosha Khana, (wardrobe
or storeroom of presents) who was appointed thence-
forth Chief officer of the baggage and followers,
he with the light horse,' and the regular and
irregular foot, lightly equipped, with only four
meals of provisions ready cooked, marched on
at such a rate, that, after crossing mountains and
forests for two days and two nights, on the third
night, he, like an arrow speeding from the bow to
the mark, reached the camp of Busalut Jung. In
obedience to his orders, his brave troops attacked
it on every side, and, with the discharge of rockets,*^
matchlocks, arrows, and camel-swivels, he drove the
dark vapours of pride out of the bodies of that force.
The horse and foot, of the Moghul army, therefore,
who hitherto, like the knot of the Pleiades, had pre-
served the form of a compact body, being wholly
unprepared for the arrival of such a sudden cala-
mity, at once, became loosened, and separated like
the daughters*" of the bier; and, some rubbing
' L<f^ light, Turkish a whip.
fs Epithets denoting the execution done by these arms are
omitted, being nearly the same throughout the book, such as
jjti iJ^ jyti ^j^ &c. ** A constellation so called.
320
their hands, and some their eyes, but mostly beat-
ing their heads and wailing, put forth the foot of
flight ; but whole troops of them sleeping on their
beds, striking out their hands and feet, drank to the
full of the Sherbet of the brave blood-drinkers'
swords, and lay stretched out at length on the
giound. The commanding officer of the army,
thinking the day of resurrection had arrived, ran
away with naked feet, and now rising, now falling,
sought refuge with the detachment of Monsieur
Lalli, which compared with the rest of the army,
remained in some degree collected and in order.
There he found safety, and the gallant Frenchman,
now binding the waist-belt of courage tight round
the loins of enterprise, having collected the remain-
der of his men, whom the sword had spared, and a
few Kaim Khani horse, formed them in regular
array, with closed ranks, and, preceded and followed
by two light guns, marched by night to Adhooni,
But the whole of the baggage of his troops, tents,
standards, and even to the women of the Mo-
ghuls, fell into the hands of the Nawaub's brave
warriors.
When the clamour of the trumpets, horns, drums,
and kettle drums, beating and sounding the rejoic-
ing for victory, rose to the skies, — the Naik, or
Chief of the fort, frightened beyond measure, lighted
321
up torches and blue lights^ and despatched a mes-
senger to learn the news. No sooner was he made
aware of the forced march of the Nawaub, and the
defeat of the M oghul army, than, not thinking his
situation at all improved by these circumstances,
and trembling like a reed at the lion-like attack of
the Nawaub, he at once so entirely lost his senses
and his manhood, that, with his women, a few
friends, and some money and valuable jewels, he
descended by the back part of the mountain, and,
making night marches, and crossing deserts and
hills, proceeded towards Bejapoor ; but, to the pre-
sent day, no one has discovered the place of his
retreat. All the property of his state, all his house-
hold goods, arms, drums, and nagaras, all which
had been collected by the Naiks of former genera-
tions, he left to the servants of the Nawaub.
The Nawaub was delighted with this piece of
good fortune ; and, leaving a strong garrison to
defend the fort, with strict orders to repair the walls,
he with his army marched towards Adhooni, and
encamped in the plain of Gulbayen. Thence, he
despatched a message to Busalut Jung, that, by
enduring privation and hunger for two months,
in their endeavour to burn their enemies, his army
had been greatly distressed — and that two months*
pay, being by the accounts, ten lakhs of rupees, he
Y
322
was required to send that sum. Busalut Jung,
who, in consequence of the defeat of his army, and
the plunder of his baggage and property ,** had been
deprived of rest and appetite, was paralyzed by
this requisition, but, knowing the critical situation
in which he stood, he collected some money from
his treasury, and a sum from the pledging of his
valuable jewels ; and, without any further hesita^
tion, despatched the ten lakhs of rupees, affect-
ing, after the manner of the wolf, a disposition to
be friendly.* Having done this, he was allowed to
remain unmolested.
The conquering Nawaub now marched on, de-
termined to punish Dhoonsa, who had swept the
districts of Gujindurgurh and Kunukgiri with
the besom of destruction, and who had arrived
in the vicinity of Kunchungurh. Muhammad All
Ghoonsa, also, had arrived in Dhoonsa's rear, by
the route of Kuduk, Sirhutti, and Dumul. When
Dhoonsa heard of the defeat and dispersion of the
Moghul troops, the conquest of the fort of BuUari,
the exaction of a sum of money from the Chief of
Adhooni, and, also, of the Nawaub's near arrival
to attack and punish him, his courage forsook him^
and, without obtaining his desire, he made a quick
retreat to Hydurabad. The Kuzzaks of the Na-
b •• *
323
waub's army followed him, however, to the neigh-
bourhood of Raichore, and took a great quantity of
the baggage of his army, and also two guns, forty
or fifty camels of his Tosha Khana, or treasury,
and three elephants carrying tents, after which they
returned.
At the period when the Nawaub, by his sudden
night attack, had put to flight the Moghul army,
and had taken BuUari, Morar Rao had left his
capital to the charge of Pali Khan, and he himself
with his troops took up their quarters in Dhoonsa's
camp, and tried to persuade him to attack and sub-
due the Province of the Balaghaut. Huleem Khan,
the Hakim of Kirpa, also, and the Poligar of Chi-
tul Droog, at the instigation of the same firebrand,
expelled the newswriters of the Nawaub from their
towns, and with their troops and stores assisted
Dhoonsa ; but, when they found he did not attend
to their interested advice, and returned to Hydura-
bad, all three of these wicked promoters of strife
returned, likewise, to their homes, ashamed of them-
selves ; and counter-marcliing also from that side of
the country, the Nawaub honoured Bullari with
his presence.
324
CHAPTER XXIII.
The Conqaest of Gooti and Soondoor, and the capture of that
tyrant, and incendiary, Morar Rao, which occurred in the same
year 1187, Hijri.— A. D. 1773.
Although the Nawaub had m every way aided
Morar Rao, and had never himself molested him,
but, on the contrary, with a view to gain his friend-
ship, had even condescended to call him uncle,^
Morar had, nevertheless, often exerted his most
strenuous efforts to pluck up the tender plant of
the Nawaub*s greatness and power. From the
viciousness of his disposition, he was sealing his
own ruin — '* the sting of the scorpion is not struck
from enmity," — *' it is from his nature." In this pur-
suit he spared neither gold nor words, spoken or
written. Long before this, at the time of the inva*
sion of Trimuk Mama, the able Vakeels of the
Nawaub had made a lasting treaty with Trimuk on
the best possible terms ; when this scorpion by
^ Hindustanni.
325
nature struck his sting into the negociation, and
stinnulated Trimuk to attempt the destruction of
the Khodadad Sirkar. This caused a dreadful
shock to the Nawaub's power, in the day or battle
of Churkoli, and the recollection of that event pro-
duced in the Nawaub's heart an effect like salt upon
a wound. As Morar Rao's existence therefore ap-
peared to be the source of pure trouble, and the cause
of detriment to the props and pillars of his state, the
Nawaub occupied himself in considering how he
might break down his power. Nevertheless, as a
close friendship and intimacy subsisted between
Morar Rao and Busalut Jung, and as they were
friends both at the banquet and in the field, the
Nawaub was rather apprehensive of their united
strength, for as the wise say, " two hearts united will
cleave a mountain,*'^ '^ and scatter a host.** Thanks
to God, the defeat of the Moghuls removed half the
difficulty, and the junction of the Rao with Dhoonsa
furnishing a pretext* for his destruction, the Na-
waub desired that, as this opportunity offered itself,
he might at once remove him out of the way ; for,
in his own mind, he was convinced that, while that
incendiary lived, the conquest and regulation or
subjection of the Khodadad or Mysore territory
would never be fully accomplished. After having
^ Ferbad and Shircen.
326
completed his arrangements at Bullari^ he there-
fore made the conquest of Gooti^ and the capture
of that dangerous and intriguing man^ the object
of his conquering energies, and he accordingly
marched in that direction.
The Rao, who had left Dhoonsa's army without
obtaining his object, had returned to Gooti, his
capital, and had fallen into the midst of doubt
and perplexity. The Nawaub, therefore, sent for
him under pretence of a wish to see him. Well
aware, however, of the folly of his conduct, even
while he received no molestation from the Nawaub,
and fearing that treachery aiming at his life might
be intended to him at the meeting, Morar Rao re-
vised to attend. The Nawaub then sent him
another message, to the effect that the entire Ta-
looka of Soondoor should be given up to him, as a
provision for his support and maintenance, provided
he would, without hesitation or demur, deliver up,
to the agents of the Khodadad government, the hill
and fort of Gooti and its dependencies which for-
merly were held in possession by the Naibs of the
Kings of Dehli ; after which he might govern Soon-
door to his heart's content. The Pagan also refused
to listen to this proposal ; and being surrounded
by a strong body of soldiers, he at once rejected
the conquering policy of the Nawaub, and prepared
to defend himself.
327
The Nawaub now gave orders to the Risaladan
of the regular and irregular in&ntry^ to encircle
the fort, and then commence the attack with their
artillery and musketry, and, having on all sides,
run on approaches,"' (saps, trenches, zigzags,) the
besieged were reduced to great difficulties. The
Nawaub's Kuzzak or predatory horse, at the same
time, agreeably to his orders, guarded the hill and
forest so effectually, that no man had power to
pass through them, for they rendered it impossible
for birds to take wing from the fort, or even for
locusts or ants to pass through their cordon ; and
however often the besieged Rao wrote to the chief
of Poona, soliciting aid, and describing his impend-
ing ruin, and the determination of the Nawaub to
destroy him, yet, for the most part, the Nawaub*B
picquets seized the letter carriers, and brought them
in, and took especial care to prevent the chief of
Poona from knowing any thing about him. In
fact, before intelligence of the siege arrived at
Poona, which was, at last, conveyed by the letters
of Busalut Jung, who made it known to all, two or
three months had elapsed, and the garrison was re-
duced to the greatest extremity. The Rao saw
that, in a short time, the fort would depart from
his possession, and that his wealth, family and de-
328
pendents, would fall into the hands of the brave
anny of Islam. And now, to complete his misfor-
tunes, the water of the mountain, by which the
fort was supplied, it being the hot season, failed, or
dried up, like the heart of the poor man ; and his
stores of provisions and ammunition also had
abandoned him, or were exhausted like the days
of his youth. Being therefore entirely helpless,
he despatched Pali Khan, his minister, to the
Nawaub, to tender his submission, and beg the for-
giveness of his former offences. When the Nawaub
became aware of his humility, his supplications
and his forlorn state, he cast the eyes of royal" com-
passion on his hopeless condition, and returned him,
by his agent Pali Khan, a kind and conciliatory
letter, with a Kowl Nama, or assurance of the
safety of his life and property, and invited him to
meet him. When the Rao descended from the top
on the hill in a palankin, attended by only two
or three servants, and entered the camp, the Na-
waub ordered a separate tent to be cleared for his
accommodation, and placed him in it, sending a
garrison of his own men to the top of the hill, and
giving up to the Rao his house, that is, the whole
of his Zunana** or women's apartments, with the
^ The same kind of royal compassion a tiger feels for a
bullock or an antelope. ° ijoU« Aa^
329
necessary ftirniture or utensils, the wearing apparel
or clothes in use, and such jewels and gold and silver
ornaments as were of small value. But the pearls,
and jewels of great price, jewelled ornaments, and
other articles becoming the use of a prince, with the
arms and warlike stores, and all articles of value,
the Nawaub took for himself. With respect to the
dancing women of the Telinga tribe, of whom dur-
ing the Rao*s government many companies^ had
been attracted by his liberality, and of whom some
had become rich by his gifts, while some even had
possession of towns in Jageer, all of whom sought
refuge in the Mahl of the Rao, on the top of the
mountain, when the siege commenced ; to these,
excepting the Jageers, the Nawaub restored the
whole of their property. Some of the young girls,
(virgins)'' of that profession, with the consent of their
masters or owners, he purchased for his own Natik-
sal,' and consigned them to his women's apart-
ments, of these some Taifas or companies he sent to
Gunjam, a suburb to the south of the fort of Serin-
gaputtun, on the bank of the river Kauveri, built by
himself, and some to Bangalore. The imprisoned
Rao however much he entreated to be allowed to
r A school for siuging and dancing kept in the Hurum of
most princes.
330
visit the Nawjiub, received for answer, that the Na-
waub had then no leisure ; but that, after his return
to Puttun, please God, he would accord his request,
and, having committed him to the care of confiden-
tial men, and sent him off to Puttun, the Nawaub
occupied himself in the conquest of Soondoor.
At this time, the Nawaub*s spies brought intelli-
gence, that forty thousand Mahratta horse had been
despatched from Poona, to assist Morar Rao, and
that they had encamped in the neighbourhood
of Gokak Peenth. Having completed his arrange-
ments in the district of Soondoor, the Nawaub con-
sidered it incumbent on him to punish these in-
fidels,' and had arrived at Husspeenth, with that
intention, when the chiefs of the Mahrattas, hearing
of the conquest of Gooti and Soondoor, the capture
of the Rao, and, also, that the Nawaub was pre-
pared to attack them, they returned to Poona.
During this period, the Nawaub, from motives of
policy, manifested displeasure towards the brave Mu-
hammad All, intending thereby to repress his pride
in the greatness of his abilities and in the respect
shewed to him, and a disposition to tread the path
of insubordination ; the pretence being that he gave
elephants and camels to other officers, and to Fu-
queers, without first asking permission, and he was
331
therefore for some time removed from his Risaldari
or command. In secret, however, the Nawaub
esteemed him more than ever. Muhammad All
himself also quitted his Risala, and assumed the
cap and garb* of a Fuqueer, and cared very little
about the matter.
At this time, also, Kishnapa, the Minister" or
secretary of the chief of Rai Droog, after receiving
the Sunnud, or written authority, from Hydur, to
recover the little fort of Hurrial, which is situate
four kose south of BuUari, and is a dependency
of the Droog, after a siege of three months, took
that fort. Morar Rao had taken possession of this
fort by force, and had placed a garrison in it. The
Rao had also seized upon, and attached to the
Souba of Gooti, the Talooka of Vinkut Giri, which
is situated at the head of the Tubulpully Ghaut,
and was formerly under the authority of the Poligar
of Churkul. This fort was, therefore, at the same
time, placed under the government of the Sirkar
Khodadad.""
^ Sirkar means the head of afiairs and is therefore applied to
the state. In India all governments and authorities, great or
small, are denominated Sirkar, by themselves and those connected
with them.
332
CHAPTER XXIV.
An account of the conquest of Chitul Droog, and the capture
of Bhurma N&ik, the rebellious Poligar of that Fort ; and other
events of the year 1188, Hijri. — A. D. 1774,
After the Nawaub had made a prisoner of Morar
Rao, and thereby cut up the root of mischief and
sedition, he was more at ease in his mind; and,
having also completed his arrangements for Gooti
and Soondoor, he determined next to punish that
head of the list of rebellious personages, the Poligar
of Chitul Droog, and in pursuance of this resolve,
he turned his ensigns, the emblems of victory, in
that direction. The cause was, that, in order to
favour the Nawaub's enemies, who had invaded and
plundered his country, and had raised the standard of
injustice and wrong to oppress and disturb the pea-
santry of Mysore, that insolent infidel "^ had intrigued
and combined with them and had exerted himself to
the utmost in laying waste the Nawaub's territory and
333
in ruining God's people, the poor inhabitants of this
country, seeking his advantage in the injury and
destruction of others. Outwardly, indeed, and with
great sycophancy, he affected to manifest perfect
devotion to the Nawaub, while, in secret, he em-
ployed his time in conspiring to destroy and root
out the foundations of the Khodadad government.
It was consequently necessary, and in fact, indis-
pensible, to break the pride of that insolent infidel,
and root him out, if only to preserve the peace of
the country ; especially as Kishnapa, the Purdhan
or minister of Rai Droog, who had often without
cause suffered indignities at the hand of this Poligar,
and whose country had been ravaged by him, now
incited and stimulated the Nawaub to attack Chitul
Droog, and even engaged to pay for the whole of
the powder and ball which would be used in the
siege. The urgent persuasion and entreaty of
Kishnapa determined the Nawaub in his purpose.
At the same time, also, having resolved to attack
Goori Kota, Jureemla, and Mulkalchuro, towns or
forts which were in possession of the brothers-in-law
of that infidel Poligar, the Nawaub despatched Hy-
but Jung, with a large force, to attack the Poligar
of Hurpunhully, and take possession of his territory.
An abstract' account of the cause of these move-
334
ments, is as follows : — At the time the Nawaub was
marching to attack Raghooba, a man^ one of the civil
servants ^ of HurpunhuUy, who had been bom and
bred in the service of that state, and was intimately
acquainted with the secrets of that government,
sought the service of Hydur All ; he was received
and entertained among the most respectable class
of servants, and was also appointed to enlist foot sol-
diers in that quarter. Having by degrees perfected
his knowledge of all matters, great and small, rela-
tive to that state, he began to compass and contrive
the ruin of his old masters ; and as the Poligar of
HurpunhuUy, whose name was Jug Shoom Shunkur,
was a prudent man, after he became acquainted with
the man's intention, being afraid of the loss of his
property, and the desolation of his country, and
thinking it best to repair the dykes or mounds of the
reservoir before the waters broke forth, he addressed
a letter to the Nawaub, containing a request that
the person in question should be sent by the Na-
waub, to his residence, and stating that the Paish-
kush, or tribute, should be forwarded through his
agency. To this proposition the Nawaub agreed
and despatched the incendiary to the Poligar, with
a newswriter," named Vinkut Nursoo, having given
him strict orders to do his duty to the Sirkar (of
y Tliis man's name is never mentioned.
335
Mysore). When this man arrived, and met the Po-
ligar, the latter with sweet and oily words, gained
complete possession of his heart, and he was pre-
sented with an honorary dress, a string* of pearls,^
jewelled gorget, and golden armlets ; and the Poligar
said to him, " the government of our state must
now depend on your wisdom and judgment ; and
when we have a wise and an old faithful servant
like you to aid and direct us, how can we receive
injury.** By this gross flattery, the heart of the
fool was drawn into the snare of deceit. — *' A fool
can always be deceived by a wise man,** — " by food,
or drink, or dress, or the tongue,'* — and at once
he was introduced by the Poligar into all the busi-
ness of the state and all was placed at his dis-
cretion, even so far as to be allowed to enter the
Poligar's particular residence, that is, the women's
apartments, and was supplied with all kinds of de-
licacies for his eating and drinking. But, the wise
say, — " from the bad to expect good is pure folly,** —
" will you feed a scorpion to wound you ?** — The
man, therefore, proud of his employment by the
Nawaub, and insolent from the patience and indul-
gence of the Poligar, which, however, was merely
political, began to tyrannise over the servants of
the Raj or state, and to distress the poor people,
336
whom, with the peasantry of that country, he vexed
or grieved without cause. Indeed, without fear or
hesitation he did whatever he chose ; and, in addition
to all this oppression and cruelty, he stretched forth
the hand of lust on all beautiful women, the wives,
and property of others, and daringly violated their
chastity. The people were consequently driven to
extremities by his t3rranny, and complained against
him to the Poligar. He, however, simply gave
them for answer, that what the person in question
did, he considered to be for the advantage of the
state ; and that if they could, for a short time, wait
with patience under his government, they might,
stay, but if not, let them depart in safety. Many
of the most respectable persons in the service of the
Poligar, being entirely discouraged on hearing this,
left their houses and the country ; yet, notwith-
standing the heart-breaking distress of the people
of all ranks, the Poligar never attempted to inter-
pose, or restrain this disturber of the public peace ;
but, on the contrary, daily made him happy by
presents and favours.
At length, one morning, the Poligar sent for his
own horse, with saddle and trappings of gold set
with jewels, and, with much instance and intreaty,
made this person mount, and sent him home. At
this time, however, it had very nearly happened
337
that from this man's tyranny and oppression, some
great evil had befallen the Poligar^s state ; and he,
therefore, laid a deep scheme. Seeing that the
man was perfectly at his ease, and that he put forth
the hand of oppression without scruple or fear, to
rob people of their wealth and honour, the Poligar,
on the same evening, when about ten hours of the
day had passed, placed a number of armed men in
concealment, and then sent for the man to his hall
of audience. On his arrival, he told him he had
something to say to him in private, and pointed to-
wards the room in which the armed men were con-
cealed. The fool, seized by the hand of death, no
sooner entered the apartment than he found his
head under the sword of retribution, and he ceased
from troubling mankind any longer.
As soon as this was transacted, the Poligar gave
himself a wound on the hand with a pen- knife, and,
with the blood trickling down from this wound,
sent for the Nawaub's newswriter, and said to him,
'* an accident has happened, which is neither fit to
be heard nor related ; for, notwithstanding the kind-
ness and indulgence I have ever shewn to this un-
grateful person, still he could not depart from his
evil nature, but, without cause, drew his dagger
upon me, intending to make himself the heir to my
possessions and wealth. In these circumstances,
z
33S
my faithful servants have put him to death. These
facts, as they are stated to you, put into becoming
language, and make them known to the Nawaub,
that doubt or suspicion may not enter his mind/'
Having said this, he secretly seized all the property
in the man^s house, and, placed it in his Tosha
Khana, or treasury ; and in the night, with the
intention of providing for his safety and that of
his property, he despatched all his women, trea-
sure, and articles of necessity, to the opposite bank
of the river Tungbhuddra and himself, wdth his
horse and foot, lightly equipped, marched off to
the mountains of Narayen Gir, leaving his capital to
be defended by his brave and trustworthy servants.
When the letter of the newswriter, detailing
the above events, reached the Nawaub, he imme-
diately perceived that the Poligar had been making
up a false story, to conceal his treachery, and had
acted so daringly from the fear that his secret
movements and actions would be disclosed. The
Nawaub, therefore, in great anger, and with all
the parade and energy of conquest, marched a body
of troops in that direction. Fyze UUah Khan, one
of the wisest and most experienced men of his age,
who commanded these troops, although he accord-
ing to the Nawaub's orders, made a forced march
there, and besieged the forts of Oojni and Kootoor^
339
and, to inspire fear despatched his horse to plunder
the towns and villages of the district, still drew the
Pohgar into the snare of his stratagems, and, by
wise reproof, corrected him and brought him to the
right path. But, as the Poligar was fearful of the
consequences of his acts, he, with the repentance
and humihty of the wise, came forward and agreed
to pay seventy thousand rupees, as a composition
for his offence, exclusive of the usual tribute, and
requested he might be forgiven. He also sent a
Vakeel with these proposals to the Khan above
mentioned, who despatched the Poligar's letter, with
one of his own, to the Nawaub. Being desirous to
reduce or conquer the country depending on the
Droog, (Chitul Droog), the Nawaub, with a view to
the policy of the time, despatched an honorary
dress of forgiveness, and a Sunnud, confirming the
Poligar in the possession of his country, through the
medium of Fyze UUah Khan, and likewise sent for
the money with the Poligar's troops, to strengthen
his force. The Poligar, therefore, being now reas-
sured, returned to his capital, and, along with the
money in question, despatched thence two thousand
foot, and three hundred horse, in aid of the Na-
waub; after which he was allowed to remain as
before.
The Nawaub now completed the conquest of
340
Goori Kota, Kunkupa, Molkalchur, Dudheree,
&c., and left strong garrisons in each place. But
although, through the medium of other Poligars,
who were then with the army, the Nawaub sent
requisitions, by writing and otherwise, to the Poli-
gar of the Droog, (Chitul Droog), proposing that
he should give up his capital, to the agents of the
Nawaub, and accept service, and a Jageer of fifty
thousand rupees annually, in lieu thereof, he re-
fused, and from pride and insolence, would not
listen to the advice or promises of the Nawaub,
but advanced further and further in the field of
opposition. As, however, he felt aware that at
that moment he had not strength to oppose or con*
tend openly with the gallant troops of Hydur, he
considered that the best remedy in this case was to
fill up his hill fortress, (which for its magnitude
and strength holds a very high rank), with provi-
sions and munitions of offence and defence. He
moreover filled up all the ghauts leading to or be-
longing to the fort, with foot soldiers, he had col-
lected together, and which body amounted to two
thousand brave men, with two guns, and two thou-
sand horse ; and, having their arms in good order,
they remained ready for the attack. The infidel
Chiefs or officers likewise, being with one heart and
one voice bent on fighting the army of Islam, and
341
having sanctioned or confirmed their determina-
tion with oaths, prepared, at the signal of their mas-
ter, to arrange all things necessary for the defence.
The Nawaub, however, with a very large army,
and a body of excellent artillery, after the exertions
and labours of a year, and the loss of the lives of
thousands of brave men, took the ghauts in the
neighbourhood of the fort ; and, when he arrived
near the walls of this very strong hold, he gave
orders to his brave fellows seeking fame, to sur-
round, and attack it on all sides. Every day, also
the infidels, armed to the teeth, came out firom
the fort, and gallantly assailed the bravest and
noblest of the Ghazies, or Mussulman soldiers. On
the side of the Nawaub, the noble and distinguished
Khans, and Foujdars, with their brave companions,
came forward, and ranged themselves in front and
in line with the ranks of the infidels, and daily,
with arrows and the sword, sent great numbers of
them to hell.*^ Agreeably to the orders of the Na-
waub, all the pioneers of the victorious army with
hatchets,** and axes, were meanwhile employed in
cutting down the woods or jungle, on the same hills
^ It ought to be mentioned perhaps, that epithets such as*
" arrows splitting the hard rock," — ** the weU-watered sword/'
*' the artillery roasting and burning their enemies/' &c. are omitted
as unnecessary.
342
near the fort, which, in the face of the enemy, they
surrounded with a strong stockade. They also
raised batteries under the slope of the hill, which
lies to the westward of the fort, and mounted guns
in them, and from thence continually battered the
walls to breach them. But although, in a few days,
the walls were levelled with the ground, and the
towers and gates were dismantled and afforded no
shelter, still the besieged, every night formed a new
wall of earth in their places to cover themselves,
and sallied out from the fort, and raised the con-
fusion of the day of judgment among the guards
and sentinels^ at the batteries; and taking the
heads of the slain and t}dng them to a string, they
hung them round their necks, like red roses and
thus returned, and received rewards from their
Chiefs for the deeds they had done.
The Nawaub now began to revolve in his great
mind, that the siege had continued to a consider-
able length, but that, with all the exertions of his
brave army, the insolent Poligar had not yet been
reduced. He, therefore, by presenting Muhammad
All land in gift and Jageer,' soothed and conci-
liated him, and sent for him to the presence. Mu-
hammad All, in his reply, asked what he (the
Nawaub) wanted with him, and what he required
343
from a poor man who had abandoned the wicked
world ? On receiving this impudent answer, the
Nawaub, outwardly affected great anger, and
despatched AH Zuman Khan, Budrooz Zuman
Khan, and Ghazi Khan^ to bring him to the pre-
sence ; and they immediately went to his tent,
and, with soft and hard words, brought him to
reason, and presented him to the Nawaub. Hydur,
notwithstanding his regard for him, addressed him
in angry language, and said, *' Ai Sahiban, O
Friends, say, if a low fellow among my servants takes
upon himself to make presents of camels and ele«
phants, what should I, his master, be able to give ?"
