Page:A Comprehensive History of India Vol 1.djvu/471

 Chap. IV.] EXPEDITION AGAINST TANJOKM 437

were much damaged. At sea the ravages of the storm were still greater. The a.d. 1749.

Pembroke, a sixty-gun ship belonging to the expedition, was wrecked, only six of her crew escaping. It was in the same storm that the Namur, of seventy-fom- guns, on Avhich Admiral Boscawen's Hag was hoi.sted, and the finest ship of her size in the English navy, perished with 750 men.

After another delay, rendered necessary by a march to Poi-tonovo to repair Diiat.ny pn.-

ceeiliiigs.

tlie damage which had been sustained, Captain Cope reached the northern branch of the Coleroon. Here he encamped and entrenched, because he was afraid to advance till better informed of the kind of reception that might be anticipated. It soon appeared that Saujohee's representations were not to be confirmed. No persons of rank declared for him, and not a single scpiadron joined his standard, while Pertaib Sing's troops were seen moving up and down on the opposite bank as if to dispute the passage. Captain Cope tliought it imprudent to put them to the test, and remained where he was, till he was reinforced from Fort St. David with 100 Europeans and 500 sepoys. He now ventured to proceed, and discovered that he might safely have done it before, as scarcely any resistance was offered. Difticulties, however, soon multiplied upon him. The line of march was through a thick wood, which exposed them to a galling fire from parties of the enemy concealed in it, while the open plains were covered with large bodies of horse and foot moving on their flanks and rear. The position was really perilous, and seemed still more so because the English troops who had not before been brought face to face with an Indian army, natur- ally oven-ated the advantage which it derived from vast superiority of numbers. A general alarm was consequently felt, an alarm which might have grown to a fatal panic, had not the steadiness of the artillery kept the enemy at bay while a retreat to the river was effected. Here a council of war was deliberatintr whether to proceed or wait, when positive orders from Admiral Boscawen to advance on Devicotta at all events, left no alternative. Ha})pily, a line of road, leading through a comparatively open country along the banks of the river to the sea-coast, was accidentally discovered by some of the soldiers. Pur- suing it without much annoyance, the troops, after a march of ten miles, halted in the evening a mile east of the town.

The ships were anchored near the mouths of the river, not more than four Failure ..f miles from the camp, and yet so imperfectly were the means of intelligence pro- tion!"''*^ ' vided, that they were not aware of eacli other's presence. The excuse aftei-wards given was that the intervening ground was low and covered with trees. What was now to be done? The battering cannon was on board tlie ships, and the troops had only three days' provisions. A sudden assault could not succeed, a.s the walls were too high to be escaladed ; a proposjd to advance the field-pieces by night, and gain an entrance by battering in the gates, was rejected, ]ierhaps because it was too rational for Captain Cope to approve of it ; and the childi.sh resolution was adopted of trying to terrifj- the place into a sui-render b}-

■