extraordinary feats of successful enterprise, which could only occur in such a country, and at such a period, the predatory troops of Hyder became numerous; his power and his resources increased; his stock of elephants, camels, tents, and equipments, enabled him to vie in this respect with the great chiefs in the state of Mysore; and, finally, he was admitted to rank with them by being nominated Foujdar of Dindigul.[1]
By his energetic and judicious conduct in this position, Hyder continued to rise, and circumstances favoured his elevation. A mutiny broke out in the Mysorean army, and he was the instrument of suppressing it. To this succeeded some other services which it is here unnecessary to enlarge upon, but which obtained for him the district of Bangalore, as a personal jaghire. A demonstration on the part of the Mahrattas afforded opportunity for the further display of Hyder's talents for rising in the state. The army was ordered to march to resist the incursion, but refused in consequence of arrears of pay. These Hyder became responsible for. He was therefore nominated to the chief command of the field force, and was successful in reducing the Mahrattas to propose terms. He then returned in triumph to Seringapatam, where he was received with a degree of distinction and demonstration of enthusiasm unprecedented in an Oriental court.
From the indolence and incapacity of the Rajah of Mysore, all the authority of the state had long been exercised by the Dewan, or Prime Minister, Nunjeraj, a wily Brahmin, whose arrogance had so much disgusted his sovereign that the latter was anxious to get rid of him, but knew not how. In this emergency he had recourse to the fortunate Hyder, who gladly undertook the task, and finally succeeded in ridding the Rajah of his haughty Minister, by a series of intrigues and bold
- ↑ Foujdar, a magistrate of the police over a large district, who took cognisance of all criminal matters within his jurisdiction, and sometimes was employed as receiver-general of the revenues.
