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COMPANY'S SOVEREIGNTY ESTABLISHED.

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the finest portion of that vast region. The most valuable part of the great central plain of India, westward as far as the Jumna, was either in the immediate possession or under the entire control of the British nation.

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CHAPTER II.

War with Mysore.

Formation of the Kingdom of Mysore-Influence of the Ministers Deoraj and Nunjeraj-Hyder-His Parentage-His early Destitution-Begins to distinguish himself-Mode in which he forms a Body of Adherents -Commands at Dindigul-His power augmented-Violence of Nunjeraj, who is reduced to Distress-Hyder relieves and then supplants him-His own Danger-Extricates himself, and becomes complete Master of Mysore-Conquest of Bednore-Invasion by the Mahrattas -Conquest of Calicut-The English join a Confederacy against him -The Mahrattas make Peace-Nizam joins Hyder against the English-They invade the Carnatic-Threaten Madras-Battle of Trinomalee-Nizam quits the Alliance-Invasion of Mysore-Successes of Hyder-He overruns the Carnatic-Again threatens Madras-Conclusion of Peace-Another great Inroad of the Mahrattas-Hyder concludes a Treaty with them, and makes further Conquests-His Resentment against the English-Weak conduct of the Madras Government -Hyder invades and desolates the Carnatic-Fate of Colonel Baillie's Detachment-Sir Eyre Coote sent from Calcutta-He gains several Advantages-Loss of Colonel Brathwaite's Detachment-Negotiations -Operations on the Western Coast-Death of Hyder-Tippoo succeeds-Dissensions in the Madras Government-Death of Sir Eyre Coote-Peace between England and France-Bednore surrenders to General Mathews-Retaken by the Sultan-Siege of Mangalore-Peace with Tippoo.

In the general breaking-up of the Mogul empire and its great viceroyalties, India was reduced almost to a state of anarchy. Any bold adventurer who could summon round him the warlike and predatory bands with which that region abounded, might aspire to rule over extensive districts, several of which were entitled to the rank of kingdoms. Among such communities, a conspicuous place was held by Mysore, the territory of which forms one of the most remarkable of those elevated table-lands that diversify the southern provinces. It extends more than half-way from sea to sea, closely approaching the Malabar coast on one side, and on the other reaching to the border of the Carnatic. A circuit of lofty hills, forming a barrier round the country, raise its general surface to the height of almost 3000 feet; a happy circumstance, which secures for it a

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climate unusually temperate and salubrious. The soil, for the most part, is well suited for producing the most valuable grains and fruits, and by a rude but careful cultivation is rendered extremely fertile. This kingdom, under the direction of a daring soldier, rose to such power as to threaten the very existence of the British dominion in the East.

Mysore, down to a recent period, had not been entirely subjected to the Mohammedan sway; it was still ruled by native princes, who had paid homage, and sometimes tribute, first to the kings of the Deccan, and after their fall to the Mogul. In the decline of the empire both homage and tribute were withheld, unless when the viceroy could assemble a force sufficiently strong to overawe the sovereign and wrest payment from him. This independence, however, was of little avail to the original rajahs, who, sinking, according to the custom of oriental princes, into voluptuous indolence, allowed the government to pass almost entirely into the hands of their ministers. When the war in the Carnatic_first_led the English into hostility with Mysore, two brothers, Deoraj and Nunjeraj, of whom the latter was the more vigorous and influential, had risen to the head of affairs. At this time, however, there was coming into notice a young adventurer, destined to effect a complete revolution in this country, and in all Southern India.

