It is to be observed 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 Bahadúr 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 Alí 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 arrange­ments, 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 before 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 him­self, being wounded, took to flight, leaving all his guns and stores behind him. Some English sol­diers, and horsemen of Muhammad Alí Khan, were among the killed and wounded, on this occasion. The commanders of the English, nevertheless, stood to their arms, and, firing their guns, pursued the Nawaub to the fort of Huskote; and, in the plain to the eastward of that town, they took up an encampment, surrounding their army with redoubts, and halted there. Muhammad Alí Khan (of Arkat) in great trepidation, but pretending he was sick, now made the movement of the English an excuse for retiring to Satgurh, and recalled his Dewaun from the Barh Mahl.

At this time, Hybut Jung, who had been appointed to oppose that part of the English army which was advancing by the way of Trichinopoly, despatched a letter to Hydur, stating that, at the present moment, the Captain commanding the English troops had taken (the forts of) Dindigul, Coimbatoor, Palghaut, Hurroor, and Dharapore, and that, being at leisure, he, (the Captain), now intended, after receiving his ammunition and pro­visions, which had arrived from Turnamuli, Mud­hura, and Trichinopoly, and were collected in the small fort of Karoor, to march by the Ghaut of Gujulhutty, and make an incursion into Mysore and Seringaputtun; and that, although Hydur’s Kuzzaks or light troops exerted themselves like brave men, to defeat the enemies of the Sirkar, still, without infantry and guns, no advantage could be gained from their exertions. As soon as the con­tents of this letter were made known to him, the Nawaub left Tippoo, with the army, to oppose his encroaching enemies; and himself, with six thousand regular infantry, four thousand horse, and fifteen guns, proceeded by forced marches to Dhurrumpoori, and, attacking it in the night, took both the fort and gar­rison. Then, by night marches, crossing the Ghaut of Tipoor, by the route of Namkul, he proceeded straight by a night march to Karroor, and besieged that fort, which contained two hundred regular foot, and some Kullers or irregulars, for the guard and protection of the supplies or stores therein deposited. In one night he completed his batteries, and mounted on them four or five battering guns, and in the morning commenced his fire. The walls of the fort being of earth, a few discharges, shattered and broke them down; and, although the garrison defended themselves with great constancy till mid-day, they were then obliged to give in, and quit the fort.

About this time, also, intelligence reached the Nawaub, that four thousand carriage bullocks, des­patched by the Captain of the English to fetch stores from Hurroor to Karroor, under the escort of two hundred musketeers and three hundred Kul­lers, (called Colluries by Orme), were advancing, without any fear or caution. On hearing this, the Nawaub immediately despatched two guns and a thousand matchlock men after them; and these intelligent 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 immediately attached the bullocks to his 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 imme­diately 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, and the discharges followed so quickly that the detachment fell into confusion. The Kuzzak, or light horse, who were on the watch for such an oppor­tunity, 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 coun­try, [the Dukhun,] had their lives spared on asking quarter, not one of the Frengis,* or Europeans, except 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. “Behold the Nawaub Bahadúr, like sudden death, is upon your head. He has defeated and plundered the armies of General Smith and Muhammad Alí 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 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 related 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 appre­hensions, 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, ser­vants 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 asked himself, what kind of business is this, and how will it end?— In the meanwhile the civil ser­vants of the Nawaub arrived, and, in sweet words and soft language, began to treat with him, respect­ing 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 Cap­tain 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.*