44 WAR WITH MYSORE. 



thrust out into the street. Deoraj, indignant at this cru- 

 elty, abandoned his interests, and went to reside in a dif- 

 ferent quarter of the country. 



IVunjeraj himself was soon exposed to an exigency to 

 which an Indian prince is almost always liable. His troops 

 began to clamour for a large amount of arrears, and, ob- 

 taining no satisfaction, proceeded to the expedient of seat- 

 ing themselves in dhenia at his gate. According to this 

 institution, which in India is held sacred, he could neither 

 taste food nor drink while the claimants remained in this 

 position ; and the soldiers, occupying the entrance of the 

 palace, took care that this rule should be strictly observed. 

 In this extremity Hyder gladly took occasion to interpose 

 his services. He repaired to Seringapatam, and bv seizing 

 till public property within his reach, as well as judiciously 

 collecting the sums due to government, obtained as much 

 money as satisfied the immediate claims of the military. 

 He had also effected an accommodation between the two 

 brothers, which Deoraj, however, did not long survive. 

 Thus Hyder became extremely popular, appearing as a 

 general friend to all parties. Having raised a large force 

 of his own, and attached to his views the army of°Nunje- 

 raj by his exertions for their relief, he soon felt himself to 

 be the real master. His influence was greatly increased by 

 the occurrence of a formidable invasion on the part of the 

 Mahrattas, when, being appointed to the chief command, 

 he brought the contest to an issue, not triumphant indeed, 

 but much more favourable than had been anticipated. He 

 now determined to make his way to the supreme power on 

 the ruin of that chief through whose kindness he had risen 

 to his present elevation. Kunde Row, who bad all along 

 been his agent and partisan, opened through the medium 

 of a dowager-princess, a woman of talent, a negotiation 

 with the rajah, who, with the view of being enabled to 

 resume the real authority in his own kingdom, agreed to 

 concur in the removal of Nunjeraj. Circumstances fa- 

 voured their designs. A fresh arrear of pay having accu- 

 mulated, the troops again established themselves in din ma 

 before his gate ; when Hyder, instead of studying as before 

 to appease their discontent and relieve his patron's distress, 

 sought only to foment the one and aggravate the other. 

 IS'ay, with a semblance of grief and reluctance, he con- 