— Those present replied, *' BuUi (or true) the
fault is great ; but, agreeably to the exceeding kind-
ness of our master, it ought to be forgiven ; for,
' of a truth, God loves the righteous* or merciful."'
Muhammad All, rash and impudent, notwith-
standing the signs and hints of his companions,
broke out, and said, *' my honoured ^ master, the
presents and gifts made by me were purely for
the increase and advantage of your own service ;
for, as the wise say, ' a labourer pleased or well
rewarded will do the more work.' And you will
also please to consider, that honours, and increase of
pay, the gifts of districts, towns, Jageers, &c. re-
344
mained entirely in your own hands." But, to be
concise, after a few words, mixed up with advice,
he received a dress of honour, restoring him to his
rank, with a Gorget and Jomala, or a string of
pearls. As a return for the dresses and presents he
had received Muhammad Ah' now asked for an in-
crease of pay monthly, for the men attached to his
troop, or division, that they might exert themselves
the more heartily in the Nawaub's service ; and the
Nawaub, after many objections, increased their pay
by adding two rupees to the monthly allowance of
each man ; and he then despatched him to attack
his enemies, and take the fort.
No sooner had the brave commandant arrived
among his own people, than he sold the Gorget,
pearls, and dresses of honour, he had received, and
with the proceeds purchased the materials for a
feast ; and, having caused a most delicious dinner
to be cooked, divided it among the Fuqueers or reli-
gious mendicants, and his own men, and the same
night, accompanied by the HurpunhuUy and Rai
Droog foot soldiers, he, like an angry lion, assaulted
and took a battery, which might be called the nose
of the fort, and upon which, indeed, the whole
strength of the mountain depended ; and with four
Risalas of regular and two thousand irregular in-
fantry, and six guns, he fixed his station there.
345
The Chief of the fort, at the head of two or three
thousand infidels, now determined to attempt the
recovery of this strong position, and exerted himself
strenuously to effect its recapture ; but still, every
time they attacked it, the welcome intelligence,*
" God will aid thee, and give thee a great victory,**
sounded in the ears of the Mussulman troops. As
the soldiers of the enemy now grew weaker every
day, they were not able to contend openly with
the brave Moslems; and, fear seizing on them,
they no longer dared to step beyond the walls of
the fort. When, however, the garrison was re-
duced to extremities, troops of them of all tribes,
fearing the loss of their property and honour^ crept
out of the fort, under pretence of fetching wood and
water, and joined the Nawaub's army, and only five
or six thousand men, of the Bedur tribe, had the
courage to exert themselves in defending the fort.
The Nawaub, however, seeing that the Chief of
the infidels was a very brave man, and that the
keepers of the walls were also stout of heart, was
convinced that the fort would not immediately sur-
render, and that, by obstinately persevering, he
would only gratuitously sacrifice the lives of his
brave men. He therefore left, under cover of the
bi^Lr^ ^^ ^r^ J Women.
346
surrounding hills, an ambuscade,^ consisting of five
thousand foot, two thousand regular foot, and a
thousand horse, and gave them orders to look out
for an opportunity, and all at once to attack, and,
having taken the fort, make the Poligar prisoner.
The Nawaub himself, decamping from the foot of
the mountain, now pitched his tents four fursungs
from that place. His plan was this, that if the
Poligar left the fort, and presumed to follow him,
he might attack him on all sides at once, and des*
troy him.* If, on the contrary, the Poligar did not
follow him, it was his purpose to give to his (the
Nawaub's) tributary or dependent Poligars the
charge and government of all the towns and vil-
lages depending on the Droog, that they, with a
view to their own advantage, might use every art
to seize and make him prisoner.
On the day the Nawaub marched, he set fire to
the materials of the batteries and trenches, which
were of wood, and had been collected at a great ex-
pense. As soon as the besieged became acquainted
with this movement, the whole of them, with the
greatest impudence, manned the battlements and
towers of the fort, beat their drums, and began
yelling and howling like a pack of hounds. Meer
^ Take off bis head like an ivory ball with the Choukan of the
sword.
347
All Ruza Khan marched from the same encamp-
ment, with his own troops, for the purpose of the
celebration of his marriage with the daughter of
Meer Gholaum Ali Khan, otherwise called Guloo-
maen, the Jageerddr of Bikhun Pilly, to whom he
was affianced ; and also to find out the intentions,
plans, and strength, of Huleem Khan, and to receive
the Paishkush or tribute due from him. He there-
fore marched towards Kirpa. The Nawaub himself
halted a week in the same place.
At this time, the season for the breezes of victory
to wave the Hyduri standard, was fast approaching ;
for the sons of the Chief of Juremla arrived in the
camp. This Chief vvas the father-in-law of the Po-
ligar of the Droog, and, during the siege, was in
the fort with him ; but, after the siege was raised,
he obtained leave of the Poligar to pay his de-
votions at the shrine of an image, the temple con^
taining which was situated at the foot of a small
hill, at the distance of a fursung from the fort, and
thither he proceeded with a few horse and foot.
The motive of this journey was, however, entirely
misrepresented to the Poligar by interested persons,
and he was informed that his brothers-in-law had
proceeded with an intention to visit the Nawaub, and
negociate for the release of their own Jageers, that
they might be free from being molested by him.
The infatuated Poligar, on hearing this trumpery
348
story, became jealous and suspicious of them, and
ordered his executioners to follow them ; and they
accordingly followed, and cut off the head of his
innocent father-in-law, and plundered his house.
His sons, who were adoring the idol, had not
lifted up their heads from their prostration, when
the news of the murder of their father and the
plunder of his house arrived. This intelligence
caused a sudden revolution in the feelings and sen-
timents of the brothers ; and, plunged in astonish-
ment and grief, they consulted as to what they
should do in such circumstances, and, swifter than
the wind or lightning, they turned the bridle of
their views and intentions towards the Nawaub's
camp, where, through the medium of the Vakeel of
the Poh'gar of Hurpunhully, who bore the same
degree of relationship to them with the Poligar of
Chituldroog, they were presented to the Nawaub,
and immediately placed the sandal of devotion on
the forehead of friendship and obedience," and were
made happy with Royal dresses and presents.
The Nawaub having granted the Sunnuds of the
Talookas of the Droog to these devoted friends,
after the Droog or hill fort should have been con-
quered, both the brothers strove the more to stimu-
°> Alluding to a custom of the Hindoos, who draw lines of pul-
verised sandal wood on their foreheads to denote their sect.
349
late and incite him to attack the fort, and moved
on before him. The Nawaub, therefore, accord-
ing to the suggestions of these intelligent well-
wishers, again marched to the fort, and appointed
his Chief officers and Foujdars to the points of at-
tack. The brave Mussulmans now, in the course
of a week, gave convincing proofs of their power to
break down the forts and overcome their enemies ;
and by a path, shewn to them by guides," such a
path as the eyes of fancy never figured, nor the
imagination of the learned ever conceived, they
made their attacks. After a little fighting, the
bonds which united the garrison of the fort were
broken asunder, and, like falling leaves in autumn^
they were dispersed and scattered on all sides,
while the besiegers, now fearlessly mounting the
hills, beat their drums, in token of victory, and
watered the swords and spears of their resentment
in the blood of the infidels, and beat the black dust
of existence out of the bodies of the unfortunate
garrison.
When the Chief heard the drums within the
fort, and saw the heads of his men rolling about
on the plain of revenge, like the balls of boys at
play, he understood well that fortune was now
bidding him farewell, and that the genius'* of wealth
cyt^Jjr^ Men who trace footsteps. **
350
and prosperity was about to depart from him. He
did^ indeed^ leave his house armed and ready for the
fight, but, when he saw that most of his bravest com-
panions were killed or wounded, and that the few
men round him were without arms, rubbing their
hands, and shedding tears, the feet of his firmness
failed him, and he stood hke a picture painted on a
wall ; till the brave Commandant with other officers
came upon him and seized and made him prisoner,
and brought him to the presence, in the year 1191.
H, Committing him with his women and children
to the care of his confidential servants, the Nawaub
sent him and them to Puttun. The Nawaub distin-
guished and rewarded every brave officer and sol-
dier in his army, on this occasion, by giving them
presents, dresses of honour, and increase of pay.^
P An anonymous author relates, that on taking Chitul Droog.
Hydur ordered the Raja to be thrown from the top of a precipice
and he was dashed to pieces : he says, moreover, that his name
was Sir Sookh Todur.
351
CHAPTER XXV.
The march of the victorious standards towards Kirpa, and the
capture of Huleem Khan, the governor of that place. Also, the
conquest of Gunjee Kota, &c., occurring in the year 1191, Hijri. —
A. D. 1777.
The Nawaub was three years in conquering Chitul
Droog; but, as soon as that was accomplished,
and the fort and its dependencies had been taken
and occupied by the agents of the Nawaub, he
nominated a certain Dowlut Khan, an old servant,
who was originally of the Naimar or Nair tribe,
to take charge of the Droog, and the management
of the dependencies was in all respects committed
to his discretion. In reference to this man it is
proper to mention, that, at the time Nundiraj
resided near Suttimungul, the Nawaub being em-
ployed in making arrangements with the Poligars
of that quarter, and in collecting the Paishkush,
Dowlut Khan, then a boy, was taken prisoner or
fell into his hands there, and was brought up
352
by him in tenderness and care as one of his own
children.
The Nawaub, with his army, now passed to this
side of the Ghaut; and encamped some days at
Mungul ; and here, for the purpose of testing or
trying the service and loyalty of his Foujdars (civil
servants) and Sirdars or officers of his army, and of
the high officers of government, the obedience of
the Poligars, &c., in short, to ascertain also who
was his friend and who his enemy — he concealed
himself, for some time, and gave out or caused a
report to be spread, that he was dead, and at
night a chest as a bier was despatched to Puttun,
filled with Utr or essence of roses, and Ubeer,""
under the charge of certain singers ' or chanters.
When the evidence of this news was seen in the
chest or coffin, the cries of grief and lamentation
extended through the army and country, and the
sound of weeping and wailing was heard from every
door, and every tent and pavilion, until it rose to
the heavens. Sighs and moans burst spontaneous-
ly from every breast, and dismay oppressed the
hearts of the officers of the army and the go-
vernors of forts. Notwithstanding the hearts of all
were broken with anguish, still, among the officers
<i A sweet smelling wood much used in India.
' ^y«3jJ^ Men who chant verses on the birth of Muhammad.
353
of the army and the troops, no diminution or excess
in the duty of the camp was manifest ; neither did
any breach of the regulation or order of the civil go-
vernment of the country occur. The Prince also,
(Tippoo), did not in any matter rashly put himself
forward. When, however, this political lying re-
port of the Nawaub's death, he having all his
faculties alive, was received by Huleem Khan, he
immediately made presents of sweetmeats • to his
friends, and beat his Nobut or kettle drums, for
joy. It happened, however, that intelligent and
observant spies wrote an account of this insulting
act to the presence, and, at the relation of the
circumstance, the flames of Hydur's wrath burned
furiouslv, and he resolved on the destruction of
Huleem Khan.
Ailer a short time, having satisfied his mind as
to the fidelity of his officers, and servants, he took
his seat on the throne of wealth and power ; and,
in reward of this good service, he distinguished
them, and made their hearts glad, by giving all of
them presents and dresses of honour. He then
displayed his victorious standards, and the army
marched towards Kirpa,* to punish the Afghans.
This was scarcely done when letters arrived, from
Meer AU Ruza Khan, stating that the Afghan of
" A custom in India on hearing good news. ^ Cuddupah.
A A
354
Kirpa, Huleem Khan, had withdrawn his foot from
the circle of obedience and friendship, and that his
troops were formed ready to oppose the Nawaub ;
that, a line of soldiers had been drawn up on the
road, to stop the passage or advance of AH Ruza
Khan ; and that he, (Huleem Khan), had also
posted artillery and rockets on the road, to impede
their progress; and that he was still collecting
troops. On hearing these tidings, the anger of
Hydur flamed violently, and he hastened on with all
his brave troops to that quarter, by forced marches.
When the Hakim or Chief of Kirpa heard that
the lion of the field of battle was advancing with a
large army, he trembled with fear at the approach
of the strong armed soldiers of the Nawaub, and
despatched Muhammad Ghiaus, as his embassador,
to the Nawaub, to solicit the pardon of his offences.
The Vakeel arrived, and, after kissing the ground,
performed to the utmost of his ability his duty to-
wards the Afghan ; and, seeking his master's advan*
tage, desired that the edifice of enmity should be re-
placed by the foundations of kindness and firiendship,
in opposition to the usage of former days. In reply
to these propositions, the Nawaub said, '* your
master pretends friendship for me openly, but in
secret he has raised the head of pride, and followed
the path of intrigue, and enmity ; and, on hearing
355
the report of my death, he in joy distributed sweet-
meats for the good news, and expelled my Anchi
Wala or newswriter from the town. — Good God !
with all this disgusting pride, and malice, and folly,
is it possible he can expect grace or forgiveness V —
Gratitude for the many benefits and favours which
I conferred on him, and for having kept the tender
plant of his fortune and condition flourishing in the
garden of maintenance, has been all forgotten. —
* His fortune will be of his own making.' — Now,
therefore, tell your master to get ready to defend
himself; for we shall very soon reach him."
After the unsuccessful embassador had been
thus despatched, spies brought intelligence, that
the Afghan of Kirpa had assembled his troops,
and had placed them under the command of
his nephews; that is, under the sons of Kurma
Mean, (the son of Mujeed Khan,) whose names
were Husseini Mean, and Saeed Mean, and had
despatched them towards Dhoor. In fact, a very
severe action was at that time fought between
the Afghans and Meer Sahib," and in that engage-
ment the Afghans were victorious. As soon as this
intelligence reached the Nawaub, he advanced
rapidly with his horse, foot and artillery, and, at
about midnight, fell on the heads of these men like
sudden death ; and, with rockets and musketry,
« Meer Ali Ruza Khan.
356
broke the chain of their order, and many of these
wicked Afghans were thus made food for the edge
of the unsparing sword. Nevertheless, the com-
manders of the Afghans, although they were inex-
perienced, and mere boys, planted their feet firmly
and fearlessly in the field of manhood^ and, with
Nagaras beating, and mounted on elephants, retired
towards Kirpa. The Nawaub, with all his horse^
had followed them four fursungs, as far as Balsan
HuUy, when night ended, and the light of the
morning appeared. The Kuzzaks, Silahdars, and
the Dustadars, of the victorious army now sur-
rounded and hemmed in the Afghans ; and, fi-om
the first fragrant breeze of the morning until mid-
day, the drums and trumpets never ceased to sound
the charge, nor the market of hard blows from con-
stant traffic. Every individual Afghan gave such
proofs of his skill in the use of the sword, that their
prowess is still recorded in the j)age of memorable
events ; and the young lads, mounted on their ele-
phants, plied their arrows with both hands so fast,
and gave such proofs of courage, that two thousand
brave and experienced men of the Nawaub's army
were slain by them. At length, however, all this
intrepidity and pride ended in flight, and the Afghans
were forced to throw away their shields, and seek
refuge in the small fort, the Hulli, above mentioned
and there they remained.
357
The artillery, according to the Nawaub's orders,
now opened their fire, and, battering the walls of
the fort, soon levelled them with the ground.
When they saw that they were neither able to fight
nor retreat, the foolish young men surrendered and
were made prisoners with Sidi Hulal and three
hundred Afghans ; and the whole of the elephants,
horses, and military stores, that is, bows, arrows,
spears, swords, and tents, heaps on heaps, fell into
the possession of the servants of the Nawaub.
After being blessed with this victory, the Nawaub
marched on, and captured the town of Kirpa at the
first assault ; and, from the pomp and magnificence
of his army, of victorious presage, the environs of that
town became the envy of the starry heavens. The
Nawaub here placed the captured Afghans in a tent
near his own ; the two brave young chiefe were,
however, imprisoned in their own house.
The next day the Nawaub directed the arms of
the Afghan prisoners should be taken fi*om them ;
fearing that, as they were rash, foolish, men, they
might attempt some act of violence or treachery.
When, therefore, Abou Muhammad, the Mirdah or
chief officer of the Peons'" or messengers of the
Presence, a man of great respectability, and an old
and faithful servant, went to them to ask for their
swords and shields, he at first desired to get posses-
358
sion of them by stratagem ;^ and accordingly he
said to the Afghans^ " Gentlemen, I beg to inform
you^ that the Nawaub is perfectly enchanted by the
skill and excellence of your sword practice ; he
wishes therefore to be allowed to inspect your arms,
and, for your honourable service will present each
of you better arms, from his own armoury.** In
answer to this the Afghans unanimously declared
that, while the loan of their lives remained with
them, their swords should never come into his
hands. When the Mirdah returned to the Nawaub
with this insolent answer of the Afghans, the Na^
waub immediately ordered a number of matchlock
men to proceed to terrify them with their match-
locks and bayonets, and take ppssession of their
weapons.
When the musketeers went and stood before
them, the Afghans saw that the issue of their affair
depended on the point of the bayonet and the
mouth of the musket, and four brothers of their
number, the sons of Abdurrizak Khan, Dowlut Zai,
whose names were Jubbar Khan, Suttar Khan,
Ruhman Khan and Kadur Khan, all Chiefs among
that tribe, careless of life, after repeating the Fa-
tiheh,"" madly drew their swords and sallied forth.
* The first chapter of the Koran.
359
Killing five or six matchlock men on their way^ they
took the path to the Nawaub's tents. On their
arrival there, however, the spear men and the sen-
tinels of the guard killed three of these men at the
door of the Nawaub's tent ; but the fourth or the
remaining one rushed into the tent. Aware by
some means or other of his approach, the Nawaub
with his dagger ^ slit down the wall of the tent, and
escaped to the Dewaun i Aum,or the tent of public
audience, and the rash perfidious Afghan, seeing
the tent empty, began to repeat the Lahowl,' to
signify his astonishment and mortification, and
rubbed the back of his sword on his foot. But,
while he was doing this, an executioner stole be-
hind him, and separated his head from his body.
From this circumstance, the Nawaub conceived
a bad opinion of the whole of these men, — Truly, —
*^ If one man of a tribe commit a fault/' — ** neither
the respectability of the little or great is spared," ' —
and Hydur, in his anger, therefore gave orders to
his hard-hearted executioners to cut off the hands
and feet of the Afghan prisoners at the joints with
axes and saws, and thereby gave a bitter potion, as
an example, to the tongue and palate of the rest ;
and these men, with the blood streaming from their
^ Gulistan.
360
legs and arms, were carried through the streets and
lanes of the town, and were then left outside the
walls. Some of them, however, to save their lives,
pretended to be Syuds^ and Shaikhs, and thereby
escaped punishment.
After this occurrence, the Nawaub sent a party
of steady experienced infantry into the town, and
despatched the Kuzzaks, or plundering horse, to-
wards the fort of Sudhote, where the Chief of the
Afghans, (Huleem Khan), had sought refuge. The
horse, before mentioned, having marched by night
to Sudhote, began to plunder, and destroy the
country near the fort. In the morning, the Hakim
or Chief, seeing troops upon troops of these bravoes
plundering and setting fire to the houses, he sent
out a man to enquire the reason. His messenger
on his return, told him that the army of the Na-
waub had defeated his troops, and that the hands
and feet of the Afghans, in consequence of their
violence, as has been before related, had been cut
off* with the hatchet and saw of anger and revenge.
Also that the Nawaub had taken the city of Kirpa
at the first assault, and that the horse near the fort
were his light cavalry, sent forward to plunder.
Huleem Khan, on hearing this, fell into deep fear ;
^ Syud is a name given to the descendents of the Prophet. —
Shaikh signifies a chief or an elder.
361
and, with the counsel and advice of certain of his
short sighted Khans, proclaimed, that all his servants
and the inhabitants of the town, with their women
and families, property, money and jewels, should dur-
ing the night retire to the hill country, near Chitul
Droog ; and they accordingly proceeded thither. It
happened, however, that the keen-sighted Kuzzaks
had some intimation of this movement, and that mul-
titudes of men and women, with great quantities of
heavy baggage, and articles of value, such as gold
and jewels, were quitting the fort, and journeying
towards the hilly country ; and they immediately
set out after them at speed, and, attacking them on
the road, omitted no indignity or cruelty in plun-
dering the night wanderers, and without compunc-
tion seized on their wealth, violated their women,
and falling in with some Afghans, (who apparently
had charge of these people) they put them to death
and then returned.
The foolish Khan, when he heard these circum-
stances, was greatly afflicted, and ashamed at his
want of prudence. The next day the Nawaub
himself mounted his horse, and, with his army and
artillery, marched to Sudhote ; and, having en-
circled the fort like a ring, he encamped there.
The Khan, having no power to oppose the lion-
hearted troops of Hydur, and being without re-
source, again despatched Muhammad Ghiaus to the
362
presence, with professions of complete submission,
and, being ashamed of his conduct, begged pardon
for his former offences. When the Nawaub became
acquainted with his sorrow and abject humility, his
generous spirit and comprehensive clemency came
into operation, and he contented himself with de-
manding ten lakhs of rupees, and the fort of Gunjee
Kota, as the price of his forgiveness. As Huleem
Khan had not even two lakhs of rupees in his trea-
sury, this requisition of the Nawaub plunged bim
into deep thought, and uncertainty ; and the silence
and delay which were thus occasioned by this
shuffler continued so long, that the Nawaub, in
anger, ordered Meer All Ruza Khan to attack
and take Gunjee Kota ; accordingly, he, who was
only looking out for such times and such orders,
marched with his own troops, and besieged the hill
fort, and after the labours of a week, he took it,
and despatched his letter of congratulation on its
capture to the Nawaub, who appointed an able
Ameen, or collector, and a brave governor, to es-
tablish and preserve order in the fort, and its de-
pendencies, and then recalled the Meer to the
presence.
When the news of the capture of Gunjee Kota
reached Huleem Khan, he became still more dis-
ordered^ in his senses than he was at first ; but.
3G3
being remediless, he despatched his Dewaun or
minister, Abdurrusool Khan, accompanied by Mu-
hammad Ghiaus, to the presence. These men de-
livered their verbal message in language replete with
eloquence,*^ and in terms remarkable for their pro-
priety and elegance, to the effect that Abdul Huleem
Khan had drawn the head of shame under the hood
of repentance, and that he had assembled his family
and children in one apartment, and had surrounded
it with a store of gunpowder, and that, with a port-
fire in his hand, he was waiting the result of their
message ; but that, if his life could be spared, he
was a man who might render acceptable or approved
service to the Nawaub, and therefore that they
begged the Nawaub would take him by the hand. —
" To have pity on any one's misfortunes shews
greatness." — *^ To grant any one his desire is great-
ness."
The Nawaub, having well considered the giief
and deep humility of the embassadors, at length
spoke, and said, *' my first wish is that you would
allow two flags, with two companies of matchlock
men, merely for the honour of our name, and to
shew the friendship which connects our families, to
remain in your fort for two hours ; and, after that,
I will draw the pen of pardon through the list of
^ v/Vj air
364
your offences, great and small.** When the em-
bassadors, well pleased, returned therefore to their
master, and made him acquainted with all the Na-
waub had said, and persuaded and urged him to
conform to the orders of the Nawaub, he whose
horse- shoe was in the fire, that is, whose necessities
were pressing, with the appetite* of a religious beg-
gar, listened with a willing ear, and ordered his
servants, both horse and foot, who garrisoned the
fort, and were ready for action, and who had fre-
quently requested permission to light up the fire of
contention, and commence the attack, to leave the
fort. Some of the Khans, also, who had placed the
foot of courage in the field of opposition to these
orders, were dismissed with sour looks; and Hu-
leem Khan sat still, waiting patiently. The Na-
waub, meanwhile, having cleared the rust of uncer-
tainty from the mirror of his heavenly ' mind, des-
patched to the fort four thousand regular infantry,
of the red and yellow regiments, with two victorious
ensigns, to the commanding officer of which detach-
ment however he gave secret orders. Immediately
on entering the gates of the fort therefore the officer
left half his men at the gate and ramparts adjoining,
'^llrH ^^ ^^ &^
9Ja\j^o (JL^t^X^ Looking towards or at the abode of the
angels.
3G5
and he himself with the remainder, proceeded
straight like an arrow, and seized the mild Huleem,
who was then sitting in his Hall of Audience. Hav-
ing made him a prisoner, he put him into a palan -
kin, and sent him, with his personal and other
servants, to the presence. All this having been
effected, the whole of the city and suburbs were
committed to the charge of Meer Ali Ruza Khan ;
and, the Nawaub's mind being then at ease, he re-
turned to his capital, Seringaputtun, where he gave
himself up to pleasure and enjoyment.
Abdul Huleem Khan, however, with his women,
relations, and other dependents, were brought to
Seringaputtun, and imprisoned in the Gunj Aum
suburb, and a sufficient allowance was made for
the expences of his establishment. His son-in-law,
named Syud Muhammad, escaped by night with his
wife to Naugpoor ; but his other son-in-law, whose
name was Behlole Khan, remained with him. In
the course of time, they all, one after another, left
this vain perishing scene, and thus escaped the
wasting troubles and miseries of this world. «
8 From Hydur's character, there appears hut little doaht that
their departure was hastened by his kind offices.
366
CHAPTER XXVI.
An account of the Marriage of Hydur AlPs youngest son,
Kureem S4hib, with the daughter of Hukeem Khan, Meeana, the
Governor of Sanore; and the Betrothal of the Nawaub's own
daughter,^ the rose of the Garden of Purity and Chastity, to the
Son and Successor of Hukeem Khan, in the capital, Puttun,
1192, Hijri.— A. D. 1778.
At a former time, the Nawaub selected and ob-
tained in marriage the bright star of the constella-
tion of Chastity, the daughter of Mehdi Beg, a
Jamadar, who commanded two hundred horse at
Arkat. The circumstances of the case were these,
that after this officer's death, his two sons Hussaini
Beg and Moraud Beg, with their sister, leaving Arkat
to obtain service, had arrived in Mysore, where the
Nawaub sought and married* their sister. This
lady had a son, who was named Kureem Sahib,
and also a daughter ; but, after giving birth to the
latter, she died of a mortal disease, and departed to
** The Lady*8 name it appears was Kennie Sahibeh.
' This work is rather remarkable for the length of its paren-
theses and digressions.
