CHAPTER XIX.

An account of the establishment of a lasting peace between Nizám Alí Khan and the English, without the knowledge of the Nawaub Bahadúr, by the intrigues* of Rooknuddowla;— and of the battles which followed, about two months after, between the English and the Nawaub, near Nuggur, Trichinopoly, and the Barh Mahl; with an accouut of the victories gained by Hydur’s gallant army in the same year, and the re-establishment of Peace, 1185, Hijri.— A. D. 1771.

WHEN the General had returned to his ground of encampment, and Rooknuddowla proceeded to the presence of the Nizám of Hydurabad, he persuaded him to make peace with the English Bahadúr; and, having settled the articles of the treaty, opened a communication with the English by letter. The next day the English army marched back, and took the road to Amboor Gurh. The Nawaub was surprised at this movement, and fell into deep thought; when Hurkaras arrived, with intelligence that the Nizám had marched from Huskote towards the Ghaut or pass of Kurunpat, and that his Vakeels or ambassadors had reached the English camp, and also that Rooknuddowla, had pro­ceeded to visit Muhammad Alí Khan. The Nawaub was now convinced that that old* wolf, the Nizám, was playing some artful tricks, and that he was travelling in the path of treachery and deceit. Nevertheless, as “men of courage, do not put their trust in the aid of others”— “the canopy or tent of the heavens, stands without pole or pillar,”* and relying on the exertions of his faithful servants, the Nawaub formed his plans, and was ready to carry them into execution, when the Nizám, for the security of his dominions, and by the advice of Rooknuddowla, gave to the English government, as payment for a subsidiary force to aid and defend him, the country of Sikakole,* and Rajbunduri, the collection of the customs of which was thirty Lakhs of rupees; and which was first under the authority of Anwuruddeen Khan, and afterwards assigned for pay to Monsieur Bussy, a French officer. Having done this, he without the knowledge of the Nawaub, returned to Hydurabad, by the route of Kirpa* and Kurnole.

But, to continue— In two months and a few days, General Smith and Colonel Hewitt collected together a force, and made preparations, with the intention, of conquering the Karnatic Balaghaut, according to the instructions of the Nizám; and, taking with them Muhammad Alí Khan, the Souba of Arkat, they advanced from Amboor Gurh. The Nawaub, however, not thinking it prudent to oppose the English openly in the field, harassed them with his Kuzzaks or predatory horse only, and despatched the heavy baggage of his army, with his heavy artillery, towards Anikul and Makri Droog; remain­ing with his horse, foot, and rockets, &c., ready for battle. In the mean time, he attacked the English army on all sides, with parties of his light troops, while he himself was forming schemes to destroy his powerful opponents. At this period, his Hurkaras brought intelligence that by the route of Nuthur Nuggur, (otherwise Trichinopoly,) and from Tan­jore, a large convoy of stores under the escort of two thousand foot, a thousand English musketeers, four hundred horse, and two guns, was advancing, by the Ghaut of Chungum, to join the English army, and that they had a great number of cattle with them. The Nawaub, therefore, who was look­ing out for news bringing such good luck, marched without delay, and, keeping under cover of the hills and forests, brought the day of Judgment on the convoy and its escort; for, at the first attack, the escort were mostly killed, and the whole of the convoy taken. The English General was thrown into perplexity by this occurrence, and, having encamped at Tripatoor, he sent to Madras for stores and provisions. At this time news was brought from Nuggur, that an English army had arrived from Bombay, and had taken the fort of Gorial Bundur, (Mangalore), and was spreading terror over that country; and that it was to be feared the territory of Nuggur would likewise soon fall into their hands. Tippoo was, therefore, des­patched with two thousand regular infantry, four thousand horse, and a thousand irregular foot, to protect and defend that quarter; while Hydur him­self remained involved in the tempest of battle and slaughter, with these two officers, Smith and Hewitt. Other letters were now received, from the Chiefs of Koimbatoor and Kalikut, that, on the side of Nuthur Nuggur, a Captain, with two or three thousand regular infantry, and four thousand Kullars,* the servants of Ram Raja, the Poligar of Malabar, had entered Karroor; and that his intention was to reduce the districts in that vicinity. On hearing this, Hybut Jung was appointed, with four thousand horse, to repel these invaders.

When Tippoo arrived by forced marches at Gorial Bundur, the commanding officer of the English army, there, strengthened the works of the fort, and, to the distance of a Fursung, surrounded them with redoubts, which he occupied. Tippoo wrote an account of this to his father, whose sole object being the order and safety of his territories, he considered the reduction of that part of the country necessary, prior to all other measures, and he, therefore, taking with him four Risalas of regular infantry, with four guns and selecting two thousand good horse, from the whole of his army; left the rest of his troops, his tents, standards, drums &c. to the charge of Meer Alí Ruza Khan, Mukdoom Sáhib, and Muhammad Alí, commandant, with Ghazi Khan Beed, &c.; and in the space of a week, entered the fort of Nuggur. He then despatched orders, to collect men, to all the Killadárs and officers in that neighbour­hood, and, in about ten or twelve days, assembled twenty thousand of the peasantry of the country. Having provided these recruits with wooden muskets of ebony and also furnished them with standards of black, white, and yellow cloth, one flag or Beiruk, being assigned to a thousand men, he moved forward with this showy semblance of a force. When he arrived near the batteries of the English, he formed his lines, and, having marched, and countermarched his troops before them, he encamped on an open space on some high ground, and ordered his son, (Tippoo), to attack the batteries in flank. This being done, Tippoo, after some fighting succeeded in taking them, and putting the infantry stationed in them to the sword. This success having thrown the enemy into some confusion, the chief officer of the English, from fear of the Nawaub, whose army appeared numerous, while his, (the officer’s) troops were but few; and with a view, also, to preserve his men, which is the duty of every commanding officer; left the batteries the same night, and took the road to the fort. In this movement two European soldiers ran away from their comrades, and came to Tippoo, and gave information of the retreat of the English. Tip­poo instantly despatched this intelligence to his father; but before the Nawaub could put his force in motion, or the retreating parties of the enemy could reach the fort, he with the greatest rapidity, moving on the flank, advanced before them, and keeping up a smart fire, entered the fort, and put to the sword those of the garrison who were man­ning the walls. The Nawaub, on hearing the news, followed with his cavalry at a gallop, treading on his heels, and rained a storm of arrows and rockets on the devoted detachment of the English; and, at length, their order being broken, and the men terri­fied, they abandoned the road to the fort, and retired to the sea side. The troops of the Nawaub, however, dashed out after them to the sea shore, and the whole were taken or put to death. The command­ing officer of the English troops however embarked on a vessel lying ready to receive him, and disap­pointed, and hopeless, bent his course to Bombay. After having left a strong garrison in the fort of this sea port, (Mangalore), the Nawaub returned with his European prisoners, and, in six weeks, arrived at Bangalore. By this time, the two officers, Smith and Hewitt, had taken the forts of Wanumbari, Tripatoor, Gugungurh Nutkul, and Jug Deo, and also the small fort of Dhurumpoori, (after Payindah Khan, the Risaldár, who commanded there, was slain), with the Hill Fort of Kishengiri, which was plundered. Abdurrusheed Khan, the Dewaun of the Nawaub Muhammad Alí Khan, was also appointed to the charge of the Barh Mahl;* and the general, having crossed the Kunuk Goon­dah, Droog, or Ghaut, reduced the forts of Hus­soor, Mashti, Moorwakul, Kolar, and Huskote.