Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 33.11.p2

33.11.p2

It was about this time that broils having arisen between the English and French, the latter abandoned Selabet-djung's service, and returned to the centre of their dominions, Pûlcherry. From that moment Selabet-djung's preponderance seemed to verge to its ruin; and his national enemies having conceived high-flown designs, they aimed not only at reducing his person to nothing, but likewise at snatching from Nizam-el-mulk's family, all the dominions of Decan. They even engaged Bibrahim-qhan-gardi to take service with them; a man from the dregs of the people, who having served for a length of time under the French, and learned their way of managing their cannon and musketry, was actually at the head of a body of such musketeers, and such an artillery of his own, that made him courted by all parties. He was now gone to Pûnah, in company with Seda-syo; but it was not for any length of time. The twenty-second of the month of Djemady in the same year, he came out of Pûnah in conjunction with the Marhatta army, which encountered the two brothers, Selabet-djung and Nizam-aaly, in the territory of Owdghir. Unfortunately for them they had but seven thousand horse with them at that moment, having parted from their main some hours ago. The Marhattas had sixty thousand cavalry. The two brothers wanted to march forwards in order to effect a junction with those of their troops that had remained at Dehaver; but this was opposed by the Marhattas, who, although they have no other way of fighting than that of repeated skirmishes, and no other industry than that of distressing the enemy for want of forage, victuals, water, and other necessaries, nevertheless availed themselves of so marked a superiority on their side, and made nothing of engaging nearer, and of coming to hand-blows with their long swords and short spears. So that the Hindoostanies had no other resource, but that of marching slowly in a body surrounded by their cannon. But even this resource failed them. Their artillery was heavy and unmanageable, whereas the Marhattas had now in the Sepahies of Hibrahim-qhan a body of musketry always ready to oppose the enemy's march, and in his cannon, which was much lighter and better mounted, an expeditious artillery, which advanced and wheeled round just as the managers pleased. The two brothers laboured likewise under a further disadvantage. As their troops marched in a body together, the enemy's cannon never failed to send amongst them some balls that always did some havock; whereas the Marhattas marching in small dispersed troops, were seldom struck by any cannon, or if struck, received but little damage; and when upon a halt they were attacked by the Hindoostanies, they always found in the quickness of Hibrahim-gardie's fire, a sure resource for repelling the enemy. In consequence of all these disadvantages the two brothers lost in their retreat a number of men. Nevertheless, the sixth day of march, they found an opportunity of coming to hand-blows with the enemy, especially with Hibrahim-qhan's people; and falling amongst them, sword in hand, they made a great slaughter, and took eleven colours from the latter; and in this manner they continued their march, as far as the Fortress of Haosah, which is only at ten cosses from Dehaver. The Marhattas conceiving that, if once a junction was effected between the two brothers, they would prove an undermatch, resolved to make a last effort to prevent it. With forty-thousand horse they attacked Selabet-djung's van, which consisted of no more than three thousand, and after a sharp action, they destroyed it totally. This check, by humbling the family of Nizam-el-mulk, prepared its ruin; and the two brothers, finding that a junction was impossible, thought only of an accommodation, and it was concluded in such terms as proved only the seed of future mischiefs and disputes. The Marhattas by this peace obtained, under the name of Djaghir, the cession of a country of sixty lacs a year. It consisted of the territory of Aoreng-abad, (that city excepted,) and the Districts of Houily, Hursool, and Setrah. The remainder was made up with the Provinces of Beder and Bidjapoor, as well as with the Fortresses of Doolet-abad, Assir, and Bidjapoor, places of consequence, that had been anciently the Capitals of so many powerful Kingdoms, and had cost so much blood and treasure. These latter lands served for demesnes to the two brothers, and had hitherto afforded appanages and a plentiful subsistence to a number of mansobdars, and officers, and noblemen of high rank; who being now deprived of such a certain livelihood, were reduced as low as their Sovereigns and Lords, the Prince of Princes of the house of Nizam-el-mulk. Nor did anything remain to this family, but the Province of Haider-abad, with some Districts of that of Barar and Bidjapoor, and a small portion of that of Beder; and even this did not remain to them without being saddled with a chöat, a slight tribute imposed by the victors, which did not amount to a quarter of the real revenue, but which they never fail to improve and to nurse up, as soon as they have committed the young plant to the ground. Nevertheless, in spite of so many disgraces the project of the enemies of that illustrious family did not take place, and it continued to enjoy dominion and sovereignty in Decan. But as we have just been mentioning the name of the three fortresses, as having been the Capitals of so many powerful Kingdoms, we imagine that some account of them may prove acceptable to our readers.