RISE OF HYDER. 41 



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 as- 

 semble a force sufficiently strong to overawe the sovereign 

 and wrest payment from him. This independence, how- 

 ever, 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 no- 

 tice a young adventurer, destined to effect a complete revo- 

 lution 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 minute- 

 ness 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 ; hut, 

 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 



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