367
Paradise, A Bayadere, or dancing girl, named
ZohrehjJ a favourite of the Nawaub's, brought up
the son and daughter with great care and tender-
ness, until they reached years of discretion ; and
the Nawaub himself regarded this son with increase
of favour. At this time, therefore, the mind of the
Nawaub being at rest from the prosecution of his
measures ^ for the prosperity of the Khodadad state,
he began to think of the marriage of his son, and
make arrangements for its celebration. Hukeem
Khan, the Afghan Chief of Shanoor, was not well
affected to the Nawaub, and had frequently deviated
from the path of confidence and friendship, but the
political views of the Nawaub required that the
enmity and hatred, which had subsisted between
them, on both sides, should be replaced by relation-
ship and marriage, and that thereby comfort and
assurance should be given to the mind of the Khan.
He, therefore, despatched Vakeels, with letters of
congratulation on the projected marriage, inform-
ing him that he abandoned his claim for tribute
from his possessions. At the same time, to pro-
duce an effect, there followed in the rear of these
embassadors, a strong body of troops, under pre-
tence of foraging, but well supplied with stores,
and ready for action. When these able embassa-
J Venus. ^jji J (jJj
368
dors arrived at Shanoor, they visited Hukeem Khan
and presented their letters, and also delivered a
verbal message to him, to the effect that, for the
possession of dominion enjoyed but a few days, and
which at most could last but a short period, it was
best that the dust of enmity and strife should be al-
layed by a sprinkling of the pure water of peace
and good will, and that the carpet of opposition and
distrust should be rolled up and removed, and the
foundations of intimacy and friendship raised and
strengthened by the ties of family connexion ; and
that, acting together, they might wage war with great-
er effect on the infidels, and, that as a result of their
union, the whole, body of the Mussulman people,
and the high and low of all tribes, might repose hap-
pily on the couch ^ of comfort and safety, and con-
tinually offer up prayers for the lasting prosperity
of their government. The well weighed words of
the embassadors made a strong impression on the
heart of the noble Khan, and, like the gentle rain,
washed away the dust of doubt and enmity from
his mind ; so that at length he lent the ear of ac-
ceptance, and cast the eyes of thankfulness, on the
wise and salutary message of the Nawaub, and the
contract of agreement and friendship was arranged
and settled, on the following terms, — That Hukeem
369
Khan's daughter should be united to the Prince™
in marriage, and that the sister of the Prince,
the emblem of chastity, should be united to the
eldest son of the Khan. It is to be observed
here, that the attainment of this great object arose
from the following causes ; the Nawaub, from his
high rank and station, the abundance of his means,
his prosperity and excess of wealth, had no peer
or equal among the newly risen chiefs of power
and rank ; the proud and haughty chiefs of dif-
ferent parts, whom the sultans and governors of
former times, with great armies and mighty prepa-
rations, had vainly spent years in labouring to sub-
due, he, on the contrary, in a very short time, by
his personal bravery and conquering sword, had
completely overthrown and destroyed ; and to that
degree did he exert himself, in the subjection of the
proud and insubordinate, that, in the towns or dis-
tricts of Mysore, the name of rebel or rebellion no
longer existed ; and whenever, he heard of a strong-
hold in the possession of a rebel or an enemy, he,
either by the force of policy, or by strength and
courage, cast down the walls, and destroyed it. His
victorious standards, also, to which ever quarter they
might be directed, never lowered their heads until
they threw the ensigns of their enemies, reversed,
B B
370
into the dust of disgrace and contempt. Instances
of this, are to be found in the ruin of the power of
Morar Rao, the Naik of Chitul Droog, and the
Afghan of Kirpa ; and the weight of these examples
threw terror into Hukeem Khan*s soul, but, most of
all, the advance of the detachment of troops, follow-
ing the embassadors, gave him the greatest uneasi-
ness. But, if it had not been so, the pride and inso-
lence of the Afghan race are too well known, to
need further mention. In short, the fortimate Khan
accepted the oflfer of the Nawaub with thank-
fulness, and despatched by the Vakeels" letters,
couched in the style and language of congratu-
lation and friendship, vnth presents and honorary
dresses ; and next occupied himself in preparing
the feast and ornamental arrangements of the bridal
day. The Nawaub having therefore his mind at
ease, now invited the consenting Khan, with his
family and servants, to his capital, Seringaputtun ;
and, having completed the forms of felicitation to
his worthy and honourable son, and done the ho-
nours of the royal feast and banquet, the two pro-
pitious stars were placed in real conjunction at the
fortunate hour ; and in the same form, and with the
same ceremonies, the sister of the bridegroom was
married to Abool Khire Khan, otherwise Khira
° Ambassadors or Agents.
371
Mean, the son of Hukeera Khan, After the leisure
consequent on the celebration of these marriages,
the distinguished Khan, leaving his daughter and
son and a body of troops with the Nawaub, re-
turned to Shanoor, and the Nawaub remained at
his capital.
372
CHAPTER XXVII.
The second expedition of the Nawaub Bahadiir, to conqner the
country of the Kamatic Payanghaut, at the instigation of the
N&zim of Hydorabad, and the Poona ministers, in the year 1 194,
Hijri. — A. D. 1780. — With an account of the victories gained
by the lion hunting Moslems in that expedition.
The causes and materials of the grandeur and
power of the house of Hydur increasing day by day,
and every one of his Khans and brave officers being
distinguished for affection to his person, and devo-
tion to his service, the fame of his conquests, and
the destruction of his enemies, and the report of
his liberality, and the protection afforded to the
poor by this nourisher of mankind, penetrated to
all quarters of the world ; and as at all times,
the world shared and enjoyed the benefits dis-
pensed from the table of his bounty, and as the
shower of gold from his generous hand continually
moistened and refreshed the garden of the hopes
and desires of all kinds of men, the result was, that
373
the whole of the towns, fortresses, and cities of My-
sore assumed a new form of beauty and splendour ;
for at that period, no Chief of high military talent
and power remained, the Nawaub alone excepted,
who, with the strong hand of power, and by the art
of subduing his enemies, had broken the necks of
those who had raised them in pride** and vain glory,
and, by his daring and intrepidity, had drawn the
whole of the cautious and wily, both infidels and
Mussulmans, into the net of subjection and ser-
vitude. The heavenly p mind of the Nawaub, there-
fore, now that the bride of wealth and dominion
had fallen into the close embraces of his conquering
fortune, being content and at ease on all sides, re-
sided at Puttun, enjoying himself, and occupied, al-
so, in the collection of warlike stores, brave soldiers,
horses of Arabia and Irak, powerful elephants, &c.
Viewing, however, the number of his troops, the
splendour of his equipments, and the pomp of his
court, the thorn of grief and jealousy penetrated
the hearts of the envious Chiefs of the Dukhun ;
that is, the hearts of Nizam Ali Khan, and the
Chief of the Mahrattas, and to break down the
power of that nourisher of the poor, and, dispenser
of benefits, (Hydur), they exerted their utmost
endeavours. At this time therefore when the foun-
374
dations of the kingdom and kingly fortunes of Hydur
were doubled, he having chastised^ and made obe-
dient to his will, most of the insubordinate Rajas of
that part of the country who in greatness and pride
had raised their heads to the clouds ; nay, from day
to day, had increased his ascendency so rapidly, that
their fear was lest he should wrest the whole of
the Telingana and Mahratta countries from them,
they laid deep schemes and plans, and, agreeing in
word and spirit, they both despatched embassadors,
with presents and dresses of honour of great value
to the capital of the Khodadad state, who, with a
friendly tongue, and openly manifesting great re-
gard, delivered their message, to the effect that
the blood shedding English had usurped or made
themselves masters (of part) of this country, and that
they had also taken entire possession of the pro-
vince of Bengal, " the mole on the cheek of Hind ;"
that the whole of the province of the Kamatic Pay-
anghaut they considered as their military fief, and
that their power increased every day ; that they,
(the English) kept Muhammad Ali Khan as a
hired servant, and reigned under the shadow of
his name ; that, more particularly, the infidel Rag-
hoo, the assassin of his son,"* had by their assist-
ance effected the plunder and destruction of the
^ Nephew.
375
country of the Paishwa, that is, the Mahratta em-
pire ; that most of the peasantry, payers of taxes,
of that country, had been ruined and destroyed
by him; that he had cast away from his wicked
heart all remembrance of benefits he had received
from the Paishwa's government; and though, by
the mercies of the eternal, and the aid of good
fortune, he had received signal punishment/ still
the present danger was that, from the remaining
of the English in this country, the flames of strife
would be lighted up again and again. To avert
this evil, they urged, that when the conditions of
amity should be firmly established between the
three families, their enemy would then have no
power to contend with or intrigue against them ;
that it was necessary, therefore, nay, indispen-
sable, for them united to remove the English out
of the way, and then they might reign in peace,
and without the intermeddling of strangers, and
that, they had agreed and sworn to keep the fol-
lowing engagement, namely, that whenever either
of the contracting parties, should have an object to
attain, they should proceed together, and together
use their best efforts to effect the same. As, for
instance, that they two had agreed and sworn, and
' Perhaps alluding to the defeat of the English detachment at
Tulligaum.
376
had bound the girdle of endeavour tight round the
loins of their courage, to do away with the tyranny
of the English of Bombay.* What measures, there-
fore, did the glory of the house of prosperity and
power, (Hydur,) propose or advise in the matter?
But at all events Hydur might be certain that,
when all the contracting parties united in heart
and word, the conquest of the Karnatic Payan-
ghaut, and even the whole of Hindustan, might be
accomplished in a very easy manner. '* When two
kings unite in heart, there is no path left for se-
dition.**— " In peace, if two kings light a lamp " —
" their cities and armies will be illuminated ;** — " but
if they turn their faces to the battle field," — " they
bring calamity upon the earth from heaven." —
" Better is it therefore, that we should turn our
faces to peace,*' — " and adopt liberal sentiments to-
wards each other.** In these measures it was, they
said, necessary no delay nor negligence should
occur. God forbid that a difficulty should arise,
the remedy of which might not be easily obtained,
even by the united strength of the brave troops of
all parties.
On hearing this deceitful language, the Nawaub,
who, by his caution and penetration surpassed all
other the most renowned Kings and Princes, re-
* Tulligaum.
377
fused to lend a willing ear to their proposals, and,
in reply, said, " Your stimulating words of advice
are Arom the tongue, not the heart, and to listen to
such fool-deceiving propositions, would doubtless
be highly imprudent and dangerous for this rea-
son,— that the reins and direction of your govern-
ment and policy are in the hands of incompetent,
avaricious, and indolent, ministers ; — and that,
knowingly and willingly, in many places and in the
most critical times, shameful deception and trea-
chery have been practised by them, and undoubt-
edly the same will occur again ; and, that in case of
such a recurrence, the contracts and treaties made
between the parties, would be cut sharp off." That
nevertheless, following the dictates of his high cou-
rage, the protection of the weak, he " had bound
up his loins to exertion in this cause," " and that
all the warlike materials to destroy their enemies
were ready," that, his prudence, however, would
not allow him to admit, or his frank heart to be-
lieve, their assertions, when they declared that,
reposing confidence in their boasting troops, and
effeminate Ameers, they intended to fight, or fancied
they could contend with, the lions,* ranging over
the face of the whole earth, or suppose that they
could bear the weight of the labour and anxiety of
^ Meaning the British troops.
378
such an undertaking on their indolent minds. He
called to their recollection, that the people they so
hated (the English,) were united among them-
selves, both in heart and language, and it was
for this reason that, in all places and times, they
were so successful. If, however, -they, (Nizam All
and the Mahratta,) were sincere in the policy on
which they had apparently decided, they were to
advance towards that country, (the Carnatic,) with
their troops in the best order, and, with all the
strength of their artillery and warlike stores ; and
he himself would be ready at that time. But, if
they decided otherwise, he requested they would
trouble him no more on the subject.
When the Eelchees, or embassadors, detailed
to their respective masters this just answer of
the Nawaub, they on both sides, sanctioned and
strengthened the articles of this treaty with the
most solemn " oaths ; and the future arrangement
of the country, and the establishment of their
power, such as might be required, being repeat-
edly discussed, they opened to each other their
ultimate views and determination. It was, there-
fore, concluded, that the Mahrattas, with the whole
weight of their forces, should put the horse "" of
^ Alluding to the p^me of Chess, the Kuight.
379
attack in motion for the conquest of Bombay ; that
the chief of Hydurabad, with his army of city
soldiers, should march to take possession of Mutchli
Puttun, and Raj Bunduri ; ^ and that the Nawaub
should direct his conquering ensigns towards Arkat.
In conformity to this plan of operations, both the
princes pitched their tents and standards outside
the walls of their respective capitals, and ordered a
muster of their officers and troops. — The Nawaub
Bahadur, although he was nearly certain that the
Moghuls and the Mahrattas were neither true of
tongue nor heart, and that they would not continue
to the end in the same mind, still, after maturely
considering the strong treaties, and conditions of
agreement, which they had newly contracted, took
upon himself, with a firm confidence, the responsi-
bility of the war, and, having despatched gold,
jewels, and rich cloths, to the two grasping poten-
tates, and thus made them happy, he set free his
determination to make the conquest of the Karnatic
Payanghaut, and despatched a letter to the address
of Muhammad All Khan, requiring him to deliver
up the fort of Nuthur Nuggur, (Trichinopoly,) in
conformity to his treaty or agreement, the ac-
count of which was fully given in a former part of
this work. As Muhammad did not return a pro-
^^ Ma.sulipatam and Porto Novo.
380
per answer, the Navvaub, immediately commanded
the attendance of his Ameers, Khans, and Foujdars,
and, in a very short time, in obedience to his pro-
clamation, his chief officers, with their troops and
military stores, marched to the capital. Accord-
ing to his engagements, therefore, the Nawaub with
his brave army, — ( Verse, " An army that never felt
the bitterness of defeat :" " Troops that never
tasted the poison of flight, or despair :** " horses
under them like raging lions.** " Spears in their
hands like the twisted serpent:")* — directed his
standards towards Arkat. But, previous to the
commencing of their march, he gave orders to
muster his forces, and those to whom the charge
was consigned, presented the Nawaub with a re-
turn of twelve thousand horse of his own Paigah or
guard, ten thousand Kuzzak or predatory horse,
fifteen thousand Sillahdar horse, ^ twenty-four
thousand regular infantry, and sixty thousand irre-
gular foot, with seventy guns, exclusive of the Poli-
gar chiefs, with their contingents.
About the middle of the month of Rujub, 1194,
y Independent horsemen, who are engaged horse and man.
381
H., the Nawaub descended by the Ghaut or Pass
of Chungum, and pitched his tents, high as the
sun and moon, in the environs of Kilpauk, * and,
from the same encampment, detached his youngest
son, Kureem Sahib, with the Kuzzak horse, towards
Muhmood Bundur, while he himself, with his innu-
merable army, marched on and took the small hill
fort of Tumamul. He then besieged the fort of
Jeet ' Peeth, and gave orders to his conquering sol-
diers to attack the town. After the commandant,
who was a Sikh, named Gooroo Buksh, had held
out with great spirit two or three days, he was
killed at one of the gates of the fort, and the fort
was therefore taken. From hence the Nawaub,
after leaving a detachment at the fort of Dhobi
Gurh, despatched his son Tippoo, with a strong
body of troops, to reduce Arni and Tumri ; and
then, turning his victorious standards towards the
capital of Arkat, encamped near Nimukpeeth and
Ghalibpoora, and next invested the fort and town
of Alumpunah, against which he ordered batteries
to be raised. The chiefs in the fort, namely, Achna
Pundit a Brahman, (otherwise called Raijee Naib,
Souba, and who had also the title of Raja Beerbur,
Bahadur, the founder or builder of the Alum Punah),
and Nujeeb Khan, Salar Jung, Bahadur, with five
» Written also Kalispauk. • Chittapet.
382
thousand regular infentry, two thousand horse, and
four hundred dismounted Ashraf, (that is, men of
good families,) held themselves in readiness to repel
their enemies, and filled the capital with stores of
provisions, arms, ammunitions, and materials for
defence, and then arranged themselves for action.
Two or three thousand Ashraf inhabitants of the
place, of all tribes, who rose in arms merely to
defend their families and preserve their honour,
were conciHated by a daily allowance, or subsis-
tence, in money, and the show of a great deal of
deference and respect ; and the gates and bastions
of Alum Punah also being confided to the inhabi-
tants of the Muhlas,^ they fought desperately.
Kureem Sahib, meanwhile, when he moved off to
Mahmood Bundur, met with no resistance; and
having by night marches arrived at the town, he
surrounded, and, at the first assault, bravely took
possession of it, and plundered the houses of all the
wealthy merchants, bankers, and traders, of bales
on bales of merchandise, and bags on bags of gold
and jewels. The next day, the whole of the wealth
and commodities taken from all the merchants, who
had expended millions of rupees in commissioning
or procuring them from different parts of the world,
for the purpose of barter, were collected in one place.
^ Quarters of the town.
383
Amongst the rest was the whole of the property of a
certain Muhammad Mokrim, a man of the Bohra *"
tribe, the Chief of all the merchants, and the owner
of three or four merchant ships, who about this
time had purchased thirty-five Jhawah or young
elephants, of eight or nine years old, sixty Tankun,
or ponies of Manilla and Pegu, and also cloths
of great value, and dresses of honour from the
countries of Bengal, Bunaras, China, Kashmeer,
Boorhanpoor, Mutchliputtun, &c. All these articles
were taken, and laden on elephants, camels, bul-
locks, and carts ; and with the merchant to whom
they had belonged, and his dependents, as prisoners,
were sent to the Nawaub.
The Prince, (Tippoo), after he had taken leave
of his father, proceeded to Ami, and encamped
there, and gave orders to attack the fort. Budruz-
zuman Khan Bukshi, accordingly raised a strong
battery, to the westward of the fort, and in one
day fired a number of cannon shot into the place.
The Killadar, or commandant, whose name was
Hussain All Khan, and who, even in his dreams,
had never heard of battle or fighting, much less
witnessed any thing of the kind, lost all heart, and,
^ The Bohras are a tribe of newly converted Mussulmans, re-
siding mostly in the N. western Provinces of India ; they are
chiefly merchants and traders.
384
ornamenting himself with his unworthy arms, and
taking the keys of the fort, he sought the presence
of the Khan above mentioned, and, through his
mediation^ was presented to the Prince, and deli-
vered up the keys as a Paishkush to his servants.
He then represented, that in the fort there were
many houses inhabited by Syuds, or descendents of
the prophet ; and being in fear lest the Syudanian,
their women, might be insulted or violated, he had
given up the fort and its dependencies ; but that,
otherwise, he would have defended them as long
as he had life. The Prince, at hearing this foolish
story, laughed outright, and having placed a gar-
rison in the fort, Sidi Imam, an experienced officer ac-
cording to the orders of the Nawaub, was appointed
its Commandant. Taking with him the former
Killadar, the Prince then marched towards Tumri,
the Chief of which also gave up his honour to save
his life, and, without a shot from either gun or
musket, surrendered the fort. Still advancing,
therefore, Tippoo took possession of the small forts
of Trivatoor, Gulwa, Kaveripauk, &c., and, placing
strong garrisons in each, returned to join his own
army.
It is proper to mention here, that, while the
lion-hearted Nawaub, thus threw terror and dismay
into the country of the Payanghaut, Nizam All
385
Khan under pretence of sickness, did not stir from
his capital ; and the Mahrattas, also after some move-
ments, having by treaty obtained possession of the
person of Raghoo * from the English of Bombay,
remained where they were, and gave no assistance
whatever to the Nawaub.
^ The usarper Raghoonanth.
c c
CHAPTER XXVIII.
The adTBDce of the En^ish Army, under the command of
General Monro, from the vicinity of Madrai, towards Gonjee,
and that of the detachment under Colonel BaiUie from the neigh-
bourhood of Kottoor Mungulgiri, and the defeat and deatniction
of the troops under the command of the Colonel. Alao* the Con-
quest of Arkat, and the taking prisoner of Shnkoh-nl-Moolk
Nuseer-nd-dowla, Abdul Wahab Khan, the brother of Muhammad
Alf Khao, Sorfij-ud-dowla, in the strong Hill Fort of Chnnder
Giri 1 and an account of the different succeBses obtained in the
sameyear 1195, Hiiri.— A. D. 1780.
When the Nawaub Bahadur, with his numerous
army, marched to the conquest of the Payanghaut •
country, Muhammad Ah' Khan, the goTemor of the
Payanghaut, who previously at the instigation of his
enemies had imprudently disbanded his own army,
and in their place retained a few militia indispen-
* Hie Balaghaat extends according to the map, from Gaotoor
to Nundidroog, or thereabouts. The Payanghaut, which signifies
the foot, or below the Ghauts, or mountains, is apparently the
Eastern Coast of India, from Vellore to Namkool.
387
sable to his service, of whom but a small part where
matchlock men, was completely humbled, and, in
order to keep off Hydur's fierce lions, he insisted
on the support and aid of the English.
The commanding oflScer of the English troops,
whose name was General Munro, with six thousand
regular infantry, one thousand five hundred regular
cavalry, and two thousand European soldiers, all
being equipped and ready, marched fi*om Madras,
by the route of Choongul Peeth (Chingleput) and
the mountains of Sewram, to Gunjee, to oppose and
drive back the conquering Hydur/ Colonel Baillie,
at the same time, marched from the neighbour-
hood of Kottoor, which district Busalut Jung, the
Chief of Adhoni, fearful of the incursions of the Na-
waub, had given to the English, with whom he had
contracted a close intimacy, for the payment of the
Colonel's troops, and the whole of the collections
of the Talooka were committed to his authority.
Having been appointed to the superintendence of
that Souba, the Colonel, now that circumstances ren-
dered it necessary, marched with three thousand re-
gular infantry, and four hundred Europeans, (who
had arrived from Killabundur),and eight guns, by the
route of Wankul and Nellore, towards Arkat. The
^ Hydur is almost always described as a Lion, which his name
also signifies.
Nawaub, on hearing this news> immediately des-
patched Tippoo, with the Nawaub's own Paigah,
the Sillahdars, and four light guns ' to keep off the
force of the Colonel ; and the whole of the Kuz-
zalts, (predatory horse) and rocket-men, were placed
under the command of Sidi Hillal Khan Bukshi, a
servant of the Afghan of Kirpa, who was taken
prisoner at the battle of Balsun HuUi, and was en-
tertained and received in the highest rank of the
Nawaub's servants. This man, an active and brave
soldier, was despatched, with the light troops, to
harass the camp of the general, that he might sur-
round it, and, by continual noise and desultory at-
tacks, stop the supplies, and shut up the road against
all reinforcements, (to the aid of the Colonel.)
In the mean time, Prince Tippoo, terrible as a
lion, fell in with and engaged the force of Colonel
Baillie,'' in the neighbourhood of Sutweer, or Suto-
bur, and blocked up the road of safety to his detach-
ment; keeping up an incessant cannonading, sniping,
and skirmishing with that body. Although the
Colonel, notwithstanding the number and constant
attacks of Hydur's brave men, showed no appre-
• Gallopers, itpparentlv. The nnmber of reg^ular cavalry with
Geoeral Monro, is said, in one MS. to have been five hundred
only.
" The mannacript appeara rather defective at this part, to ua
the moat interetting in the book.
389
hension of them^ but marched on, fighting, to the
neighbourhood of Tukool and Purimpauk, a town
about six kose from Gunjee, still, however, from the
superiority in numbers of the conquering army, he
was reduced to great difficulties, to which was added
the total want of wood and forage. The General
(Munro) therefore, selected from his army fourteen
first companies, called in the language of the English,
grenadiers, and these, with some stores of provi-
sions, bottles of wine, and ammunition, &c. he de-
spatched to the Colonel's assistance ; while he him-
self halted, intending to move on as soon as the
Colonel had joined him ; and had the Colonel made
a night march afler the companies had formed a
junction with him, he would, undoubtedly without
any difficulty or danger, have arrived at Gunjee ;
but it happened that his troops were overpowered
by fatigue, and, to rest and relieve them, he halted
for the night.
The moment the Nawaub heard this intelligence,
he quitted the siege of Arkat, and, with his army,
the emblem of victory, he arrived by a forced night
march, and effectually closed all the roads of escape
to Colonel Baillie's force ; and, having posted his
guns in readiness on all sides, he waited for an op-
portunity to begin the attack ; however, the same
night, in order to increase the confusion and terror
390
in the country, he detached five thousand horse
towards Chitore, and the country of the PoUgars
of that quarter.
As soon as the morning dawned, and the king
of the heavenly travellers, drawing his conquering
sword from the scabbard of the east, put to flight
the starry host, the Colonel commenced his march.
The Nawaub, meanwhile, having arrayed his troops
with the greatest skill and care, now gave orders
for the attack, and the officers of his regular in-
fantry and artillery took up their positions. On
one flank, Muhammad AH, the brave commandant,
Shiukh-Oonsur, and others, and the regiment of
Chittikars, of whom Monsieur Jani, a Frenchman,
was the commandant, lighted up the Are of mortal
strife. On the other flank Monsieur Lalli, the
Frenchman, who had been the servant of Busalut
Jung, but, after the defeat of his troops near Bellarif
being discharged from his service, was entertained
by the Nawaub, with a body of two thousand regular
infantry, five hundred Europeans, or Portuguese, *
and a hundred Allemand horse, now zealous in the
Nawauh's cause, by pouring perpetual volleys of
balls and bullets on the English, so straightened
the field of battle on their troops, that, notwith-
standing the bravery and great exertions of the
391
Colonel, it was impossible for him to join the main
army. But, although the thunder of the guns, the
deadly storm of musket balls, and the lightning of
the rockets, made dreadful havoc among the troops
and followers of the Colonel, still they stood firm,
until mid-day, under cover of a grove of palm trees,
close to the town of Purimpauk. Soon after this,
however, Lalli, the Frenchman, discovering with the
telescope of his intellect and science, the position of
the enemy's ammunition, fired a shot from a heavy
gun at the Colonel's tumbrils, all of which had been
collected in one place. By accident, the ammuni-
tion blew up, and, by the shock of the explosion,
the bonds ^ of union of the Colonel's force, were
broken up. Seeing this opportunity, the brave
horsemen of the Paigah or household cavalry, on
one of the flanks, like a thunder cloud in the spring
season, rushing and shouting charged the broken
troops in a body, and plying the bow and arrow
and the keen sword, they gashed the heads and
breasts of their enemies. On the other flank, the
Sillahdars, like the blazing lightning, fell on and
destroyed the harvest of the array of their enemies^
and dyed their blue swords, red as the ruby, in
their blood. With but little labour, therefore, the
soldiers of the Colonel's force, with their officers.
and all the camp followers, were crushed under the
hoofs of the Nawaub's horse. This, however, was
not done without the loss of two or three thou-
sand of the bravest men of the conquering army.'
At length, the Colonel (Baillie), with a number of
officers, was taken prisoner, by the address or ma-
nagement of the French officers.
