Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 25.5.6

25.5.6

as they have a way of fighting of their own, and will ten times a day attack, and as many times again retreat or take to flight; and they are accustomed to reduce to great straits, for want of water and necessaries, such troops as are less handy than themselves at this work of plundering and running away. The English on those accounts reckoned a war with them to be a difficult piece of work; and they knew very well that Haider-naic was in correspondence with the French. On those two considerations Governor Hushtin who is by excellence the man of genius of his nation, and who displays everywhere a consummate skill and wisdom, thought it expedient to close with Ragonat-rao's proposals, an ally that put in his hands the great advantage of fighting the Marhattas in their own country; so great was his foresight. His project was to send an army into Decan, on pretence of assisting Ragonat-rao whom the English were to bring over to their camp; and by his means to engage the Marhatta nation to a peace and an alliance with them; which alliance would have put it in his power to grant Ragonat-rao the completion of his fondest wishes. After having brought the Marhatta rulers to submit and agree, he intended to draw both Ragonat-rao and his adversaries into such an alliance, as should bind them to a pact of never joining the French;