Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/370

362 repair the loss which the Tanjorine army had lately sustained; but as it required some time to collect the recruits, major Lawrence request ed the presidency to hasten the junction of Maphuze Khan, and the reinforcements which were arrived at Madrass from Bombay and Europe; so that the whole might march from Tanjore to Tritchinopoly in one body.

Accordingly a detachment of 400 men in battalion, half Europeans and half Topasses, together with 500 Sepoys, marched to join Maphuze Khan at Conjeveram, and from thence to proceed with him to Tanjore. This man, as fond of being at the head of a body troops as he was incapable of employing them to any good purpose shewed no inclination to quit the country about Arcot, giving for reason that Abdulwahab Khan had failed to advance the money necessary to satisfy his troops. Under this pretext he moved up and down the country, levying contributions from such forts and polygar as were not strong enough to resist him. At length receiving assurances from the presidency that they would furnish him with money, provided he would march immediately to the southward, he set up his standard at Conjeveram in the month of May; and assure them that he would proceed without delay; but Mr. Dupleix were acquainted with his character, confounded this resolution, by ordering the garrison of Gingee, with some other troops, to take the field This body, although much inferior to Maphuze Khan's force, fright ened him so much that he declared he could not proceed unless he was joined by a detachment of Europeans: in the mean time the enemy, encouraged by his imbecility, advanced from Gingee, and took the fort of Outramaloor, which lays about 20 miles nearly west from Sadrass, and flushed by this success they proceeded to another fort still nearer to Conjeveram; but ensign Pichard, who had now joined Maphuze Khan with a platoon of Europeans, prevailed upon him march against the enemy, who on their approach retreated to Outre maloor; ensign Pichard finding Maphuze Khan not a little elated with this acknowledgment of his superiority, persuaded him to follow them, and attack the fort, which being in a ruinous condition, a general assault was given, which succeeded, and the enemy ran away in