The quarrel between Nundi Raj and his son-in-law, and his retirement 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.

AFTER the Sipahsalar, Hydur, by his prudence and courage, had defeated the Mahrattas, and recovered the country taken by them, he placed the government of Seringaputtun on a sure and established 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 account 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 Nundi Raj in angry terms and manifested great displea­sure. Nundi Raj, who, also, was much ashamed of his want of political foresight in the affair, with great 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 manage­ment 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 hun­dred horse, and five hundred regular infantry.

The other chiefs of the government, having consulted together, were, however, desirous to go further, 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 Alí’s 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 Sáhib 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 returning of them would be superfluous; for, when it was considered that he, Nundi Raj, had aban­doned 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, recommended the Raja with the advice of his coun­cil, 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 Alí, 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, there­fore, 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 appeared to him, (Hydur Alí), necessary or rather the 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. Not­withstanding all this, Hydur Alí, 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 imme­diately 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 courageously; but, at length, by their valour and strength of arm Hydur Alí’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 troops marched out of the fort, and leaving a gar­rison 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 ser­vant, Hydur supposing him, faithful, and he received strict orders to do nothing in affairs of Govern­ment 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 further to care for, and con­sidering 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 perpetual or permanent assignment— he himself resid­ing at the town of Kennoor, and maintaining, for the protection and regulation of his depen­dencies, six or seven hundred horse, two thousand regular infantry, and about four thousand Karnatic foot; and thus he rested from his labours, and enjoyed himself.