But to return:— Budruzzumán Khán, and Syud Sáhib, having effected a junction, marched towards Turwadi, but after the conclusion of peace, with the permission of the Commander-in-chief of the French army, they proceeded onwards and encamped near Beelpoor. After halting there a month, they again marched and encamped on the river Walpundul, on account of the abundance of forage there to be obtained. One day however, while halting at this place, a storm suddenly arose at an unseasonable period, and fell with great violence on the Hyduri camp, and the river swelling at the same time carried away and destroyed the property of the merchants and poor people of the camp, and many men and women were carried by the force of the stream to the sea and drowned. Most also of the merchants and artizans of the camp were reduced to poverty— the camp, therefore, was immediately changed, and the troops marched and encamped to the northward of Arnce. At this place a Risaldár named Hurri Singh was assassinated by his own soldiers in some dispute regarding their pay, and from this place also Budruzzumán Khán proceeded to the presence.

During this period Muhammad Moraud, the civil governor of Rai Vellore, after having collected about sixty or seventy horse, and two or three hundred foot, made excursions on the country surrounding, to the distance of six or seven Kose (ten or eleven miles), and exacted supplies of pro­visions from the Hyduri and Sultáni districts, (those of Mysore) and extending the hand of devastation, frequently set fire to the houses and habitations of the poor inhabitants, and reduced them and the produce of their fields and gardens to ashes. It happened one day that he made a forced march by the route of Kiriatum, with the intention to attack the fort of Sautgurh, and at night having by great extertions climbed up one side of the mountain, to the top, arrived at the gate of the fort. It happened at that time that the wife of a foot soldier of the garrison, being about to cook her morning meal, was standing on the wall pouring out the water in which she had washed her rice, and seeing the ranks of the assailants advancing, set up cries of “they are come,”— “they are come,” and immediately threw the vessel containing the rice, on their heads. The sleeping garrison at this, awakening and spring­ing up from their slothful slumbers, immediately seized their arms and with the bow, musket, rifle and rocket, steadily opposed the storming party, so effectually indeed, that the governor before mentioned being foiled, was obliged to take to flight, and arrived a fugitive at Belinjpoor;— but as there happened to be a picket or outpost of the troops of Shah Moraud Risaldár, (the military commandant of that quarter), stationed in a temple of the town, they immediately attacked him, and he was obliged to retire from thence also, but not until he had plundered the town and taken much spoil. He however halted for a short time in the river Belinjpoor,* when the Risaldár above men­tioned, who was stationed near Amboor Gurh hearing the vollies of musketry immediately got his men ready, and following the footsteps of the officer before mentioned, (Muhammad Moraud), rapidly advanced, overtook and surrounded him in the bed of the river, and in one vigorous attack put the whole of his soldiers to the sword, taking all the property they had plundered to his own charge and keeping.

The unlucky Muhammad Moraud, therefore, with only fifteen or twenty horse, returned and entered his fort, (Rai Vellore).

At this time an order from the presence was issued directing that the country of the Payan­ghaut should be delivered up to the English, also detailing the terms of the treaty of peace, and recalling Syud Sáhib. In obedience to this Firmán, therefore, all the governors of forts, collectors of revenue, &c., of parts of that country, (the Payan­ghaut), were recalled, and some of the strong hill forts with the fortress of Alumpunah of the Souba of Arkat, which had been restored and repaired, were again dismantled and broken down, and the Syud with all his troops and followers having crossed the Ghaut of Chungum, arrived at Tripatoor, and from that by the route of Hoolidroog and Pung­loor joined the Sultán; at this period the address and ability manifested by Mír Sadik in the intelli­gence department, during his official duties as Kotwal of Arkat, and of the army;— having well pleased the Sultán, he was at once raised to the dignity of Sáhib Dewán, (Prime Minister). At this period also, ambassadors arrived at the presence, with letters and presents of great value from the chiefs of Poona, and the Nizám of Hydurabád, containing congratulations on the Sultán’s acces­sion to the throne, and (the former) requiring him to send the horse shoe* tribute in arrears for two years, and these persons having discharged their commissions, they demanded the Chouth or fourth of his revenue.

At this demand, the world conquering Sultán, being exceedingly excited, addressed the embassa­dor to the following effect;— “Do you not know that our deceased father, may his sins be forgiven, spent all the money laid up in his treasury, with the revenue of his kingdom for three years in the expedition or war of the Payanghaut,* and that by the advice, and at the instigation of your governments (the Mahrattas and Nizám) having exerted himself faithfully and nobly in conquering that country, he stepped from the throne of this world to that of the next?— that with all this exertion, you, notwithstanding your engagements, to assist him, gave him no aid whatever, as by your treaties you were bound to have done.

“Nevertheless, by the favour and blessing of the Almighty, and by the fortune of our victorious arms, in all this time we have not been compelled to seek the indulgence or favour of any one, little or great:— for the mighty and true giver of victory made us conquerors in every battle.— After the death also of Alí Hezrat (Hydur), the traitor Iyáz, the slave of our house, who had risen to great honour by the kingly benefits and favours he had received,— Verse,— “Too much kindness from a master is the enemy of a servant.”— “Excessive rain is as bad as lightning to the crops or harvest.”— From the impurity of his wicked disposition determined to destroy the foundations of the prosperity of his patron and master as quickly as he could, and his head being filled with the vapours of pride, from his possession of money, jewels, rank and dig­nity, he gave up all the towns, villages and forts in his charge to the English. Notwithstanding this, by the blessing of God, with very little labour that country has been all reconquered by us and the troops of the enemy destroyed. This is well known to the world at large. You will, therefore, tell your masters that at present we have no trea­sury (money), that we should pay the horse-shoe tribute, but that we have a number of guns and muskets inherited from our pardoned father (Haz­rutí Marhoom) and they are ready at their service. However, after the settlement and regulation of this country, orders will be given to the treasurers of the Khodádád to send the customary amount pay­able to you.” After this address to the ambassa­dors, containing rules and instructions, for their guidance; from motives of policy and precaution, he despatched a certain Muhammad Osmán, a servant of the late Nawáb, a discreet person well acquainted with the forms of courtesy and the etiquette of society, to Poona, with money and valuables, and certain curiosities from the country of the English, plundered by his troops in the province of the Karnatic, merely as a lesson or warning.