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 +04 illSTOIlY OF INDIA. [booK III.

A. II. 1753. a murderous fire, which the assailants vainly endeavoured i/j an.swer. Those who had got into the passages between the two walls, clainV.»ered back int<.> the battery with the view of effecting tiieir escai>e, but the want of ladder-s made this impossible, except by leaping down a perpendicular height of eighteen feet into the water of the ditcii, or on the roc k on a level with it. About 1 00 ma^le this desperate plunge ; but the rest, deteired b}'- what these suffered, crept int<j the embrasures or any comer that gave some kind of shelter, and as soon an daylight appeared, asked and obtained quarter. The number who thus surren- dered was 3G0 ; the nvimber of those found killed within the works was sixty- seven; and of the 100 who took the frightful leap, few escaped without being killed or disabled. With the exception then of the 200 who had remained out- side the ditch, the whole French battalia n was in a manner annihilated by this fatal assault. The noise of the firing was heard at Coilady. On being in- formed of the cause Major Lawrence reinforced the garrison, and shortly after followed with his whole force.

Vacillation The Rajali of Tanjore, on the return of his troops, justified the fears which

of the Uajah.

of Tanjore, Major Lawrcuce had entertained, by not only refusing to send them back, but giving unequivocal manifestations of hostile designs. Dupleix and Nunjeraj, by working alternately upon his hopes and fears, had completely alienated him from his alliance with the nabob ; and he was on the point of declaring himself openly, when the serious reverse sustained by his new allies in their attempt on Trichinopoly made him pause. Irritated at his vacillation, Dupleix determined to try the effect of force, and engaged a body of 1200 Mahrattas to ravage his territories. The rajah, who had dismissed his old general Monacjee, becaiise he suspected him of being too friendly to the English, sent a new and incapable general of the name of Ganderow, who made his an'angements so unskilfully, that the Mahrattas easily eluded him, and continued their devastations with little interruption. In this way the whole of the eastern part of Tanjore was converted into a waste.

Defeat of the The rajah applied for assistance to Major Lavrrence, who, in promising it,

"l 1 ill"! tt 'IQ

byMouacjte. complaiued of Ganderow's inefficiency, and suggested the re-appointment of Monacjee. After considerable demur this suggestion was adopted, and Monacjee. shortly after resuming the command, obtained a signal success. Proceeding at the head of 3000 horse, he found that the Mahrattas, from ignorance of the country, had got entangled between two branches of the Cauvery, which a sudden flood had swelled so much as to leave no means of egress. Monacjee encamped at the point which he knew would fii'st become fordable on the falling of the waters, and before the Mahrattas deemed it possible, crossed over and met them face to face. With their usual gallantry, augmented by despair, they endeavoured to cut their way through the Tanjorines, but were repeatedly re- pulsed. Ultimately, 800 of them lay dead on the field. The sur'ivors were reserved for a worse fate. In the spiiit of a savage, Monacjee caused them to