A History of the Mahrattas v1.c30.71

v1.c30.71

Before the roads were completely occupied, Hyder, in the beginning of June, attempted to draw a convoy of military stores with twenty pieces of cannon from Bednore to Seringapatam, but the whole, including the escort that accompanied them, were intercepted; and at last, so effectually did the Mahrattas cut off the communication, that Hyder’s Hircarrahs were obliged to pass through the Koorga Raja’s country and descend the Ghauts in Malabar, as the only route to Bednore. On the 24th October the Mahrattas moved to Bangalore; Hyder, with about twenty thousand men of all descriptions, remained at Seringapatam strongly entrenched.¹ The only success which attended his arms during the whole season was achieved by his son Tippoo, who intercepted a very large convoy of grain proceeding towards the Mahratta camp. Hyder’s situation was considered critical, and a prospect of the total reduction of his country, which formed the only barrier between the Mahrattas and Madras, inclined the Bombay Government to afford him their assistance, but the territory² and subsidy, demanded as preliminaries on the one part, and the terms proposed on the other were out of all proportion; besides which, Hyder artfully endeavoured to make them principals in the war, by requiring of them to attack Salsette which at once put an end to the negotiation.