A History of the Mahrattas v2.c40.3.2

v2.c40.3.2

When Tippoo, therefore, pressed his demand, Nana Furnuwees interposed and declared that he had no right to exact more than the ordinary tribute—‘that Jagheerdars, on the transfer of districts, were liable to no additional payments: and that the rights of Suwusthanees,¹ who had been guilty of no treason against the state to which they owed allegiance, had been invariably respected.’² Tippoo replied that he had a right to levy what he chose from his own subjects; and soon after detached two separate bodies of his troops to enforce demands beyond the Dessaye’s ability to pay, which was in other words an order to reduce his fort. The siege commenced in the month of March; and a body of Mahrattas, under Gunnesh Punt Behree and Pures hram Bhow Putwurdhun, advanced to its relief. Tippoo’s wukeels still remained at Poona, and Nana Furnuwees had sent orders to the Mahratta commanders not to precipitate hostilities; but by the time they arrived in the neighbourhood of Nurgoond, Tippoo’s officers had been compelled from want of water to raise the siege and encamp at some distance. They however sent in derision a message to the Bramin commanders, intimating that they had withdrawn their troops from respect to their master the Peishwa. Fired at the insult, the Mahrattas rode on to their camp, drove in their outposts, and pressed forward, until repulsed by two of Tippoo’s regular battalions supported by the cavalry; when they retired with the loss of twenty men and an elephant.