The Rao now posted in the ruined fort two thou­sand foot, with ammunition, as a garrison and then returned to his own station. On the following morn­ing, the garrison manned the walls, beat their drums, and sounded their trumpets, in the Mah­ratta style, and then assembled suddenly in great numbers at the gate. Seeing these movements and apprehending treachery from them, the Nawaub’s detachment manned their batteries, and were standing ready for action, when, all at once, fifteen hundred of the Mahrattas left the fort, and advanced rapidly to attack them. The Nawaub’s men being few, and they also scattered, or detached, they left the battery, and assembled in the Peenth, or suburb, and, having made one gate strong, they remained quiet. The troops from the fort now formed a circle round them, and commenced a brisk fire of musketry and rockets. The officers of the Nawaub’s infantry, nevertheless did not lose heart, but determined to sell their lives dearly; and they therefore strengthened a large building at the gate­way, and defended it gallantly, while the Khokur, (Afghan), with a few brave fellows, made an attack on the unlucky Mahrattas, and with the sword and spear killed a great many of them. Some of the garrison of the fort also were taken prisoners by stratagem, and from them they learned the state of affairs in the fort, as has been before related. The officer above mentioned on the next night, des­patched, therefore, the prisoners to Hydur, with a letter, stating what had occurred by the treachery and misconduct of the ill fated Poligar, and then waited for succour.

On his receiving this letter, and hearing the state­ment of the prisoners, Hydur became as furious as an enraged lion, and with his troops and artillery made a forced march* back from Dewun Hully, and arrived at the fort, round which the cavalry of the Rao were stationed, and they being attacked received such a defeat from Hydur’s Bedes or Kuz­zaks that they fled and never looked behind them until they arrived at Goori Bundah. Perceiving the advantage which Hydur had gained, his officers who were on the alert in the Peenth or suburb, immediately hoisted his standard on the gate and beat their drums. The Nawaub on seeing this was highly pleased, and, having entered the sub­urb, he occupied the same batteries he had before raised, and ordered his artillery and infantry to give the fort a shower of shot. Hydur remained only two days before the fort, when he assaulted and took it, and directed some of the men belonging to the artful Rao to be put to death, and, for an example, some had their noses and ears cut off, and were sent bleeding to join their comrades with the Rao. Alí Ruza Khan was then appointed to com­mand the fort; and having given him strict charge to take the hill fort of Nundi, and the unfortunate Poligar, Hydur marched off to Goori Bundah, with his victorious army, to attack Morar Rao. The Rao, however, finding himself unequal to contend with Hydur, marched to Goori Koonda, a place in his own possession. The Nawaub Bahadúr after a siege of two or three days, reduced Goori Bundah, and, leaving a detachment there, he moved on.

When Hydur arrived near Goori Koondah, the Rao mounted his horse, and with his cavalry, infan­try and artillery, took post ready to receive him.— The Nawaub having placed his regular and irregular infantry and artillery in ambush, in the dry bed of a river, now ordered off all his light horse to the front, to attack the Rao’s troops, but when the Rao’s cavalry attempted to charge them in a compact* body, Hydur’s horse, before the enemy came near turned their backs and fled at speed. The Rao’s horse, who were rendered very bold by this flight, followed them, and while they were in pursuit, all at once, the troops in ambush rose up, and received them with such a volley of cannon, and musketry, that to this day their loss remains inscribed on the page of time; for the troops of the Rao were scat­tered like grain shaken out of a slit bag, and they did not drink water until they arrived at the walls of Gooti. The Rao also fled his own way. Hydur, victorious, advanced; and, after a siege of seven days, took Goori Koondah, and from that place marched towards Pen Koondah, where also the Rao had a garrison. He first, however, took and for­tified the Ghauts, or passes, and then, by succes­sive assaults on the hill fort, in a month took it, after which he proceeded to attack the hill fort of Murg Sura. The commandant of that fort, who was a brave man, prepared however to oppose him, and on his approach, by the continual fire of his guns and musketry, he killed a great many of the Nawaub’s troops. The Nawaub being in great anger at this, gave orders to his officers for the immediate investment of the fort, and, under the cover of the rocks to make an assault, while he himself took his station on a hill to the northward of the fort, but adjoining to that on which it stood; and, having mounted some large guns on that hill, he sent to the Killadár a Kowl Nama, or a sum­mons and terms for his surrender. The terms not being accepted, Hydur, who was much annoyed gave orders to the marksmen among his artillery­men to fire at a particular part of the rocks, which rose above the middle of the mountain, and beneath which stood the houses and buildings of the fort, full of inhabitants; and, as these rocks were knocked to pieces by the cannon balls, the frag­ments killed a number of the besieged, and scat­tered the rest so effectually that the garrison of the fort lost the power* of defence. Seeing his sol­diers in this inefficient state, the Killadár became alarmed, and after begging their lives might be spared, he gave over the fort to the servants of the Nawaub, and himself, seeking Hydur’s protection, was allowed his life and property.

Meer Alí Ruza Khan who, meanwhile, was besieg­ing the hill of Nundi, by exerting the greatest skill and bravery, reduced the besieged to such extremi­ties, that being in all respects without resources, the Poligar surrendered it to the Meer, and sought the asylum of the Khodadad. The Meer, agreeably to Hydur’s orders, despatched the captive Poligar, and his family to Bangalore; and of his sons two were made Mussulmans. One of them died, but the other, named Sufdur Khan, is now living, and with his troops was received into the Nawaub’s service.

Budruzzuman Khan was appointed governor of the newly captured fort.

When the dependencies of that country, which, in truth, may be likened to the Garden of Eden, fell into the powerful hands of the Nawaub, he rubbed the forehead of his hopes on the threshold of the Creator of the Universe, pure from wants or desires; and, this being done, appointed and des­patched intelligent agents, and faithful and able Killadárs, to the different parts of the country. The Nawaub himself halted some days at Sura, to make arrangements for the government of that district.