THE letter you sent us has passed under our view, and its contents are duly perceived.

You write, “that seizing on the Vakeel of the Kittoor man, and “detaining him in custody, under you own eye, you had dispatched “Syed Ghuffâr and Syed Humeed with some troops into the Paith “[or outer town], where the Daisye and Goornâth Pundit, the manager, immediately came and presented them with the keys of both “castles, of which, as well as of the Paith, instant possession was “taken by our troops.” [You proceed to state,] “That the Daisye, “and Tumsâjee Pundit, and some others of superior distinction, were “afterwards brought into the victorious camp, and there placed under “guards.” You further report, “that five hat-wearers [i. e. Eu­ropeans], one of whom rides in a Palankeen, as well as the Ramdoorg “man, and one called Pedro, have been made prisoners: that, for the “protection of the town, ryots, and inhabitants of the districts in “general, you had stationed rocket-men, horse, and also some infantry “guards, in different places: that, for the present, you had put seals “on the store-houses, such as the Tosheh-khâneh belonging to the “Daisye, and placed Jyshe guards over them: that you had commis­sioned Yunkut Runjia, the Aumil of Dhârwâr, to take the necessary “measures for collecting together and encouraging the Ryots and “others: and that, as soon as our pleasure on the subject should be “communicated to you, it was your intention to take an inventory of “all the effects, horses, &c. belonging to the Daisye, under the in­spection of the managers of the Daisye, and to transmit the same to “us for our information.”

It is known and approved. In the town and fort [of Kittoor] are many wealthy persons, possessing lacks [of rupees]; some of them proper inhabitants of the place, and others belonging to Poonah, from which last city there are several Mûtusuddies established at Kittoor, in whose hands considerable property has been deposited. You must, therefore, by offering pecuniary rewards to the inhabitants of the place, endeavour, through their means, to discover the individuals alluded to; and having done so, you must put them, likewise in confinement. It is the custom of that country, for the most opulent bankers to assume the habit of Fakeers, and to make their escape in that disguise.* Pay particular attention to this point: and having duly identified the prin­cipal inhabitants of the class in question, secure their persons, and take care that their effects are not embezzled, as a strict account of this matter will hereafter be required of you.

Whosoever among the former managers of the Daisye has been removed from office, and incurred the displeasure of the Daisye, let him be encouraged, and some mark of favor be bestowed upon him; and, with the exception of the town and fort, let him be appointed to superintend the collections* of the country: then ascertaining, through his means, the circumstances of the great ones and bankers, you will keep the latter in custody. You must, also, through the same channel, obtain an account of the property* of the Daisye, as well as that of the principal men and other inhabitants of the place, and having discovered where it is, send for and secure the same. You are, moreover, to station a guard from Shaikh Unser’s corps, and another from Syed Ghuffâr’s, in the town and fort, and over the Tosheh-khâneh and other store-houses of the Daisye, to the end that no part of the effects of the latter, or of the inhabitants, may, in the disorder of the moment, be made away with. Rocket-men must also be stationed in proper places, for the protection of the Paith [or outer town.]

Sending then, in the first instance, for the managers of the Daisye, you must tell them, that you propose making an humble application to us, to reinstate the Daisye in the possession of his country: but that, to enable you to do this, it will be necessary that a contribution should be [previously] paid down; and that if they will, accordingly, agree to raise fifty lacks of rupees, and give you [due] security for the same, you will represent the case to us; and obtaining a Purwâneh of confirmation in their name [i. e. the Daisye’s name] restore the place to them. You may, at the same time, observe, that such care has been taken of their country, that no injury whatever has been sustained by it. Addressing them, at first, in words calculated like these to excite [or humour] their avarice, and to inspire them with confidence, you will bring them, after some altercation, to agree to pay a Paishcush; the amount of which being settled, as well as the manner of discharging it [i. e. whether in money, goods, or bankers’ bills], you will next, by their means, send for the concealed bankers,* and ascertain from these the assets in their hands; a statement of which, specifying the several bankers’ names, must be transmitted to us, to the end that the requisite orders for the restoration of the place [to the Daisye] may be subsequently dispatched to you.

