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After a considerable delay, caused by the rainy season, he commenced his march. Seid Laskar Khan and his adherents were in consternation, but many reasons inclined Bussy to act with moderation. Instead of advancing directly to Aurungabad, he halted at some distance, to give an opportunity for the

adoption of conciliatory measures. Salabut Jung, who still retained his French partialities, was ready at once to concede whatever might be asked of him; and the dewan, who had at one time bethought himself of taking refuge in the strong fortress of Dow- letabad, was delighted to discover that his peace could be made on terms which personally cost him nothing. Bussy had still more reason to be satisfied, for the object of his journey had been fully accomplished. The payment of his troops had formerly depended on sources which might easily be cut off by acci- dent or design; it was

now secured by the allotment of a permanent revenue, not liable to be inter- fered with by native officials, but placed under the absolute control of the French East India Company. This revenue was derived from a tract of country called the Northern Circars, which, along with Masulipatam and the adjoining district previously ceded, made the French absolute masters of a line of coast extending about 600 miles along the Bay of Bengal, from the mouths of the Kistna to the Temple of Juggernaut, near lat. 20°. At a mode- rate estimate the revenue of the whole could not be less than £500,000 sterling. This immense grant having been made with a special view to the maintenance of the French troops, was strictly speaking revocable the moment these troops should be withdrawn from Salabut Jung's service; but no such con- tingency was then contemplated, and it appears to have been perfectly under- stood that, when the French were established in possession, nothing but force would suffice to deprive them of it. But how could such force be successfully employed? The chain of mountains bounding the Circars on the west formed an almost impassable barrier to any invasion from the Deccan, while their long line of coast made it easy, if attacked, to employ all the resources of the other French settlements in their defence. This consideration had not escaped the notice of the dewan, who endeavoured without success to tempt Bussy to exchange the Circars for an inland territory of much greater extent and value.