The victorious Mahrattas now despatched to the Souba of Sura, the prisoners of the Nawaub’s troops, which they had made. Meer Alí Ruza Khan, how­ever, (who, after much solicitation, had entered the service of Madhoo Rao and been appointed to the government of Gurum Kondah, but who, after that, in consequence of his ties of kindred, with the Nawaub, had again returned to him, deserting the Paishwa’s service,) was sent for by Trimuk, who, after reproving him in no very proper or delicate language, despatched him a prisoner to Poona. Still believing that Yaseen Khan was no other than Hydur Alí, himself, Trimuk Rao had a separate tent pitched for him, and all means were taken to con­sole and comfort him, and he was requested, with much importunity, to send for his family and his son Tippoo. Yaseen Khan, being a prudent man, who, merely from gratitude, endeavoured to shield his master from injury, (under the shadow of whose pro­tection thousands and thousands of men found sub­sistence), and who had borne the hardships of the fight, and had made convenient to himself both the heat and cold of fortune, laughed in his sleeve at the soft flattering words of Trimuk, but gave him no answer. When, however, in the course of about eight or ten days, Trimuk was informed, that the Nawaub was safe, and that he was assembling troops, collecting stores, and mounting guns, to strengthen the fort, he became aware that his prisoner was one of the Nawaub’s faithful and devoted servants, and was ashamed of his own want of dis­cernment; and he marched forthwith to attack the fort. He, therefore, raised batteries, commenced to carry on his approaches,* and opened the fire of his guns. The rumour of the generosity and profusion of the Nawaub, was, however, so prevalent in Trimuk’s camp, that most of the brave and experienced soldiers, who served under him with degradation* and despondency, taking their arms and horses, repaired to Hydur, enlisted in his service, and pre­pared to chastise his enemies. In a very short time, ten or twelve thousand horse, and regular infantry, were thus collected, and the Nawaub had gained the hearts of his servants to such a degree that all were ready to die for him, and breathed nothing but defiance.* One night, therefore, Hydur sent for Muhammad Alí, commandant, and said “the Mahrattas having become insolent, fearless, and very rash, we have determined that their cor­rection shall fall to the share of our Khodadad (state); but what is your advice?” The brave and veteran commandant in reply immediately took the responsibility of the plan on his own experience and ability, and, with two thousand matchlocks, lightly equipped, leaving the city by the Mysore gate, and then crossing the river and passing under cover of the walls of the Soomar Peenth, or suburb, he fell upon the enemy, stationed near the Eed Gah, to the amount of three thousand foot belonging to the Poligar of Chitul Droog and two thousand foot belonging to Morar Rao, who with four guns and one thousand horse had established themselves there; these troops he immediately attacked, and with sword and bayonet roused the men whose fortunes were sleeping, from the bed of life, and those awake, whose good fortune was also sleep­ing, were laid to rest in the bed of eternity. The remainder both horse and foot, were made prisoners, and their hands tied behind them,* and placing all the arms and equipment of the defeated party on their heads, sent them with their horses and guns to Hydur. He for his own part remained in the same place about two hours, and in the morning returned victorious. The Chief of the Droog and Morar Rao escaped with shame and dis­grace *. The Nawaub was rejoiced at this victory, and beat his drums, and fired a salute on the occasion. The Mahrattas, however, being very numerous now without any fear or hesitation raised a large and very strong battery on the north of the Kurri Khet* Hill, and near the river, this was called the Khas or Trimuk’s battery and they mounted some large guns on it and by the shot and shells* from this battery the people in the fort suf­fered much. The brave commandant seeing this presumption of the Mahrattas, and the injury sus­tained, was exceedingly angry and several times represented to the Nawaub that if he had permis­sion he would raise a storm on Trimuk Khas’s battery, and compel the occupiers to quit it, and that then he would give the rest of the Mahratta troops a great shock by pouring vollies of arrows and musketry on them.* The Nawaub, however, was alarmed at this proposition considering the immense army of the Mahrattas, and, therefore, kept him back; he, however, by importunity and repeated requests at length obtained leave. “Oh truly the hearts of the brave are restless as quicksilver until they effect the destruction of their enemies”— hav­ing therefore obtained leave he set out at night with three thousand regular infantry and one thousand Karnatic foot, taking nothing with him but his ammunition marched by the road of Sosili and having crossed the river at the distance of two Kose and taking the cover of the forest,* he proceeded above the villages of Kurkawul, and Arkera, and pass­ing towards the small hills of Hurroor, advanced steadily straight from the rear to the battery under the pretence of being a reinforcement and relief to the Mahrattas stationed in it. The Mahrattas in charge of the battery hearing of the relief of the advanced parties* were highly pleased and anxiously expecting them; when the brave commandant found, that the time was favourable and his good fortune aiding him, and that by deceiving his enemies he would attain his heart’s desire, he without any hesitation marched into the battery and instantly gave his orders to his men to attack, and throwing their hand grenades* on the heads of these worshippers of pride, they raised out of them the black smoke of destruction,* and with the merciless sword cut off the heads of the sol­diers, pioneers, and men lying in the battery and trenches, and laid them up in heaps. They then buried all the larger guns, but the light guns, being more useful and available, were sent off to the presence. Although, as soon as they were aware of this assault, the Mahrattas behaved very gallantly in attacking the Nawaub’s troops, and trying hard to regain the battery and expel them, still they could effect nothing, and, placing their hands on their heads, they returned hopeless. The com­mandant having thus conquered his enemies, before the rising of the sun, levelled the trenches and battery with the earth, and, setting fire to the materials, returned to the presence, and was honoured by being addressed by the title of Son by Hydur, and, moreover, received the praise and applause of all ranks.