In the mean while, you must affix both the seal of the Daisye and your own on the Tosheh-khâneh, and other storehouses of the Daisye, as well as on all such places as contain money or goods in deposit: in addition to which, some of the most trusty men of Syed Unser’s and Syed Ghuffâr’s Kushoons must be placed as guards over the whole. In regard to the horses, camels, and elephants, belonging to the Daisye, you are to cause an exact account of them to be taken, in conjunction with the latter’s managers, and then to have them removed from the Paith, and placed in front of, but at some distance from, the Daisye’s quarters; where they are to be accompanied by their usual attendants, with the exception of horsemen, or other military persons. Here they are, moreover, to be provided with grain and fodder, and otherwise taken proper care of, at our charge. The family of the Daisye, as also all his managing servants, are to be permitted to remain in their houses; over which, however, guards are to be placed, to prevent the egress of the persons in question from thence.

Let the two forts and the ditch be examined by yourself in person, conjointly with the Sipahdârs, and let a report of their present condition be made to us. Transmit, likewise, a detailed account of the magazines and artillery, and state your opinion with respect to the place [that is, as to its importance or its strength].

You will repeat to the Daisye and to his managers, that if they quickly agree to a heavy composition or contribution,* and put the same in an [immediate] train of payment, their place shall be restored to them.

Enquire of the Daisye’s servants, and let us know, the extent of Kit­toor, and what number of forts it contains. Write letters of encourage­ment to the actual Aumils, and continue them in office. Send to the present Kilaadârs [or governors of forts], desiring them to wait upon you; and [then] superseding them in their commands by servants of our own, let the forts be garrisoned by Piâdehs from your army.

Obtain from the Daisye’s managers lists of all the Daisye’s servants, menials and others, and then have them mustered. The Buktshy of your cavalry must be directed to take a muster of the Daisye’s cavalry, in the presence of the Daisye’s manager. This being done, the cavalry in question are to be placed in charge of a particular Risâladâr [of your army], along with whose own corps they must be encamped. The Piâ­dehs [or foot soldiers] must, after being mustered, be consigned to the charge of Syed Humeed, and be encamped on his line.* They must not have guards openly placed over them, but a strict watch is to be secretly kept on them.

Next send for the commanders of [the Daisye’s] horse and foot, and hold an encouraging language to them, by intimating your expectation of shortly receiving our orders for restoring the place [to the Daisye.] You will then proceed to tell them, that, in the mean while, they must infuse confidence into their people, and get them to take up their quar­ters in your camp. This point being gained, and the troops in question encamped with your own, let guards be placed over all the aforesaid commanders, independent of, and separate from those [previously] posted over the Daisye and the others. They must not be suffered to go among their brethren [or comrades];* and you must supply them with such provisions and other necessaries as they may require.

You will take particular care, that no horses are allowed to be kept near that part of the camp occupied by the Daisye and his managers;* nor must any of his people be suffered to pass backward and forward, without your authority.

Several persons of consideration, and opulent bankers, reside at Shâhpoor, Pulkawum,* and Gokauk, all three dependencies of Kittoor. Shaikh Unser with his Kushoon, two Mûtusuddies, and two intelligent Hurkârehs from the cavalry Kuchurry, together with two Risâlas of horse, and some Piâdehs [foot], must be dispatched to take possession of these places. The principal men and bankers being ascertained, must then be sent for, and the Aumils of the aforesaid places be continued in their offices: for which purpose, you will transmit to them the necessary letters of confirmation from yourself and the Daisye.

Shaikh Unser must be instructed to obtain from the Aumils of the before-mentioned three Taalûks written engagements, purporting that they will be responsible for the flight of any of the inhabitants of their respective districts.

We shall ourself shortly arrive in that quarter; inasmuch as we have, by the blessing of God, completely settled all the affairs of Zuferâbâd.

The foregoing dispatch forms one of the few exceptions, afforded by the present collection, to the usually concise style of the Sultan’s mandates. It is diffuse and minute in the extreme: from which circumstance may be inferred the importance which he attached to the acquisition of Kittoor, and his solicitude to turn it to the best account.

