Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/281

Book IV. Whatever might be their loss, the surprize struck such a terror, that no more small detachments could be prevailed on to remain within reach of the garrison during the dark nights; and their refusal suggested to the regent the resolution of dividing his force, and of forming a considerable camp between the city and Tondiman's country, whilst he remained with the rest at Seringham. A multitude of people set to the work finished in a few days an entrenchment, with a stout mud wall, at a place called Facquire's Tope, or the grove of the Facquire, situated four miles to the south, and one to the west of the city; after which 5000 horse and 3000 foot, being nearly one half of the army, and the best troops in it, moved from the island with their baggage, and pitched their tents within this fortification. The effect of this disposition was soon severely felt; no more grain was brought to the market, the shops were shut, and the inhabitants began to cry famine, whilst the garrison had the mortification to perceive themselves incapable of removing the distress, being, since the loss at the choultry, too weak to cope with the enemy, in either of their camps. Such was the situation of affairs at Tritchinopoly at the end of March 1753. In the mean time the junction of the Morattoes enabled Mr. Dupleix to make head against the Nabob in the Carnatic, and he had likewise received the satisfaction of hearing that his ally Salabad-jing had removed a most dangerous competitor for the Soubahship, by the murder of his brother Gazi-o-din Khan. This prince having long sent before him many threats and rumours of his approach to the Decan, at length marched from Delhi; and in the beginning of October 1752, appeared before Aurengabad at the head of 150,000 men: at the same time, and by his instigation, Balagerow and Ragogi Bonsola entered the province of Gol-condah, with 100,000 Morattoes. Balagerow is known; and Ragogi Bonsola we have seen invading the Carnatic in 1740, ten years before which he had made conquests and established the Morattoe dominion in some parts of the province of Berar, from whence, in conjunction with Balagerow, he invaded Bengal in 1744. Salabad-jing and Mr. Bussy were at Gol-condah when they received intelligence of the approach of these armies, and immediately took the field with their utmost