Page:A Comprehensive History of India Vol 1.djvu/574

 lO

IllS'IOKY or INDIA.

[Book 111

The enemy's progress.

AD, irso. to dispute every inch of ground an they were oljliged to recede. They accord- ingly erected three batteries, each mounting two eighteen-poiinders and two field-pieces, one at the di.stance of 300 yards from the east gate, so as Uj c<5ni- mand the i)rincipal avenue leading due east from it to the Mahratta Ditch; the second in a street commencing about 200 yards north of the fort, and continuing in that direction with one of its sides bordering on the river; and the third 300 yards to the south of the fort, at a point where a road leading north and south was bridged over to give passage to a rivulet. The principal approaches being thus secured, breast-works with palisades were erected in the smaller inlets, and trenches were dug in the more open gi'ounds.

It soon appeared that the defence of these outworks required a far greater force than the garrison could afford. Even had they been sufficiently defended, many points remained by which the enemy could penetrate ; and, availing them- selves of the houses and inclosures, advance, without once lo.sing shelter, near to the walls. The contest thus became too unequal to be long succe.ssfully main- tained. Post after post was necessarily abandoned, and the whole tlu-ee batteries were taken the very first day they were attacked. This result spread general consternation, and, with the exception of the comparatively few Europeans, all were stupified with fear. The enemy were of com'se proportionably embold- ened, and not only kept up an incessant firing, but made attempts to escalade. On one of these attempts, made at midnight, the governor ordered the drums to beat the general alarm, but the summons, though thrice repeated, did not bring forward a single man except those on 'duty. In such a state of matters it was impossible for the bravest and most sanguine not to feel that a fatal Lssue could not be long delayed. It was some consolation, however, to know that, if the worst should happen, the means of escape had been provided A ship, and seven smaller vessels, and numerous boats, with the natives who plied them, were lying before the fort. As night approached all the European women were embarked ; and at two in the morning a council of war, to which all the British, except the common soldiers, were admitted, met, to deliberate whether escape to the ships should take place immediately or be deferred to the following night. The council broke up without any formal resolution; but, as the immediate abandonment was not carried, the natural conclusion was that the other alter- native had been adopted.

In the morning, when it was intended to embark the Portuguese women and children, a scene of inextricable confusion arose. Many of the boats had deserted in the night, and not a few of those which remained were upset by overcrowding. The enemy in the meantime were not idle. Having gained possession of all the hoiises and inclosures on the banks of the river, they shot down the helpless fugitives and endeavoured to bm'n the ship and other vessels by means of fire- arrows. In the panic which now began to prevail many became more intent on their own personal safety than on any united effort for the general benefit. Two

General con stemation.