When Trimuk saw the distressed state of his troops, and their want of confidence, he gave up all thoughts of restoring the battery, and commenced to plunder and devastate that part of the country, which had as yet remained untouched; and, having spread abroad his Pindareh horse, he and his army took up their encampment in the plain of Chuttur; while here, however, on the day of the Hindu Eed, Trimuk with his officers mounted their horses, and came from the eastward of the hill called Kurri Khet, to bathe at the confluence of the two rivers, which is called by the Hindus Sungum, and is near the Lal Baugh. Having received intelligence of this movement, the Nawaub immediately sallied out of the fort with his troops, and took his station near the Mana Munduf, (or Mundip), and placed his son Tippoo, with all the horse, in ambush near the temples of Kurun­kote, (written also Kurun Koor), which are on the other side of the river. The brave commandant, Muhammad Alí, with the gallant Ghazi Khan, and four thousand matchlocks, four hundred Pindarehs, and four guns, for display, and after the manner of scouts, or an advanced guard, were sent to the south of the hill above mentioned. When the cavalcade of the Mahratta Chief arrived at the river, they dismounted, and began to amuse them­selves, and swim about in the water; the horse­men of their rear guard following, caracoling and curvetting as they came along. The commandant, in the meanwhile, posted his guns and matchlock infantry in the dry bed of a nullah, or river, and made a concerted sign to Ghazi Khan; and that brave man no sooner saw it than, with two or three hundred tried men, he galloped towards the rear guard, and by tricks and wiles, and teaching the fools how to play the lion, drew them gradually in front of the guns and musketry of the ambus­cade, and having brought them there, his whole party suddenly facing about dispersed, and every one retiring placed himself under cover of the con­cealed party. The commandant now suddenly charged them, and with the fire of his guns and musketry broke their ranks, and sent a great many to their eternal abodes. In this skirmish, two or three Chiefs of the Mahrattas were killed, and the elephant which carried the flag and kettle drums was also killed. As soon as the body of the ene­my’s troops became disordered, Ghazi Khan, and Hydur’s son, esteeming this a most favourable opportunity, galloped their horse at once into the midst of the fugitives; and, as long as they had strength, withdrew not their hands from spoil and slaughter; following the fugitives half a fursung, taking four or five thousand horses, and two thou­sand prisoners, and then returning with them, and a great quantity of plunder. The face of Trimuk, on his hearing this intelligence, became yellow; and, in the greatest haste and trepidation, with his clothes wet, and his lips dry, he returned and encamped near the Mooti Talaub, or Tank. The Nawaub manifested great joy at this victory, and, prostrating himself at the threshold of the High and Mighty Bestower of all blessings, returned his thanks, and, beating his drums in honour of his victory, entered the fort. But, to say the truth, the skirmishing and fighting of the brave men of both armies continued daily; but, for the most part, the Mahrattas were worsted and put to flight. Trimuk, therefore, now put a stop to the fighting, and began to plunder and devastate the country of the Payan Ghaut, that is, the territory in the Nawaub’s possession to the southward of Puttun, namely, Koimbetoor, Palghaut, and Dindigul; because he had heard that supplies from those parts, escorted by the Naimars and Mapillas, arrived in the camp of the Nawaub; and, moreover, that levies of horse and foot were made there, and that considerable bodies of these troops had joined the Nawaub’s camp. In consequence of this, he raised a storm of mischief in that unfortunate country, and destroyed and desolated it to that degree, that not a root of green herb or blade of grass remained in the earth, all being torn up; and even the branches of the trees of that depopulated waste held out their oppressed hands,* to crave mercy from the giver of life. The commanders of forts, however, in that direction, strengthened their posts, and defended and preserved them well.