Page:A Comprehensive History of India Vol 1.djvu/467

 Chap. TV.] NIZAM-UL-MOOLK. 433

money. It wa.s so ; and though they had proceeded 250 miles north-west of a.d. 1743. Tricliinopoly, they made sure of their prize by hastening back, and completely blockading the fortress. Famine made defence impossible ; and after a siege of three months, it was compelled to surrender at discretion, on the 2Gth of March, 174-1. The Mahrattas left 14-,00 men, under Morari Row, to guard their con- quest, and carried off Chunda Sahib, whom they confined in a strong fort in the vicinity of Sattarah.

Sufder Ali, when reUeved from the alarm which Chunda Sahib had given, cimn.i.i saw him.self threatened by a still more formidable enemy. Nizam- ul-Moolk connection had returned to the Deccan, and had given him to understand that, as an indis- cherry. " " pensable condition to his being confirmed as nabob, he must pay up all the arrears of tribute which had accrued since the death of Saadut Oolln. His first step, on receiving this intimation, was to I'emove his family and treasures to Madras. He had formerly lodged them in Pondicherry, but circumstances had transpired to convince him that an understanding existed between Chunda Sahib and Dupleix, and that as his interest was decidedly opposite to that of the former, his true safety lay in courting an alliance with the only nation which seemed capable to counteract the designs of the latter.

Sufder Ali, after he had seciu'ed his treasures in Madras, endeavoured to Sufder au-s propitiate Nizam-ul-Moolk by pleading poverty. The Mahrattas had impover- withMadnw ished the country, both by pillage and the immense contribution which they had exacted; and his finances were in consequence so dejn-essed, that he had serious thoughts of retiring from the world altogether, and .spending the remain- der of his days at Mecca. It is not likely that Nizam-ul-Moolk would have allowed himself to be defeated of his purpose by such i)retences, but Sufder Ali was not destined to feel the eflfects of his resentment, for he perished .shortly after by the hands of an a.ssavssin. The crime was generally believed to have been instigated by Mortiz Ali, who immediately caused himself to be pro- claimed nabob ; but, imable to stand the storm of indignation which his atro- cious conduct raised, was obliged to sjive himself by flight. Mahomed Saaed, an infant son of Sul'der Ali, was immediately brought forward liy the army, and, contrary to expectation, was confirmed as his father's suece.ssor, by Nizam-ul- Moolk, who, at last, in IT+S, made out his promi.sed, or rather threatened visit to Arcot, by marching into it with an army of 80,000 horse and 200,000 foot. His presence wjis not mnecessary, for the countiy was rapidly verging towards Nizam-m- anarchy. Ji,very petty chief was affecting independence ; and on one day no riv.a in u.^ fewer than eighteen individuals, bearing the title of nabob, presented them- selves to do homage to Nizam-ul-Moolk, who gave vent to his surpri.se and indignation by declaring that he always imagined there was only one nabob in the Carnatic, and that he woidd whip anj" of his chobdars, or gold-stick.s-in- waiting, who announced an individual under that title.

As Nizam-ul-Moolk was bent on foundiiiix a new dvna.stv in the Deccan, he "Vol. I. 65

Deccan.