HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
436 
This was a terrible misfortune for Haider, who found himself without an army, 
without resources, without friends, and without allies; but his courage never forsook 
him; and, though he was besieged by a powerful army, and his country ravaged by 
the enemy, he indulged the hope, that his former fortune would return. In fact, the 
Mahrattas, having no heavy artillery, were reduced to the necessity of turning what 
would have otherwise been an active siege, into a lingering blockade. 
In the mean time, Trimbuch Mama wrote in the most pressing terms to the Nabob 
of the Carnatic, and to M. Dupree, then Governor of Madras, to obtain troops and 
cannon, in order to reduce the capital of Haider Aly. The Nabob was disposed 
to comply with the request, but the Council of Madras thought that they were bound 
to keep faith with Haider, and that they could not be justified in violating the peace 
of 1769. 
Haider also, in his turn, applied to Governor Dupree for assistance, but the latter 
seemed determined not to interfere in the contest, and equally refused assistance to 
both parties. 
The Mahrattas being, at length, in great distress for provisions of every kind, 
contented themselves with desolating Haider’s country, and then retired to their 
own. Mahaderou died soon after his return ,• when a civil war took place among 
the chiefs, who contended for his succession; and to this discord, which lasted for 
several years, Haider Aly was indebted for his future glory. 
The Mahrattas were no sooner departed, than Haider collected a small army, 
with which he attacked and retook all the forts that they had taken from him, and 
soon purged his country of those dangerous brigands. Thus he soon established 
tranquillity in his dominions, and, by the encouragements he held forth, induced 
the natives who had been driven away, to return and rebuild their villages, and 
resume the cultivation of their districts. He then employed his whole attention to 
the restoration of his army, and in a few years he had formed a body of troops, both 
as to numbers and discipline, which must give an extraordinary idea of his talents 
and perseverance. They were as follows: 
Twenty thousand cavalry. 
Thirty^eight thousand infantry. 
Forty pieces of brass cannon. 
Five hundred camels. 
Two hundred elephants,, 