After the conclusion of the battle, the Nawaub
immediately marched, intending in his mind to at-
tack the army of the General, which was repoang
very comfortably at Gunjee. He however en-
camped at the distance of two iursungs, giving
orders to his Kuzzaks, or light cavalry, and Sillah-
dars, to exercise the greatest vigilance, as scouts
or picquets, in surrounding the General's army.
When, however, the General heard of the defeat of
Colonel Baillie's force, and his having been taken
prisoner, he, being himself full of doubt and an-
xiety, threw all his heavy guns and heavy ba^age
into the reservoir, or tank, of the Temple at Gun-
jee ; and at night took, with his force, the road to
Choongul Peeth, (Chingleput). The Nawaub, when
aware of his retreat, followed him, in the darkness
of the night, to Sewram ; but finding that no ad-
vantage was to be obtained, he detached his horse
to surround the General's army, and also appointed
' About the number of Baillie's detachment.
393
one of his confidential servants, with a force, to
take possession and charge of the fort of Girgut
Paleh; then, returning from the pursuit, he that
day encamped at Gunjee.
On the following day, the Nawaub again sur-
rounded the city and fort of the Dar-ul-Amareh,
(Arkat), and issued his orders, to his Risaldars of
the regular and irregular infantry, and the Poligars
attending his camp, to attack and take that strong
fortress. On all sides, therefore, deep trenches were
dug, batteries raised, and approaches by sap pushed
on ; and, with continual firing, the walls were soon
battered down, and breached, and, moreover, by
throwing the ColoneFs (Baillie) shot and shells and
rockets into the town, the inhabitants were cast into
the greatest consternation and confusion. Yet, not-
withstanding, all this discomfort and misery, the
defenders of the city held out gallantly for three
months, and manfully withstood the assaults of the
rank breakers™ of Hydur's army. It is proper how-
ever, to mention, that the citadel was defended by
two companies of Europeans, and three hundred
recruits, disciplined after the European fashion, who
had lately arrived from Rai Vellore, and were ready
for the defence. In short, on both sides, exertions
were made to that extent that the son-in-law of the
m
tJ^
394
Nawaub, Syud Hafez All Khan, was killed, in the
western battery, by a cannon ball ; and many of the
chief officers and men of the victorious army were
also slain. On the other side, Syud Fureed-ud-din
Khan, the Kurrooreh of the city, that is, the chief of
alt the Kotwals of the province, a prudent and a
brave man, was likewise slain by a cannon ball. The
walls of the city, however, having been battered
down, the besieged became very much strmght-
ened ; and, fh)m the loss of the brave Syud, great
disorder fell into their discipline and arrangements,
in so much that, being terrified, every one kept
his house, and cast away his confidence and man-
hood.
At the expiration of this time, one night, towards
morning, the Nawaub gave orders to assault the
works ; and his most tried and experienced men
having, on all sides, planted their ladders against
the walls of the town, they at one assault took the
place, and by plundering and slaying their enemies,
completed their conquest. Achna Pundit, who was
sleeping comfortably in his own house, was taken
prisoner with" his family, as also were Urshed Beg
Khan, Chishti Yar Khan, the Commander of the
dismounted men, Syud Humeed, Tumboo Nair,
Commandant, &c. Nujeeb Khan, however, crept
into the Ark or citadel, and shutting himself up
396
with the English troops, placed himself m secu-
rity.
The next morning, the Nawaub visited the city,
and, in all the streets and markets, caused safety to
be proclaimed to the people, (particularly to the
poor and destitute,) that none of his troops might
oppress or lay hand on the wealth, or women of the
people of the city, and he gave safety of life and
property to all the inhabitants. In the course of
two or three days, the Nawaub gave orders for the
presence of Nujeeb Khan, and of the officer com-
manding the English troops, who still firmly main-
tained the Ark or citadel ; and his ministers accord-
ingly, despatched the terms of capitulation, sealed
with the seal of the Nawaub ; and, manifesting
towards them every courtesy and kindness, invited
them to the presence, and Nujeeb Khan, reposing
confidence in the word of the Nawaub, presented
himself to him with his body of regular infantry
and the Europeans, and the Nawaub sent him to
Cheena Puttun, (Madras,) under the escort of a
small party of light cavalry. The Khans above
mentioned, with other men of high rank of Arkat^
were employed by the Nawaub in suitable offices,
according to their degree and ability, and with
liberal salaries. They were, moreover, honoured
with dresses, and presents of gold and jewels.
396
Syud Humeed, commandant, a man of high re-
putation, was honoured with a One M unzil Palkee,
and four hundred rupees a month, and was ap-
pointed to command a body of four thousand
matchlock men. To Meer Sadik, (the grandson"
of Meer Ahmud Khan, Jageerdar of Wuhul Koor,
one of the Munsubdars of the Souba Sura,) who
had been for a long time Kotwal of the Bazar of the
Nawaub*s army, and was also intelligencer and coun-
sellor to the Nawaub, was given the Soubadari of
the city of Arkat.
About this time, the Nawaub's Hurkaras re-
ported to him, that Abdul Wahab Khan, the bro-
ther of Muhammad All Khan, had committed the
fort of Chitore to the care of his Dewaun, whose
name was Rai Bhojung,"" and to the Poligars of
Mokuli, Vinkut Giri, Mogul, and Bhingari; that
he himself had strengthened and repaired the hill
fort of Chundur Giri, and was busily occupied in
enlisting horse and foot ; and that it appeared his
intention, after collecting troops, was to march to
Cheena Puttun, (Madras), and join the English
army, and then attack that of the Nawaub. On
hearing this news, the Nawaub determined to
march immediately to that quarter. Meer All
° By the female side.
• In this part there is some slight difference in the MSS. —
but I have followed that belonging to Her Majesty's Library.
397
Ruza Khan (who had halted one night at Chitore,
when he returned with his troops from Kirpa^
and had received the hospitahty of Abdul Wahab
Khan^ and had then acquitted himself of the ob-
ligation, by advising and even earnestly soliciting
the Khan, by message, if he had any intention of
seeking the honour of an introduction to the Na-
waub, to join the Nawaub's army, before any troops
were ordered against him : and, if not, that he
should fly for refuge where he might be safe, seeing
that, if he contemplated opposition to the Nawaub,
he might expect his own destruction, and the ruin
of his family and children, the Khan, however, being
then involved in doubts and uncertainty, left the
fort of Chitore to the care of his servants, and made
Chundur Giri his residence and refuge, and he re-
mained there, expecting a visit from Hydur,) at this
time, therefore, immediately arose, and represented
to the Nawaub, that Abdul Wahab Khan had quar-
relled with his brother and that although he intended
to visit the Nawaub he had been too unwell lately
to carry his intention into effect ; that at all events,
what power had the poor man that he should rise up
in opposition to the Nawaub ; and that, whenever
the Nawaub chose to command him, he would at-
tend without delay.
After the state of the Khan had been ascertained,
398
the march was, therefore, put off, and Meer Moin-
ud-diD, otherwise called Syud Sahib, the nephew of
the Meer, who was ennobled by the office of Bukh-
shi to a Dustah or regiment of horse, was sent with
a strong force to that quarter to bring him to the
presence. The Meer^ before mentioned, was also
detached with his division of troops^ to reduce the
tributary Poligars of the Souba of Arkat ; that is, the
Nairs of Kalistri, Vinkutgiri, Bimraj, &c. The Prince
Tippoo with five thousand regular foot, two thou-
sand (Ahsham)^ foot, and a thousand horse was
sent to reduce the western forts of that Souba^ and
to take possession of that part of the frontier.
When Syud Sahib was despatched on his mission
by the Nawaub, he made a forced march by night,
and surrounded the fort of Chitore, which he sum-
moned to surrender. The officers commanding the
garrison of the fort having, however, stated the
orders of their master as an excuse or apology for
not obeying the summons, and preparing to defend
themselves the Syud commenced the siege, and
placed the foot of manhood in the field of exertion
to capture the fort. On the second day he esta-
blished some guns on a hill, to the southward of
the fort, and at the end of ten days the brave be-
P Meer Ali Ruza Khan.
^ a\JL^.\ Irregular infantry with swords and matchlbcks.
399
siegers mounted the walls^ and notwithstanding the
great strength of the fort, it was taken by assault.
The commandant of the fort and others were
placed in confinement, and haying consigned the
fort to the care of his brave and experienced
soldiers, the Syud marched towards Chundur Gin.
On the first day that he encamped before the town,
he despatched a message to the besieged Khan, that
the Nawaub wished to see him, and that, if his safety
was precious to him, he must attend immediately.
Having neither power to resist, nor strength to flee,
the Khan was struck with fear and astonishment,
and sought advice and assistance in replying to the
summons, from his family and his Khans, and thus
deferred sending an answer. It happened, at this
time, that the cavalry of the Nawaub's army ad-
vanced towards the mountains, to forage for grass
and wood, and the careless short-sighted Killaddr,
without the knowledge of his master, opened a fire
from the guns of the fort upon them, — Truly, many
kings of great renown, and many princes of great
power, have seen the face of ruin, and have been
reduced to beggary and want, by foolish and inex-
perienced servants. — This conduct threw the com-
mander of the Nawaub's troops into great difficulty,
and he became satisfied that the Khan intended to
resist the Nawaub. He, therefore, immediately des-
400
patched a detailed account of what had occurred,
and of the Khan's neglect in not sending an answer to
his invitation, and selecting a position for a gun on
the slope of the mountain, and near the walls, he
then fired a few shot into the fort on the summit.
It chanced that the first shot fired struck the Zu-
nana or women's apartments^ and caused a great
concussion ; so much so, that cries, of grief and
alarm burst forth from the inmates of the MuhL
When the besieged Khan saw the effect of the
lightning-raining gun, the order of the Nawaub's
foot and horse, and the promptness with which they
had seized the position on the slope of the moun-
tain, he gave up all his hesitation and delay, and
his fears excited such a tmnult in his nerves and
veins, that he became paralytic. He, therefore,
retired into his Zunana, and, entering the chamber
of chagrin, laid himself down on the bed of inex-
perience. No sooner had he done this than another
ball, like the sighs breathed by the widow and or-
phan, flew up straight from below, penetrated his
kitchen, and struck a cauldron full of victuals on
the fire- In short, from the rapid arrival of shot,
one afler another, the besieged Khan sent a request,
on the part of the Begum, his wife, to this effect,
that, as her husband was unwell, she begged the
artillery men might be directed to desist from firing ;
401
and if it was intended to take possession of the
fort, and country, they were welcome, and might
take them, for they, the besieged, had no choice
but to submit to the Nawaub. Syud Sahib conse-
quently took possession of the fort and its depend-
encies, and, placing there an experienced Foujdar,
to superintend the affairs of that country, brought
the Khan with his Zunana, or family, to the presence,
and the Nawaub, after some time, despatched them
under a strong escort to Seringaputtun. The
Khan's son, however, whose name was Abdussumud
Khan, and his title Dileer Jung, was honored with
the Daroghahship of the Silladar Kutchiri, at a
salary of three hundred rupees a month.
During this time, the Prince, (Tippoo,) young
and fortunate, in the space of one month took the
forts of Mahi Mundul Gurh, and Kylas Gurh,
(which is called Husseinabad), near Rai Vellore ;
and then, with a large force, and abundance of guns
and stores^ marched towards Sautgurh, which is
one of the greatest among the fortresses of the
Kamatic ; and, like the seven' heavens in strength
and height, towers fearfully above all the rest.
WuUi S!luhammad Khan, the Killadar of this strong
place, Syud Mukhdoom, Risaldar, and Muhammad
Mowla, who, with two thousand regular infantry,
' A pun on the name apparently.
D D
402
were appointed to defend this fortress, although
they had with them good store of provisions, am-
munition, and other necessaries to sustain a siege,
still the unpropitious salt' of Muhammad All Khan
had no hold on their gratitude. The Prince,
mounted on an elephant, marched on to the plain
before this hill fort, with his drums and trumpets
soimdmg and beating before him, and then halted
for two or three hours, and forming the lines of his
regular and irregular infantry, and his Julowdars,
or body guard, he manoeuvred and marched them
about, while his horse in troops formed knots ^ or
divisions, and threw the fear of their imposing dis-
play into the hearts of the garrison of the fort ;
they then encamped at the distance of one fur-
sung beyond the river. A man with a genius for
poetry, who had heard the tramp of the cavalry,
and had seen the discipline and order of the columns
of march, and the splendour of the ensigns and
standards, starred with gold, repeated without hesi-
tation this quatrain, — ^^ It may be said the heavens
are beneath thy horses feet ;" — " the pleiades are
the marks of his shoe nails ;" — " thy victorious
standards on the day of battle, are like the Alifs
of"^ — " of a truth we have gained a victory/
■ Pay or service. • *j\^ Circles perhaps.
vil From the Koran.
403
In short, when the officers and men in the fort
saw the order of the troops, the readiness of the
artillery, and the numbers of the cavalry, fear
seized on their souls, and they gave up their man-
hood gratuitously ; and as they could not hope to
fight successfully with Hydur*s Ghazies, they made
a present of the keys of the fort to the servants of
the victorious prince, and asked their lives. The
prince gave them security, both private and public,
and having appointed a governor, with a strong
body of musketeers, to the charge of the fort, he
marched to attack Amboor Gurh, which is about
three measured Kose distant. The hill fort of Am-
boor, however, had an European officer in command
with a garrison of brave soldiers, and he did justice
to his command for fifteen days; until the walls
were breached, and the army of the prince having
agreeably to his orders, raised batteries on a small'
hill, to the Northward, and adjoining that of the fort,
and having with three guns battered the walls down,
the governor, reduced to extremity, surrendered
the fort to the servants of Tippoo. Zein ul Abideen
Daduni Nayut, who was the son-in-law of Assud
Khan Muhkuri, the Foujdar of Kishengiri, was ap-
pointed by Hydur to the command there, and had
charge also to repair the walls of this hill fort.
Tippoo now returned to his father, and was ho-
noured with innumerable gifts and rewards.
404
The Meer^ above mentioned^ in a short time re-
duced by force all the Poligars"^ before enumerated,
and drew them into the net of tribute and obedience ;
and, bringing with him the presents, the tribute
money, and the Poligars, he returned to the pre-
sence.
Although the brave Muhammad Ali was ap-
pointed to the conquest of Rai Vellore, he was
afterwards superceded by the Prince Tippoo, who
was employed on the same command ; and they
together, in attacking the hills and the fort, era-
ployed every art, and made every effort. Colonel
Lang, however, who commanded there, was a brave
man, and a soldier of great experience, and he de-
fended and maintained all three of the Hill forts^
that is Sajira, Gojira, and M ortuza Gurh, with the
fort at the foot of the hills ; nor did he suffer doubt
or fear to enter his heart, but defended his charge
valiantly.
The brave Commandant, (Muhammad All,) as-
saulted the batteries on the Sajira Hill, two or three
times ; but, as fate or the time demanded, returned
unsuccessful, and received no thanks for his labours.
As this siege was difficult, and without a large force,
and great energy, could not arrive at a successful
result, Tippoo wrote in detail to the presence, on
^ Meer All Ruza Khan. ^ Kalistri, Vinkut Gin, &c.
405
the subject. On hearing that the Colonel of Rai
Vellore, had a stout heart, and that he was not
likely to be soon or easily conquered, and seeing
that it was far from prudent to allow his troops, the
ornaments of the field of battle, to be destroyed in
a difficult, impenetrable, country, amidst forests
and mountains, the Nawaub recalled the Prince,
and the brave Commandant, to the presence;
leaving a thousand foot, and three hundred horse,
to maintain the siege or blockade, and to prevent
all relief, or supplies of provisions, from entering
the fort.
Hydur then detached numerous bodies of horse
and foot, under the command of experienced Bukh-
shees, to subdue the southern part of the territory
of Arkat. As, for instance, Rustum Ah Khan, Fa-
rooki, with a thousand horse, two thousand foot, and
one Risala of regular infantry, was sent to take the
Hill fort of Jinjee ; and Roshun Khan Dustadar, with
two thousand foot, one Risala of regular infantry, a
thousand horse, and three guns, was appointed to
reduce the Hill fort of Purmokul,'' and marched in
that direction. The commander of the latter fort was
an English officer, named Captain Joseph ; he had a
garrison of about two hundred men under his orders,
and, having put the mountain or fort into a state of
* Permacoil.
406
defence^ he remained in readiness. Roshun Khan
encamped to the westward of the fort, and, having
surrounded it with cavalry, despatched a message
to the Commandant of the fort, requesting him to
give it up, and adding that, in reward of his obe-
dience to this summons, the presence, (Hydur),
would be entreated to give him the command of a
body of troops, similar to those of Monsieur Lalli.
The officer in the fort, however, refused to listen
to his propositions, and began to defend himself. —
The Dustadar, therefore, gave orders that the in-
fantry should cross to the northward ^ of the fort, to
an adjoining hill ; and, after arriving there they
attacked and plundered the village upon it, and re-
mained on the spot. To the southward, also, is a
hill, at a short distance, which, in old time, was
fortified with a wall and towers, and called Chumar
Tekri ; but, at that time it was in ruins. At the foot
or on the slope of this hill was likewise a tank, the
dyke or mound of which being cut through, guns
were brought up, and directions given to breach from
thence the walls of the fort. Yet, with all this ex-
ertion, the garrison was not reduced ; but, on the
contrary, frequently sallied forth and attacked the
T Some words are left out here iD all the MSS. apparently ; as
is common in this work, the order and its result are crowded to-
gether in the same sentence.
407
batteries, and drove the besiegers out of them.
The chief officers of the victorious army not being
careful, the besiegers also several times attacked
the hill, and were put to flight.
At length, however, the Khan before mentioned,
put forth the hand of oppression and violence, and
seized the women belonging to the garrison of the
fort, who had sought refuge in the towns and vil-
lages which had fallen under the authority of Hy-
dur*s officers ; and, making them prisoners, caused
them to be dragged to his camp, where they were
confined. By these women he despatched mes-
sages to their husbands and brothers in the fort,
detailing their capture and dishonour by Hydur's
soldiers; but, nevertheless, the garrison, attached
by the kindness and indulgence of the command-
ing officer in the fort, considered the cruel and
shameful violation of their women as of less mo-
ment than the breach of their fidelity and loyalty,
and took not the least notice of the messages.
Rustum Khan, who had proceeded with a large
body of troops to Jinjee, subdued in one week, with-
out fighting, all the Hill forts there, namely Kishen
Gurh, Chuneidgurh, and Raj Gurh, which last is the
Chief of all these mountains; and, resembling a
single mill-stone, it raises its head on high, and is
indeed a place of peculiar strength. He also sub-
408
dued Bander Bundeh^ and Dhoby Bundeh, which
are close to each other ; — also Kalakote, the fort,
at the foot of the mountain, the garrison, an Euro-
pean officer, and a certain Syud Mohi-ud-din the
Walajah (or Arkat) Killadar, being taken prisoners.
These persons being placed under a guard, he next
marched towards Turnamul, Sulufgurh, &c.
The victorious Prince, ■ with a large force, artillery,
and stores, was now despatched from the presence,
to reduce Pooloor, Kurnatic Gurh, Tyaggurh, and
Rawut Nellore, &c. Proceeding by rapid marches,
by the road of Dhoby Gurh, All Abad, Bagmar,
Peenth and Pooloor, he arrived at the fort of
Kamatic Gurh, the height of which reaches the
heavens, and which has no equal among the forts
of the Kamatic for strength and command. He
encamped on the plain before it, taking possession
of the foot of the mountain, and posting musketeers
and archers in the vicinity of the pass there over
the mountains. The next day, although several
shot were fired from the guns below to the top
of the mountain, yet, from the great height of
the fort, lofty as the clouds, no injury was done
to the walls. Two or three days having passed
in this way, on the fourth, the Prince, who had
* The epithets Julleel Ulkadr Walakadr, &c. vary every time
which makes it douhtfiil sometimes who is meant.
409
a number of prisoners in his camp from Arkat,
despatched some of them to apprize the besieged
of the taking of Arkat, the destruction of the Eng-
lish army, the impossibility of their receiving re-
inforcement, or aid, and the orders, that no quarter
should be given to the besieged, but all be put to
death. When these messengers, therefore, climbed
up the mountain, and arrived at the gate of the fort,
they detailed each of the events that had taken
place, as the retirement of Muhammad All Khan
to a place of refuge, the destruction of the English
troops, and the conquest of Arkat, and then tried to
frighten the garrison, by advising them to be very
speedy in surrendering the fort to the noble Prince,
and not, by waiting for an assault, throw their lives
away for nothing ; for, that the Prince had actually
given orders that the whole of them should be put
to the sword.
On hearing these fear-exciting statements, the
people of the fort gave up their confidence and
courage, and imagining it beyond their strength
to make effectual opposition, the Killadar and Com-
mandant of the troops were obliged to request per-
mission to deliver up the fort, on condition of the
safety of their lives, properties, and the honour of
their women being assured to them. The Prince,
who was anxiously looking out for such a prize,
410
immediately sent them a Kowl Nama^ or an assur-
ance of safety y and what they asked was accorded
to them, and the whole of the garrison was received
under his protection.*
The fort was then placed under a man of ability,
with a garrison of veterans, and the Prince moved
on. In a short time, therefore, the whole of that
district was conquered. The Hill fort of Rawut
Nellore was taken in two days, and the Prince then
turned the head of his fiery steed towards the con-
quest of Tyag Gurh. The Killadar or Comman-
der there, an English officer, who had with him
two hundred musketeers, exerted himself bravely,
in opposing and resisting his enemies. The Prince
encamped his troops on a tank, west of the hill, and
at night, and at the first assault, took the suburbs, —
he then constructed batteries and ordered the attack
of the fort. The officers and men of the regular and
irregular infantry, (artillery), now battered the walls,
and threw shells for twenty-eight days successively,
and the ramparts being breached, they made them-
selves ready for the assault, when, by accident, the
water in the reservoir of the mountain became dry
as the heart of the poor, and not even mud remained.
Although the officer in command of the fort, had
*^**'^'j There seems to be some ambiguity in this statement
— denoting, I think, that the terms were not kept.
411
abundance of provisions and warlike stores, yet,
being without water, which is the stay of Ufe, and by
which it is bound or kept together, he saw that his
only resource was to resign the fort to the servants
of Hydur. He, therefore, sent propositions to the
Prince, requesting him to desist that night from the
attack, and that, next morning, he would surren-
der the fort into the hands of his agents. The
Lion-hearted Prince, whose disposition was mild as
that of an antelope, looking kindly on his entreaty,
gave orders to his artillery men to cease firing, or
throwing shells into the fort ; his feelings of com-
passion being excited for the poor garrison. The
guards, however, remained as they were in the bat-
teries.
By chance, on the same night the blessed rain fell
out of season, and in such abundance that the reser-
voir above mentioned, and other pools of the moun-
tain, became, like the eyes of a despairing lover, full
of water. After the night had passed, and day had
displayed the rosy banners of the sun on the towers
of the east, the officer commanding in the fort,
putting on the cocked hat of conceit,^ with a
desire to show himself valiant, and casting the
dust of inexperience on the forehead of his con-
tract, opened a fire from the guns of the fort on
»> .^
cj;^ ^/ ^U^
412
the batteries. By this faithless conduct the Prince
was inflamed with anger, and gave strict orders
to take the fort. The artillery men, therefore,
by firing the guns continually, shook the hill and
foundations of the fort to that degree, that, in one
day, the reservoir became again, like the faces of
the false, without water ;° and, notwithstanding the
officer in the fort was ashamed of his misconduct,
and with great submission, and crying entreaty,*
despatched messengers of peace to the batteries,
no attention was paid to his words. The same
night, therefore, agreeably to orders, Tippoo's brave
soldiers assaulted the fort, and poured the sherbet
of blood down the thirsty throats of most of the
garrison ; and many guiltless persons were put to
death. The officer was taken alive.* In short, in
the space of two months, the whole of the forts and
towns of that quarter, as Durwachul, Selimbur,
Vinkuta Peeth, Bhoongiri, &c. being taken, were
handed over to the charge of confidential officers ;
and, with his Khans, and other men of rank, the
Prince returned to his father's camp.
*^ Without truth or eincerity. ^^
* The Author does not say what hecame of him.
413
CHAPTER XXIX.
The arrival of General Coote, a very able ofScer, at Madras
from Bengal, and a description of the battle of Muhammad Bun-
der, and the death of Meer Ali Ruza Khan. Also, the march of
the victorious army towards Tanjore and Nuthurnuggur, ' and
the victories then gained ; being the year 1195, Hijri, 1780.
An English officer of rank, named General Coote^
who was unequalled among his compeers in ability,
and experience in war, and who had frequently
fought with the French of Phoolcheri, ("Pondi-
cherry) in the Karnatic, and by his military know-
ledge and talents had as often gained the victory
over them, had lately returned to England; but
at that time the country of Bengal being a new
conquest, and requiring regulation and settlement,
he was ordered from England,* that he might him-
self carry the necessary arrangements into effect.
Hearing, however, of the march of the Nawaub's
' Trichinopoly. ^\imm\Sj\
414
army to the conquest of the Karnatic, the taking of
Arkat, and most of the other forts, and the defeat
of the English troops, through the pride and inso-
lence of young officers,*" this commander postponed
till a future time the regulation of affairs in Bengal^
and with six hundred Europeans, and two battalions
of Bengal Sipahees, embarked on swift sailing ships,
and with all expedition arrived at Madras. On the
following day, he visited Muhammad All Khan, Sura-
juddowla, who had left Turmul Ghurri, or Gurhi,
and now resided in the Motial Peenth, and asked him
" What have you done with your troops ?" Muham-
mad All replied, " I have been deceived in putting
too much reliance in the aid of your troops ; and,
in consequence, have fallen in rank and respecta-
bility. The reason of this is, that certain English
gentlemen strongly asserted and insisted, that one
European or man of their country was equal
to twenty men of this country, that is, of my
servants, as had been often seen, and why should
money be thrown away in employing such useless
men ? Relying on deceiving words like these, I
have disbanded my troops, and their monthly pay
I hand over to you, and consequently I expect
you to provide for my defence." The General
smiled at hearing this story, and said, ^' Some wag
*» Referring to Baillie's defeat.
415
has told you this out of fun or in a joke ; but it is
necessary that princes should maintain forces and
state,^ to the extent of their means, otherwise they
may soon expect to become beggars."
In fine, Surajuddowla^ repenting of what he had
done, hid the face of shame in the hood of patience^
and assembling two or three thousand musketeers,
three hundred troop, or regular horse, and two
hundred dismounted cavalry, the worthy or appro-
priate^ force of his state, and taking the horses of
his own stables, and the riding horses of his sons
and relations, he handed them over to the General
for service. The whole of the carriage oxen of the
merchants, and citizens, were also borrowed to draw
the guns, and two lakhs (200,000) of Hoons or pa-
godas* in specie, which he had in the treasury,
were presented to pay for the carriage of the bag-
gage of the army.
