It  is  far  from  our  intention  to  follow  seriatim  the  operations  of
this  campaign,  which  are  already  matters  of  history,  except  as
they  are  necessary  to  the  explanation  of  the  positions  into  which
the  fate  of  Herbert  Compton  led  hjm.  It  has  been  already  stated
that  the  rich  town  of  Bednore,  the  capital  of  the  province  in  which
the  army  now  was,  had  been  from  the  first  the  object  of  the  prcr
sent  campaign ;  accordingly  Mathews,  the  day  after  the  assault  of
the  pass,  pressed  onwards  with  his  whole  force  to  Hyderghur,  a
strong  fort  on  the  way  to  Bednore.  This  place  quickly  yielded ;
and  the  governor,  having  been  offered  terms  by  the  English
commander,  agreed  to  them,  and  delivered  over  the  whole  of  the
districts  dependent  upon  the  fortress.  The  fortress  of  Anantpoor
soon  followed,  and  the  countiy  was  quickly  occupied  by  small
detachments,  and  the  inhabitants  yielded  apparently  quiet  pos-
session to  their  conquerors,  Bednore  was  next  approached ;  and
as  the  minarets  and  white-terraced  houses  appeared  to  the  view
of  the  army,  and  it  was  known  that  its  governor  had  deserted  his
post,  all  were  clamorous  to  be  led  at  once  against  it,  both  because
it  was  to  be  their  resting-place,  after  their  fatiguing  service,  and
was  described  to  be  full  of  treasure,  which  would  become  their
lawful  spoil.
