Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/368

360 The major pursuing his march through the woods, was met the day after his departure from Tritchinopoly by the Polygar Tondiman, whom he received with the respect due to his fidelity and attachment to the English cause. The same day likewise came an express from the king of Tanjore, fraught with compliments for the resolution which the major had taken to come to his assistance, and pressing him to hasten his march. Indeed what had just happened in his country rendered the major's approach every day more and more welcome. From Kelli Cotah the enemy went to Coiladdy, which having taken on the 24th, they immediately cut through the great bank, which preventing the waters of the Caveri from running into the channel of the Coleroon, may be called the bulwark of the fertility of the Tanjore country. This, therefore, was the greatest mischief they could do to that nation, and struck them with so much consternation, that the king thinking it necessary to shew some appearance of vigour, ordered his uncle Gauderow to march with 1500 horse to Tricatopoly, and punish the enemy; but this unwary general was surprized the next day by an enemy he did not expect. The Nabob, during the course of the war, had made several proposals to induce Morari-row to return to his own country, but the exorbitance of the demands on one side, and the distress for money on the other, had hitherto been insurmountable obstacles to the conclusion of the treaty. The same causes having now separated the Morattoes from the Mysoreans, the Nabob entertained hopes that he should get rid of this dangerous enemy without expence. But Morari-row lay at Pitchandah, brooding schemes, and determined not to depart before he had got a certain sum of money from one or other of the contending parties, and perhaps from both. The march of Gauderow to Tricatopoly, instantly suggested to him that a severe blow struck upon these troops by the Morattoes would infallibly induce the king of Tanjore, already terrified by the incursions of the French and Mysoreans, to furnish the money necessary to purchase his retreat; if disappointed in this expectation, he at least would have the satisfaction of taking vengeance for the severe blow which the Morattoes had sustained from