A History of the Mahrattas v1.c15.3

v1.c15.3

Singurh is situated on the eastern side of the great Syhadree range, near the point at which the Poorundhur hills branch off into the Deccan: with these hills it only communicates on the east and west by very high narrow ridges, while on the south and north it presents a huge rugged mountain, with an ascent of half a mile, in many parts nearly perpendicular. After arriving at this height, there is an immense craggy precipice of black rock, upwards of forty feet high, and similar to that which has in the first instance been described as a common feature in the mountains of the Concan and Ghaut-Mahta; surmounting the whole there is a strong stone wall with towers. The fort is of a triangular shape, its interior upwards of two miles in circumference, and the exterior presents on all sides the stupendous barrier already mentioned; so that, except by the gates, entrance seems impossible. From the summit, when the atmosphere is clear, is seen to the east the narrow and beautiful valley of the Neera; to the north a great plain, in the fore-part of which Poona, where Sivajee passed his youth, is a conspicuous object; and though, at the period we have arrived, only a small town, it was destined to become the capital of the vast empire he was founding. To the south and west appear boundless masses of rolling mountains, lost in the blue clouds or mingled by distance with the sky. In that quarter lies Raigurh¹; from which place, directed by Tannajee Maloosray, the thousand Mawulees prepared for the attempt on Singurh, set out by different paths, known only to themselves, which led them to unite near the fortress, according to the words of the Mahratta manuscript, ‘ on the ninth night of the dark half of the moon, in the month Magh ’ (February). Tannajee divided his men ; one half remained at a little distance, with orders to advance if necessary, and the other half lodged themselves undiscovered at the foot of the rock. Choosing a part most difficult of access, as being the least liable to discovery, one of their number mounted the rock and made fast a ladder of ropes, by which they ascended, one by one, and lay down as they gained the inside. Scarce three hundred had entered the fort, when something occasioned an alarm among the garrison that attracted their attention to the quarter by which the Mawulees were ascending. A man advanced to ascertain what was the matter. A deadly arrow from a bowman silently answered his enquiries ; but a noise of voices and a running to arms induced Tannajee to push forward, in hopes of still surprising them. The bowmen plied their arrows in the direction of the voices ; till a blaze of blue lights, and a number of torches kindled by the garrison, showed the Rajpoots armed or arming, and discovered their assailants. A desperate conflict ensued ; the Mawulees, though thus prematurely discovered and opposed by very superior numbers, were gaining ground, until Tannajee Maloosray fell. They then lost confidence, and were running to the place where they had escaladed, but by that time the reserve, led by Tannajee’s brother, Sooryajee, had entered. On learning what had happened, Sooryajee rallied the fugitives, asked ‘ who amongst them would leave their father’s remains to be tossed into a pit by Mhars,’¹ told them the ropes