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gave his son Hyder the command of his own corps ; where under 

 the patronage of Munderauz he made a rapid progress in the path 

 of ambition and glory. It is not my intention to follow him in this 

 career : " exaltation," say the oriental historians, " was inscribed 

 on his forehead." By a chain of good fortune, assisted by singular 

 talents, he at length filled the situations of his friend and patron 

 Nunderauz, as duan (or vizier), and commander in chief of the 

 army. Not content with those high dignities, he aspired to the 

 throne, usurped the sovereignty, and imprisoned the rajah and his 

 family in a hill-fort called Mudgery, situated on a strong rock, 

 sixteen coss from Bangalore: this was in the year 1762. From 

 that period he took the title of nawaub, or nabob, Hyder Ally 

 Khan Bahauder; and pursuing his conquests in many of the sur- 

 rounding countries, he added Bednore and its valuable territory, 

 the Soondah country near Goa, and other considerable districts 

 to the Mysore empire. 



Establishing himself at Seringapatam, Hyder made that city 

 the metropolis of his dominions; he enlarged and strengthened the 

 fortifications, erected a new palace and other public buildings, and 

 increased its population by every means in his power; still keep- 

 ing up the garrisons at Bednore, Bangalore, and the different 

 strong-holds in his extensive empire. Mangulore was his principal 

 sea-port ; Onore and some smaller towns near it hardly meriting 

 that appellation; although Onore, especially as connected with 

 Mirzee and Barcelore, has been always a place of considerable 

 trade. This caused T ippoo's indignation at the English taking and 

 defending Mangulore and Onore so bravely against his army, and 

 counteracting his wily manoeuvres. Hyder had always a great 