We hear little more of Kittoor, or of its Daisye,* for a month after the date of the present Letter. The interval was probably employed in negociations with that chieftain, or Polygar, the result of which may be collected from the tenor of Letter CCXVII.

The Sultan would appear to have returned, soon after the date of the preceding letter, to his capital. The only notice I have any where met with of his proceed­ings, during his stay at Zuferâbâd, or of the manner in which he “settled the “affairs” of that quarter, is contained in the brief account he has himself given of the business, in a subsequent letter to the Patan chief of Kurnool.* The following extract, however from his Memoirs, as it relates to a previous settlement of the country in question, soon after his accession to the Musnud, may not be unaccept­able to the reader.

After a brief, but curious, account of the reduction of the Bul country,* where he caused a new fortress to be erected, to which he gave the name of Munzirâbâd,* the Sultan proceeds thus in his narrative:—

“From hence [i. e. from Munzirâbâd] I proceeded towards Koorg, some of “the principal men of which country seeing that they were without any chief or “leader, had, at the time that we were moving against the Nazarenes,* chosen “and placed at their head one of their own body; to whom, investing him with “absolute power, they became obedient. After this, they set about raising dis­turbances in that quarter, and laid siege to a fort newly erected by the Sircar,* “and in which the governor [of the district] resided. The garrison being “reduced to great straits, surrendered on capitulation; but were all massacred, “on marching out of the place. The fort was completely demolished by the “rebels, who through enmity [i. e. to mark their hatred the more strongly] con­veyed away every stone belonging to it, and threw the whole into the quarry “from which it had been originally taken. Elated with this success, they “continued to occupy the position they had assumed.* When this occurrence “came to our blessed hearing,* we dispatched a commander, named Hyder Ali “Baig, with a suitable force, to reduce the Koorg country. The aforesaid com­mander proceeding to the borders of Koorg, had arrived near the fort of Peria­patam, when the rebels collecting together advanced to meet him. One or two “battles ensued: but the aforesaid commander was not able to settle the affairs “of that quarter. In this conjuncture, I was proceeding in person from the “country of Arcot towards the country of Nugr, and had got about half way. “Hereupon I detached another army, under the direction of the Râjah of Kunnik­geery, to the aid of the aforesaid commander, and pursued my march to Nugr; “after the recapture of which, the victorious army was engaged in the reduction “of Mangalore. It was during this period, that the two before mentioned com­manders, having advanced, for the purpose of subduing Koorg, two or three “coss into the woods, were attacked from all quarters by the Koorgs, who closed “up every avenue [to their camp or position]. For three successive days was the “conflict maintained; at the end of which time, my base commanders, consult­ing only the safety of their worthless lives,* took to flight, leaving behind them “their troops and guns. The Râjah of Kunnikgeery, however, with a few men, “maintained their ground [for some time]; and after amply discharging the “obligations of valor, and sending numbers of the enemy to hell, made an “offering of their lives for the service of the Usud Ilhye Sircar.*

“In consequence of these events, I proceeded, after the reduction [or subjuga­tion] of Bul, as above related, towards Koorg. From Periapatam the army “advanced in two divisions, by different roads, and in two days, by rapid “marches, reached the residence* of the governor [of the district], where the “infidels had taken post. Here I made a great number of prisoners. Kutty Nâik, “however, the no-chief* of the Koorgs, effecting his escape, with his family “and children, through the woods and adjacent hills, concealed himself and “followers in a glen, or valley,* of the Elâichy mountains, which was inaccessible “both to wild beasts and birds. Hither the Hydery army pursued the fugitives, “and after some search discovering the entrance of the before mentioned glen, “encamped there [for the night]. The following day, taking two Risâlas of “Jyshe, about five hundred Piâdehs, and two guns with me, and leaving the “two guns at the mouth of the glen, I formed an advanced guard of a Jowk [or “company] and two hundred Piâdehs, which after firing two or three guns, I “directed to proceed [into the glen], under the command of a Jowkdâr. I “followed myself with the two Risâlas, and three or four hundred Piâdehs, and “accompanied by a few select persons. Though it was now mid-day, the glen, “owing to the prodigious lofty trees which overhung it, was so excessively dark, “that it was with difficulty a man could see the ground; while no one could make “a step [in advance] till he had cleared his way, by removing with his sword the “small trees [bushes] which obstructed it.

