Page:A Comprehensive History of India Vol 1.djvu/520

 486

HLSTOICV OF J.NDIA.

[Book HI.

State of atl'aira iit Tridiiii opoly.

A D. no.i. and more entangled at Triehinopoly. As is almost invarialjly the ca.se, the honest course would have been the most {)olitic. By performing his promises to the King of Mysore, he might not only liave secured a powerful ally, but been able to make his whole force available for the reduction of the Camatic ; by attempting a course of fraud and trickery, he at once provoked and justified retaliation. He would not keep faith, and therefore only received his deserts when it was not kept with him. The effect of his double-dealing has already been seen in the attempt of Nunjeraj, the Mysore general, to take advantage of his depart m-e. The vigilance of Captain Dal ton frustrated several conspiracies formed for the purpose of seizing the city ; but at last all disguise was thrown aside, and both Nunjeraj and Morari Row entered into open alliance with Du- pleix, who had all along been active in fomenting their quarrel with the nabob. Open war being thus declared, a series of desultory affairs took place. In some of these Captain Dalton's troops suffered severely, but the means of resistance which he still possessed convinced the Mysorean that if Trichinopoly were to be taken, his surest means was famine. He accordingly endeavoured to cut oflf all the sources of supply. For a time little apprehension was felt by the garrison, more especially as Kheir-u-din, the nabob's brother-in-law, who had been left as his representative., assiu-ed Captain Dalton that the pro^dsions in the magazines were sufficient to last four months. At last, however, when the blockade began to be more effective, and provisions were sold in the city at an enormous price, Captain Dalton thought it necessary to ascertain the actual state of provisions by a personal inspection of the magazines. Then for the first time he learned that Kheir-u-din had been selling the provisions for his own profit, and that the quantity in store was equal to a consumption of only fifteen days.

Appalled at this discovery, he immediately communicated it to Major Law- rence, who was then encamped at Trivadi. So urgent did the case appear to him, that, withdrawing all the troops, except a garrison of 150 Europeans and 500 sepoys, he was on his way the very next morning with all the rest of the troops. After a short halt at Fort St. David, to procure the necessary stores, he proceeded, accompanied by the nabob, through the territories of the King of Tanjore, and reached Trichinopoly on the 6th of May, 1753. The very day after, a detachment of 200 Europeans and 500 sepoj^s, with four field-pieces, sent by Dupleix, arrived at Seringham, under M. Astruc, and joined the Myso- reans. The whole force which Major Lawrence could muster, inclusive of aU the troops that could be spared fi-om the gaiTison, amounted only to 500 Euro- peans, 2000 sepoys, and 3000 of the nabobs horse. With the infantry only, the horse refusing to move because their pay was in arrear, he passed over into the island on the 10th of May, and was immediately attacked by great numbers of the Mysoreans. Their infantry was easily repulsed ; then- cavalry, gallantly headed by that of the Mahrattas, gave more trouble, but were ultimately obliged to yield ; the brunt of the battle was then borne by the French, who

Major Law rence ad- vances to its relief.