Page:Haidar Ali and Tipu Sultan.djvu/78

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74
HAIDAR ALÍ

Hari Panth with a conviction of his treachery, and induced him to attack the recreant leader, who was overwhelmed by a mass of cavalry and driven off the field. Hari Panth then retired across the river, effecting his retreat in good order, but harassed by incessant assaults from the army of Haidar, who proceeded to seize all the territory between the Tungábhadra and the Krishna, reducing the strongholds of Kopal and Gajendragarh, with minor posts, and capturing Dhárwár after a long siege. All the local chiefs then tendered their submission, and having completed his dispositions for the permanent occupation of the country, Haidar returned to Mysore in 1779 to wreak his vengeance on the Pálegár of Chitaldrúg, who had failed to co-operate with him in the recent struggle. The chief made a gallant resistance, but having in his service 3,000 Musalmán soldiers, Haidar found means to corrupt them through the agency of a holy fakír who resided near the town. Madakeri Náyak, finding that he was betrayed, was obliged to throw himself on the mercy of Haidar, who, after plundering the place, despatched the Pálegár and his family to languish in prison at Seringapatam. Haidar was determined to make short work of the brave Bedars who had so successfully fought against him, and heroically sacrificed their lives in defending their hereditary chief. Not content with confiscating all their available property, and ravaging the district for the support of his army, he carried off to his capital 20,000 of the inhabitants. The young boys were