The encreasing prosperity of Hydur Alí Khan Bahadúr, with other occurences of the year 1165 H., A. D. 1751.
DURING the reign of Jug Kishen Raj Ooderi, Raja of Mysore; and the ministry of his agent, Girachoori Nundi Raj, many turbulent and rebellious men assembled, and raised disturbances in different parts of that country; and, having possessed themselves of portions of territory belonging to the government, withdrew themselves entirely from the authority of the Raja, and refused to pay tribute; more particularly, Deo Raj, (the brother of Nundi Raj,) who had rebelled, and having surrounded 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 Alí 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 Mysore, which was in the greatest disorder and confusion; a brief account of which is as follows:— When Nundi Raj, after the assassination of the Nawaub Násir Jung, returned in haste* towards Mysore, Hydur Alí Khan likewise following him, a man of the name of Gunga Ram, who was the Foujdár 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 commenced 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 disturbed quarter as Hydur Alí 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 companies of his brother Shahbaz Sáhib, and Khoob Sáhib Dukkuni Jamadár, and two thousand horse. Hydur Alí 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 on the sleeping fortunes of the rebels, and, by stretching forth the arm of courage, speedily subdued 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 Holi Droog, Chund Rai Droog, Ruttun Giri, Rai Kote, Hussoor, and Baglore; and he placed in each of them commanding officers 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 Alí commandant, Ghonsa, arrived from Arkat, and were appointed to the high rank of Risaladár in the regular battalions.