“When we had, in this manner, proceeded about half way through the glen, “the darkness was such, that there was no distinguishing on which side the sun “was.* In this distress, great were the efforts which were made to obtain a sight “of the sun, as being essential to the discovery of a passage through the glen: “but, notwithstanding several men ascended the trees, and [from their tops] “looked out for the sun, they were not [for a long while] able to obtain the least “glimpse of it. At length a man, who had mounted a tree at some distance “from the troops, having seen the sun, came and pointed out to me the western “quarter, stating, at the same time, that there remained three hours of day. By “knowing the quarter, we were enabled to advance two or three coss further “through the glen; at the opposite extremity [or side] of which we at length “arrived. Beyond this end of the glen was a small plain, where three houses of “Kutty Nâik stood. When we reached the spot it was sun-set; so I took up my “quarters in those houses, drawing up and encamping my followers on each side “of Kutty Nâik’s dwelling. Here, telling my people that the enemy would “approach in the night, and after discharging their muskets at a great distance, “would set up a howl or noise, in the manner of dogs, swine, and jackals, I “strictly forbad their standing to their arms on that account, directing them to “sit still, and satisfy themselves with frightening the dogs away.* Accordingly, “towards the morning, the aforesaid dogs and jackals, approaching on every side, “fired their muskets, and set up a great cry; of which, however, my people, “agreeably to orders, took no other notice than by frightening the dogs away: “the noise for which purpose was no sooner made, than all the dogs of the desert “fled.

“When morning came, I set the pioneers and others to work upon making a “road, fifty yards* wide, through the glen, which was accordingly completed by “the evening. The following day I sent for the whole army, with which I pro­ceeded in three marches to the passes,* spreading detachments, as I advanced, “over the country, for the purpose of seizing on the thieves. The aforesaid “Nâik, fleeing into the woods, escaped with his family, by another road over “the passes, to Tillicherry a sea-port belonging to the English. Here dying a “natural death, at the end of two or three days, he made his entry into hell: “whereupon orders were sent to his followers from the Presence, directing them “to bring his family and effects to the Presence; and accordingly the thieves, who “had accompanied him, leaving Tillicherry, repaired with his family, two or “three elephants, and his other effects, to the Presence.

“The special retinue* returning from hence through the glen and other places “[by which it had advanced], reached, after some marches, the fort of “Merkerrah,* which the infidels had demolished. Here I halted for two or “three days, during which I examined the spot very carefully, and then issued “orders for rebuilding the fort; to which I nominated a Kilaadâr, &c. appointing “Meer Zynûl Aabideen [at the same time] to be Foujdâr of the district. “Proceeding from Merkerrah, I marched ten coss to the residence of the aforesaid “Nâik, where there was a small fort, in which I put a garrison, and directed the “Foujdâr to abide till the conclusion of the rainy season; which being now very “near, I hastened, by successive marches, to Periapatam, and I gave to the “[new] fort of Merkerrah the name of Zufeerâbâd; from which name may be “deduced, without any ambiguity, the date of the conquest of the place. From “Periapatam I detached a respectable force to the assistance of the Foujdâr of “Zufeerâbâd; and then our elevated standards proceeded in the direction of the “seat of the Sultan at Putn.”

The Sultan has added to the preceding narrative the following curious and important notice:—

“When I arrived at Zufeerâbâd, I sent for all the leaders of the rebels, and “delivered into their hands written mandates to the following effect:—

“It is the custom with you, for the eldest of five brothers to marry, and for the “wife of such brother to be common to all five: hence there cannot be the slightest “or remotest doubt of your being all bastards and whoresons. This is about the “seventh time that you have acted treasonably towards the Sircar, and plundered “our armies: I have now [therefore] vowed to the true God, that if you ever “again conduct yourselves traiterously or wickedly, I will not revile or molest a “single individual among you, but making Ahmedies* [i. e. Musulmans] of the “whole of you, transplant you all from this country to some other; by which “means, from being illegitimate, your progeny or descendants may become “legitimate, and the epithet of whoresons* may no longer belong to your tribe.”