lf, or of the master of
both, the court of Delhi.

Nizam-ul-Mulk had justly thought that time would avenge him. Four
years after his accession, the death of the ruler of Trichinopoli
induced Dost Ali to send an army under his son Safdar Ali and his
Diwan Chanda Sahib, to capture that fortress. Under the pretence of
collecting revenue these two princes visited Madras and Pondicherry
in their progress southwards, and at the latter place Chanda Sahib
entered into those intimate relations with the French which were to
influence greatly the events which were to follow. They proceeded
thence to Trichinopoli and took possession of the fortress, the
widowed queen having, it is said, fallen in love with Chanda Sahib.
The latter remained there as governor, whilst Safdar Ali returned to
his father at Arcot.

The new Diwan appointed in the place of Chanda Sahib, Mir Asad, began
at once to insinuate charges of ambition against his predecessor, and
expressed his opinion that Chanda Sahib, once ruler of Trichinopoli,
would not easily let go his hold. In this opinion he was supported by
the Nawab's eldest son, Safdar Jang. Doubtless they were right, but
their {25}utterances, freely expressed, served only to put Chanda
Sahib on his guard; and he commenced to store the fortress with
provisions.

The acquisition of Trichinopoli by the Nawab of the Karnatik had
served only to inflame the mind of his liege lord, Nizam-ul-Mulk,
against him. For a time, however, the disorders in Northern India,
the threatened invasion of Nadir Shah, and, finally, that invasion,
held his hand. At last, however, his wrath over-mastered his
judgement, and, in 1739, at the very time when the invasion of Nadir
Shah was in full swing, he gave permission to the Marathas to attack
Trichinopoli. In May of the following year, 1740, consequently, a
Maratha army of 10,000 men, led by Raghuji Bhonsla, entered the
Karnatik, met the hurriedly raised force of Dost Ali at the
Damalcherri Pass, defeated it with great slaughter, and took prisoner
the Diwan, Mir Asad. Dost Ali was among the slain. The victors, then,
listening to the persuasions of their prisoner, the Diwan, agreed to
quit the province on receiving a payment, at stated intervals, of a
total sum of ten million of rupees. Safdar Ali was then proclaimed
Nawab at Arcot, and Chanda Sahib proceeded thither to do him homage.

During the preceding two years the French governor of Pondicherry, M.
Dumas, had so stren