The invasion of Mysore by the Mahrattas and the chief of Hydurabád with the intention to subdue the territories of the Khodádád Kingdom, and the conquest by them of certain forts of that State in their neighbourhood, and the march of the victorious Sultán to repel his enemies by the route of Adhooni, and the conquest of that place in the year 1199 Hijri, with other matters, A. D. 1785.

WHEN the Ambassadors of the Sultán, who pre­vious to this time had proceeded to Poona with presents and ten lakhs of rupees, in money, arrived there, and had visited the chief (the Paishwa) and the minister, Nana Furnavees and had made an offer of the foregoing presents and money, they refused to receive them and peremptorily rejected the whole.

The reply of the Sultán which has been before mentioned, “that he had inherited a few guns and muskets from his father and had always kept them in readiness,” remained fixed in the Paishwa’s heart like a thorn, and he, therefore, in these plans (the rejection of the presents, &c.) united in heart and hand with Nizám Alí Khán and despatched orders to all parts to collect his Amírs, or chief officers. Accordingly in a very short time all the Amírs of Poonah with their contingents of troops and warlike stores assembled, and Nizám alí Khán conformably to his agreement, with his chiefs such as Mushír ul Moolk, Syfe Jung, Teigh Jung, &c. and the whole of his army consisting of forty thou­sand horse and fifty thousand foot, marched from Hydurabád and by the route of Bidur proceeded towards Budami, the fort of which is the frontier station of the Sultán’s dominions in that direction.

The Mahrattas also with eighty thousand horse, forty thousand foot and fifty guns of heavy calibre and vast quantities of warlike stores, being all in readiness, marched and arrived at Budami. The Ambassadors of the Sultán therefore received their dis­mission, from that place, and the two Potentates (the Paishwa and Nizám) now met and having consulted together, determined to attack the forts of Mysore; and first gave orders to besiege the fort of Budami which was however held by a brave officer. The Amírs therefore of these Princes exerted themselves strenuously in the attack of the fort, and in raising batteries and battering down the walls, and also by continually repeated assaults,— but notwithstanding they lost thousands upon thousands of brave men in these operations, it was taken at last by capitu­lation only, after a siege of nine months. The confederates, however, after repairing the fort still remained there, in order to collect supplies and stores, despatching their Amírs to all quarters to reduce and take possession of other forts and towns, and accordingly the said Amírs with a large force marched and obtained possession of Dharwar and Jalihul, by a bribe of thirty thousand rupees. It is proper to mention here that the governor of these two forts was a certain Hydur Buksh, a Rafizi or Sheea, a man who had but a short time before been Khán Samán or house-steward to the Amír ul Omra, the son of Muhammad Alí Khán, Suráj ud Dowla;— and at first was a con­fidential servant, but at length having misapplied and stolen a large sum of the money of his master, and being consequently afraid of punishment, he deserted from him and sought refuge in the protection of the Sultán, and was appointed to the command of these forts,;— this man following the path of ingratitude gave them up for the amount specified, to the Sultán’s enemies;— while, he himself with his fol­lowers and property took the road to Poona. In the same way Gujindur Gurh, Nolegoonda, Nur­goonda, &c. indeed the whole of that side of the River Tungbhudra was surrendered to the enemy. The commanders of these forts being treacherous scoun­drels, who seduced from their duty by the promise of increased rank and pay, and the payment of ready money in bribes, joined the enemy. The Poligars of that quarter as the chief of Sir Hutti, Dumul, Kunukgiri and Anigoonda, also joined and assisted the enemy. When the Sultán’s spies reported these circumstances to him, and his faithful Amírs, and chief officers, advised and entreated him to march to oppose his enemies, he immediately ordered the assembly of his army and the different departments, and on the sixth of the month of Shaban ul Muazum of this year, with a fine well dis­ciplined army consisting of six Kushoons or brigades of regular infantry (a Kushoon is about two thou­sand men) three Mowkubs of horse, (the Mowkub is a regiment of regular cavalry of about four hundred horses and men according to Kirkpatrick)* ten thou­sand irregular foot, thirty thousand good horse and a park of twenty-two heavy guns, marched to Bun­galore and ordered the attendance of the Poligars. The Moonshis or secretaries therefore quickly wrote out orders directing them to join immediately with their troops, provisions and stores, and promising to remit their tribute until the conclusion of the war (with the Mahrattas and the Nizám). The Poligars of the different countries, such as the chiefs of Rai Droog, Hurpun Hulli, and others despatched their contingents of troops to the presence according to custom, but the chiefs themselves pretending to be sick remained at home.