HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
423 
to offer his services to Nanderauz, by whom he was well received. In about four 
years, he had acquired sufficient credit to raise five hundred infantry, clothed and 
disciplined in the European manner, with two hundred cavalry, and a couple of 
field pieces. 
In 1754, in an engagement between the troops of the English East India Com¬ 
pany and those of the Nabob of Arcot, he displayed great judgment and spirit in 
a coup de main , by which he possessed himself of thirty-five of the enemy’s waggons, 
loaded with arms, ammunition, and the baggage of the officers. 
In 1755, he was sent at the head of three thousand infantry and fifteen hundred 
cavalry, with four pieces of artillery, against the Polygars, or mountaineers of the 
country of Maissour, who had failed in the payment of their tribute. In this expe¬ 
dition his success exceeded his utmost expectations; though it was the fruits of his 
treachery rather than his military prowess. Under the pretext of engaging in a 
treaty, he got possession of several of their chiefs, and exacted from them about 
ten or twelve lacks of rupees; one half of which he sent to the King of Maissour, 
and the other he kept himself. The King, however, as well as his Minister, felt a 
considerable degree of resentment at the audacious conduct of Haider, and wished 
to find an opportunity to lessen the credit he had gained in the army, and to crush 
him before he should become more formidable. 
As he had every reason to suspect the designs that were forming against him, he 
employed every means in his power to strengthen and increase his authority; and 
the money which he had amassed was equal to that object, more particularly as 
troubles were breaking out in the country of Maissour. 
- In 1760, Gopalsauz, a Mahratta chief, entered into Maissour with ten thousand 
infantry and twenty thousand cavalry, to lay siege to Bangalore, a very strong 
place, and well defended. The King of Maissour proposed to the Mahrattas to 
purchase their return to their own country, with fifty lacks of rupees. Haider Aly, 
however, whose views did not look to peace, persuaded the King to break off 
the negociation, and obtained permission of him to conduct his army against the 
Mahratta power. 
The two armies met, but, after a partial engagement, the negociation was renewed, 
and the Mahrattas retired into their own country with fifteen lacks less than had 
been originally proposed by the King of Maissour, who rewarded the services of 
Haider Aly, by giving him the title of Bahader, and appointing him commander 
