Page:A Comprehensive History of India Vol 1.djvu/492

 t.">8 HISTORY OF INDIA. [Book fll.

A.D. ivii. an artificial mound. The long and naiTOW .slip of land thas incloned between the arm.s form.s what i.s called the island of Seringham. Near its western extremity, where the fork begins, and at a short di.stance from the Coleroon side, stood one of tlie most famous {)agodas, or Hindoo temples, in Hindoostan. It consisted of seven squares, one within the other, each surrounded by a wall twenty- five feet high and fom- thick, and entered by four lofty tun-eted gates, facing the cardinal points. The wall of the outermo.st s([uare is about four miles in circuit. The pagoda owed its celebrity to the supposed possession of the very image of Vishnu which Brahma used to worship ; and the myriads of pilgrims flocking to it sufficed at one time to maintain -iO^OOO Brahmins in voluptuous idleness. About half a mile east of this pagoda, and near the Cauvery side, stood another, also of large dimensions, but with one inclo-siu-e only. Kncamp- The encampment on the noiih bank of the Coleroon was inconvenient for

chinopoiy. obtaining supplies, and for this reason, and also no doubt because it was deemed safer to have a river between them and the enemy, Mahomed All's army crossed over into the island of Seringham. The whole, including the English battalion, took up their quarters within the three first inclosui-e.s, and abstained at the earnest solicitations of the })riests from approaching nearer to the sanctuary of the idol. The post was admirably adapted for defence, but a cowardly spirit still prevailed among the troops, and they would not believe themselves safe till they had taken the last retrograde step now possible, and place themselves under the walls of Trichinopoly. Chunda Sahib gladly occupied the island thus evacuated. It was not, however, with the intention of remaining in it. The great prize for which he was contending was now full in his view, and leaving only a garrison in Seringham, he crossed the Cauvery, and encamped on the east of Trichinopoly. The main body of Mahomed Ali's troops were stationed on the south side, and the English battalion under Captain Gingen on the west. Captain Cope, with 100 Europeans, remained within the walls. The fortifica- TrichinoDolv, situated within half a mile of the south or right bank of the

tionsofthat,. ..

city. Cauvery, is in the form of a parallelogram, of which the east and west sides

have each a length of 2000, and the north and south a breadth of 1200 yards. It is inclosed by a ditch, 30 feet wide, and 1 2 deep, supplied with water more or less copiously according to the season, but never dry, and two walls flanked at regular intervals by round towers. The outer wall, only 18 feet high, and about 5 thick, has neither rampart nor parapet; the inner waU, 30 feet high, and 25 feet apart from the other, is much stronger in every respect, having a rampart and a parapet both of stone, the former rising from a broad base by large decreasing steps, so as to be only 10 feet broad at the top, and the latter about 7 feet high, loopholed for musketry. Within the walls in the north part of the city is a lofty precipitous rock of sienite, commanding an extensive view of the surrounding country.

Such was the only place of strength now belonging to Mahomed Ali; and on