to occupy all the Maráthá possessions up to the river Krishna, a plan which the Mysore ruler lost no time in carrying out, seizing nearly half this territory before the advent of the rainy season compelled him to return to Seringapatam[1].
The result of this coalition was that the Poona ministers and Nizám Alí declared war against Haidar. They despatched a large force to dislodge him from the Sávanúr country, while a still larger army was equipped for further operations. Their advance force was, however, skilfully defeated at Sáunsi, ten miles north of Sávanúr, by Haidar's general, Muhammad Alí. By a feigned flight, he inveigled the Maráthás into a rash pursuit, which brought them under the fire of the Mysore guns, and caused great confusion in their ranks. Then Muhammad Alí, making a determined charge with his cavalry, utterly routed them, capturing two of their leaders, and inflicting great slaughter. Meanwhile the main army of the Maráthás under Parasu Rám Bháo was advancing from Poona, while Nizám Alí had despatched a force of 40,000 men under Ibráhím Khán to co-operate from the eastward. The former, however, hearing of the decisive victory ob-
- ↑ Dhárwár, the capital of this territory, was taken by an ingenious stratagem. A fictitious letter was sent to the commandant telling him that aid was coming to him from the Maráthás. Haidar then dressed up some of his troops in the guise of Maráthás and directed another detachment to attack them, and fire at them with blank cartridges. The garrison, believing that the first-named body constituted the expected relief, admitted them into the fort, when they seized the commandant, disarmed the defenders of the place, and took possession of it for Haidar.