Determining to chastise the brave soldiers of the
Nawaub, the General now, by prudent management,
gradually restored the confidence of the before
frightened, dismayed army, and encamped with them
in the plain of Frengi Koh,"* (the French rocks,)
where he expended hundreds of thousands of
r -^ •
^ A Pagoda is worth about seven shilling^.
" St. Thomas' Mount.
416
pounds" from the (E. I.) Company's treasury, and
for three months occupied himself in disciplining
his troops, enlisting recruits, and collecting provi-
sions, (ships continually arriving from Bengal laden
with corn), and procuring military stores, ammu-
nition, and artillery. To convey his ammunition,
tents, &c. he sent for bullocks from the Wankul
and Neeloor districts, which had not yet been
ravaged by the fury of the Kuzzaks, or trodden
under the hoofs of the plundering cavalry. After
he had thus completed all his arrangements, he
marched forward by the route of Choongul Peeth
(Chingleput), but with great care and caution.
The Nawaub, on hearing this news despatched his
horse in front, under the command of Sidi Hillal,
and Gholaum AH Khan, Bukhshi, to surround and
harrass the army of the General, and himself fol-
lowed from Arkat.
In this time, the General attacked the fort of
Girgit Paleh, which was garrisoned by the Nawaub's
troops ; and, surrounding it before day break, by
the means of ropes and ladders^ his men mounted
the walls, and, with musketry and the bayonet,
killed all those who manned the bastions. After
the commandant had gallantly defended the fort
for an hour, and had drank of the cup of martyr-
417
dom, the General, being the conqueror, divided the
stores found in the fort among his own troops, and
marched on, and that day encamped in the neigh-
bourhood of Achurwakum. Roshun Khan, Dusta-
dar, who was employed in the siege of Purmokul
Gurh,*" and Rustum All Khan Farooki, who also had
afterwards been appointed to take that hill fort,
having, notwithstanding their great exertions, failed
to reduce the garrison, now left their batteries as
they were, behind them, and joined the Nawaubs
army. The next day the English General marched,
and, under cover of the hills and forests, arrived at
Purmokul, where he conferred high honours on the
brave officer who commanded there; and, taking
him with the army, he left another officer in charge
of that mountain fort. The next day the General
proceeded on the road to Phoolcheri ; (Pondicheri) ;
but, although the victorious troops (Hydur's,) sur-
rounded and attacked on all sides the English army
on its march, and considered whatever baggage re-
mained in the rear as their own property, no field
was found qualified for an open fight. Having
reached Phoolcheri, the General obtained grain
and provisions from the mercenary French mer-
chants of that place, on paying for the same ; and
thence marched to Kootoor, where he arrived safe,
• Permacoil of the English.
£ E
418
and encamped before the castle or fort, and sent
for his supplies of grain and warlike stores by sea
from Madras, Mutchliputtun, (Musulipatam) &c.
For the distance of two ftirsungs round the fort,
the Nawaub had raised batteries, and mounted can-
non on them, and was prepared for action. As»
however, the General, had taken up his position, he
kept his own ground of encampment ; and, pre-
tending the sleep of the hare, appeared occupied
with the internal regulation of his troops and as hav-
ing no intention either to fight, or to make peace.
Leaving, therefore, Meer Ah Ruza Khan with his
force, Sidi Hilal with five thousand horse, and Ghazi
Khan, with other officers, to make head against the
General, he himself, with the whole of his troops
and artillery, &c., marched towards Mahmood Bun-
dur,^ and the forts in that direction, and despatched
the Prince Tippoo (Walakudr) with seven thousand
horse, four thousand regular and irregular foot, and
five guns, towards Tujawur and Nuthumuggur.^
With this force, the Prince Tippoo boldly advanced
into the country of Tujawur. His soldiers, brave
as Roostum, in obedience to his orders, plundered
and destroyed the environs of that town, which in
population and fertility, may be called equal to
Kashmere : the whole of the waters of the rivers
p Porto Novo. <i Tanjore and Trichinopoly.
419
Kavari and Kaveram being employed for irrigation '
in the same districts^ and therefore not suffered
to reach the sea. The habitations and idol temples
of that country, which threw shame on the best
paintings of China^ and resembled the beauties of
Paradise, they levelled with the ground, and, setting
fire to most of the houses, shops, and bazaars,
they laid waste the whole of the country. Verses^
" They set the country in a blaze ;*' — " they took
the lock or latch, and set fire to the door." — *' By
the hoofs of the Islam horse," — *' plains and moun-
tains were rendered undistinguishable. " Sacks
upon sacks of corn, herd upon herd of cattle, flocks
of sheep and goats, with other articles considered
worthy the notice of Hydur were sent to him.
The forts of Turkat Pilly and Shagota, attached
or belonging to that Souba, were repaired and
strengthened, and having appointed a body of troops
to that quarter, the Prince now spurred the steed
of his plans and projects towards Nuthurnuggur.
Having appointed Amils, independent Killadars,
and large garrisons, to the forts of Alianoor and Dyar
Paleh, he marched from that place by night, and
plundered Seerung, and Jhumgiri, ancient temples,
seated between the waters of the Kaveri and Kave-
rum held in great veneration by the Hindoos, and
4.,Sy,\^ Melons, cucumbers, &c.
420
the gaze ' and delight of the world. Verses. — ^^ The
temples of sculptured stone, the images fair and
lovely/* " the girls, loving and wanton, beauties de-
ceiving the heart." * The Kuzzaks here were allowed
to keep all plunder ; and the brave fellows therefore
fearlessly plunged their horses into the river, as if
they had been dying for a drop of cold water, and,
crossing over the stream, put forth their hands to
pillage, and a great quantity of gold, jewels and
articles of value fell into their possession ; as much,
indeed, as they desired. The young men, fond of
beauty and enjoyment, obtained lovely virgins and
slave girls-, of the Brahmun caste, and Bayaderes,
beautiful as the moon, arrayed with ornaments of
gold and jewels, to their hearts desire, and warmed
themselves thoroughly in the arms of beauty. Of
the whole of the plunder taken, one fourth was re-
turned to the Sirkar. The next day, the Prince,
worthy a crown,"* crossed both the rivers, and
marched towards Kalicote, which lies six fiirsungs
to the eastward of the fort of Trichinopoly ; the
Nawaub himself with his whole army, and artillery,
also marched in the same direction. On the road
thither, therefore, the Prince met his father, and,
* This alludes to the women of the Pagodas seemingly.
■ A pun on the name of the province, j^>*w
421
having kissed the border of his carpet, presented
him with a list of the plundered property, and,
having deposited the articles in the treasury, re-
ceived great commendation.
With the intention to reduce as many of the
Purgunas, and towns, of that country under his
own authority as he possibly could, the Nawaub
marched to Trichinopoly, and despatched his horse
in front. Surrounding the fort early in the morn-
ing, the Kuzzaks, or predatory horse, advanced to
the ditch, and made prisoners of many of the women
and children of the poor people^ and, after killing
some few men, they returned. At this time, an
officer, named Mr. Hall/ who was exercising recruits
opposite the gate followed the Nawaub's horse
with six hundred fine young men, and two light
guns (gallopers), and, firing as they moved on,
drove the horse before him and his party. This
body of men was accompanied by thousands of
spectators from the town. The horse, retiring
step by step, and waiting for a favourable opportu-
tunity to charge, took the road to Churgul Paleh,
which lies to the eastward of the fort, at the distance
of about one measured fiirsung, (near four miles) ;
the Nawaub himself, however, before this time, had
arrived and halted there, with the whole of his
matchlock men and the artillery. When the officer
422
before-mentioned, therefore, saw the horse running
away from him, he still followed ; and, advancing, ap-
proached and halted within the distance of a cannon
shot At this time, the Kuzzaks came quickly to
the right about, "^ and with swords drawn, and their
lances quivering, gallopped on to charge the body
of infiemtry ; and the officer, still deceived, keeping
his guns in front, and firing as he advanced, moved
on to meet them. No sooner, however, had they
arrived at the plain of the Paleh above-mentioned,
and halted there, on a rising ground, when, accord-
ing to the Nawaub*s orders, on one side the Ihsham,
(irregular infantry), blood-drinkers, and the Risalas
(regiments) of musketeers, assailed them, and, with
arrows and musketry, swept away these rash men
from the field of existence. On the other side,
the cavalry galloping ' forward, charged them ;
and, although the officer kept his men in the best
position and order, yet, from the shouting and
noise of the foolish spectators, who had crept into
his ranks, he had no room to fire a volley, so that,
in despair, he struck the hand of his rashness on
the ground of desperation, and the recruits, smitten
with terror, threw away their arms, and plunged
into a marsh covered by crops of rice, ^ where they
y Shaul is also a tree, the wood of which is used in ship-
building, teak.
423
stuck fast. In a short time, therefore, the horse
with swords and arrows, the foot with javelins and
maces, and the musketeers with their bayonets, slew
them every one ; and the plain was more stained
with the blood of their enemies than is the many
coloured face of the heavens. It happened that the
officer who commanded the detachment put his
horse to its speed, that he might not fall into the
hands of Hydur's (Ghazies) brave soldiers ; but
one of the Nawaub's horsemen, whose name was
All Nowaz, taking the lead of the rest, made a cut
at his head with his sword. By chance, the sweep
of the sword only reached his hair, which was cut
off, but his head remained uninjured, and he es-
caped into the fort of Trichinopoly.
A few of the men, spared by the sword, were
made prisoners; and those, with the arms and
artillery taken, were presented to the Nawaub, who,
ordering the heads of the slain to be cut off, and
packed in twenty large baskets, sent them into
the fort to frighten the garrison, with a message,
directing them to give up the fort to his officers
immediately, otherwise he would soon cut off their
heads in the same manner. Considering this town
of Paleh as a place of victory, or good fortune, he
pitched his tents and displayed his victorious stan-
dards there. The Prince, with the troops belong-
424
ing to Monsieur Lalli, was appointed to the western
side of the fort (of Trichinopoly) ; and, after the la-
bour of two or three days, the materials for the bat-
teries and the assault, such as ladders, fascines, and
bundles of straw, to fill up the ditch, were collected.
Colonel Lickson, (Nixon), Shadi Khan, the Col-
lector of the Revenue there, and Mr. Hall, however,
were almost without resource, for want of troops,
as they had not more than two or three hundred
men with them ; but to supply this deficiency, they
gathered together all the people of the city, Hin-
doo and Mussulman, took them into daily and
monthly pay, and appointed the blacksmiths and
goldsmiths to the duties of the artillery, and placed
them in great numbers, for show, in the towers and
bastions. The Poligar of Turwur Paleh, also, with
two hundred foot, having strengthened the gates of
the fort, remained in readiness to defend them.
When the Nawaub had obtained the materials
for the siege, and assault, by the road of Churgul
Paleh, and had piled them up in heaps near the
gate ; and the Prince, also, from the Waroor Paleh
side, had collected and piled up materials to a great
amount, near the Durgah or tomb, of Nuthur Wulli,"
Surmusti Kinaani, and, had resolved at night to at-
tempt the capture of the fort ; letters to the pre-
» The name of a Peer or Saint.
425
sence unexpectedly arrived, from Meer All Ruza
Khan, and other officers, stating, that General
Coote, with a well appointed force, had left Koda-
loor, (Cuddalore), and was marching to Mahraood
Bundur, (Porto Novo), and that, if the Nawaub
would march that way with his valiant army, he
might soon and easily do away with his enemies.
The Nawaub, on hearing this, decamped without a
moment's delay, and made a forced march with the
whole of his army and artillery ; and the Prince,
after setting fire to the materials for forming the
batteries, followed as quickly as he was able.
When the General, (Coote), left his encampment
and his advanced guard, which, in the technical
language of the English, is called picquet,* had ar-
rived in the neighbourhood of Bagoor, Sidi Hillal,
the Bukhshi, charged that body with his cavalry,
and, they actively employing their bows, spears,
and swords, a severe action followed ; and, on
both sides, many of the bravest men were slain.
Fate decided, also, that the Bukhshi, Sidi Hillal,
should be sent to Paradise, by a shot from a musket
and a bayonet wound. On the same day, Lai Khan
the Kayim Khani, deviated from the road of honour,
and followed the path of treachery and ingratitude ;
that is to say, he deserted with his Risala of horse.
426
and joined the General's anny. General Coote
marched straight from this place to Mahmood Bun-
dur, and that day encamped there. At night, he
made an attack on Selimbur, (commonly called Chil-
lambrum.) The Killadar, or oflScer commanding in
that fort , whose name was Yousuf Khan, was, how-
ever, a brave soldier, and, with three hundred men,
defended the fort gallantly ; and, by a continual
shower of musket balls, rockets and shells, he so ef-
fectually beat off the assailants, that between two and
three hundred of the English army lost their lives,
without any advantage gained. The General, there-
fore, submitting to the exigencies of the time, re-
turned to Mahmood Bundur, without effecting his
purpose ; and scarcely had he returned when,
behold ! the Nawaub arrived, treading on his heels,
and took possession of the head of the route, shut-
ting up on all sides the paths of safety.^ To that
end, also, he posted his guns on the sand hills,
which lie scattered on the sea shore, like little
mountains, and gave orders to open their fire.
The General, meanwhile, in order to ascertain the
Nawaub's plans, ranged his troops and guns in lines
on the beach, placing the whole of his followers and
baggage near the waves of the sea ; and, keeping the
eye of hope on what the agents of fate might bring
^ He caught a Tartar.
427
forth from the womb of time, waited for opportunities
to commence the action. The Nawaub, also, under
cover of the sand hills, sat in his golden chair, like
the world-conquering sun, alone, (without an equal,)
and closely watched the movements, of both armies,
Meer AH Ruza Khan was appointed to act on the
rear of the English army, and the Prince and Mon-
sieur Lalli, with a very large body of troops, were
stationed to block up their retreat or passage. The
Risalas or regiments of the gallant Commandant,
Syud Humeed, Shaikh Oonsur, Shaikh Omr, &c.
formed the advanced guard, and now received strict
orders to attack and destroy their enemies. The
matchlock and artillery men, without pity,*" by their
fire, burned the heads and breasts of those who
were advancing, or taking up their ground. The
rocketeers, according to the orders they had re-
ceived, each man taking post behind the Kewra
(Spikenard) trees, of which many grew in the
neighbourhood, fired their rockets among the fol-
lowers and baggage of the English ; and the poor
people, frightened, were thrown into the utmost
confusion. The flames of war thus blazed high,
until mid-day, and on every side lay heaps of dead.
The General had borne, with much patience,
® This will bear a different interpretation, but I believe this
is what is meant.
428
the loss of a great many of his soldiers and followers,
when two** ships arrived from Kodaloor, and an-
chored opposite his army. He now therefore arose,
forthwith, and, with his troops formed in excellent
order, marched straight to the spot where the Na-
waub himself had taken his station ; and, notwith-
standing the horse and foot, and the Risalas of
regular infantry, strove to impede, and arrest his
advance, they could not withstand the vigour of his
charge, but fled before him, and, by the constant
discharge of English shot, most of their bravest
men were killed and wounded. On becoming ac-
quainted with the intrepidity of his enemies, and
the useless destruction of God's creatures being
contrary to his principles, the Nawaub gave orders
that the guns should be withdrawn to the rear,
and that the troops should occupy the plain, in
as wide or open an order as possible, and they
anxious to preserve their fame, did as they were
ordered. At this moment Meer Ali Ruza Khan
was galloping, at the head of his cavalry, along the
beach, intending by an attack on the troops and
followers of the English army to throw them into
confusion, when, of a sudden, a shot from a can-
non on board of one of the ships struck him and
broke the arm of his valour, and threw him off his
** Perhaps a two decked ship.
429
horse. His astonished attendants, with cries of
grief and consternation, assembled round their
master, and, placing him in a Palkee, carried him
to the presence. The Nawaub, on seeing his con-
dition, was struck with grief and compassion ; but,
in respect to the exigencies of the time, he bore his
loss with patience and constancy, and did not
even bend his eyebrow at the sight, but lifting up
the curtain of the Palkee, with his own hand, he
saw that the eagle of his (All Ruza's) soul, at one
flight,* had winged its way to the gardens of Para-
dise. They, therefore, immediately put him into a
coffin,' and sent it off to Gurum Koonda. The whole
of the troops of Meer All Ruza, his treasure and va-
luables, horses and elephants, according to the inven-
tories, were handed over by the Nawaub to the Prince
Tippoo, (Walukudr), who was his own sister's son.
Kumr-ud-din Khan, the son of Meer AKRuza Khan,
who had arrived at years of discretion, and, although
the son of a lady « of his Hurum, was a very worthy
young man, and endowed with the best qualities of
an officer, was sent for to the presence ; and Hydur,
passing his hand over his head, presented him with
a dress of mourning, and renewed to him the
* LT-^f" Some copies have, " with one smile winged its way,"
430
honours and distinctions of his father, as kettle-
drums, elephants, the umari, &c. and that he might
be well educated, or brought up, put his hand into
the hand of the Prince.
On that day, therefore, on which occurred a
great defeat and dispersion of the victorious troops,
Hydur, seeing no advantage in continuing the
action, turned his line of march towards Vinkuta
Peenth, and the bodies of the slain of his army
were consigned to the earth, and the wounded,
placed in Doolies and on cots,^ were sent to Arkat.
S3aid Sahib was despatched from the same ground
of encampment, with his own Dusta and a party of
foot soldiers, to conquer the country of Tanjore, (or
as it is written, Tujawur), and Nuthumuggur.
The General, having conquered in this battle,
again returned to Phoolcheri, (Pondicheri), and
from that place, by the route of Purmokul Gurh,
and Chungul Peenth,* entered his station at the
French Mountains ; ^ but at no place did he halt
more than one or two days. The sanguinary
Kuzzaks, however, in the mean time, attacked and
harassed the English army on all sides, and by their
exploits effaced the memory of those of Roostum
and Isfendiar. The Nawaub now also left his en-
campment, and, marching by the route of Turwadi
^ Litters and small bedsteads. * Chingleput. ^ The Mount.
431
and Beelpoor, encamped at Tondivellum. It hap-
pened that some of the Nawaub's stable horse,
going near Purmokul Gurh, for grass and wood,
entered a garden about one fursung from the fort,
and began collecting forage there. The officer,
who commanded in the fort, espying them from the
top of the mountain, despatched a Jamadar, with a
party of infantry, to attack them, and the Jamadar
advancing to the garden, under cover of the tank,
belonging to the town, arrived there and com-
menced a fire to disperse them. Being surprised
and unprepared, at the sound of the discharge, the
horse fell into confusion; some lefl their horses
and escaped, and some, without obtaining any thing,
lost their lives. The aforesaid Jamadar, therefore,
seized the horses of the Nawaub's men, and returned
to the mountain.
The Chiefs or staff-officers of the army apprised
the Nawaub of this occurrence, stating that in that
neighbourhood was a Hill fort, which had not yet
been reduced by his troops, and that the officer
commanding there attacked unnecessarily both the
peasantry and the soldiers of the army, and that, on
that day, he had seized several horses of the Paigah,
after killing their riders. On hearing this, the fire
of Hydur's rage burned furiously, and he imme-
432
diately ordered his army to assault and take the
fort. He himself, left his encampment, and took
his station on the giound formerly occupied by
Roshun Khan. His brave officers now crowded
round from all parts, and enclosed the Hill fort, like
a dot in the centre of a circle ; the Prince and
Monsieur Lalli, ran trenches or the sap ^ from the
rear of the mountain, and the artillery were placed
in battery to breach the fort. Tlie foot soldiers, in
the mean time, notwithstanding the shot showered
fast upon them, and a number of lives were saeri-'
ficed, ascended the hill, under cover of the rocks^
and established themselves at the foot of the walls.
Although the fort was garrisoned by three hundred
men, with abundant stores and provisions, yet the
Commandant, smitten with the beauty of one of the
courtezans of the town, was in all matters desirous
to avoid giving her pain or uneasiness ; but, when
he saw her readiness and importunity to make
peace, or give up the fort, he the first day re-
nounced her love, and determined to plant his
foot in the field of manhood, and defend his charge.
After that, however, her obstinacy exceeding all
bounds, the woman wantonly placing the hand of
pertinacity on the garment of his love, and shed-
The late Earl of Munster, whose acquaintaDce with
Oriental military terras was very extensive, thought it probable,
that our word sap was originally derived from this. It signifies
a ditch or trench in Arabic.
433
ding tears, said, " If you are determined to fight,
first kill me." Some other persons, also, being in
league with her in this plan, and the disposition of
the oflScer being mild, he consented to surrender.
The Soubadar" of the garrison, however, whose
name was Abdul Kadur, took the command of the
fort on his own responsibility, and defended it
six days ; but, being killed by a musket shot
on the seventh day, the walls of the fort being
much shattered and beat down, courage deserted
the garrison, and the commanding oflScer submit-
ted to the Nawaub, and surrendered the place to
his agents. The Nawaub immediately placed it
in charge of his most faithful servants, and, giving
them orders to repair the works, marched towards
Wandiwash.
It is proper to mention here, that the General,
hearing of the siege of Purmokul Gurh, despatched
two Risalas or battalions of infantry, with a convoy
of provisions and ammunition, to reinforce the gar-
rison. This body of troops had arrived in the
vicinity of Achur Wakum, when they became aware
of the conquest of Purmokul, and, stealing a march
by night, they entered the fort of Wandiwash,"
and, strengthening the fort, remained there. But,
" A Native Captain of a Native regiment.
F F
434
although the circuit of the fort was previously
blockaded, or in a state of siege, and the Nawaub
himself, for three or four days, had formed his
plans to reduce it, and several fearful assaults had
been already made, still, as certain state affairs of
the utmost importance pressed on his mind, the
Nawaub, after he had well tried and ascert:ained
that the Commandant of the fort had a stout heart,
and, was a man of great skill and experience, ap-
pointed Monsieur Lalli, Syud Humeed, and Shaikh
Oonsur, to take the fort, and he himself proceed-
ed to Arkat. The Frenchmen and other officers
having raised their batteries on all sides, and
mounted guns in them, began to batter the walls of
the fort, so that, in a short time, they were beaten
down, and many furious assaults were made ; but,
in spite of all their exertions, the officer command-
ing in the fort did not allow his heart to fail him,
and fought valiantly, being uniformly successftil in
beating off his assailants.
In this state of affairs. Monsieur Lalli seeing that
the siege had been protracted to a considerable
length, and that no success had followed their at-
tacks, and also that the officer defending the fort was
a man of consmnmate experience, consulted with the
other officers, and determined on the following
plan : — viz. that a body of their troops should be
435
arrayed as English soldiers, and separated from
their army, and at night sent to the distance of one
stage, by the route of Girgut Paleh and Choongul
Peenth ;"* and that a French officer, who understood
the English language, and could read and write
English perfectly well, should be appointed with
these troops. This plan was carried into effect,
and Lalli himself enjoined the officer to do his best
in deceiving the Commandant of the fort, and then
sent him and his detachment off in the manner above
described. In pursuance of this scheme, the French
officer wrote a letter to the Killadar or Commandant
of the fort, purporting that he was appointed, with
a large force from Madras, to convey supplies to the
garrison, and to aid them against Hydur ; that he
would be there soon, and that the Killadar should
be on the alert, for that on the morrow, at about
eight o'clock in the morning, he would enter the fort,
and attack the enemy. When the letter, which was
taken by a pair of Hurkaras, (letter carriers,) was
received by the commanding officer, although the
receipt of the letter gave him pleasure, and the
reading of its contents made him smile, still, the
name or signature appended to it surprised and
threw him into doubt and suspicion ; for he knew
® Peenth, a suburb, is the word which the English write Pettah.
436
that the officer named had been deputed to Sika-
kole (Chicacole) and Gunjam, to collect grain
and gun-bullocks. This was well known to the
Commander of the fort, and, therefore, after much
consideration, he surmised — for '' good sense is
half a miracle ** ^ — that this most likely was a ruse
or deception of Monsieur Lalli's, Nevertheless,
he was still undecided what to think, when, the
next day a sharp fire of musketry and the roar
of artillery were heard from the road indicated by
the despatch of the day before. The Killadar or
officer, hearing this, took up his telescope, and
looking out sharply, saw two bodies of troops close
together, firing at each other ; but, with all their
firing, no signs of wounded men, could be descried
by the telescope ; on the contrary, it appeared
merely the sound of powder without ball. This
cleared away the officer's doubts, and the beauti-
ful image of truth *> unveiled her radiant face to
him, and he became certain that treachery was in-
tended. He, therefore, collected the garrison on the
same side of the fort, loaded all his guns with grape-
shot, and kept them in readiness. By this time
the false reinforcement had arrived near at hand^
and the officer in command of them sent a mes-
sage, by a Hurkaru, that, thank God, he had arrived
437
safe^ and that he requested the gate of the fort
might be thrown open, that he and his men might
enter, and that they might converse with each other,
and dine together, — The Killadar, in reply, inti-
mated that it would be advisable for him to halt his
men for an hour or two on the Glacis, that is, out-
side the ditch, until the gate could be opened ; for,
that a strong wall had been built behind it, which
it would take some time to break down, and there-
fore, in the meanwhile, they had better rest them-
selves. When the false reinforcement reached and
halted on the brink of the ditch, the Commandant
of the fort mounted a bastion, and having carefully
examined the movements of the new comers, the cut
of their beards and moustaches, &c., immediately
gave orders to his artillery men and musketeers to
open their fire. This cannonade soon beat the va-
pour of folly and the affectation of valour out of
their empty heads ! — ^A terrible blow thus fell on the
officer and his men, who, not finding time to take
up their arms and baggage, escaped to camp with
their lives only. In fine, the officer in the fort,
with great penetration, saw and avoided the snare
laid for him, and thus gained a victory. When the
Nawaub heard of the bad management of the siege,
and of the defeat of his troops, he was exceedingly
438
angry, and immediately ordered the Frenchman to
the presence ; the other officers also were recalled
with their troops, but the fort still continued to be
surrounded or blockaded by the cavalry.
439
CHAPTER XXX.
An account of the arrival of Troops from Bengal at the Port of
Madras, and a description of the Battle in the vicinity of Sool
Nuggur. Also, the relief of the Fort of Rai Vellore, by General
Coote, with great difficulty ; the Battle of Arnee ; and the attack
and overthrow of a body of English troops, by the Prince Tippoo,
in the neighbourhood of Puna Nelloor, a dependency of the
Souba of Tujavur (Tanjore ;) with other events of the year 1 196,
Hijri.— A. D. 1781-2.
