'Halali' and some other captains on Murari Rao's side said to Ba- lavant Rao "If we assault and master this petty fortalice, we shall gain ruined walls alone: there is nothing else. This is an ancient family: they were sunken, and now by [your lordship's] favour it has become a house. He looks to your grace and is a fit object for your mercy. It is said that from the days of his grandfather and great grandfather this house was known for bravery. If you com- mand us to storm the place we will storm it; they will lose their lives: we will act according to your pleasure."
On hearing these words Balavant Rao (daiva yogam cheta) by the will of God called for Kesiva Rao, the agent (vakīl) of Soudekuppam, [who was there] and said to him "Go you, early in the morning, and visit this Basavappa Nayac; reassure him and bring him here with you."
7. Accordingly this Kesiva Rao came into the town betimes in the morning and sent for the chief men who were at the bank of the ditch, (near) the (jībi) "intervallum,"[1] and said to them, "I am the (vakīl) messenger sent by Balavant Rao: I come from the camp: and I want to speak to Basavappa Nayac. If therefore he (literally, They) will come to the great bank, at the Turkish Tombs, I will speak face to face and all shall be made known. Tell him this and come back." – They went and carried these tidings to Basavappa Nayac. He replied, "Never mind: I will come to the Tiger-face- bastion: and if his honour (lit: They) too will do me the favour to come to the front of the (jībi) intervallum we may accordingly con- verse together." Such was his (badl) reply.
Then this Kesiva Rao came to the terrace which was on the in- ner bank of the ditch in front of the (jībi) intervallum and sat upon it. Basavappa Nayac also came from inside the fort, and mounted on the tower.[2] Then they[3] saw each other from afar.
1 Jībi (Hind (
Indic characters)) The intervallum or space between the outer and inner wall of a fort. This is noticed in the Kannadi Dictionary, but omitted in the Hindustani Dictionary, printed in 1849. From the context I doubt this interpretation.
2 The word is (Indic characters) udem which seems to be Kannadi.
3 Lit. those and these.
