The Conquest of Gooti and Soondoor, and the capture of that tyrant, and incendiary, Morar Rao, which occurred in the same year 1187, Hijri.— A. D. 1773.

ALTHOUGH the Nawaub had in every way aided Morar Rao, and had never himself molested him, but, on the contrary, with a view to gain his friend­ship, had even condescended to call him uncle,* Morar had, nevertheless, often exerted his most strenuous efforts to pluck up the tender plant of the Nawaub’s greatness and power. From the viciousness of his disposition, he was sealing his own ruin— “the sting of the scorpion is not struck from enmity,”— “it is from his nature.” In this pur­suit he spared neither gold nor words, spoken or written. Long before this, at the time of the inva­sion of Trimuk Mama, the able Vakeels of the Nawaub had made a lasting treaty with Trimuk on the best possible terms; when this scorpion by nature struck his sting into the negociation, and stimulated Trimuk to attempt the destruction of the Khodadad Sirkar. This caused a dreadful shock to the Nawaub’s power, in the day or battle of Churkoli, and the recollection of that event pro­duced in the Nawaub’s heart an effect like salt upon a wound. As Morar Rao’s existence therefore appeared to be the source of pure trouble, and the cause of detriment to the props and pillars of his state, the Nawaub occupied himself in considering how he might break down his power. Nevertheless, as a close friendship and intimacy subsisted between Morar Rao and Busálut Jung, and as they were friends both at the banquet and in the field, the Nawaub was rather apprehensive of their united strength, for as the wise say, “two hearts united will cleave a mountain,”* “and scatter a host.” Thanks to God, the defeat of the Moghuls removed half the difficulty, and the junction of the Rao with Dhoonsa furnishing a pretext* for his destruction, the Nawaub desired that, as this opportunity offered itself, he might at once remove him out of the way; for, in his own mind, he was convinced that, while that incendiary lived, the conquest and regulation or subjection of the Khodadad or Mysore territory would never be fully accomplished. After having completed his arrangements at Bullari, he there­fore made the conquest of Gooti, and the capture of that dangerous and intriguing man, the object of his conquering energies, and he accordingly marched in that direction.

The Rao, who had left Dhoonsa’s army without obtaining his object, had returned to Gooti, his capital, and had fallen into the midst of doubt and perplexity. The Nawaub, therefore, sent for him under pretence of a wish to see him. Well aware, however, of the folly of his conduct, even while he received no molestation from the Nawaub, and fearing that treachery aiming at his life might be intended to him at the meeting, Morar Rao refused to attend. The Nawaub then sent him another message, to the effect that the entire Talooka of Soondoor should be given up to him, as a provision for his support and maintenance, provided he would, without hesitation or demur, deliver up, to the agents of the Khodadad government, the hill and fort of Gooti and its dependencies which for­merly were held in possession by the Náíbs of the Kings of Dehli; after which he might govern Soon­door to his heart’s content. The Pagan also refused to listen to this proposal; and being surrounded by a strong body of soldiers, he at once rejected the conquering policy of the Nawaub, and prepared to defend himself.

