An account of the Invasion of Mysoor, by the Paishwa Siwaee Madhoo Rao, Mahratta, and his taking a number of Forts, and the Souba of Sura, &c., with other events of the year 1076, Hijri. A.D. 1762.

WHEN Ballajee Rao Nana, the Poona Paishwa or Purdhan (Minister), died, Siwaee Madhoo Rao, his son, seated himself on the Musnud of his Govern­ment, and remained for some time occupied in the internal regulation of his own dominions; sometime after that, however, he began to collect troops, stores, and heavy artillery, so that he at length assembled near one hundred thousand horse, sixty thousand Pindarehs, and fifty thousand matchlock foot, in addition to the troops of Alí Bahadúr, the son of Shumshire, Bahadúr, (who was a son of Ballajee Rao Nana) and, with this immense force, he made an incursion into the Karnatic Balaghaut. An abridged account of Alí Bahadúr is as follows:—*

After the ruin of the Adil Shahi dynasty, a Hindostani dancing girl travelled from Bijapoor to Poona, and took up her residence in that city. This woman being the most beautiful and most accomplished dancer of her time, Ballajee, beguiled by the ele­gance of her person and accomplishments, fell in love with her, and selected her for his bedfellow, and, being deceived by his professions, this vile woman consented.* Being fond of each other, after sometime a son was born, who was brought up by his mother as a Muhammadan. When, however, this boy grew up to manhood, his father, that is Ballajee Rao, gave him the title of Shum­shire Bahadúr, with a munsub, and jageer of twelve thousand horse. This Bahadúr was present in the battle of the Sirabdalli (the battle of Paniput), with the Rao, and was killed there, with him; and his son, Alí Bahadúr, was there also.

In reference to the Pindarehs, it is not unknown that they are a low tribe of robbers* entertained by some of the princes of the Dukhun, to plunder and lay waste the territories of their enemies, and to serve for guides, or as an example to their own troops. They give these men no certain pay from their treasury; but when the troops halt, these people bring hay and wood to the camp for sale, and the price of these articles provides them with necessary subsistence. In time of active service, they are highly pleased to obtain, from the Com­manding Officer of their army, permission to plun­der; and then they lay waste the country of an enemy so completely, that even the owl and bat would be afraid of such a desart. Indeed, in time of war, they generally pay the Chief of their army a sum of money, under the denomination of horse-shoeing* money. But, to return, when Madhoo Rao marched towards Mysore, he visited Shanoor, and took the Hakim or chief of that place, and his troops with him. He next sent for Morar Rao, and then, crossing the river Tungbhudra, by the Gooraknauth Ghaut, marched by the route of Chituldroog, (the Poligar of which also accom­panied his army), to the Souba of Sura. The Meer before mentioned, (Meer Alí Ruza Khan,) on the first day, marched out of the fort with his troops, and having viewed the Mahratta army, he returned, and prepared to defend himself. The Rao sta­tioned his artillery on a tank, to the northward of the fort, and began to breach the fortifications at a considerable distance. The Meer, however, defended himself for ten or twelve days; and then, after exacting good conditions, gave up the keys of the capital of the Souba to the Mahratta, and he himself entered his service; Madhoo Rao, treating him with great kindness, and keeping him about his person. Madhoo Rao next marched to Mudgiri, and, after a siege of about a month, took that hill fort, and leaving there a garrison of his own men, marched onward.

The Nawaub although he marched to Bangalore, with the whole of his horse, foot, and artillery, yet, from the strength of the Mahratta army, which was ten times more numerous than his own, he did not consider it prudent to come in contact with them; agreeing with the words of the wise— Verse, “You may overcome a proud enemy by humbling yourself, &c.”* Making, therefore, no opposition, he returned to Seringaputtun, and threw up batteries round the fort for its protection, and also stationed his artillery, and his regular and Karnatic infantry in different places, and remained at his own quarters, in perfect readiness. All this seeming negligence, or quiet indifference,* was however put on merely to try and ascertain the intentions, strength, courage, and ability, of the Mahrattas; and Hydur’s stable horse, and the Pindarehs, were kept concealed in the jungle or fort of Makuri Droog, and had orders to make plun­dering expeditions against the enemy.

After sweeping hill and dale, mountain and forest, the Mahrattas at length sat down before the fort of Nijigul, and despatched a summons, demanding the surrender of the fort from Hydur’s Killadár, whose name was Sirdar Khan, a brave man, of good family, and faithful to the Nawaub. That trustworthy and brave officer, however, who, by his ability and liberality, had secured the affections of his men, and was certain of their loyalty, replied to the summons by sending them a few cannon balls; upon which, being much incensed by the steadiness and courage of Sirdar Khan, Madhoo Rao immediately assaulted the place, in hopes to break down the defences. The Mahratta troops came on, making a great noise, like a swarm of bees buzzing round their honey. But Sirdar Khan, who thought himself more than equal to a thou­sand Mahrattas, advanced with his men, and made the breasts of his enemies butts for his cannon and musket balls and arrows, and killed a great number of them; aud from the marks of their blood on the stone steps and rocks of the mountain, he acquired honourable distinction,* and remained victorious. The Mahrattas, having received a total defeat, retired. Nevertheless, they did not delay before they again made another very gallant attack, which, however, had again the same result, and the colour of their faces departed. The next day Madhoo* Rao mounted his elephant, and, all being ready, he gave his officers and troops, horse and foot, orders again to assault the hill fort. On this day also, this gallant officer, Sirdar Khan, faithful to his master, fought desperately, and succeeded in repelling the Mahrattas; and, from the continual fire of the artillery and musketry, from the foot of the mountain to the walls of the fort, heaps of the assailants lay rolling in their blood. Seeing this carnage, the Mahratta began to pause and reflect; and, having raised the hopes of the Poligar of Chituldroog and others, by valuable presents, and the promise of the remission of their Paishkush for two years, and giving orders also to put to death the whole of the garrison, he employed them to take the fort. The Poligars having in consequence directed their own Bedurs,* men particularly well acquainted with the country, to attack the fort, now sent them on for that purpose. These men, therefore, climbing up at the back of the mountain, through a thousand difficulties and dangers, scaled the walls and towers, by the help of ladders, and raised their shouts of “Koo! Koo!” Sirdar Khan, although he with a party of his men, immediately attacked them des­perately, and killed many of them, yet the garrison, seeing their enemies in the fort cutting off heads, became so terrified, that they threw away their arms, and at the same time their lives. Sirdar Khan was wounded, and taken prisoner. Madhoo Rao, however, sent for this brave man, whose forehead shone bright with courage, and seated him in the place of honour, and, bestowing on him great commendations, took him on with him.