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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
SEPTEMBER, 1917
"Trichinopoly; but to prevent suspicions, the collection of the tribute was given out as the only intention of the expedition, and the army was ordered to move leisurely down to the sea coast before they proceeded to the south ; accordingly they came to Madras, where they remained84 some days, and then went to Pondicheri, where they stayed a longer time; during which Chanda Sahib laid the first foundation of his connections with the French Government in that city: from hence they marched' to Trichinopoly." The Jesuit missionaries, as shewn by Nelson, ascribe an even more barefaced ambition to the Nawab. They say that he was really desirous of creating a principality at the expense of his tributary kingdoms for his son, and that with this view he sent an army on a sort of roving commission against Tanjore, Trichinopoly and Travancore. The imperial army first stormed and captured Tanjores and placed it under Bode Sahib, the brother of Chanda Sahib. It then marched south, towards the regions of the Vaigai and Tambraparți, attacked Travancore, laid waste the West coast and at length reached Trichinopoly. Wilks gives a different version. He says that Brigáru Tirumala and Venkataraghavâchárya made themselves, - with the concealed aid, of the Mahratta Raja of Tanjore," so formidable that Minakshi " was driven to the desperate resource of soliciting the aid of the Nawab of Arcot. An army under the command of Safder Ali, the eldest son and heir-apparent of the Nawab, with Chanda Sahib as his Civil Dewan and military second in command, moved over the province, ostensibly for the ordinary purpose of enforcing the collections of the revenue, and approached Trichinopoly to afford the promised87 aid."
Safdar Ali's Decision against Minakshi. All these authorities thus, while differing in details, agree, in that Trichiropoly was the ultimate goal of the imperialists. The arrival of the Muhammadans struck terror into the hearts of both the parties there. The most prudent policy would have been to ignore for the time all domestic quarrels and engage the common foe with one mind and interest. But the shortsighted ambition of both the parties stood in the way of united action and patriotio defence. We do not know who was the first88 to call in the Musalman help. "The Hist. of the Carna. Gours, ascribes the crime to Minâkshi ; but Mr. Nelson, contrary to its evidence, attributes the initiative to Bangaru Tirumala. With an inordinate haste to claim the favour of early submission, he says, he sent a deputation to Safdar Ali proposing that, in case the latter seized Minâkshi, kept her in captivity, and handed over the kingdom to himself, he would satisfy the greedy appetite of the Musalmans by paying 30 lakhs of rupees. Safdar Ali agreed, and would have fulfilled his agreement but for the timely precaution which Minakshi in her instinct of self-preservation had taken. With a numerous and faithful band of followers, she awaited, in the citadel of Trichinopoly, the attack of the Muhammadans with calm determination. Safdar did not think it possible, or
$5 Ibid.
84 Madu. Manual.
86 it must have been under the rule of Tukoji, the 3rd son of Venkoji, the founder of the dynasty. For details see Tanjore Manual; Tanjore Gatr., pp. 44.40.
87 Wilks, I; p. 155.
88 The Madura chronicles generally speak as though Safdar Ali and Chanda Sahib came from Arcot purposely to decide the dispute bztween Minakshi and Bangkru. This is not lectirate; for we have already seen that they had other motives and attractions.