TVhen General Coote, after the battle of Mahmood
Bundur, (Porto Novo,) returned to Madras, a Colo-
nel, that is, an oflScer of high rank, arrived from
Bengal, with five battalions of regular infantry, and
two regiments of Europeans, with military stores,
bullocks to draw the artillery, treasure, and sixty
or seventy vessels, laden with grain. The General,
at the arrival of these reinforcements, showed him-
self well pleased, and in congratulation saluted them
with his guns. In about two months, therefore, his
army was restored to condition, and taking one of
the sons of Muhammad Ah Khan, Suraj-ud-dowla,
440
named Syfe ul Moolk, with him, he moved towards
Turvaloor-i-Tahir Khani, like a tiger looking out
for his prey, with the intention of re- victualling
the garrison of the fort of Rai Vellore. The
Nawaub's scouts informed him of the march of
the General, while he was encamped at Dysoor
and Walpundul, and he, therefore, marched with
his troops and artillery, by the route of Gun-
dapoor, otherwise called Kauveri Pauk, to that
quarter. The General, however, before he met
the Nawaub's army, made night marches, from
Trivalore to the vicinity of Sool Nuggur, a town
on the road of the hilly country of Naglapoor ; and
about the same distance as Arkat to the north-
ward, and there he encamped. No sooner had he
done this, than he found his camp surrounded by
the Nawaub's horse, and a sharp skirmish ensued.
The next day, when the lion of the heavens
at one leap or bound had scattered' the starry
host, like a flock of sheep ; and had risen from
the plains of the east, with his jaws and claws
stained with blood, the General left his ground,
and advanced to an extensive plain. He had
scarcely reached it, before the Nawaub's cavalry
with horses as swift as the wind, attacked him on all
sides, and, giving up all consideration either of their
' Devoured.
441
liveSj or those of others, surrounded the General's
troops in close combat — and to what extent did they
not exert their valour ! The Nawaub himself, with
his artillery, took up a position on a high ground on
the General's route, and lighted up the fire of war in
his front. On the right flank, the Prince determined
to imitate in his attack the Battle ' of the last day,
and a total dispersion of the troops, followers, and
baggage, of the rear guard,^ ensued ; and, at one
charge, thousands of men and women passed under
the edge of the sword, perished by the arrow, and
musket ball ; or were put to flight. The oflScers of
the musketeers, and Ahsham, or irregular foot, with
the breath of the musket, and rocket, lit up the fire
of battle and slaughter, and many were uselessly
burned, and many drowned in a river of their own
blood. In fact, a great multitude of officers and
men, on both sides, slept on the field of death.
The army of the General in this action received a
severe blow ; a cannon ball from one of the
Nawaub's guns having broken the leg of Colonel
Stuart, and thereby caused the commander a deep
affliction; but, more than this, another shot also
struck the horse of Syfe ul Moolk, by which he
Syfe ul Moolk was thrown on the ground, and his
■ The fight ^ith the Dujj^ or Antichrist.
442
brave "* heart split in twain. In short, it went very
near that the stone of defeat and dispersion would
fall among the troops of the General, when gloomy
night suddenly arrived, and cast a veil of darkness
over the world, and closed the contest of the two
fierce lions.
The General brought that night to an end with a
hundred anxieties and sorrows, and, in the morning
marched^ in good order from that ground, and
without halting or delay in any place, returned to the
neighbourhood of Trivalore. Syfe ul Moolk, an effe-
minate young man, and inexperienced in war, and
who was struck with terror by the concussion of
the cannon ball, was seized with fever and ague, and
was sent home safe to his father. The Poligars of
Kalistri and Vinkut Giri, who had submitted, and
were tributary to the Nawaub, and were in atten-
dance on him, now, seeing the expedition likely
to be attended with an unfavorable issue, and that
the war between the two parties was not likely to
come to an early conclusion, quitted the Nawaub,
with their troops, and joined the General, taking no
account of the Nizam, the lord of their possessions.''
" IronicaUy.
^ The au'hor of this work passes over the relief of Vellore, in
silence. — The march of the General here mentioned was to Vellore
I helieve.
^ {Sumu;;tan.
443
The Nawaub, after the General had arrived at Tri-
valore^ left his ground^ and encamped near Kinchi,
where there was plenty of water and forage. At this
time, also, the Nawaub's spies gave him an account
of the arrival of the French fleet, bringing with them
Monsieur Bussy, the commander of the French
troops. Accounts likewise came of the English
army, which had been collected from Trichinopoly
and Tanjore, and had marched to Naug Puttun.""
It must not be concealed here, that, some time
before, when the Nawaub with his army was on their
march towards Tanjore, the Hollanders of Naug
Puttun immediately deputed a person to wait on
him, and he, having arranged and confirmed the re-
lations of peace and friendship between them, they
professed obedience, and became tributary to the
Nawaub. The Nawaub, therefore, after the pre-
liminary details of the treaty, entertained the agent
with kindness ; and, at a fair price, purchased from
him warlike stores, that is to say, guns and muskets,
with boxes on boxes of their equipments and other
necessary articles, such as glass ware, &c. He also,
attached a body of two thousand irregular foot to
the Hollander, for his aid and protection.
When the General proceeded to Madras, and the
Nawaub leaving his brave troops in the forts of
^ Negapatam.
444
Turkat Pilly, Shahgota, and the Ghaut of Muniar
Koodi, followed the army of the General, and march-
ed to this quarter/ the chief English officer at Trichi-
nopoly and Tanjore, according to the orders given
by the Governor of Madras, after proof of the in-
sincerity of the Hollanders in furnishing warlike
stores to the Nawaub, collected five or six thousand
troops, and some large g^ns, and marched and be*
sieged the said fort of Naug Puttun, and exerted
himself to the utmost to effect its capture. But,
though he professed a wish to prevent fighting, and
advised the surrender of the fort, his advice was
without avail, and the result was, that, giving up
all care for his life, the commandant of the fort,
with his own troops, and the foot soldiers sent by
the Nawaub, defended himself with the greatest
manliness and bravery. At that time General
Monro, who, since the period of his turning aside
the reins of perseverance from the neighbourhood
of Ginjee,* after the defeat of the troops under
Colonel Baillie, had not been employed by the East
India Company in their service, but had remained
at his own house, now, according to the advice and
recommendation of the General, (Coote,) was put
on board-ship with two hundred Europeans and
proceeded to that quarter, (Negapatam) ; and, in
y Madras or Arkat. * Sometimes written Kinchi.
445
the course of about ten days, after the destruction
of thousands of men, on both sides, he took the
fort, and with his prisoners again returned to
Madras by sea, — Syud Sahib, although he laboured
with great ardour to assist and relieve the Hol-
landers, was unsuccessful.
Soon after this event. Colonel Burgford (intended
for Brathwaite,) with four thousand regular infantry,
seven guns, and some regular cavalry, left Naug Put-
tun, having made his own arrangements for the
security of the fort ; and, seeing the plain clear of
Hydur*s prowling lions, he marched to Karical and
Tulingawari, But the Prince, the destroyer of his
enemies, having been commissioned with his invin-
cible troops to the conquest of that country, like an
arrow parting swiftly from the bow to the butt,
arrived there ; and encamped in the neighbourhood
of those towns. There being at this time a report
prevalent, that a fleet of French ships had arrived,
the Colonel beforementioned came to Tanjore ; and
with a design to cover Kuddalore, in case the French
should land there, marched on to the vicinity of
Puna Nelore, (which lies to the eastward of the dis-
trict of Gomkurn, and is situated on the bank of the
river Kauverum,)' and encamped in a cocoa nut
grove there. He had, however, no sooner arrived
• This river in one copy is called Goldum.
446
there, than spies carried the intelligence to the
Prince, and that lion of the field of battle imme-
diately marched, following his footsteps ; and over-
taking him, at night, posted his artillery round the
cocoa nut grove, and remained on the alert. In
the morning, when the Colonel's drums beat the
generale for the march, the Prince ordered his
artillery to open their fire ; and the men, in obey-
ing, fired with such precision, that, before the
Colonel's troops had time to fall in, half their num-
ber were killed, or wounded, by the fall of the
cocoa nut trees, cut down and broken by the shot.
To be concise, — after the Colonel's troops were
formed, they, with their guns, came out to the
plain, and, for an hour, or two, displayed much
bravery ; but, as there were a hundred difficulties
and dangers opposed on all sides to their passage,
the Colonel repented of his movement ; and was
plunged into the sea of anxiety and indecision^
and, taking possession of an old temple, or par
goda, which was on the plain, he made that his
quarters and halted there. A gentleman of the
name of Sampson,** however, a cavalry officer
charged the Nawaub's Kushoon, (a brigade of In-
fantry,) in flank, and cut his way through them,
and took the road to Tanjore. The brave horse of
** Simpsou, perhaps
447
the Paigah,*^ however, followed him, and took and
brought back several of his men, with their horses,
and arms ; Syud Ghuffar, Soubadar, was taken on
that very day. — But to return, the Prince by the
constant fire of his artillery knocked down the
walls of the old temple, and devoted the whole of
those who sought refuge in it to the sword ; * not
leaving one alive. Then, taking possession of their
baggage and stores, he marched by Lai Peenth to
Kuddalore, and had scarcely encamped in front of
the fort, when a number of French ships arrived,
and anchored in the roads.
The chief officer of the French now despatched
a summons to the English Commandant of the
fort, to surrender ; and the Commandant, not being
of opinion he could resist, returned to the French
general a detailed statement of the stores, &c. in
the fort, and, taking his receipt, evacuated the fort,
and proceeded by sea in boats to Sudrung Puttun,
(called by the English Sadras), a fort garrisoned by
the Dutch, where they disembarked. At that time,
also, two hundred men, with two guns and stores,
had arrived from Choongul Peenth at that fort to
besiege it ; and both these detachments, therefore,
formed a junction. After some negociation, the
^ Apparently household troops.
** Made a charitable donation of them to the sword.
448
Commandant, who had no intention to fight, joined
them, and they destroyed the fort, and returned to
Choongul Peenth.
The French Commander-in-Chief, with his army,
consisting of four or five thousand troops, all Euro-
peans, now disembarked at Kuddalore, and the
Prince, after the lapse of two days, visited him,
and having renewed and strengthened the founda-
tions of worldly friendship, said, '* It is now neces-
sary that you with your gallant army,* without fear
or delay, should turn to our aid, and help us to
destroy and root out our enemies, and, when that
is done, each of us will then return to his own
country.** — The French general, however, pleaded
the discomfort and length of the sea voyage, and
the want of preparation in his military equipments,
as reasons for a short delay. — The Nawaub, also,
hearing of the arrival of the French at Kuddalore,
according to agreement, their meeting with the
Prince, and his endeavour to excite them to do
away with the seditious and rebellious people, (the
English,) marched towards Beelpoor, when the
Prince met him there, and detailed to him the delay
required by the French, and other matters. The
Nawaub, therefore, sent them some bullocks, to
j\^^ j\jS j»Xfr melting their enemie«, and drinking
their hlood.
449
draw their guns, and some other articles of necessity,
and then returned towards Arkat. In the course of
the march, however, the scouts and spies from the
outposts which surrounded the EngHsh army, came
in, and reported that General Coote, with a very large
force, exceedingly well equipped, was again march-
ing towards Rai Vellore, under cover of the forest
of Naglapoor, and the confines of the territory of
Bom raj the Poligar. The Nawaub, therefore, in-
stantly put the whole of his army in motion, for
that quarter. Syud Humeed, Shaikh Oonsur, and
Monsieur Lalli, with their divisions of troops, were
sent to defend Arkat ; while Kureem Sahib, with
four thousand horse, and two thousand foot, was
despatched towards Madras, that he might shut up
the road against all reinforcements and convoys
proceeding to join the English army. The Na-
waub himself then marched on, and, leaving the
Prince in the plain near Araee, encamped near
Dhoby Gurh. During this time, the General, tra-
versing by forced marches, high and difficult moun-
tains and arid plains, arrived from the environs of
Kulkeri at Rai Vellore, and halted there.
It is not to be omitted here, that, after the battle
of Sool Nuggur, the brave Commandant, (Muham-
mad All), notwithstanding that worthy servant
had committed no fault deserving punishment, was
o G
460
nevertheless, accused of having wilfully neglected
his duty in opportunities of defeating the English.
He was displaced, therefore, from his Risala, and
remained in the suite of the Nawaub, with only one
horse for his own riding. About this time a number
of Bunjaras,^ belonging to the victorious army, hav-
ing with them about four or five thousand bullocks,
laden with grain, were proceeding by the road of
Arnee to Arkat. The English General hearing of
this, despatched a body of troops across the Ghaut
of Kunumbari, to follow and way lay the Bunjaras.
The officer commanding this force made a forced
night march, and took the whole of the bullocks and
grain ; the unfortunate Bunjaras being dispersed at
the first volley. As soon as the Prince heard of
this, he followed the captors of the grain, with a
select body of horse, and recovered two or three
thousand of the bullocks, by making desultory
attacks on them ; and, after this, having posted
matchlock men, and archers, to shut up the road
of the Ghauts against future incursions, he, ac-
cording to the Nawaub's orders, encamped in the
neighbourhood of Chunbargurh. Still, however,
he made excursions^ every day in the direction
' A tribe of Hindoos who carry grain about on bullocks for
sale.
« si; V
451
of Kylas, and Vellore/ and sought all opportu-
nities to defeat and destroy his enemies. It hap-
pened one day, while he was thus on the watch,
that, from the vicinity of Wanumbari and Amboor
Gurh, supplies of provisions were advancing to
the Prince's army by the road of Pulligundah
and Balinjpoor;* and the General, becoming ac-
quainted with the advance of this convoy, detached
four hundred musketeers to intercept it. When,
however, this detachment had advanced two or
three fursungs, tracing the route of the supplies,
they had arrived safely in camp. The outlying
picquets hearing of the detachment, and inform-
ing the Prince of its approach, he, like a hungry
lion, sprang after them, and by his courage and by
casting the terror of his sword and bow over them,
took them all prisoners ; and, having cut off the
hands and noses of the greater part, he dismissed
them.
The General now, after enjoying a month of
leisure and ease, having put his troops in good con-
dition, advanced by the route of Chunbar Gurh
straight towards Dhoby^ Gurh. The Nawaub, also,
got his troops in readiness, and gave the command of
^ Dylore. * J^J
J Hydur's encampment being at Dhoby Gurh. The descrip-
tion of this action is I think designedly obscure.
452
the right and left wings, and the main body of his
army, to the most honorable and faithful of his
servants ; and, separating his baggage and followers
from his army, with a select ^ body of men, strong
and brave as Roostum, ^ and his artillery burning
his enemies, remained formed for action."
It happened, at this time, that the Nawaub was
seated on his Koorsi, or chair, in a garden beneath a
banyan tree, and was viewing the various evolutions
of the troops, when the disgraced Commandant, who
was standing among the Nawaub's body guard, im-
mediately climbed up the tree like a rope dancer^ "
and hid himself among the branches and leaves,
in such a way that the Nawaub should know no-
thing of the matter. It chanced, at that very mo-
ment, that the fortune of the battle turned,** or was
reversed, for the breeze of victory began to blow
on the standards of the General ; so much, indeed,
that at one charge he drove all the advanced parties
before him, and, rushed on straight to the garden,
like a whirlwind, or hurricane, pouring forth the
storm of his fury. The Nawaub, on seeing this at-
tack, ordered his officers and the Bukhshees to draw
the artillery from under the cover of the garden.
* chj j*^^ uV (^
°* The commencement of the action is not described.
453
and bring the guns to bear on the rear ^ of the
General's army ; and the musketeers and archers
to keep up a well directed fire and discharge
from both flanks ; and these orders were imme-
diately put in execution. At this time the Na-
waub sent for his horse, (a bit of lightning), to
stand near him, when the Commandant called out
aloud, from the top of the tree, *' this is the mo-
ment for a man to show his manhood/*"* The
Nawaub, looking up to the top of the tree, smiled,
and put off his mounting on horseback. The
cavalry of the body guard and the cuirassiers ' were
now put in requisition, to arrest the progress of the
enemy. The mighty elephants, also, armed in all
ways, were drawn up along the front as a wall,
while, Hke lions, the conquering troops plying their
swords, bows, and spears, despatched a grejtt mul-
titude to eternity. But, in spite of this, the English
troops, perfectly steady and unshaken, withstood
all attacks, and with their muskets, bayonets, gal-
loper guns, and howitzers, ' raining fire, kept open
the gates of death before the faces of their oppo-
nents, and made the battle-field like a rose-garden
4 Intimating, I believe, that Hydarlshould remain where he was.
**^^ This word signifies a bullock-cart or Ctirriage.
454
with the blood of the faithful. In this state of the
contest, the Prince Tippoo, and other officers, how-
ever forcibly they represented, that this was not a
place in which the Nawaub could remain ; tliat, the
English with matchless bravery, had arrived near,
and that the Nawaub's troops, after fighting hard to
stop their progress were mostly killed and wounded ;
that, the plain was soaked with the blood of the slain
on both sides ; and that they now hoped the fire of
Hydur*s anger, would be extinguished by the pure
water of mercy ; still the Nawaub, notwithstand-
ing their entreaties and arguments, would not stir
from the place, but ordered another line of mus-
keteers, archers, and rocket* or riflemen to cover the
front of his position, and there he remained. The
fiaithful servants of the Nawaub, being now with-
out resource, thronged under the tree, and having,
by signs and threats, disturbed and alarmed the
brave Commandant, they induced him to come
down from the tree, and with his hands tied, to
fall at the feet of the Nawaub, whom he thus ad-
dressed. '^ Huzrut, mount your horse, this is a
dangerous place, and not proper for you to remain
in. Leave this deserted garden to the crows and
owls, "* and to-day plant your victorious standards,
exalted as the sun and moon, in the plain of
" Meaning the English army, apparently.
455
Arnee. Please God, to-morrow we will give our
enemies such a defeat^ that no one shall be able
to find out what has become of them till the day
of Judgment. The Nawaub after this mounted his
horse and rode towards Arnee.
The truth is, that to bear the infirmities of
temper of the brave man, and to allow him every
encouragement, is indispensable to all kings and
princes. In, short, the commandant alone, Arom
that place putting his horse to speed, charged like
lightning straight into the ranks of the English
troops ; and, in spite of the showers of balls falling
around him, he with his sharp sword having cut
down a drummer and a standard bearer, notwith-
standing he himself was wounded by a ball in the
forehead, and had received a bayonet wound in his
side, brought off the English flag, and returned to
the presence, where he presented it to the servants
of the Nawaub, and, in his honest plain spoken
manner said, ^^ this is a proof of what cowards can
do.*' As a reward for his bravery he received a
thousand praises and acknowledgments, with the
honours of a valuable gorget, a dress with an em-
broidered vest, pearl necklace, the Nawaub's own
shawls, &c. ; and he also raised the head of dignity,
by being restored to his rank"" and command in the
army.
456
But, to return — when the Nawaub proceeded to-
wards Arnee, and encamped there, the General en-
camped at Dhoby Gurh, and on the second day he
marched to Ahabad. The troops of the Nawaub,
however, still vigorously attacked the General's
army on all sides ; and, by suddenly charging them,
and plying them with rockets, they carried away
strength and stability from the feet of the infidels.
After the General had encamped at Aliabad, the
Nawaub thought he perceived that his views lay
towards the Ghaut of Chungum, and the Barh
Mahl ; or, that he was preparing to march to Tri-
chinopoly, under cover of the hills and forests. He,
therefore, marched from Arnee towards Bagmar
Peenth, where he displayed his victorious standards,
and intimated to his Kuzzaks, and rocket-men, that
they should have free liberty to plunder as much as
they pleased ; and eager for the spoil of their
enemies, they came upon the heads of the English,
like a black thunder cloud, and rained a perfect
storm of musketry and rockets on every side of their
army. Many of the men and women from Bengal,
and the Sameris,^ (a low tribe from the Karnatic),
with loaded camels and bullocks, were taken pri-
soners and made slaves. The English army was,
in consequence, thrown into confusion, and sought
^ These people are called Dares in Hiodostan.
457
the cover of the river Anumungalum, where they
halted till the evening. In the course of the night
they marched on to the front of Hydur*s outposts ;''
for, in the way of protection, several Risalas of
Musketeers, and four or five pieces of cannon, had
been posted near Amee, to command the road.
Night, however, had drawn the veil of sleep and for-
getfulness over the heads and faces of their courage,
when, all at once, the English made an attack, and
two of the guns were.taken. The battalion of Hydur
All Beg, Risaldar, who was then advancing, met and
mixed with the troops of the enemy and a furious
battle followed, in which a great number of men
were killed and wounded, and the remainder drew
themselves off to one side from the contest. The
General, therefore, pressed on and surrounded the
fort of Arnee ; and determined to take that fort ;
and, certainly, several regiments of the British
exerted themselves nobly ; for, keeping up a con-
tinual fire, they advanced even to the gate. Never-
theless, the Killadar, whose name was Sidi Imam,
behaved like a hero, in repelling his enemies ; and,
by a continual fire of cannon, musketry, rockets,
hand-grenades, and stones, he beat back his assail-
ants. Indeed, he himself, with a few good swords-
men, leaving the fort by a postern gate, fought with
458
so much intrepidity, that the stories of the prowess
of Roostum and Isfendiar were thrown into the
shade by his actions, and a river of blood flowed
from the field of battle. But, to return — Even the
General himself, for the sake of justice, was com-
pelled to bestow a thousand praises on the bravery
and devotion of the garrison ; and, suddenly retiring
from the fort, he forthwith proceeded on the road
to Wandiwash. The Nawaub although he quickly
followed him, could find no opportunity to attack
him to advantage ; he, therefore, encamped on the
plain of Turwatoor, and the General, after halting
two days at Wandiwash, marched towards Madras.
The Nawaub then moved towards Timri, where he
cantoned his troops for the rainy season.
About this time, spies reported that in conse-
quence of the oppressions of the magistrates and
petty officers of Trichinopoly and Tanjore, all the
towns and villages of Koimbetore, Dindigul, and
Paulghaut, were deserted and left with a lamp,^ i. e.
an inhabitant ; that the Peasantry had been ruined,
and the idolaters' had set fire to the mosques and
houses of the people of Islam, and had raised the
standard of rebellion in those provinces, far and
near ; that, promptly seizing the opportunity, the
Naimars of Kalikote had also trodden the path of
459
deviation^ or irregularity, had raised the head of
pride and insolence, and had filled the country with
terror ; and that they had sent for a body of Enghsh
troops, from Mudhura, and with their aid continued
to plunder, and spill the blood of God's people.
When this news reached the Nawaub, he des-
patched the Prince, (Tippoo), with a large force
and artillery, to reduce that country to order ; that
is to say, Koimbetore, Paulghat, &c.; and four
thousand horse, under the command of Lala Chu-
beela Ram, with the Risala of Sultan Singh Silladar,
were sent to ravage the district of Nelloor, and to
collect grain and bullocks. Maha Mirza Khan
Bukhshi, and Noor-ulabsar Khan, with two or three
thousand horse, were sent to take possession of
the districts of Kalistri, Vinkut Giri, and Bimraj,
&c., the territory of the refractory PoHgars. A
Finnan also, in the name of Mukhdoom Sahib, who
was Governor of the country south of Puttun,*
and other officers of the frontier, was issued to the
effect, that the Nawaub had heard that the infidel
Naimars had withdrawn their heads from the collar
of obedience and service, and did not consider them-
selves restrained, or held back, from plundering their
own country, and it was therefore necessary they,
* Seringaputtun. The word Puttun signifies a city and it is
therefore common to many cities in India.
460
(the officers), should, m future, to the utmost of their
ability, prevent those pagans from doing any injury
to the peasantry or the poor inhabitants. When
this Firman was received by Mukhdoom Sahib, he
assembled his troops, and, with the officers of
revenue, and pioneers,^ marched to that quarter.
The victorious Prince, after quitting his father's
presence, had proceeded by forced marches to
Oontatoor, by the route of Tyag Gurh, when spies
arrived with news, that a body of troops from Tri-
chinopoly and Tujawur, (or Tanjore), had joined,
with an intention to reduce the forts of Turkat Pilli,
Shah Gota, and the Ghaut of Munniar Koodi ; that,
although Syud Sahib had exerted himself to the ex-
tent of his power to repel these troops, he had been
unsuccessful ; for, from want of experience, the
officer commanding the troops with him, had fre-
quently been shameftiUy defeated by the KuUurs ""
of Tondiman, and the regular cavalry of Tanjore ;
and was so cowed or disheartened, that it was pro-
bable all that part of the country had by this time
been overrun and conquered.
Immediately on receiving this information, the
Prince galloped his horse* towards that quarter,
^ These are called in the language of the country Muniwar and
Kawulignr.
y^VJlS d Shubdez— The horse of the Princess Shirin.
461
and arrived there, swift and sudden as the stroke
of fate, but, before the period at which the
Prince could arrive there, a circumstance accident-
ally occurred, which doubtless may be considered
as very surprising. It appears, that one night a
party of English troops marched from Trichinopoly
to assault the fort of Turkat Pilli, and that a detach-
ment, (also English), marched at the same time
from Tanjore, for the same purpose ; and that,
without the knowledge of each other, both these
parties at the same time, arrived and raised ladders,
and at one assault scaled the walls and towers of
that fort. The garrison not being able to oppose
their assailants, escaped by a postern and hid them-
selves in some place near the fort. On one side,
one of the parties having mounted the wall, fired a
volley ; the party on the opposite side, conceiving
the fire proceeded from the resistance of the gar-
rison, and that they were approaching, also advanced
keeping up a continual fire. In this way, these
parties fought, without knowing each other, for
more than ten minutes, and displayed their courage
among themselves, until near six or seven hundred
men on both sides were killed or wounded. At
this time, one of the oflScers called out to his men,
in the English language, " forward, and charge your
enemies." The oflScer on the other side, hearing
462
his own language, called out aloud, '* Hold your
hands, we are Englishmen,'* and (the firing being
therefore discontinued), the two officers, advancing,
shook hands with each other, and felt ashamed of
their bad look out^ and want of caution. Then,
taking whatever stores were in the fort, they
marched towards Shahgota. The next morning
the infiantry of the garrison returned into the
fort and remained there until the Prince arrived,
who, when he heard the adventure of the night
before, smiled like the dawn of the morning. He,
however, withdrew the garrison, and left the fort
empty.
When the English battalions left this place, they
joined some of the Kullers of Tondiman with their
force, and surrounded and assaulted the fort of
Shahgota. The officer who commanded in the
fort was a Soubadar, of the name of Shaikh Hu-
meed, and he, with a garrison of about two hun-
dred men, manned the walls and towers ; — and,
not suffering himself to be frightened by his ene-
mies, defended himself with great spirit, pouring
such a heavy fire of musketry, with all kinds of fire-
works or missiles, from the top of the walls, that
the assailants could not stand it, but fled in con-
fusion. Having collected and reformed their men,
the defeated officers were about to try a second
463
assault, when, all at once, the sound of the kettle-
drums, and trumpets of the Prince's army, reached
their ears, and they became aware that a reinforce-
ment had arrived. They, therefore, made haste to
retire, under cover of the hills and jungle, to Sheo
Gunga. The Prince that day encamped before
the fort ; and, atter bestowing on the Soubadar a
thousand commendations in reward for his gallant
conduct, made him a present of a pair of gold
armlets, a puduk, or gorget, and a jowmala,* or a
string of pearls, and took him on with his army.
