Page:Haidar Ali and Tipu Sultan.djvu/57

Rh stormed, he sent off his family and treasure to the rock-fortress of Sávandrúg, a place of great natural strength, twenty-eight miles to the west.

Haidar endeavoured ineffectually to prevent Colonel Wood from joining the force under Colonel Smith, and fled precipitately when the union was accomplished, making his way to Gurramkonda, where he succeeded in inducing his brother-in-law, Alí Razá Khán, to rejoin his standard with his trained troops. Thus reinforced, he returned towards Kolár, but still fearing the probable investment of Bangalore, he made overtures for peace, offering to cede the Báramaháls and pay ten lacs to the British. He declined however to make any concession to Muhammad Alí, whom he thoroughly despised. His offers fell far short of the demands of the Madras delegates, who not only called for the cession of a large territory to their own Government, but also for the payment of tribute to the Nizám. Nothing came therefore of the negotiations, and hostile operations recommenced.

Mention has been made of Múlbágal as one of the places occupied by Colonel Smith. While he was absent, the Madras delegates thought proper to remove his garrison, and to replace them with a company of Muhammad Alí's soldiers. Haidar, on returning from Gurramkonda, won over the commandant and seized the fort, which Colonel Wood at once advanced to recover, being ignorant however that Haidar's army was in the vicinity. Wood succeeded in seizing the lower fort, but the citadel repelled his attempt at an