Page:Haidar Ali and Tipu Sultan.djvu/33

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THE PESHWÁ INVADES MYSORE
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bution, of which five lacs of rupees were paid in cash, while certain districts were surrendered in pledge for an additional sum of twenty-seven lacs.

Haidar Alí, who had been summoned to Mysore, owing to disputes between Devaraj and his brother Nanjráj, found the troops in a state of mutiny owing to arrears of pay. By his address, and a careful scrutiny of the accounts, he was enabled to pay all legitimate claims, and to disband more than 4,000 men, while he seized the ringleaders of the revolt and plundered them. After the Maráthá troops had withdrawn into their own territory, Haidar counselled evading the payment due to Poona from the assigned districts, but the Peshwá, resenting this breach of the obligations entered into by Mysore, despatched in 1759 a force under Gopál Hari to annex this domain. Having accomplished this task, the Maratha leader invested Bangalore, and seized Chennapatam, between that place and Seringapatam. But Haidar, who had been placed in command of the Mysore army, deputed a favourite officer named Lutf Alí Bég to surprise Chennapatam, a feat which he successfully accomplished, thus compelling Gopál Hari to relinquish the blockade of Bangalore. For some months the rival forces confronted one another, but at length the

    their nominal subservience, although they were the 'de facto' rulers. For instance, Bálájí's seal bore the following inscription: – Srí Rájá Sáhú Narapati Rájá Sáhú, King of men, Harsha Nidhán i.e. Treasury of delight; Bálájí Bájí Ráo Bálájí Bájí Ráo, Mukhya Pradhán. Chief Minister.