Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/240

232 took shelter in the pagoda of Seringham: amongst the foot were 1000 Rajpoots who, from a motive of religion, undertook to defend the inward temples against all intruders. The French battalion, with 2000 Sepoys, shut themselves up in Jumbakistna, giving out, as is the custom of that nation, that they intended to defend themselves to the last extremity. They preferred this to the other pagoda, because its outward wall was in a better condition, and its smaller extent better proportioned to the number of their troops.

The artillery of Tritchinopoly and the allied army furnishing no more than three pieces of battering cannon, a train was ordered from Devi Cotah; and to lose no opportunity of increasing the enemy's distresses before it arrived, major Lawrence on the 18th of May, the same day that the French withdrew into the pagoda, quitted his post at Chuckly-pollam, and encamping opposite to it on the island, immediately threw up an entrenchment from one river to the other: at the same time Monack-jee with the Tanjorines moving from the eastward, took possession of Chuckly-pollam; and the army at Samiavaram quitting that post, encamped along the northern bank of the Coleroon. The Mysoreans remained, as before, to the west of the city.

But although the obstacles which now surrounded the enemy were difficult to be overcome, they were not absolutely insurmountable. The troops in Jumbakistna outnumbered those in the major's camp two to one, and both the rivers swelling often at this season of the year, Mr. Law might force his way through it before any succours could come from the main land: if successful in this attempt, he might, as soon as the rivers began to fall, cross the Caveri at some pass farther to the eastward, before captain Clive's division would be able to pass the Coleroon, as this being the deeper channel, does not become fordable again so soon as the other: he might then by hasty marches make his way good to Karical, harassed indeed in his rout by Mysoreans and Morattoes, who, unsupported by the English troops, would probably make few vigorous efforts against a compact body of European infantry provided with a well-appointed train of artillery: but such a plan implied an option of difficulties not to be expected from troops dispirited