In this state of things, news arrived from the Pass
or fort of Munniar Koodi, that one night a party of
English troops attacked that fort, the garrison being
absent on a night expedition to collect cattle and
grain, in the towns depending on Sheo Gunga ; and
that the Naik of the fort, with twenty soldiers, and a
few women, belonging to the soldiers and residing
in the fort, when they became aware of the arrival
of the enemy, not knowing they were English
troops, and supposing them KuUurs of that neigh-
bourhood, shut the gate, and prepared to receive
them. All the women therefore assembled, and
mixing cow-dung and water, heated pots and
kettles full of this mixture over the fire, until
® A string of small pearls probably, as Jowmala signifies a
string of barley.
464
the assailants had placed ladders against the wall and
mounted, when the women, all at once raising a great
shout, discharged the pots full of this boiling hot
water on the heads of the storming party ; while
large pieces of stone, which had been laid in order
on the wall, were also without ceremony cast over
on them. On the other side, the little garrison
gallantly pressed forward to repel the enemy, and
pierced the breasts and heads of many of the as-
sailants with balls and an*ows, so that they all at
once took to flight. Hearing the report of muskets
from the fort, the foot soldiers of the garrison,
who had gone forth to forage, or make a night at-
tack, now hastened to return, and for the honour
of the Hyduri state, fell briskly upon the enemy's
rear. The storming party, being therefore hopeless
of success, retreated.
The Prince was highly pleased at this exploit,
but withdrew the garrison; and, having sent for
them, he gave to each of the foot soldiers, as a re-
ward for their bravery, a silver bracelet, or armlet,
and to the Naik, a pair of gold armlets, and then
marched towards Turwur Paleh. On the road,
intelligence reached him, that the Poligar of Tur-
wur Paleh, with his own troops, two hundred
English soldiers, and the servants of Itebar Khan,
the Collector of revenue, had marched from Tri-
4G5
chinopoly to his own district ; and, having collected
much grain and cattle there, were returning again
to Trichinopoly. On hearing this, the Prince im-
mediately made a forced march in that direction,
and came upon the heads of this detachment like a
thick cloudy just as their officers were preparing to
cross a deep river, and were sending over their bag-
gage in boats, and baskets. The Prince instantly
gave orders to attack and plunder them ; and the
victorious troops rained upon them on all sides such
a storm of arrows, rockets, musket balls, &c. that
the officers of the enemy only, with the greatest
difficulty, rowing hard in their boats, reached the
opposite bank in safety. The soldiers threw them-
selves upon the rushing waters, like bubbles, and
strove hard to escape, by striking out their hands,
and feet, and, while they were in that condition,
some of Hydur's brave troops, who could swim,
cast themselves into this death-like torrent, shout-
ing like thunder, and in their rage drowned some,
but the greater part they drew forth like fishes, and
cast them on the shore. The stores of grain, &c.
were then placed on the heads of the prisoners, and
despatched to the presence.
But, to return — The victorious Prince placed a
strong garrison in Turwur Paleh, under the com-
mand of an officer named Mihi-ud-din Khan, Meh-
H H
466
niun, and he himself marched straight to reduce
Koimbetore, &c. The English army, which had
left a garrison in the small fort of Kurroor, and
had arrived in the vicinity of Dharapoor, on hearing
of the rapid advance of the Prince, abandoned the
whole of the heavy stores they had collected, and
the same night entered Kurroor. From that place,
however, they again marched at night, rashly in-
tending to make a night attack on the Prince's
army. It happened that, on the road, a spark of
fire from a Hooka, ' which some one was smoking,
was carried by the wind to a box of ammunition,
laden on a bullock ; and that exploding, blew up
all the rest of the boxes of ammunition, and
nearly a thousand soldiers were blown into the air,
like kites and crows, and burned to death. The
picquets of the Prince's army were first apprized
of this, by the concussion, and the column of
smoke, which arose ; and they immediately marched
and attacked the English on all sides, and killed
the greater part of that force. — A few men, how-
ever, with a thousand difficulties, and disgraces,
escaped from this place of slaughter and destruc-
tion to Trichinopoly.
Mukhdoom Sahib, who was sent with a large
force to punish certain rebellious Naimars, marched
' A kind of tobacco pipe.
467
on to their districts/ and, at all placeiS wherever he
marched or halted, he seized the propetty and vio-
lated the wotnen of the tebellioud infidels, and left
no vestiges of their habitations ; and^ despatching
troops of soldiers, with instructions to root out
the rebels, he utterly destroyed the Talookas or
districts of the idolators. In the meanwhile, he
took up his residence in a small fort.
At length, one day, a party of these pagans,
with a body of English troops, which had arrived
from Mudhura, marched together, attacked this
fort, and opened a fire of arrows and musketry
on it. Mukhdoom, whose life was drawing near
its close, with two hundred brave fellows, made
a sortie '^ from the fort, and the enemy, ac-
cording to an agreement previously made among
them, surrounded him, and sought to take him
prisoner. But that hero, not entertaining the
slightest fear of the mob of his assailants, and the
pride of Islam seizing him by the skirt of his honour
and station, he with his brave soldiers charged
them, like a falcon in the midst of a flight of
8 The names of the districts are not mentioned, except that
they belonged to the country South of Puttun, Kalistri, Vinkut
Giri, &c.
468
pigeons^ and a river of blood soon flowed from
the wounds of their enemies^ inflicted by their
spears and swords ; but he himself drank the cup
of martyrdom.
469
CHAPTER XXXI.
An accouDt of the Nawaub's last expedition, that is to say, his
departure for his eternal abode in Paradise : and some account of
the goodness of his disposition, his habits, his abilities, and the
rules of conduct he prescribed to himself; with other matters.
Also, the death of General Coote, which occurred before the
death of the Nawaub, in the same year, Hijri, 1196. — A. D.
1781-2.
The Nawaub, after the battle of Arnee, retreated*
and encamped in the plain of Trivatoor. In the
month of Zikad, 1196, Hijri, after an accidental
scratch on his shoulders, the support of the world,
a deadly boil or abscess made its appearance,
and when this was shown to an able physician, he
having examined it, conceived it to arise from a dis-
ordered stomach, and endeavoured to remedy it by
depletion and purgative medicines. No relief, how-
ever, followed this practice; and, the abscess be-
coming larger daily, the pain broke down Hydur's
strong frame, and the physician, having afterwards
470
ascertained the distinctive signs of the disease^
stated in private to the Nawaub^ that it was a dis-
ease called Surtan^^ and that its best remedy was
the application of a sheep's liver ; and that stimulat-
ing medicines, by dispelling the vapours of the
body, and cleansing the blood, were the most likely
to cure it.
As soon, however, as the Nawaub heard that the
name of the disease was Surtan^ be became certain
that his last hour had arrived. He, however, did
not allow fear or apprehension to assume a place in
bis mind^ but remained absorbed in the order and
regulation of his army and kingdom. About this
time, spies brought intelligence, that that able
officer General Coote had left this transitory world.
On hearing this, the Nawaub sighed deeply, and
said, ** he was a wise and an able man, that he
should by his experience have kept on equal terms
with us."^ But, to return^ — -In this state he re-
mained a 3hort time on the plain of Timri, and in
the environs of Rani Peenth, and again some time at
Mahimundul Gurh ; and from that he proceeded,
by easy stages, to Poona, a town, two Kose north
of Arkat, where he pitched his tents. Here, how^
ever, of a sudden, the disease assumed great ma^
lignity, and completely prostrated his strength and
J A Cancer seemingly. *^jijr*i *^ j' "
471
spirits ; and he was at length obliged to take to his
bed. Yet, notwithstanding his ministers frequently
represented the necessity of sending for his son
Tippoo, — ^for that the Prince, had long desired to
pay his duty to his father/ — he in reply merely said
*' Why do you trouble me in this manner ?" At
length, however, he sent for his Moonshi, (secretary),
to the presence, and ordered him to write to the
Prince, to the following purport, '' that he was to
make all necessary arrangements in that quarter,
(where he was stationed) as quickly as possible, and
then return ; that he was deeply to consider the
result of all the necessary relations, and connexions™
of the government small and great ; and that, if
troops were necessary to his aid, he should send
for them ; for that, in matters of state, he had given
him power to act at discretion or as he pleased ;
and that he was not to neglect or forget his duties
to the government for a moment." The next day
the Nawaub threw open the doors of his treasury,
and gave all the soldiers of his army every Kutcheri
or regiment separately, the amount of one month's
pay as a gift. On the last day of Mohurrum il
Fluram, he asked his attendants what was the date
^ MSS. of the Royal Asiatic Society.
™ ^^>^^*> di^Ujiy This paragraph is very darkly expressed.
472
of the month, they replied, '' this is the last day of
the month Zi Huj, and to-night is the first of Mo-
hurrum.*'" He then directed that water might be
made ready for him to bathe, and, although the phy-
sician objected to his bathing, they turned him out of
the tent, and the Nawaub bathed. Then, having
put on clean clothes, he repeated some prayer or in-
vocation on his finger, rubbing his face ; and at the
same time despatched two thousand horse to plunder
and ravage the country of the Poligars north of Ar-
kat, and five thousand horse towards Madras, for the
same purpose, and to alarm the people there. He
next sent for some of his officers, and gave them
strict orders for the regulation of their departments,
and afterwards swallowed a little broth, and laid
down to rest. The same night his ever victorious
spirit, took its flight to Paradise. — Verses.'' ** Be he
a beggar or a conquering king," — '* both must de-
part from this pleasant abode (the world)" — " When
death follows any one," — " He allows not a mo-
ment's delay," — " In this chapter all are powerless ;
lovers and friends," — '' Wife and children," — " The
body, which has been nurtured in wealth and lux-
ury,"— " must at last sleep in the cold grave." —
** The moDths of the Muhammadans are as is well known Lunar.
473
'* The soldiers of death fear no armies ;* — '* They
do not fear the warrior," — " A revolution of this
round empty world." — ** And at once Hydur, and
what belonged to Hydur, passed away."
Although a detail of the (excellent) disposition,
and the powerful abilities of that pardoned great
man, (Hydur), is far beyond the reach of either
tongue or pen, still according to usage, one (good
quality) for a thousand is here presented.
In penetration, and in store of practical wisdom,
the deceased Nawaub took the lead from all the
State Ministers, Princes, and Kings of former days.
In grandeur of display, and in abundance of the ele-
ments or principles of opulence and greatness, he
had no equal. ^ He was the friend and protector
of the soldier, and was altogether full of kindness
and generosity. His court was magnificent ; but,
except himself, few dared to speak therein. What-
ever he desired to be done, he himself ordered, and
the rest of the assembly had no choice but to give
their assent. He did not like great talkers, (or
makers of long speeches ;) the subject of conversa-
tion in his assemblies was generally relative to the
order and regulation of kingdoms and empires, or to
swords, muskets, jewels, horses, elephants, or invigo-
P In the original, the sense is repeated in other words, as in
other Oriental writings.
474
rating medicines. His understanding was wonder-
ful. He entertained, to a boundless extent, the pride
of rank and station, and the noble desire to attempt
great things ; but of foolish pride, or vain glory, he
had none ; he had expelled them from his mind. In
all the cities and towns of his territory, besides news-
writers, he appointed, separately, secret writers, and
spies, to patrol the streets at night ; and from them
he received his intelUgence. From morning till nighty
he never remained a moment idle. He was a slave to
the regulation of his working establishments,'^ or ma-
nufactories, and, if any one of the officers or over-
seers of the works was indolent, or neglectful, he
sent for him, and punished him according to his
offence ; telling him, at the same time, '' We gave
charge to you of this work, relying on your honesty
and fidelity, why have you spoiled it ?" When he
sat down to table, he ate of all the dishes present ;
he, however, showed most fondness for salt and
sour dishes. He finished his dinner with rice and
peas. ' He was not fond of sweet dishes. In his
journeys or marches, he mostly subsisted on parched
gram, (Cicer arietinum,) almonds, and dry bread,
made of rice, or jowar, (Holcus spicatus,) and
Khush-khush Soorkh, or as at is called in this coun«
•->• tJ'fc) The Pigeon pea or cytisus cajanus.
475
try, Raggi, (Cynosurus coracanus,) with which he
appeared well contented. In his dress, he was very
fond of red, and na furmani, or purple, and the
chintz of Boorhanpoor; the latter he wore con*
tinually. The turban he wore on his fortunate
head was red or purple, one hundred hands, or
cubits, in length. When he took his seat on the
Musnud, he laid before him a shining short sword,*
or dagger, with a hilt studded with diamonds.
All the operations or measures undertaken by
Hydur*s government, small or great, were superin-
tended by himself in person ; in so much, that
even leather, the lining of bullock-bags, or tent-
walls, and strands of rope, all passed under his
inspection, and were then deposited in his stores.
He kept all merchants, traders, and bankers,
pleased with him, by making them kingly pre-
sents ; and he also bought up their goods, with
the greatest avidity, and at high prices. To horse
dealers he gave presents of gold and raiment,
besides the value of the horses he purchased ; and
so liberal was he, that if, on the road through his
territories, any horse by chance died, he paid half
the price of the horse, after the arrival of the tail
and mane, with a certificate from the civil officers
of the district. His loans, and advances of money
476
were scattered like sand over the face of the earth.
His estimate of the value of the brave and expe-
rienced soldier, of whatever tribe or caste he might
be, was very high ; and any man, who had distin-
guished himself by his bravery, he heartily cherished
and protected, and used his endeavours to promote
and exalt him. Any experienced person, acquainted
with business, he appointed Amil,* Foujdar, or
Ameen. He was, however, the enemy, of the in-
dolent and luxurious ; and the backs and sides of
his negligent and extortionate servants were fre-
quently softened by stripes of the whip. A man
that had been removed from his place, after proof
of neglect or maladministration of his duties to
government, or of extortion, extravagance, or op-
pression of God's people, and whose delinquencies
were attested by official persons, was never restored
to his office. He placed all offices of responsibility
in the hands of wise and honorable persons. In all
his departments, territorial and fiscal, present or
absent, he maintained a newswriter, certain Hur-
karas, and a secret writer ; each of whom, without
being acquainted with the others, acquired a know-
ledge of every action of his servants good or bad.
Sometimes by night, secretly, and covered with a
Gileem or blanket, he went out, alone, into the
' Governor of a district, or town, and Collector of Revenue.
477
streets and lanes of the city, to ascertain the con-
dition of the inhabitants, the poor, and strangers ;
and in camp he usually did the same. His months
and years were generally spent in marches and ex-
peditions ; and, in fact, he considered his life, and
the success of his measures, as dependent on his
continual movements about the country. The de-
light given by new scenery, or a new ground of en-
campment, fresh springs, and the grateful shade of
the tent, in no circumstances did he ever forego. For
he did even as God in the Koran has commanded,
'' Go walk forth in the earth,"" which passage
plainly indicates the necessity for travel. In the
training and education of his sons he took great
pains, although he himself was apparently entirely
illiterate, and had never learned to read or write.
However, in the weight of his judgment, (delighting
in difficulties,) given him by God, he surpassed all
the learned and wise of his time ; and, although
sparing of speech, yet, when he did speak, his
language was extremely pleasing and appropriate.
To enable him to sign public documents, a qualifi-
cation indispensable to rulers of kingdoms, he with
much labour copied, until he could write, the form
of one letter ; the letter ^ which he wrote re-
versed, in this manner ^. Yet, as has been before
478
mentioned, he was very solicitous regarding the
education of his sons, and appointed men of his
court to the duties of tutors and servants to them,
who made him acquainted with every particular
relating to their manners and conversation ; and
sentinels, from the Nawaub's guard, were placed
around their houses or tents.
Whenever, the Sahibzada, (Wala Kudr) Tippoo,
was commissioned to repel enemies, or to attack
forts, to whatever quarter he might be sent, he was
first summoned to the presence, and the Nawaub
with his own lips told him, that he had selected
him for this service, because he found him worthy
in all matters to be employed ; that he committed
a force of so many horse and foot, so many guns,
and a treasury of so much money to his orders ; and
that he must take great care no neglect occurred,
and, using great prudence and caution, return suc-
cessful. He then dismissed him. The officers and
men, who were placed under Tippoo on this occa-
sion, were also sent for, and strictly enjoined that,
as the Prince was young, they should never allow
him to be separate from them, or peril himself by
inconsiderate rashness ; but, on the contrary, con-
sider his safety at all times, as placed at their re-
sponsibility by their faith and agreement. When,
fortunate and \actorious, the Prince returned to the
479
presence from his expedition, he was again placed
under surveillance, as above related. In truth the
well-bred and those who have acquired the senti-
ments and manners of the exalted,"" never allow their
children to associate or play with the low ^ or vul-
gar, and thereby fall, and be degraded from their
station and rank. — Verse. " To avoid the friend-
ship of bad men is profitable :" *' the company of
Assafoetida * will spoil the finest musk.** ^ It is very
frequently seen, that the children of great men, by
reason of too great liberty, the exceeding indul-
gence of the Father, and the society of low people,
have so far sunk from the footing of nobility, and
rank, that, they have never again raised the head
of respectability. But, to continue — The young
Princes had permission to sleep in their Zunanas,
or women's apartments, only every fourth night.
On most occasions, Hydur used patiently to bear
with the petulance and coarseness of the brave men
in his service. As, for instance, one day, in the
Nawaub's Court, or assembly, " some jecoUections
of the battle of Churkoli were introduced. The
Nawaub • said, that on that day his whole army,
had followed the path of cowardice ; that, they had
run away before his face ; that no one with his
1
480
sword in his hand had exerted himself faithfully ;
and, that they, (the officers,) to save their own
lives, had sacrificed those of their men. Among
those who were present there, was Yaseen Khan
Wunti Koodri, who had followed the path of faith
and honour in that battle, and who had there de-
voted, as a charitable donation ** to the sword and
spear, the whole of his body, and one eye ; and he
said, in answer, " Yes, Sir, (Bulli Huzrut,) what
you say is true ; for such occurrences arise from
fate, and depend on the will and power of no man.
Yet, this eye of mine, for what was it put out ? —
and for what man, (using a term of low abuse), did
I lose the blessings of sight, the pleasure of behold-
ing the lights and shades*^ of this many coloured
world, the object and delight of life !" — The Nawaub
smiled at this, and said, — " I did not mean you."
One day, also, he gave the Commandant Mu-
hammad All, some orders relative to a military
movement ; and the Commandant, to complete his
charge, required a sum of money, or a military chest.
The Nawaub, at this request, became very angry,
and said " By this account thou takest monthly
a large sum in gold, as much as thy mother's
dower, or marriage present,** and spendest it in
b •<• c ■
j*^j^ Allusions of this kind are considered very indelicate.
481
all manner of ways, and now, the time having ar-
rived when there is something to do, thou demand-
est more money from me. Every piece of gold
thou hast received up to the present day, I will re-
cover from thee, and, after putting thee in irons,'
thou shalt be added to the chain of thieves, or
felons, deserving death, for thou hast spent much
of the public money in worthless matters, and
now, in time of need, thou wishest to reduce me
to poverty." The hard featured and impudent'
Commandant, at this, turning his face from
the Nawaub towards the Clerks of the Treasury,
and, while speaking to them, alluding to the
Nawaub, said ''The depth of the Sirkar's (Na-
waub's) understanding is evident I The old man
is merely giving himself airs on his penetration
and knowledge. In this matter money is in-
dispensable, and, if not given, the measures of
the government will be ruined." This impu-
dent address was heard by the Nawaub; but
he, with the indifference of a great man, and
the indulgence he was accustomed to allow his
servants, took no notice of the impertinence of
his insolent though faithful officer, and merely
told the people of the Treasury to give that vulgar.
I I
482
greedy fellow, what he wanted. Occurrences similar
to these happened frequently.
In the sciences of palmistry and physiognomy *
he was unequalled in his time or age. One of the
keen glances of his exalted understanding did an
immense deal of work. As, for instance, it decided
without difficulty the enlistment of recruits, the
merits of horses about to be purchased, and their
price, the appreciation of valuable articles, (as the
knowledge of the kinds and worth of precious
stones), and the selection of them. It was equally
available when he was listening to the subjects of
despatches, territorial and revenue, individual ^ ap-
phcations, newspapers, (Ukhbar), and in issuing im-
mediate replies, to every suitor, and to every one of
these various and conflicting details. His pro-
found knowledge also of the quality and value of
arms, and instruments of war, occasioned him no
trouble, but came to him as it were instinctively.
To his strength of memory thousands of praises
are justly due ; for, although former great and
mighty kings, and rulers, had the advantage of
learning on their side, yet God, the true preserver,*
never endowed any of them with the clear intellect
and memory of Hydur. — Verses. " Every man is
«*^ Signifies memory and preservation.
483
made for his work ;" '' the ability to perform his
part being implanted by nature in his mind."
One day, a religious quarrel took place between
the Shiahs and the Soonnis, and the dispute had
advanced, from the tongue and words, to hands
and daggers, when the Jasoos, or spies, of the go-
vernment reported the whole to Hydur. The
Nawaub ordered both parties to be brought before
him, and then said to them, ^* What foolish dispute
is this ; and why do you bark like dogs at each
other Y* The Soonni here replied, " Protector of
the World, this spiteful man was presumptuous,
in speaking of the successors of the last of the
prophets, Muhammad, (on whom, and on his
family and companions, be peace) ; the stars of the
firmament of religion ; and he even went so far as
to use abusive language towards them, and your
slave, at hearing him, felt as though a thorn had
been broken in his heart." The Shiah was next
asked, in the same way, and he, according to the
tenets of his false religion, said " Abubukr Sideek,
the first Khalif, did so and so to Moortuza All, and
Omr, the second Khalifah, did so and so, in regard
to the lovely Fatima, and frequently ill-treated her.
Knowing this, therefore, why are the descendents
of the sons of Hussein to speak respectfully of such
men." The Nawaub, in his wisdom, not wishing to
484
hurt the reUgious feelings of either party, asked the
Shiah, "Are those persons whom you reproach,
alive r The Shiah answered, " No." The Nawaub
then, with the anger natural to his disposition, said
to him, '' He is a man who declares his opinion of
the good, or evil, of another before his face, not
behind his back. Do you not know that back-biting
is unlawful ? And I should think that, as you act in
this manner, you must also be base bom J If you
ever again waste and destroy your time and that
of the Sirkar in such an irreverent, wicked dispute,
you may rely on it a camel bag^ and a mallet will
be ready for you.** ^
One day, in Hydur^s court or assembly, people
of both these sects, (Soonnis and Shiahs,) were
present ; and one of the Soonnut Jumaut related
an anecdote of a traveller, who was proceeding on a
journey on horseback. It happened, that the road
was very miry, and, all at once, the hoofs of the
horse sunk in a quagmire, and he stuck fast. The
horseman, therefore, dismounted, and seizing the
bridle, began to pull him out ; saying, " Come forth^
by the truth of the Sideek Abubukr !" The horse,
however, did not move. He then said, " By the es-
tablished justice of Huzrut" (Omr,) Farook, come
^\j^ Signifies both. JoJ^
^ Seemingly alluding to some kind of punishment.
"* Term of respect.
485
forth !** But the horse made no movement. He
then said, " By the strength of the understand-
ing of Huzrut Osman, step forward." The horse,
however, still remained stock still. At length, he
exclaimed, " By the might and valour of the great
Moortuzvi, or Moortuza, (All), step on !" The
moment he said this, the horse, plunging, came out
of the mud. The horseman, now drawing his sword,
said, " O horse, thou art become a heretic ! (Rafizi),
thou art of no use to me ;" and with one stroke
of his sword he cut off his legs. On hearing this
story, the Nawaub" smiled, and said, " A won-
derful fool this man must have been ! Did he not
know that he who was the strongest brought the
horse out of the mire !"
Sometimes he was fond of sporting his wit,® or of
joking, with his associates or companions, particu-
larly with All Zrnnan Khan. At the time the Souba
of Sura was conquered, the Nawaub, one day mount-
ed his horse to look at the city, and rode through
the streets and lanes. Now it is the fashion of
the city, that there are many tombs in front of the
doors of the houses, and also in the streets or roads.
° This story shews that Hydur All, although he trimmed be-
tween the two parties, like most uneducated Mussulmen in India,
was a Shiah.
486
The Nawaub, therefore, asked those who were with
him, how these tombs became placed in the middle
of the town. Those persons replied, that, apparent-
ly, the whole space had been formerly waste land ;
but now, men seeing that God's people were pro-
tected, and the peasantry encouraged, by His High-
ness, they had assembled from all parts and had
built the city. The Nawaub said, " A truce to your
compliments ! Do you not know, that these men
and women died fighting for their houses.*''*
The word Lowndika, which means the son of a
slave girl, a term much in use among the Dukkanees,
was also continually on the tongue of the Nawaub,
and, if he was angry with any one, he called him
by this name ; but, it was also used as an endear-
ing, fond, appellation, to which was attached great
favour ; until, one day. Ah Zuman Khan, by infer-
ences and hints represented to him that the word
was low, discreditable, and not fit for the use of
men of knowledge, and rank. The Nawaub smiled,
and said, " O friend, you and I are both the sons
of slave women, and the two Husseins only, on
whom be good wishes^ and Paradise, (or acceptance
with God,) are the sons of a Bibi, or lady." These
P Alluding perhaps to the quarrelsome character of the Duk-
kanees.
487
words highly pleased those who were present, and
they fully agreed with him, for this reason, that
the title of the illustrious mother' of those great
men is the lady or Queen of both worlds.'
Whenever he despatched a body of troops to per-
form any particular service, he was never free from
anxiety respecting that force ; constantly supplying
them with all things necessary, as money, military
stores, and grain for men and cattle. In the repairs
of the forts which he took, and the construction of
new walls or defences, he expended hundreds of
thousands of pounds ; as, indeed, the state of most
of the strong hill forts in the Payanghaut and Bala-
ghaut will afford sufficient testimony.
The name of cut purse,* thief, or highway robber,
was erased from the records of the cities, towns,
and villages, of his dominions ; and if, by accident,
any highway robbery, &c. was committed, the Ka-
wuligur, or guard, of that part was impaled without
delay, and another person appointed to his office ;
one who feared God, and had a tender heart. He
kept his troops always in good humour, by gifts
' Fatima.
■ The veneration of the Shiahs for Fatima, approaches nearly
to the devotion, or worship, offered to the Virgin Mary by the
Catholics.
488
and favours, and his peasantry highly pleased, by
(favourable) assurances and agreements.
During the whole of his reign, the only innova-
tions he made were in the impression of the Hoon,
or Pagoda, on one side of which was the letter ^ ,
and on the other dots ; and in the half pence" or
copper coins, the currency of this country, on one
side of which is impressed the figure of an elephant.
