On hearing these fear-exciting statements, the people of the fort gave up their confidence and courage, and imagining it beyond their strength to make effectual opposition, the Killadár and Com­mandant of the troops were obliged to request per­mission to deliver up the fort, on condition of the safety of their lives, properties, and the honour of their women being assured to them. The Prince, who was anxiously looking out for such a prize, immediately sent them a Kowl Nama, or an assur­ance of safety, and what they asked was accorded to them, and the whole of the garrison was received under his protection.*

The fort was then placed under a man of ability, with a garrison of veterans, and the Prince moved on. In a short time, therefore, the whole of that district was conquered. The Hill fort of Rawut Nellore was taken in two days, and the Prince then turned the head of his fiery steed towards the con­quest of Tyag Gurh. The Killadár or Commander there, an English officer, who had with him two hundred musketeers, exerted himself bravely, in opposing and resisting his enemies. The Prince encamped his troops on a tank, west of the hill, and at night, and at the first assault, took the suburbs,— he then constructed batteries and ordered the attack of the fort. The officers and men of the regular and irregular infantry, (artillery), now battered the walls, and threw shells for twenty-eight days successively, and the ramparts being breached, they made them­selves ready for the assault, when, by accident, the water in the reservoir of the mountain became dry as the heart of the poor, and not even mud remained. Although the officer in command of the fort, had abundance of provisions and warlike stores, yet, being without water, which is the stay of life, and by which it is bound or kept together, he saw that his only resource was to resign the fort to the servants of Hydur. He, therefore, sent propositions to the Prince, requesting him to desist that night from the attack, and that, next morning, he would surren­der the fort into the hands of his agents. The Lion-hearted Prince, whose disposition was mild as that of an antelope, looking kindly on his entreaty, gave orders to his artillery men to cease firing, or throwing shells into the fort; his feelings of com­passion being excited for the poor garrison. The guards, however, remained as they were in the bat­teries.

By chance, on the same night the blessed rain fell out of season, and in such abundance that the reser­voir above mentioned, and other pools of the moun­tain, became, like the eyes of a despairing lover, full of water. After the night had passed, and day had displayed the rosy banners of the sun on the towers of the east, the officer commanding in the fort, putting on the cocked hat of conceit,* with a desire to show himself valiant, and casting the dust of inexperience on the forehead of his con­tract, opened a fire from the guns of the fort on the batteries. By this faithless conduct the Prince was inflamed with anger, and gave strict orders to take the fort. The artillery men, therefore, by firing the guns continually, shook the hill and foundations of the fort to that degree, that, in one day, the reservoir became again, like the faces of the false, without water;* and, notwithstanding the officer in the fort was ashamed of his misconduct, and with great submission, and crying entreaty,* despatched messengers of peace to the batteries, no attention was paid to his words. The same night, therefore, agreeably to orders, Tippoo’s brave soldiers assaulted the fort, and poured the sherbet of blood down the thirsty throats of most of the garrison; and many guiltless persons were put to death. The officer was taken alive.* In short, in the space of two months, the whole of the forts and towns of that quarter, as Durwachul, Selimbur, Vinkuta Peeth, Bhoongiri, &c. being taken, were handed over to the charge of confidential officers; and, with his Khans, and other men of rank, the Prince returned to his father’s camp.