The Nawaub now gave orders to the Risaladárs of the regular and irregular infantry, to encircle the fort, and then commence the attack with their artillery and musketry, and, having on all sides, run on approaches,* (saps, trenches, zigzags,) the besieged were reduced to great difficulties. The Nawaub’s Kuzzak or predatory horse, at the same time, agreeably to his orders, guarded the hill and forest so effectually, that no man had power to pass through them, for they rendered it impossible for birds to take wing from the fort, or even for locusts or ants to pass through their cordon; and however often the besieged Rao wrote to the chief of Poona, soliciting aid, and describing his impend­ing ruin, and the determination of the Nawaub to destroy him, yet, for the most part, the Nawaub’s picquets seized the letter carriers, and brought them in, and took especial care to prevent the chief of Poona from knowing any thing about him. In fact, before intelligence of the siege arrived at Poona, which was, at last, conveyed by the letters of Busálut Jung, who made it known to all, two or three months had elapsed, and the garrison was reduced to the greatest extremity. The Rao saw that, in a short time, the fort would depart from his possession, and that his wealth, family and dependents, would fall into the hands of the brave army of Islám. And now, to complete his misfor­tunes, the water of the mountain, by which the fort was supplied, it being the hot season, failed, or dried up, like the heart of the poor man; and his stores of provisions and ammunition also had abandoned him, or were exhausted like the days of his youth. Being therefore entirely helpless, he despatched Pali Khan, his minister, to the Nawaub, to tender his submission, and beg the for­giveness of his former offences. When the Nawaub became aware of his humility, his supplications and his forlorn state, he cast the eyes of royal* com­passion on his hopeless condition, and returned him, by his agent Pali Khan, a kind and conciliatory letter, with a Kowl Nama, or assurance of the safety of his life and property, and invited him to meet him. When the Rao descended from the top on the hill in a palankin, attended by only two or three servants, and entered the camp, the Nawaub ordered a separate tent to be cleared for his accommodation, and placed him in it, sending a garrison of his own men to the top of the hill, and giving up to the Rao his house, that is, the whole of his Zunana* or women’s apartments, with the necessary furniture or utensils, the wearing apparel or clothes in use, and such jewels and gold and silver ornaments as were of small value. But the pearls, and jewels of great price, jewelled ornaments, and other articles becoming the use of a prince, with the arms and warlike stores, and all articles of value, the Nawaub took for himself. With respect to the dancing women of the Telinga tribe, of whom dur­ing the Rao’s government many companies* had been attracted by his liberality, and of whom some had become rich by his gifts, while some even had possession of towns in Jageer, all of whom sought refuge in the Mahl of the Rao, on the top of the mountain, when the siege commenced; to these, excepting the Jageers, the Nawaub restored the whole of their property. Some of the young girls, (virgins)* of that profession, with the consent of their masters or owners, he purchased for his own Natik­sal,* and consigned them to his women’s apart­ments, of these some Táífas or companies he sent to Gunjam, a suburb to the south of the fort of Serin­gaputtun, on the bank of the river Kauveri, built by himself, and some to Bangalore. The imprisoned Rao however much he entreated to be allowed to visit the Nawaub, received for answer, that the Nawaub had then no leisure; but that, after his return to Puttun, please God, he would accord his request, and, having committed him to the care of confiden­tial men, and sent him off to Puttun, the Nawaub occupied himself in the conquest of Soondoor.

At this time, the Nawaub’s spies brought intelli­gence, that forty thousand Mahratta horse had been despatched from Poona, to assist Morar Rao, and that they had encamped in the neighbourhood of Gokak Peenth. Having completed his arrange­ments in the district of Soondoor, the Nawaub con­sidered it incumbent on him to punish these infidels,* and had arrived at Husspeenth, with that intention, when the chiefs of the Mahrattas, hearing of the conquest of Gooti and Soondoor, the capture of the Rao, and, also, that the Nawaub was pre­pared to attack them, they returned to Poona.

During this period, the Nawaub, from motives of policy, manifested displeasure towards the brave Muhammad Alí, intending thereby to repress his pride in the greatness of his abilities and in the respect shewed to him, and a disposition to tread the path of insubordination; the pretence being that he gave elephants and camels to other officers, and to Fuqueers, without first asking permission, and he was therefore for some time removed from his Risaldári or command. In secret, however, the Nawaub esteemed him more than ever. Muhammad Alí himself also quitted his Risala, and assumed the cap and garb* of a Fuqueer, and cared very little about the matter.

At this time, also, Kishnapa, the Minister* or secretary of the chief of Rai Droog, after receiving the Sunnud, or written authority, from Hydur, to recover the little fort of Hurrial, which is situate four kose south of Bullari, and is a dependency of the Droog, after a siege of three months, took that fort. Morar Rao had taken possession of this fort by force, and had placed a garrison in it. The Rao had also seized upon, and attached to the Souba of Gooti, the Talooka of Vinkut Giri, which is situated at the head of the Tubulpully Ghaut, and was formerly under the authority of the Poligar of Churkul. This fort was, therefore, at the same time, placed under the government of the Sirkar Khodadad.*