CHAPTER V
The Maráthás invade Mysore a second time
Haidar was conscious also that, by having ousted the Maráthás from the Sírá district, when he obtained the sham title of Nawáb from Basálat Jang, he had incurred the resentment of the Peshwá, as well as that of the ruling Nizám. He therefore, after conquering the small territory of Sunda, north of Bednúr, availed himself of the aid of Razá Alí Khán, son of Chandá Sáhib, who had served with the French, to train and discipline his troops, preparing himself for the inevitable struggle before him. Madhu Ráo, who had succeeded his father, Báláji Bájí Ráo, as Peshwá in 1761, was an able and energetic ruler, and ill disposed to submit tamely to the insult put upon him by Haidar. He made extensive preparations to compel the latter to surrender the territory he had usurped. Haidar, on his part, knowing what a formidable enemy he had to meet, endeavoured to win over to his side the Nawáb of Sávanúr[1], but failing in his attempts,
- ↑ The Mysore annalist, Mír Hussén Alí Khán, states that this Nawáb had rendered assistance to the Ráni of Bednúr, when that place was captured by Haidar, who in consequence determined to punish him; but this writer's account is so confused, and the dates given by him are so clearly wrong, that little reliance can be placed upon his narrative.