Colonel Wilks, from native authorities, has given an account of the origin of Hyder with a degree of minuteness which it is unnecessary for us to follow. His family appears to have sprung from the northern territory of the Punjaub; they were of low station, and so poor as in some instances to subsist upon alms. Futtee Mohammed, the father, however, though reared by a charitable hand, entered the army of a Mysorean chief, and having served with distinction was raised to the rank of a Naik-officer of peons, or foot-soldiers. A lady of some quality, whose husband had been robbed and murdered by banditti, being reduced to the utmost want, was prevailed upon to give her two daughters successively in marriage to this adventurer, By the youngest he had two sons, Shabaz and Hyder; but, when they had attained only the respective ages of nine and seven, their father and the prince his master were killed in battle. The mother and her boys then fell into the power

of a rapacious chief, who not only plundered all the property he could find, but employed the most cruel torture to make them yield up their hidden possessions. The widow of Futtee Mohammed, having "lost every thing but her children and her honour," found refuge with her brother Ibrahim, by whose bounty the family were supported. Hyder, accordingly, had his fortune entirely to make; and for some time he gave but slender promise of achieving any high advancement. He did not even learn to read or write; and, on arriving at manhood, he spent his whole time either in voluptuous riot or in the pleasures of the chase. Thus he reached the age of twenty-seven before he would submit to the restraints even of military service. His elder brother, meantime, had been more meritoriously employed in the army of Nunjeraj, where he distinguished himself, and was raised to a small command. Hyder was at last induced to join him while employed in the siege of a fortress called Deonhully, which occupied nine months. The youth, having once embarked in this active career, soon displayed daring valour, presence of mind, and all the quali ties which constitute an eminent warrior. He received the charge of a small corps, with a commission to increase its numbers by all the means in his power.

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At this time Nunjeraj, having formed an alliance with the French, undertook the expedition to Trichinopoly, of which some account has been already given. Hyder accompanied him, and made diligent use of the opportunities which this campaign afforded, both to distinguish and advance himself. He soon assembled round him a numerous body of those freebooters with which India' swarmed, who asked no pay, but trusted solely to the plunder that they might collect under the auspices of an active chieftain. Instead of his paying them, they paid him; being required to contribute one-half of all the booty which they might succeed in capturing. They were doubtless very much disposed to evade this partition; but Hyder, though he could not write the numerals, boasted of an almost unequalled expertness in the operations of mental arithmetic; and he was assisted by Kunde Row, a Braminical accountant of remarkable skill. They established a system which the operative plunderers found it nearly vain to attempt eluding. The practices of a common London thief may be considered

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just and honourable, compared with those by which Hyder rose to the rank of an Indian monarch. Not only the great and regular objects of pillage, such as convoys of grain, horses, or herds of cattle, but clothes, turbans, earrings, the most trifling ornaments taken from the persons of females, and even of children, were alike welcome. Friends were not distinguished from foes, provided the theft could be executed with secrecy. By these means, Hyder, before he left Trichinopoly, had collected 1500 horse, 5000 infantry, with elephants, camels, and all other appendages of a chief of high rank. Having distinguished himself also by his military services, he continued in great favour, and was appointed Foujedar of Dindigul, an important place recently acquired in the country of the Polygars. Here he enlarged his forces and increased his wealth, not only by the plunder of the surrounding territories, but by the most scandalous impositions practised on his own sovereign, as well as on the commissioners sent to inquire into his own conduct. He managed to bring his troops to what was called a circular muster, in which ten thousand men counted as 18,000; thereby obtaining pay for a fictitious number, and also at a rate much above his actual expenditure. Having an allowance for every wounded soldier, he imposed on the inspector by presenting many who were perfectly sound, but had their hands and feet tied with bandages dipped in turmeric. By these gross frauds and deceptions, he completely deluded Nunjeraj, who thought it wonderful that so great a force could be maintained, and the war successfully carried on against the Polygars, at an expense so moderate.

Hyder had now collected so much strength both of arms and treasure, and had acquired so high a reputation, that he began to aim at the throne of Mysore. His views were greatly favoured by the violent dissensions which prevailed at court. The young rajah, whom Nunjeraj kept as a convenient tool, determined to make an effort to extricate himself from this thraldom, and had already secured the support of a large body of adherents. But having made a premature display of his designs, the palace which he had fortified was attacked and easily carried. The minister, after this victory, treated the rajah himself with a mockery of respect, but caused his supporters to be either thrown into chains, or, having their noses and ears cut off, to be

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