Page:A Comprehensive History of India Vol 1.djvu/511

 Chai>. VI. J FRENCH REVERSES. 477

attempted to escape by throwing down their arms and dispersing. It was in ad 1752, vain ; every man of them perished.

The position of the two armies was now reversed. The besiegers saw them- f»<^i'c1i

rovereea.

selves besieged and in danger of being starved out. Their great hope was in M. d'Auteuil; but this hope soon failed them, for that officer, despairing not only of reaching Seringham, but of maintaining his position at Ootatoor, made a rapid retreat to Volconda, after sacrificing a large quantity of his stores. This loss, and the dangers which threatened on every side, determined Chunda Sahib's officers to execute a design which they had for some time contemplated. Ap- proaching him in a body, they announced their determination to quit liis ser- vice. Instead of upbraiding them, he told them that they had only antici})ated a similar proposal from himself He was unable to pay their ari'ears, but assm*ed them that they would not be forgotten should better fortune again attend him ; and gave the best proof of his sincerity by making over to them at a valuation the greater part of his elephants, camels, horses, and other military effects. Some of the troops thus set free returned home ; others took service with the Mysoreans. Very few went over to Mahomed Ali ; but Clive, at Samiaveram, was joined by 2000 of the best horse and 1500 sepoys. Chunda Sahib was left with only 2000 horse and 3000 foot, who were lodged in the pagoda of Sering- ham. The French battalion, with 2000 sepoys, shut themselves up in the pagoda of Jumbakistna, and gave out that they meant to defend themselves to the last extremity. As their only hope, they still kept then- eyes tm'ned towards M. d'Auteuil, who, on his part, so far from being able to bring them succour, was entu'ely occupied with his own difficulties. After various movements, which only entangled him more and more, he was cooped up by Clive in the fort of Volconda, and obliged to come to term.s. One of these was that deserters should sun-euder of be pardoned. It seems strange that there should have been any occasion for such a clause ; but its importance is perceived when we learn the astounding fact, that though the whole number of Europeans under M. d'Auteuil was only 100, no fewer than thirty-five, more than one-third of the whole, were English soldiers who had deserted.

The surrender of M. d'Auteuil left the French in Seringham without the a.iuuu .sa least prospect of relief Preparatory to a cai)itxilation, it was thought desirable tateiiesuiiw. that an attempt should be made to secure the escape of Chunda Sahib. M. Law was aware that in the hands of Dupleix he might still be turned to good account ; and he appears, moreover, to have been sincerely desirous not to jillow him to fall into the power of Mahomed Ali, who was well known to be thmsting for his life. So completely, however, was the island now watched, that the on!}- mode of escape which seemed practicable was to bribe some of the native auxi- liaries to allow him a passage through their quarters. Several were thought of — the Mahrattas, but they would sell him to the highest bidder — the My- soreans, but they would employ him as a hostage to obtain the performance of