An account of the treachery of the Chiefs of the Mysore state, and the base ingratitude of the proud and foolish Brahman, Khundi Rao, to his patron; and his arriving at the punishment due to his bad actions. Also the invasion, or incursion, of Esajee Beenee Mahratta.* 1170 Hijri. A. D. 1756.

WHEN the villain Brahman, Khundi Rao, by the kindness and aid of his master, had obtained free of expense or trouble, the Seven Sunnuds of the Dewanni, or first ministership of the Mysore State and when he saw that the rest of the officers of govern­ment were not averse to his views and policy, he imagined that his own good fortune and propitious stars had aided him in the work, and that the heavens revolved to accomplish his designs. In a very short time, therefore, for this very reason— that the water of a little pool, soon becomes offensive, and that a dog has no relish for the sweetness of rice and milk,— he with a hope of establishing his own inauspicious power, turned his back on his patron; and, considering himself independent in the binding and loosing all matters of state, he unrighteously placed the foot of his designs beyond the circle of his ability, and planned the expulsion and destruc­tion of his master, and his establishment; indeed, did his best to root out his power and authority. With this purpose, he in private addressed himself to the Raja, in the following terms— “This con­temptible Náík, (meaning Hydur,) has increased to his present height, and power, by the favour and benefits conferred on him by the Maharaja, and has become the possessor of wealth, territory, and a military force; and this in truth seems likely to be the cause of much danger to your authority.* God forbid, a foreigner or stranger, for instance, a Mussulman, should enter into the affairs of this government, and thus cheaply obtain possession of the riches and power accumulated and established, by the labour of so many years.— If how­ever, I am permitted, I will exert my abilities in the destruction of his power. Verses from Sadi.* “A tree which has just taken root may be pulled up by the strength of a man; but if let alone for a time, you cannot pull it up with a waggon, or, a team of horses.”

The Raja, inexperienced and low minded, and an example that rank does not confer capacity, lent a willing ear to these suggestions, but still with a cautious regard to his own safety; for, he allowed the ungrateful Brahman to act as he pleased in the matter, but himself preserved the strictest silence. Verses. “He, (Khundi Rao,) was like the base born silk worm, who when he invests himself with a silken robe of honour, loses himself.” He did not reflect, that treachery never fails to bring contempt and degradation in the end, but spread the net of his wiles, over the whole of the officers, and servants, of the Mysore government, and associated them in his plans.

At the same time, he wrote to the Chief, (the Názim), of Poona, in the following terms,— “That a certain Mussulman, a servant of inferior rank, had increased in power to that degree, that he had seized and usurped the whole of the wealth and territory of Mysore, and had grown so arrogant that the Raja had nothing left to him but the name; and that, if the Poona State would now assist them, and remove or take away this Mussulman, the yearly tribute, with two Lakhs of Rupees, Nuz­zur, or as a present, and five Lakhs of Rupees, for the expenses of the subsidiary troops, should be immediately paid.” This letter being dispatched, he waited for opportunities and an answer.

As Hydur had detached a great part of his troops, to Pondicherry, and another body of troops under the Foujdári of Meer Alí Ruza Khan, for the necessary protection of the Barh Mahl, he was left with only two or three risalas of regular infantry, (consisting of about fifteen hundred men) four hun­dred horse of his own stables, and a thousand foot without arms, in his encampment, which was near the Deo Rai Peeth, on the bank of the river, (Kau­veri) where also his family, relations, dependents and workmen, resided. By prudence and foresight, however, and observing closely the conduct and movements of the faithless Rao, he gained some information, which induced him to provide, as is proper for all persons in authority, for his own safety, by raising two or three batteries round his residence, and keeping his guns mounted and in readiness. But, notwithstanding this, Hydur fre­quently sent for the Brahman, under pretence of particular business, and to ascertain what he was about; for, whatever might be his conduct, Hydur still had confidence in him, and merely wanted by kindness and gentleness to prove his political capacity. Verse. “Heat will bring iron out of stone,” by gentleness one may insinuate himself as water into steel.* The Brahman, however, under various pretexts, put off his attendance from today to to-morrow, and often sent word, that the Raja would not allow him to leave the fort, but that, if Hydur himself would come, and ask the Raja’s leave, he, Khundi Rao, was ready to return with him. By these strange answers Hydur was filled with doubt and thrown into great perplexity; he did not, how­ever, lose courage, or neglect any means to pro­tect himself.