The reason of this latter was, that Hydur's own
elephant, called Poon Guj, an extremely handsome
animal in its form and proportions, and very steady
in its paces, in so much that Hydur prized him
above all his other elephants, died suddenly ; and
Hydur, being much grieved at his death, to perpe-
tuate his memory had his figure stamped on his
copper coinage. He made no other change. About
this time, however, being one day very angry with
his Ohdedars, and Howalehdars, the civil officers
of his working departments, who had spoiled some
work committed to their charge, by chance the Da-
rogha or master of the mint presented himself, and
asked the Nawaub what device he would have struck
on his new copper coinage. Hydur, in a violent
passion, told him to stamp an obscene figure "^ on
it ; and he, agreeably to these orders, struck that
day four or five thousand of these coins, and they
489
passed among the currency for some time. At
length, certain learned men made a representation
to the Nawaub on the subject, and the coins were
called in, and melted down. The pence and half
pence of the elephant are, however, still current.
Every Monday night, whether marching, or halt-
ing, he had a set of dancing'' girls, with foreheads
like Venus, and countenances like the moon, to
dance before him. In the time of the Dussera, the
Eed or festival of the Mahrattas, although this was
a custom of the Infidels, to follow which he in his
heart was averse, still, with a view to please and gain
the affections of the Mysoreans, that is, the descen-
dants of Jug ^ Kishen Raj Oodere, and his ministers ;
for to the deceased Nawaub every heart was dear ;
and, also, because the service or agency of infidels is
not infidelity ; he held a banquet of ten days, and
the sons of Kishen Raj, and also of Nundiraj, were
admitted to the presence ; and, for two or three
hours, the Nawaub amused himself, by seeing fire
works, the fighting of stags, the fierce attacks of
buffaloes, and the charges of elephants, like moun-
tains, on each other, and the boxing and wrestling
of strong prize fighters, who in the Dukkun are called
' See an account of the Hindoo Princes of Mysore in Col.
Wilks's History of that country.
490
Jetti. A Ghirbal/ or circular enclosure, having been
formed, in front of the Jetti Mahl, or theatre for
prize-fighting, and a chained tiger placed therein,
asses, to which strong spirits had been given in-
stead of water, were let loose on the tiger ; and,
on seeing the bounds or leaps of the tiger, and
kicking and braying of the asses, the Nawaub was
accustomed to laugh, and be much amused. Abys-
sinians, also, dressed in woollen armour,* with
staves of sandal wood, were set to fight with bears.
Some of the Nawaub's bravest servants, at their
own request, were also selected and placed in the
circle against a fierce lion or tiger. In firing at a
mark, with a musket or matchlock, there was not
in the world the Nawaub's equal ; for, in the midst
■
of the circle was fixed a plantain tree, and the
man who was fighting with the lion was ordered to
attack him round or under cover of the tree. If in
the event the brave man conquered, and slew the
lion or tiger, he, with presents of gold, dresses, and
increase of pay, was rendered independent of all
worldly want ; but, on the contrary, if the tiger was
conqueror, and had cast the man on the ground,
the Nawaub took up his matchlock, and fired with
such unerring precision that the ball passed through
the tiger's head, and the man rose up uninjured.
491
At the commencement and end of his govern-
ment, to terrify his adversaries, he was accustomed
to order the ears and noses of the Mahratta and
other prisoners to be cut off; and in the expedition
to Arkat, at the suggestion of some of his villainous
eunuchs, many of the loveliest maidens there, of
any tribe, either with the consent of their parents
or relations, or by force, were sent for, and com-
pelled to submit to his embraces. Beautiful Slave
girls, not arrived at womanhood, whom he had ac-
quired by the same means, were also sent by him
to the Natuk Sala,* in the women's apartments,
(for instruction in singing and dancing.) The Na-
waub was accustomed to shave his beard, mous-
taches, eyebrows, and eyelashes. He was very
dark, and strong bodied, but of middle size.
The impression on his seal was the following
verse :
" Futteh Hydur was manifested, or born, to
conquer the world. There is no man equal to All
and no sword like his."
His pocket seal bore the words jJ-^ ^
In fine, from the beginning of the rise of his
• The theatre of the Hindus.
^ A sword taken bv Muhammad from an Arab at the battle of
Budr, which descended to Ali.
492
fortune^ to his deaths his conduct was distinguished
by vigilance, experience, and wisdom.
Some person found the date of his decease in the
following sentence,
" Ah ! the Lion hearted man is dead.**
And another has found the date in these words,
*' The life or soul of the Balaghaut is gone."
The numerical value of these letters gives the
date 1196 Hijri.
>^V
f-
493
SUPPLEMENTARY NOTE.
The following character of Hydur Ali, is trans-
lated from a Persian work called Ahwali Hydur
Naik, No. 1845, — in the East India Company's
Library. The author appears to have been a cer-
tain Mirza Ikbal.
This book which is written with apparent can-
dour, certainly with no partiality to Hydur, after
premising that there are many different accounts
of Hydur's origin, states that he himself was ac-
customed to assert that he was derived from the
Kings of Bejapoor ; and that when their Govern-
ment ended, and Sultan Sikundur, the last King
of Bejapoor was killed, he left a son eight years of
age, who was saved from his enemies and with a
few jewels, taken secretly by his mother to Kirpa, *
where he remained unknown until he died, leaving
a son who entered the service of the Afghans of
Kirpa, as did his son also.
^ Cuddapah.
494
The last mentioned, left two sons, who served
the Afghans of Kirpa and Kurnole in the lowest
grade of military rank, that of Naik, or corporal of
regular infantry.**
The son of one of these men (whose name is
not mentioned,) was named Muhammad Naik.
His son was AU Naik, and his son Futteh Naik.
Futteh Naik had two sons, Hydur Naik and Shah-
baz Naik. Hydur it is said, was born at Sura.
When Hydur's fortunes first rose, on the ruins
of those of the Raja of Mysore, his humble and
agreeable manners attracted from all parts many
adventurers to his service ; and it appears that, in
his Durbars, or levees, he assumed no distinction be-
tween himself and one of his private troopers, nor
were any deductions made from the pay of his
soldiery.
When, however, the Raja of Mysore was deposed,
Hydur began to raise the head of pride. By de-
grees, he became strange, and forgetful, asking the
names of his former friends, and requiring from
them sundry obeisances, and respectful observances ;
and, when his territory and army increased, he gave
his troops only a month's pay in six weeks, and this,
also, with the deduction or difference of Shumsi
^ jV so called, perhaps, because when formed they resemble
a waD, or hedge.
495
and Kumri, or solar and lunar months. For in-
stance, if a man was engaged in the service, no-
minally at five hundred rupees a month, he was
paid for a period of six weeks, (called there a
month), by Puttie, or Order, three hundred rupees
only ; so that, in fact, he received but two hundred
rupees a month, and so with the rest, in propor-
tion.
As his troops gradually became quiet and orderly,
so in the same degree did he become vicious, and
they were exposed to abuse and the whip, or
heavy headed cudgel,* and the stick or rattan.^
Towards the end of his reign he abandoned all
consideration for any persons, however respectable ;
these persons, too, having been attracted to his
service by delusive promises and dissimulation.
He gave them, notwithstanding, the vilest abuse,
and for the least fault put them to death. In his
Durbars or levees no one dared converse, or even
whisper. If any one had a wedding in his house,
he could not invite any friends, except through the
Nawaub, and the agency of his servants ; and, even
then, he gave his Wordi Hurkaras ^ orders to go
and see and hear what was said and done. These
men, therefore, were in general bribed not to tell
g
fc/«>/^ an English word adopted by Hydur.
49G
the truth ; but he believed all they told him. If
he had advanced any one of his servants money,
the third part of his pay was stopped until the
amount was refunded ; and if any one paid the debt
on demand, he was accustomed to demand interest,
under the pretence that he had borrowed the money
from a banker for him. But, when he had obtained
the interest, he said " this man is rich, why did
he borrow money from me ? seize his goods,"
and, accordingly, his property was sometimes con-
fiscated, or stolen by thieves set on by Hydur's
authority.
When he was on the field of battle, contrary to
his former custom, when all he required was done by
the influence of kindness and friendship, now, he
looked stedfastly at the enemy, and said to his own
horsemen, — " Do you see that man, standing yon-
der with his soldiers ?" That man is your Father ^ —
you must kill him, or be killed ; for, if you come
back without killing him, I will certainly put you
to death myself in this very place ;" as, indeed, to
inspire terror, he had before often done. And when
stimulated and forced on by the abuse he gave them,
the horse had charged the enemy he sent for the
Sauises (grooms or horsekeepers) of the cavalry,
^ The insiDuatioD intended to be conveyed by these words
18 not to be expressed.
497
and, giving them bamboos and shoes, he placed them
in line, himself taking post in the rear of the whole,
and giving orders to them to strike and beat any
one who retreated. The poor hoi'semen, forced on
by the disgrace of the stick, and the torrent of
abuse following them, gave themselves up to death
uselessly. He never, however, took the pains to
bury them after they were slain. As an instance of
this neglect ; one day, that a great battle had been
fought between him and the English General Coote,
the General, after the battle was over, despatched a
message to Hydur, stating that his (Hydur's) horse-
men had done their duty, and fulfilled the condi-
tions of their contract with him, by sacrificing their
lives in his service, and that it was now time he
should perform Tiis duty, as their master, and direct
some one to bury their bodies. Stung by the
sharp reproof conveyed in this message, he imme-
diately sent for Meer Muhammad Sadik Khan, his
Dewaun or Minister, and ordered him to bury them.
In reply, however, to General Coote, he merely
said, that he did not want any of his advice.
If any one was sent in command of an expedi-
tion, and was delayed or unsuccessful, he was on
his return sent for to the presence, and severely
reproached by Hydur himself. If, on the contrary,
he did his work soon and was successful, still, on
K K
498
his return^ he was abused for having, (as Hydur
said), sacrificed the lives of his best men in rash,
and profitless attacks. In fact, in his life he was
never known to praise any one. In all his mea-
sures he availed himself of the aid of threats and
violence, to instil fear into men's minds.
He was accustomed to have a party of Bayaderes,
dancing women, early every night at his tents. If
the woman, who danced was a Hindu, she was re-
quired to wear a white dress ; — ^if she was a Mus-
sulman woman, a dress embroidered with gold. In
her dancing, however, she was not permitted to
laugh or smile, or display any wanton steps or ges-
tures ; she was required to dance and sing slowly.
Let there be ever so many men present, the atten-
tion and eyes of all were to be' fully occupied,
and absorbed, in the beauty of the Nawaub him-
self alone. If any of the men present cast his eyes
towards the dancing girls, God preserve us! the
Nawaub would immediately call out *' Look ! look
well I for your mother, (meaning the dancing girl),
has left her house, and is occupied in dancing in
the midst of her husbands." If it was any one of
his friends, however, he was more civil.
During his government, his recruiting for the
army was carried to that extent, that he even en-
listed blind men. The reason of this was, that, as
be was riding out one day, a blind man asked him
499
for alms^ and he desired his Chobedar, (silver stick),
to ask the beggar if he would take service with him.
The beggar consented, and Hydur sent him off
to the arsenal, and directed that he might be em-
ployed in blowing the bellows of the blacksmith's
forge, and also that he should be allowed every
year two cotton cloths, and a falam or five annas,
(about seven pence), a day ; and when the artillery
marched, he was to be placed on one of the artillery
tumbrils and brought along with them. He also
directed the Darogha of his artillery to enlist as
many blind men as he could find.
In the taking of towns, it was his custom, after
the plunder of the inhabitants, to allow them to re-
main in peace. After a short time, however^ he
was used to assemble the DuUalah, [women who
beat the Dohul, (a small drum), at marriages ; ]
and, as they are free to enter all houses^ he re-
quired them to point out where the handsomest
maidens resided: To those houses he sent, and
seized the girls, and had them brought to him ; and
among them those who were remarkable for their
bloom and delicacy, elegance of form, length of
hair, and complexion, he placed among his own
women ; and, in general, these women were most
in request ' by him. They had also salaries, or es-
500
tablishments, and were placed under the Jamautdar
of the women, one of his senior wives ; as for the
rest, he never sent for them again, but either re-
turned them to their parents, or partitioned them
amongst his followers. In this way he collected a
great number of women, but his old wives were the
chiefs of all the new ones.
On the day that was fixed for the Nawaub to
visit the Mahl, or women's apartments, every Chief
lady had her division of women, dressed in a differ-
ent colour, and standing apart ; the red party, the
green, the violet, the yellow. Some wore rose-
coloured dresses, others orange, the Nafurmani or
purple, the spotted, white, gold, sandal, and Moky-
yush. On these occasions they sat down near him,
but he seldom spoke to them ; nor did they speak,
except his first wife, the sister of Meer Ali Ruza
Khan, the mother of Tippoo. He was always very
fond of her, and compelled the rest of his women to
to pay their respects to her every morning. Some-
times, however, she and Hydur used to quarrel.
On these occasions, he bore the violence of the
lady's tongue with great resignation and patience ;
until, at length, rising up, he would say, " It is from
fear of your tongue that I have given up entering
the women's apartments."
501
When he came out and sat down in his private
room^ he was accustomed to tell his friends, such
as Ghoolaum Ah Khan^ Bahadur, and All Zuman
Khan, that Tippoo's mother had treated him very
harshly indeed; that, he had not the courage to
answer, or argue with her; that, when she com-
plained, he had no choice but to leave the apart-
ment ; but that still he was fond of her, because
she undertook, in her own person, the manage-
ment of every thing in his house, and laboured for
his welfare ; but that she had a long tongue ^ and
a high sounding voice, and that he was afraid to
listen to her. However, that she should do as she
pleased.
Every time he entered the women's apartments
she was the first person he called ; desiring her to
come to him. She in reply, would say, '* What do
you want with me ?** But he never entered the
Mahl without taking some valuable presents to
her.
His 'eating and sleeping was always outside the
Mahl, but every night two or three of the ladies of
his family were in attendance on him.
He was very stedfast in his word to his Talook-
dars, (or revenue officers), and merchants ; and
with these two classes of men he was never known
i " From morn till night the shrill alarum rung."
502
to break bis faith.^ And this was the mode of his
agreements* If any of bis revenue agents &rmed a
district from him^ although he strpve to raise thei
amount to be paid as high as possible^ yet, if any
profit was derived beyond the government money^
he never took more than the precise sum stipulated ;
indeed, many persons have offered him the surplus :
but he, in reply, said, ^' If the amount contracted
for with government, bad been short, I should
have exacted the deficiency ; and, therefore, if the
&rmer gets more, I have no right to interfere be-
tween him and his good fortune.** If he confided
to any one the charge of a district, God protect
him if he took to the value of a blade of grass,
besides the dues assigned to him by Hydur! he
was sure to be flayed alive. Whenever information
arrived, that so much money was due from the
farmer of the revenue, he first sent for him and de-
manded the money, and, if it was not paid, he pre-
pared to compel him by oppressive and cruel
means, of which an account will be given here-
after.
His management with merchants, generally, was
so excellent as to be beyond all praise ; but more
particularly his kindness to horse dealers. He, how-
ever, expected, while be extended his favour to
^ He never kept hia faith with any one else.
503
them^ that they also should conform to his pleasure,
and that the horses they brought should not be sold
until he had seen them ; and if any horse died after
it entered his boundaries^ and the tail and good
evidence of the fact were produced, he paid half the
price of the horse. He always saw the horses him-
self, and, having seen them, fixed their prices.
After four days had elapsed, he sent for the mer*
chants, and having paid them separately, for as
many horses as he had approved, he presented
them with an order for the discharge of the Rah-
dari or customs, and told them they must consider
themselves his guests the next day, and after that
depart. When the morning arrived, he sent them
a number of measures of rice, some sheep, butter,
and other materials for a feast. The result of his
liberality was, that horses were brought to him
from all quarters ; but, if any horse dealer sold a
horse before Hydur saw it, and his Hurkaras be-
came acquainted with the circumstance, he would
neither buy any of the horses himself, nor allow
any one else to buy them. For this reason, no
other person could get a good horse ; and, if they
bought any of the horses rejected by Hydur, they
were generally dear and good for nothing.
As he never gave his servants leave to return to
their own countries, they, pining to visit their homes.
504
clothed themselves like religious beggars, and ran
away secretly with these horse dealers.
- Notwithstanding the great riches which God
from his hidden treasures had granted to him, he
was at times so avaricious that even the pen is
ashamed to write an account of his meanness.
Sometimes^ however, on the reverse, he became
very generous ; but, in fact, amassing wealth a(>-
peared to him as the renovation of his faculties.^
Indeed, many men followed him to the field, and
lost their Uves there, to whom or to whose children
or relations, he never gave a single farthing. He
never gave his dancing girls, who every day danced
before him, any thing beyond their yearly allowance,
except, perhaps, a trifle on very rare occasions.
On those days, when before the balcony (of the
palace) a lion net was suspended, and a man and a
lion were placed in the area, to fight together, if the
lion killed the man, nothing was given ; but if the
man killed the lion, he received the present of a
golden chain, or necklace. In general, however,
he was so good a marksman with his matchlock,
that he did not suffer the Uon to kill the man.
During the Dussiu'a of the Hindus, he was com-
paratively liberal to his fiiends, the prize fighters,
wrestlers, &c. ; but, after all he never gave much.
605
He never allowed any reduction of the allowances
of the Hindu temples.
His memory was excellent ; to that extent that
he would recollect a word for years. Any one
whom he had seen twenty years before, in the dress
of people of the world, he would recognize, after
that period, in the patched garment of a mendicant.""
It is related of him, that, one day, he told the Da-
rogha of his stable to bring an old saddle, which
had been laid by and neglected for a long time.
When it was brought and examined, he said, " there
is another saddle missing ; it is a Mahratta saddle,
with a housing of yellow broad cloth, moth-eaten,
and I desired it might be wrapped up in a cloth,
and taken care of." This also, on search was found,
and he had given the orders he mentioned eleven
years before.
As soon as morning appeared, he sat down on
his chair, ° and washed his face. During this, all
his Hurkaras (spies and messengers) stood about
him, on all sides, repeating the news and intelli-
gence of the day before. His memory and his
hearing were equally wonderful, for he could
readily distinguish and comprehend the different
voices, and details ; this was really astonishing.
m
° Chowki, a kind of low stool or chair.
506
The people of Mysore would not give credit to
what was said of him ; but, on trying repeatedly,
it wa£ foimd that they were wrong, and this is the
way in which it was proved. When the Hurkaras
began repeating their news, whatever did not
require inquiry was passed over in silence by
Hydur; but, any news which required examina*
tion, or was important, after listening to it, he stop*
ped all further talking, and entered seriously into
the investigation of its truth.
Hydur All was a plain man, and free from vanity
or self sufficiency. He was not fond of delicacies,
nor particular in what he ate. He gave no orders
about his table, but ate whatever they placed be-
fore him. His mode of living was, however, not
Uke that of a man of rank, but rather like that of a
private soldier. At his table twice a day some of
his most intimate friends used to attend, but the
shares, and food, of all were alike.
In his dress, also, he was not very particular.
He did not wear his Jamah (tunic or coat) often ;
but a vest, open in front, made of a broad kind
of white cloth which is called in India, Doria, that
the width of the cloth might allow of its being
broad at the breast.
On his head he wore a red turban, of a hundred
hands in length, or a yellow turban of Boorhanpoor
607
manufacture. His trowsere were made of Masu^
lipatara chintz; and he was fond of chintz^ the
ground of which was white, strewed "" with flowers.
He wore diamond clasps on bis wrists, and two or
three diamond rings on his fingers. He slept on a
small silken carpet; and this, and two or three
pillows, were all he required for his bed.
He was not fond of the throne, or state display,
unless on the festival of the £^d ; when, if some
of his friends reminded him of it, he ordered his
throne to be spread or arranged in form.
On Tuesdays and Fridays, from the morning to
mid-day, no one could enter his presence ; for on
that day he was shaved. First of all his head was
shaved ; after that, two barbers sat down, one on
each side of him, and pulled out the hair of his
beard, whiskers, ^ and eyebrows, with a pair of
tweezers. As an instance of his plainness ap-
proaching to folly, it is related, that there was in
his service a one-eyed man,'' named Yasin Khan,
whose nickname was Wunti Koodri; Wunti, in
the Canarese language, signifying one, and Koodri
a horse, or the master of one horse. This man
always served singly ; and, notwithstanding he
was asked to accept a Risaldari, (the command
of a regiment, ) he constantly refused, and for
608
that reason assumed or acquired this name. Be-
tween him and Hydur there was frequently a
great deal of wit bandied about, in the public Dur-
bar, until, sometimes, it degenerated into abuse.
This man at first shaved his beard and whiskers
like those of the Nawaub Bahadur ; but, when he
became old, he allowed his beard to grow very long.
One day, using an indecent expression, the Nawaub
asked him — why he allowed his beard to grow so
long. In reply, he said, ^* Men call those eunuchs
who shave their beards and moustaches.** This was
in allusion to Hydur's custom of shaving his beard,
and also to the cause of Yasm Khan*s following his
example, by shaving his.
In the battle fought between the Nawaub and
Trimuk Mama, the army of the Nawaub was to-
tally defeated, and his baggage plundered. After
the battle, the Mahrattas searched about every
where, that they might take Hydur prisoner ; and
they were all impressed with an opinion, that any
man who had his beard and moustaches shaved must
be Hydur Naik. In these circumstances, Yasin
Khan Wunti Koodri, keeping his eye on the faith
and gratitude he owed his master, immediately
shaved oflF his beard and whiskers, and folding a tur-
ban round his head, after the manner of Hydur Ali,
mounted a large horse, and with three or four horse-
509
men ranged over the field, as if they were men of
rank seeking to escape. As soon, therefore, as the
Mahrattas saw them, they made sure that Yasin was
no other than Hydur AU Khan himself; and they
seized him and carried him to their officer. In the
mean time, however, Hydur All by stripping off his
clothes/ had escaped, and had reached Seringaput-
tun, the distance being about three Kose (four miles
and a half). When the Mahrattas found that Hydur
AU Khan had escaped^ and that the man they had
taken was Yasin Khan, they released him from
confinement, and, from that day, he used in jest
to say, that he was the true, or original, Hydur
AU Khan*
It is well known that, from the commencement
of his good fortune to his death, Hydur was
very fearful of treachery ; and, if any ambassa^
dor came to him from a foreign State, he took
every precaution for his own security. For in-
stance— when the late Nawaub Syud Futteh All
Khan, and AU Nowaz Khan, who were sent by
Wala Jah with a message to Hydur, first arrived,
they were placed in a Hindu temple, the same
which he had converted into a fort, while contend-
ing with the Raja of Mysore ; and, as it was on
the bank of the river, the Nawaub Syud Futteh
510
Khan^ from the dampness of the air^ was seized
with an old complaint^ a difficulty of breathing. Of
necessity, Hydur was compelled then to send for
them to the fort, where he gave them the house
of Khundi Rao ; but he stationed fifty Hurkaras,
(spies), at the gate of their house, that every thing
that was said or done might be reported to him
daily.
But, leaving alone cases of this kind, his old ser-
vants, and the people of the towns in his territory,
dared not speak a word to each other in the street.
If they were mixed in a crowd, or friendly to each
other, the spies seized, and dragged them ofi* to the
Durbar, (hall of audience), that they might be
punished. In like manner, no one dared to speak
privately with another in his assembhes, ' for fear
of his displeasure.
Whoever entered his dominions, had no longer
any power or controul over himself ; nor had he
liberty to return as he came, until he received a
pass or permit from Hydur*s Government. By
his power mankind were held in fear and trem-^
bling; and, from his severity, God's creatures,
day and night, were thrown into apprehension and
terror. Cutting off the nose and ears of any per*
son in his territories^ was the commonest thing im-
511
aginable ; and the killing a man there^ was thought
no more of than the treading on an ant. No per-
son of respectability ever left his house with an
expectation to return safe to it.
If any one arrived in that country, (Mysore),
who, from seeing the oppression there exercised,
or from other impediments, did not ask for ser-
vice, he was seized and examined, and was then
forced to accept service, or was turned out of the
town. If Hydur gave charge of a district on the
faith* of any one, he had no power to take a farthing
from the revenue beyond his own allowance. But
if he took any, and it was found out, the money was
demanded, and, if paid, well ; but if it were not, he
was seized and tied with ropes, Kke a horse, before
and behind, and, having been stripped naked, an
order was given to flog him with a whip, and a
number of Jowal Doze,"" beat him cruelly over the
back and loins, after which salt was thrown upon
his wounds. If he complained, he was beaten on
the mouth with a shoe ; and if he cried, red pepper,
dried and pounded, was thrown in his eyes; and
he was tortured in this way every day for a month,
if he did not agree to pay the money. Besides this,
every two or three days, iron spits or rods were
made red hot, and he was burned or branded all
^V^» " Sewers of leaUiern bags, &c.
512
over with them/ This was in addition to imprison-
ment, starvation, and chains. As soon, however, as
the delinquent had paid the money, Hydur's rage
was softened, and he presented him with shawls,
and golden chains, and again offered the same
office to the poor man who had just escaped from
death. But, if he refused to take it, the fire of
Hydur's wrath was rekindled. His cruelty, how-
ever, was still greater, when exerted in extorting
money from the Hindoos.
The author of the above character says that, for
six weeks after Hydur was dead, no one in camp,
except a very few of his chief officers ^ knew of his
decease. They had heard, indeed, that he was
dangerously ill, but no more was known until Tip-
poo arrived in the camp ; the duty in all the depart-
ments being carried on with the same regularity as
before.
' Of Hydur's cruelty there are abundant testimonies.
^ Meer Muhammad Sadik Khan, Dewaun Gholauro Ali Khan,
Bukhshi, Kureem S^ib, his youngest son, and Kumr-ud-din
Khan, the son of Meer Ali Ruza Khan.
513
A statement of the number of troops in the service
of Hydur AU Khan, the chief of Seringapnttun,
some few years since, added to a inemoir of Hydur,
by Mirza Ikbal, for Mr. Richard Johnson of
Madras.
Hydur Alf s stable horse . . 5,000
Bade or Pindara horse .... 4,500
Sillahdars or men enlisted with their
horses and arms 7,000
Workmen, as masons, bricklayers, &c. 14,000
Bar, or regular infantry . . . 20,000
Attending the Presence or body guard 4,000
Garrisons, and detachments in differ-
ent parts of the country : exceed-
ing 100,000
Africans from Habsh and Zung Bar . 1,400
Hurkaras, runners, spies . . . 1,700
Pioneers 1,000
Servants of the household, tent Lascars,
Chobedars, &c. . . . . 700
Blacksmiths and carpenters in the ar-
senals at Chundur Nuggur, Se-
ringaputtun. Bangalore, &c. . • 3,200
162,500
L L
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