Sometime after this, Hydur Sáhib the son of Muhammad Ilias, at the invitation of the ministers of the Polygar of Mysore,* proceeded to that coun­try, and was entertained by them in their service, with a body of a hundred* horse and two hundred foot; and he also received from them the honour­able title of Náík, a term which, in the Hindu dialect, signifies an officer or commander of foot soldiers.

Futteh Muhammad, however, still remained at Arkat, much respected; and, towards the end of the Nawaub’s government, he was allowed by the Soubadár to entertain six hundred foot, five hun­dred horse, and fifty juzail-burdar (rocket-men)* attached to his command; and he acquired fresh reputation in every service in which he was employed, particularly in the fight at Jinjee, a town depending on the Karnatic Payan Ghaut, where a fierce battle was fought, between the Nawaub and Raja Teep, or Teeb, Singh. In this battle the Raja with only fourteen horse crossed the river of Sukrateerut, (on this side of Futteh Peeth), the river being swollen with the rains, and attacked the army of the Nawaub, consisting of four or five thou­sand horse and thirteen thousand foot; and stretch­ing forth the arm of manhood, threw the whole into confusion, and stamped his name indelibly on the page of time by his exceeding bravery, and cutting down his enemies as he advanced, the Raja arrived with only two horsemen at the Nawaub’s elephant, when, at this critical moment, Futteh Muhammad, with his infantry, and juzail burdaran, formed a circle round the elephant, and at one discharge stretched the Raja lifeless on the field. In reward for his promptitude on this occasion, he was imme­diately honored with the present of an elephant, a standard, and a pair of nagaras or kettle drums.

As after the death of the Nawaub, his nephew, Dost Alí Khan, became Soubadár of Arkat, and quarrels had arisen among his relations, and as the inexperience of Sufdur Alí Khan (his son) had thrown the state into disorder, Futteh Muhammad, fearing he might sustain loss of character and respectability, quitted of his own accord the service of the Nawaub, and retired with his wife and family to the Balaghaut. Leaving his women at Kolar, he proceeded to Mysore, where he remained some time with his nephew, who had established himself well there by his amiable disposition* and good qualities. About this time, also, the Polygar of Mysore sent for him, gave him the title of Náík, and enter­tained him in his service, on the same terms with Hydur Sáhib Náík. It may be proper to remark here, that the title of Náík is a very respectable one among the Hindoos; and any one who is dis­tinguished by personal bravery and prudence in the management of state affairs, has this title con­ferred on him by the chief among them.

After awhile, however, the affairs of the Raja’s territory of Mysore, from the quarrels of the chiefs of that country, fell into great confusion, and Sáhib Shujeea* or Futteh Muhammad therefore left the Raja’s service, and lived privately for sometime.

About this period, that is 1131 H., he had a son named Shahbaz Sáhib, and, two years after, another, who was named Wulí Muhammad; but the latter died when he was only two years old.

But, as men of courage and conduct cannot pass their lives without occupation, or seeking to distin­guish themselves; and, as they cannot remain like foxes, lurking in the holes and corners of obscurity, but, on the contrary, like the lion-hearted men who, under the guise of acquiring personal renown, are really aiming to provide for the subsistence of many of God’s creatures who cannot provide for themselves; even so Futteh Muhammad left Mysore, to seek service, and proceeded to the chief of the Souba Sura, that is, to Nawaub Durgah Kuli Khan,* where he obtained a very high station as commander of four hundred foot and a hundred horse; he was likewise appointed to the command of the fort of Great Balapoor. He, therefore, sent for his family from Kolar to that place, and remained there for sometime.

In the year 1134 H., A. D. 1721, while he dwelt there, a son of auspicious presage and exalted good fortune was born to him; who from the glory of his person shed splendour on the lap of the nurse of time. The Sun being in the sign Aries* when he was born, he was named Hydur Alí Khan.

An historian* who has sought for historical documents, states that, after the birth of this child, certain astrologers cast his nativity, and dis­closed that, although this boy would certainly arrive at the dignity of the crown and throne, and rise to be the sovereign of the two Karnatics; yet, that he would, in a short time, suffer the pain and grief of becoming an orphan; that is, his father would be taken from him. On hearing this pre­diction, his relations, with one accord, determined that the child should be fed with the milk of death, and laid to sleep in the cradle of eternity.

His father, however, on being informed of this intention, said, “If the evil omen attendant on his birth rests on me, well and good, be it so; but I will not allow him to be put to death; for good and bad proceed alike from God’s decrees.” In conse­quence of this, the mother and relations of this light of the eyes of prosperity and good fortune spared no pains in his nurture and preservation.

After the dismission of Durgah Kuli Khan, and during the government of Ábid Khan, governor of Sura, the Poligars of Mysore, Bidnore, and others, formed a confederacy, and assembled a force to take the fort of Balapoor, and dispatched a mes­sage, through the medium of Hydur Náík Sáhib, demanding its surrender. Futteh Muhammad, however, was not deceived by their interested pro­fessions; but followed the paths of fidelity, and the usages of the brave. He, therefore, at once rejected their demand, and prepared to defend his charge; and having, with his own dependants alone, gal­lantly made a sortie, he defeated them in a night attack, and thereby gained a high reputation among his companions and contemporaries.

The Poligars, defeated, dispersed, and hopeless of success, sought their places of residence, and Futteh Muhammad forwarded to the Soubadár Ábid Khan, the plunder which he had taken from them. Ábid Khan complimented the prudent Futteh Muhammad highly on his valour, and sent for him to the capital of the Souba, where he was honored with a munsub of two thousand foot and five hun­dred horse, with the present of an elephant, a stan­dard, and a pair of kettle drums; and he was, moreover, appointed to superintend the defence and regulation of the Souba. After this in all public affairs in which he was employed, the prudent Futteh Muhammad always accomplished his task in the best possible manner.

When Durgah Kuli Khan was a second time appointed to the Soubadari of Sura, he, also, relying on Futteh Mahummud’s abilities and courage, continued to employ him in the management and regulation* of all matters relating to the government of the Souba. After Kuli Khan was slain, the able Futteh Muhammad attached himself to Abdur­rasúl Khan, his son, and they together made such arrangements in the Souba, and with the Tributary Poligars, that, notwithstanding the absence of the chief authority, which is generally the cause of sedition and treachery in worldly matters, no rebel­lion, or disturbance in the Government ever occurred, and until the arrival of the governor of the Souba, Táhir Muhammad Khan, (who, for nine months after his appointment, was delayed to col­lect the necessary number of Sebundi or local troops) Abdurrasúl, with the aid and advice of Futteh Muhammad, kept the whole in perfect order. When the Nawaub, Táhir Muhammad, arrived in the Souba with his troops, Abdurrasúl Khan, not having well settled his affairs, retired to his father’s Jageer, the same Purgunna of Bala­poor the Greater; and from thence proceeded with­out delay to Hyderabad, leaving in the Souba Muhammad Khan Punni,* as Governor of the chief fort or town* of the Souba, with the troops belong­ing to Futteh Muhammad,— and with orders to oppose the new Souba by force of arms.

The governor or Killadár and Futteh Muham­mad, with other Náíks, therefore, under pretence that their pay was due for the nine months during which they had done duty, and he had been absent, argued and insisted that, until they were paid, they would not allow him to enter the walls of the capital of the Souba, and they secretly prepared to defend themselves.