The invasion of Tatia Mahratta the Chief of Mirch, Govind Rao, the son of Imrut Rao, and Suboo Rao Ghatkia, &c., Chiefs of the Mahrattas, from Poona, with the intention to ravage and conquer the country depending on the Nawaub Bahadúr. Also, the incursion of Ibrahim Khan, Dhoonsa, with the same purpose, from Hydurabad; and the making prisoners the chiefs of the Mahrattas, by the hands of the brave soldiers of the Nawaub’s army. The retreat also of Dhoonsa, without attaining his object and the conquest of Bullari by the Nawaub; all which occured in the year 1187, Hijri.— A. D. 1773.

WHILE the Nawaub Bahadúr remained in Puttun, and was occupied in making some particular arrangements, and collecting troops and stores; Busá­lut Jung, the Chief of Adhooni, and the promoter of strife, Morar Rao, combining and concerting together, wrote and despatched letters to the Nizám of Hydurabad, and the chief persons at Poona, con­taining a request that they would despatch troops into this country, (Mysore,) and pluck up the tender plant of the Nawaub’s prosperity and greatness,— for, in the increase of his power and might, they saw involved, to a certainty, their own decay and ruin. They then remained waiting or looking out for opportunities. Although he knew well the inimical intentions of these treacherous people, still, before some overt act on their part authorized him, the Nawaub did not consider it consistent with his character for courage and the conquest of his enemies to molest or annoy any of them. Seem­ingly like a listening deer, he was silent; but, in reality, like a hunting leopard, he was waiting an opportunity to spring upon his prey, when, all at once, his spies, from the banks of the Toongbhud­dra, successively brought him intelligence, that, the Governor of Mirch had again associated several Chiefs of the Mahrattas with him, and was raising disturbances in the neighbourhood of Badami and Dharwar; that, although the minister of Poona was adverse to his plans, still he, vain and conceited in himself, had raised the neck of pride, and was marching in the direction of Mysore; that the Názim of Hydurabad, agreeably to the request of the Chief of Adhooni and the Hakim of Gootti, had also despatched Ibrahim Khan Dhoonsa, with a well appointed force, artillery, and warlike stores, to this quarter, that as a soldier Dhoonsa considered no one his equal,* and was exceedingly vain of the discipline of his troops, and the excellence of his artillery; and that he, like a mad elephant, with the proboscis of fury raised, was advancing towards Mysore. Also, that the Chief of Adhooni had despatched his troops to take Bullari, and that Sufdur Jung, the Commander in Chief of his army, and the French­man, Monsieur Lalli, who had the title of Roostum Jung, had already besieged that town, and were prosecuting their operations; but that the Náík, who defended the place, had fought manfully, and vigorously repelled his enemies. The Nawaub now, therefore, appointed Muhammad Alí com­mandant, with five thousand regular infantry and seven thousand horse, and the troops of Bajee Rao, to attack and repel them, and he himself set them forward on their march towards Dharwar. The gallant Commandant accordingly marched with such speed that, in fifteen days, he arrived at Dhar­war, and finding to the north of the fort an open plain, and the dry bed of a river, forming a good ground of encampment, placing the river in his front, he planted his standard and encamped there. The tents, however, were not yet pitched, nor had the loads of baggage fallen from the backs of the bullocks, camels, and elephants, when the Chiefs of the enemy it being the day of the Dussura,* with the whole of their force, guns and stores, ready for action, came on by troops, to make a display of themselves, and exercise their horses, and also with the intention to encamp in that very spot of ground which two days before they had seen unoccupied by the Nawaub’s lions. Taking no account what­ever of the commandant’s force, which appeared to them small, while they in number were near thirty thousand horse and twenty thousand foot with six­teen guns, they without any hesitation advanced the whole together, officers and men, and at once came on to the attack. The brave commandant, with great activity, posted his artillery in advance, and formed his lines of musketry in the rear of the guns; having stationed on his right wing the Ban­dárs* or rocket men. When, therefore, the Mah­rattas had rashly advanced within musket shot, all at once his guns, which had been loaded with grape shot, and were ready for the match, succes­sively opened their fire,— the vollies of musketry being given with aim and precision on the enemy’s main body— and, like as the ears of wheat and barley cut by the sickle at harvest are scattered over the face of the ground, so, the bodies of the Mahrattas were scattered on the field of death. In the rear, again, the cavalry, stretching forth the hands and arms of courage, and shouting* “Aid from God and victory near,”— threw the dust of defeat on the heads of the conquered. The rocket men, also, firing from the flank, (apparently formed en potence) lighting up the fire of strife, burned the camp fol­lowers and baggage of the Mahrattas like dry wood in the oven of devastation.

But, to return— The day of feasting became to the Mahrattas a day of mourning; and Tatia, who was a fat heavy man, at the shock of the thunder of the artillery and musketry trembled so, that he lost his seat and fell from his horse on the ground, and rubbed the forehead of his timidity on the earth of supplication. The other cowardly Chiefs, who, from the clouds of smoke rising from the guns and mus­ketry in this hard fought battle, lost their way to safety, who, from the lightning of the swords of the brave, lost the sight of their understandings, and, the range of whose intellect was pierced through, or fixed, by the flashing points of the spear, javelin and mace, now, in the hope of saving their lives, covered themselves with the clothes of the wounded and, with their bodies uninjured, crying, and wailing, rolled themselves about on the ground. The vic­torious Kuzzaks, now put forth the hand of plun­der, and took freely of all they liked to their heart’s content, &c. The brave commandant, for this great and unexpected victory, prostrated himself in thanksgiving before the throne of the true bestower of all victory, and having twice* performed his thanksgiving devotions, the Mahratta Chiefs were dragged forward, in number ten or twelve, the head of the whole being Tatia, and they were then con­fined in a tent under a strong guard. Of the ele­phants, camels, and horses, with other plunder, of which an incredibly great quantity was taken, half was given to the Silahdárs, who in this battle had perilled their lives nobly. To each of the Fakeers, or religious mendicants, who accompanied him, and of whom, whether he was travelling or stationary, forty or fifty always remained round that generous man’s door, he gave one horse or camel. The Mahratta females who were taken he divided among the dissipated and such as were fond of women. He then encamped on the same ground, the twin* of victory, and despatched to the Nawaub a congratulatory letter on this unexpected success, with a list or return of half the plunder taken, and likewise the names of the Chiefs taken prisoners.