For the distance of two fursungs round the fort, the Nawaub had raised batteries, and mounted can­non on them, and was prepared for action. As, however, the General, had taken up his position, he kept his own ground of encampment; and, pre­tending the sleep of the hare, appeared occupied with the internal regulation of his troops and as hav­ing no intention either to fight, or to make peace. Leaving, therefore, Meer Alí Ruza Khan with his force, Sidi Hilal with five thousand horse, and Ghazi Khan, with other officers, to make head against the General, he himself, with the whole of his troops and artillery, &c., marched towards Mahmood Bun­dur,* and the forts in that direction, and despatched the Prince Tippoo (Walakudr) with seven thousand horse, four thousand regular and irregular foot, and five guns, towards Tujawur and Nuthurnuggur.* With this force, the Prince Tippoo boldly advanced into the country of Tujawur. His soldiers, brave as Roostum, in obedience to his orders, plundered and destroyed the environs of that town, which in population and fertility, may be called equal to Kashmere: the whole of the waters of the rivers Kavari and Kaverum being employed for irrigation* in the same districts, and therefore not suffered to reach the sea. The habitations and idol temples of that country, which threw shame on the best paintings of China, and resembled the beauties of Paradise, they levelled with the ground, and, setting fire to most of the houses, shops, and bazaars, they laid waste the whole of the country. Verses. “They set the country in a blaze;”— “they took the lock or latch, and set fire to the door.”— “By the hoofs of the Islám horse,”— “plains and moun­tains were rendered undistinguishable.” Sacks upon sacks of corn, herd upon herd of cattle, flocks of sheep and goats, with other articles considered worthy the notice of Hydur were sent to him. The forts of Turkat Pilly and Shagota, attached or belonging to that Souba, were repaired and strengthened, and having appointed a body of troops to that quarter, the Prince now spurred the steed of his plans and projects towards Nuthurnuggur. Having appointed Amils, independent Killadárs, and large garrisons,to the forts of Alianoor and Dyar Paleh, he marched from that place by night, and plundered Seerung, and Jhumgiri, ancient temples, seated between the waters of the Kaveri and Kave­rum held in great veneration by the Hindoos, and the gaze* and delight of the world. Verses.— “The temples of sculptured stone, the images fair and lovely,” “the girls, loving and wanton, beauties deceiving the heart.”* The Kuzzaks here were allowed to keep all plunder; and the brave fellows therefore fearlessly plunged their horses into the river, as if they had been dying for a drop of cold water, and, crossing over the stream, put forth their hands to pillage, and a great quantity of gold, jewels and articles of value fell into their possession; as much, indeed, as they desired. The young men, fond of beauty and enjoyment, obtained lovely virgins and slave girls, of the Brahmun caste, and Bayaderes, beautiful as the moon, arrayed with ornaments of gold and jewels, to their hearts desire, and warmed themselves thoroughly in the arms of beauty. Of the whole of the plunder taken, one fourth was returned to the Sirkar. The next day, the Prince, worthy a crown,* crossed both the rivers, and marched towards Kalicote, which lies six fursungs to the eastward of the fort of Trichinopoly; the Nawaub himself with his whole army, and artillery, also marched in the same direction. On the road thither, therefore, the Prince met his father, and, having kissed the border of his carpet, presented him with a list of the plundered property, and, having deposited the articles in the treasury, received great commendation.

With the intention to reduce as many of the Purgunas, and towns, of that country under his own authority as he possibly could, the Nawaub marched to Trichinopoly, and despatched his horse in front. Surrounding the fort early in the morn­ing, the Kuzzaks, or predatory horse, advanced to the ditch, and made prisoners of many of the women and children of the poor people, and, after killing some few men, they returned. At this time, an officer, named Mr. Hall,* who was exercising recruits opposite the gate followed the Nawaub’s horse with six hundred fine young men, and two light guns (gallopers), and, firing as they moved on, drove the horse before him and his party. This body of men was accompanied by thousands of spectators from the town. The horse, retiring step by step, and waiting for a favourable opportu­tunity to charge, took the road to Churgul Paleh, which lies to the eastward of the fort, at the distance of about one measured fursung, (near four miles); the Nawaub himself, however, before this time, had arrived and halted there, with the whole of his matchlock men and the artillery. When the officer before-mentioned, therefore, saw the horse running away from him, he still followed; and, advancing, approached and halted within the distance of a cannon shot. At this time, the Kuzzaks came quickly to the right about,* and with swords drawn, and their lances quivering, gallopped on to charge the body of infantry; and the officer, still deceived, keeping his guns in front, and firing as he advanced, moved on to meet them. No sooner, however, had they arrived at the plain of the Paleh above-mentioned, and halted there, on a rising ground, when, accord­ing to the Nawaub’s orders, on one side the Ihshám, (irregular infantry), blood-drinkers, and the Risalas (regiments) of musketeers, assailed them, and, with arrows and musketry, swept away these rash men from the field of existence. On the other side, the cavalry galloping* forward, charged them; and, although the officer kept his men in the best position and order, yet, from the shouting and noise of the foolish spectators, who had crept into his ranks, he had no room to fire a volley, so that, in despair, he struck the hand of his rashness on the ground of desperation, and the recruits, smitten with terror, threw away their arms, and plunged into a marsh covered by crops of rice,* where they stuck fast. In a short time, therefore, the horse with swords and arrows, the foot with javelins and maces, and the musketeers with their bayonets, slew them every one; and the plain was more stained with the blood of their enemies than is the many coloured face of the heavens. It happened that the officer who commanded the detachment put his horse to its speed, that he might not fall into the hands of Hydur’s (Gházies) brave soldiers; but one of the Nawaub’s horsemen, whose name was Alí Nowaz, taking the lead of the rest, made a cut at his head with his sword. By chance, the sweep of the sword only reached his hair, which was cut off, but his head remained uninjured, and he escaped into the fort of Trichinopoly.