When the letters, before mentioned, arrived at Poona, Madhoo Rao, the son of Nana, greedy of the things of this world, which is the Paradise of the covetous— verses, “The covetous, with all the riches of the world are never satisfied, the cup of the bubble is not filled by the sea”*— he immediately dispatched Esajee Pundit Beenee, (that is the Chief of the Mahratta advanced guard,) with forty thou­sand horse and twenty thousand foot; and the artillery, which Nana had left in the Souba Sura, when he returned to Poona, was given to him, to accompany him.

When the news of the arrival of the Mahrattas reached the false Brahman, he formed a deep scheme the same night, and the next morning shut the gates of the fort, pointed the largest guns in the direction of his patron’s (Hydur’s) camp or cantonments, and fired several shots at them. Hydur, who was in his Dewan Khana, on hear­ing this left it, and having viewed the fort, saw a change of policy was in contemplation, and that his secret suspicions were now about to be verified. He however, thought— verses, “what does the (Kargus)* vulture enjoy of life but carrion— of what advantage is a long life to a fool.”— He, therefore, immediately manned his defences with musketeers, and also, without the knowledge of any one dis­patched a number of men, and seized all the Amba­kars* of the river (Kauveri) side with their baskets,* it being now the time of the flood, (rains), and made them prisoners. Then, having placed his infantry and cavalry in readiness round his house, he sent for the writers of his different departments, and made them write out distinct lists of what he was possessed of, in valuable cloths, elephants, camels, arms, and the most precious of his household property, as rich stuffs, utensils, &c., and arranged all this business by midday. During that time, the per­fidious* Brahman, with a body of horse and foot, made a sortie from the Mysore gate, and attacked Hydur’s encampment; but the men Hydur had placed in his batteries gave them such a warm reception with their guns and musketry, that they were defeated and fled; and although they returned and repeated their foolish attacks, they were con­stantly repelled.

In the evening, Hydur having collected from his Zanana, all his money, and valuables in gold, silver, and precious stones, and placed them in bags, and having consoled and comforted his family and dependants; he with two or three hundred well mounted horse, taking with him his bags of gold and jewels, crossed the river in baskets,* and, march­ing all night, arrived the next morning at Anikul. Having made his arrangements here in an hour or two, Hydur next addressed a letter to Kubeer Beg, the Kiladár of Bangalore informing him that he might expect him there. That worthy friend, on hearing of the approach of Hydur, was well pleased; but as the chief civil officers, (Huzaurian), were the servants of the Raja, he was apprehensive of them, and he therefore devised the following plan. Under pretence of visiting some gardens in the vicinity, he assembled the civil officers of the fort,* and took them out with him; giving orders, to the guards at the gates, not to oppose the entrance of Hydur Alí Khan Bahadúr, and his fol­lowers, as he was coming to the fort on particular business from Seringaputtun. The Mirza, after this, dispatched a letter, inviting him to Bangalore. As soon as Hydur saw this letter, from his trusty well wisher, he with great satisfaction marched into the fort; and, having quietly placed guards of his own men on the gates and Posterns, he now made himself easy. After staying out an hour or two, the Mirza returned with the officers, and imme­diately visited Hydur, who, by his presents and promises to the officers and men of the old garrison, so completely won their hearts, that they all agreed to serve him, and sacrifice their lives for him when­ever required.