Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/315

Book IV. escort of 100 Europeans with great vigour; but the men, accustomed to such encounters, preserved themselves and the convoy by not parting with their fire, although the enemy rode several times to the very Bayonets.

The presidency of Madrass hearing of the reinforcement which Mr. Dupleix had sent to Seringham, determined to strengthen their own army with all the men that could be spared for the field, and sent them in one of the company's ships to Devi Cotah; and the major, in order to facilitate the junction of these troops, as well as to protect his convoys, determined to encamp farther to the eastward; and sending off his baggage in the night, marched at day break the first of September over the plain in full view of the enemy, and pitched his camp at a little distance to the south-east of the French rock. This ground was well chosen, for the right flank was protected by some pieces of artillery mounted on the rock, which were flanked by the cannon of the city. The front of the camp was for the most part secured by a morass, and the rear by swamps and rice fields. The Tanjorines were exceedingly delighted with the security in which they here found themselves, for they had before began to droop with apprehensions of having their quarters beat up by the Morattoes; and Monac-gee exerting all his influence amongst his countrymen, prevailed on the merchants who dealt in rice, to bring frequent supplies of grain, although in small quantities, The enemy's scouts gave them such good intelligence of the approach of the convoys that few escaped unattacked, but being constantly supported by detachments of Europeans, they made their way good to the camp; not indeed without some loss, since it was impossible in the tumult to prevent the bullocks and cooleys from flinging down their loads and taking flight. However, what arrived was sufficient for the daily wants, but so little more, that if two or three convoys had been cut off, the army would have been obliged to have had recourse to the small stock which was laid up in the city. The enemy, as if determined to reduce them to this distress, moved from the five rocks, and encamped at the sugar loaf, extending from hence to the golden rock. Here the regent and Morari-row having intelligence of the reinforcement of which the English were in expectation, pressingly intreated the French to attack their camp before those troops arrived; but Mr.