Secret Correspondence of the Court of the Pesh'wa. 151 



peace with the English, and not only refused to pay the tribute due, but 

 liad even levied contributions on some of the chiefs tributary to the Peshwa. 



A large body of cavalry was therefore pushed forward to the frontier, 

 and in the month of November I769 Madhu Rao left Poona, at the head 

 of fifteen thousand infantry and twenty thousand cavalry. 



The progress of his arms is best shewn by his own letter to Nana Far- 

 NEvis, received at Poona the 30th of January I77O. 



" On crossing the Tungbudra, the main army was joined by the troops 

 " of DouLUT Rao GHORfpoRi, Narsing Rao, and Anand Rao Gopal ; 

 " when leaving Anand Rao Rastia and Gopal Rao of Mirch, to oppose 

 " Hyder in the district of Savanore, I proceeded towards Seringapatam, 

 " avoiding the districts of Harpunhulli and Chittledrug. The first places 

 " occupied, on the 14th January, were Budhyal, Kimpkerri, Humpkerrf, 

 " and Chiknalhullf. There are three or four other places which must soon 

 " fall. Small forts cannot stand our artillery, but those I allude to are not 

 " to be taken without heavier guns. Country yielding a lac or a lac and 

 " a-quarter of huns (£65,000) annually, has been recovered. The chief 

 " of Chittledrug has joined me with five thousand infantry, a thousand 

 " cavalry, three or four guns, five camel loads of rockets, and eight 

 " elephants ; and, moreover, promises to fight. A communication has been 

 " made from Muhammed Ali Khan (Nabob of Arcot), that he also will 

 " afford us aid. Balaram conveyed this intelligence. The Nabob has been 

 " desired to send some respectable persons of his own, with proper 

 " credentials and powers to negociate. 



" Hyder Naic was in the Bednore forest on the 7th January, havino- 

 " sent his son (Tippu) towards Bangalore. This season Hyder's field 

 " equipments are tolerably good." 



Madhu Rao to Naro Babji, manager of Dharur. 



" 6th of March I77O. 

 " Two or three letters have been written to you to enlist a thousand 

 " infantry, and to send them on to the camp, to occupy the places as they are 

 " taken. You write that men cannot be had for the purpose in your district, 

 " but tiiat you will endeavour to raise them in Sawuntwarrj. The head- 

 " quarters now are in the vicinity of Nandighur (Nundidrug), and men 

 " are required to form garrisons for the newly conquered places. You 

 " must contrive to procure the men and to send them to us. I trust those 



