HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
43 i 
Mahaderou, who did not meet with any considerable opposition, took possession 
of all the districts as well as forts which have been already mentioned: he retook 
the country of Sirpi, Ascota, Chinnabalaporam, and all their dependencies. 
In the months of January and February, 1767, the Soubah Nizam Ali and Bas- 
selat Jung his brother, whose army was strengthened by a detachment of the English 
Company’s troops, left Hyderabad to join Mahaderou: but the Soubah, who amused 
himself with levying certain imposts in different districts on his march, did not join 
him till the month of April. During this interval, the Mahrattas" did not remain 
in a state of inaction, and had already made themselves masters of Chinnaradurgam, 
of Davilradurgam, and of the strong citadel of Mugdeghenny. In this last place 
they found the young King of Bednor, with the old Queen and her brother. They 
afterwards took several important places, and levied very heavy contributions. 
Haider, who perceived the storm that was collecting against him, fortified his prin¬ 
cipal forts, and having fully garrisoned and victualled them, gathered together all his 
troops and encamped before the walls of Seringapatam, where he entrenched himself 
to the best possible advantage. Being resolved to wait the event, he gave orders 
that all the grain and provisions within thirty miles of Seringapatam should be 
brought to the magazines of that city. This he considered as a certain measure to 
prevent the confederate army from approaching. In the mean time he entered into 
a secret correspondence with the Soubah; and he had also dispatched a Vaqueel 
to Mahaderou, the Mahratta chief, who agreed to restore all the places he had taken* 
for thirty lacks of rupees; which he had no sooner received, than he retreated to his 
own country, without giving to the Soubah the smallest portion of his bribe. 
Though the English detachment had received considerable reinforcements, Gene¬ 
ral Smith, who commanded it, perceiving the duplicity of the Soubah, withdrew his 
army to the frontiers of the Carnatic. About the middle of May, the Soubah set 
forward to join the army of Haider Aly; and about the 24th of the same month, 
the English were informed that the object of their junction was to get possession of 
that country. 
General Smith saw the danger that threatened him, and made continual requisitions 
to the Governor and Council of Madras to grant him the necessary supplies for the 
approaching campaign; but as they delayed their attention to his repeated remon¬ 
strances, Haider Aly and the Soubah entered with their armies into the valley of 
Burmal, and commenced hostilities. 
