Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/149

Book II. For some days before the cannonade, messengers had passed between the two camps, with overtures of accommodation; and several officers in Nazir-jing's army had assured Murzafa-jing, that if he submitted, they would protect his person, and guarantee the execution of any treaty which he might make with his uncle; but his reliance on the French troops and Mr. Dupleix. had hitherto prevented him from laying down his arms. There was now no time to be lost in deliberation, for every one was convinced that in consequence of the retreat of the French battalion, the whole army, before another sun was set, would provide for its safety, either by taking flight, or by going over to Nazir-jing. Chunda-saheb who had every thing, to fear from the resentment of Nazir-jing, took his resolution in the instant, to accompany the French troops to Pondicheny. Murzafa-jing still hesitated. His principal officers determined him, by representing the irreparable disgrace of exposing the standard of the empire, which he displayed, to retreat: for it is supposed that this ensign never retreats. He therefore refused to accompany Chunda-saheb; and relying on the assurances which had been made to him from Nazir-jing's camp, resolved to send deputies thither, with offers to surrender. After this gloomy conference, the two friends oppressed, but not so much overpowered by their misfortunes as to despair of meeting again in a better hour, embraced and separated with professions of inviolable attachment, which although made by princes in Indostan, were sincere. The French battalion, with some squadrons of horse led by Chunda-saheb, decamped at midnight in silence, but in such confusion, that they left behind forty gunners, with eleven pieces of cannon. At the same time the deputies of Murzafa-jing repaired to the tent of Shanavaze Khan, who with the principal officers of the durbar, or court, introduced them to Nazir-jing. This prince was so overjoyed at the prospect of having his nephew in his power, that it is said he did not hesitate to swear on the koran, that he would neither make him a prisoner, nor deprive him of the governments which he enjoyed during his grandfather's life.

On these assurances, Murzafa-jing left his camp, and proceeded to pay his respects to his uncle; but on approaching the head-quarters, was arrested, and carried under a strict guard into a tent near that of