Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/381

Book V. a peace was concluded in the month of April; and at the end of May Mr. Bussy came to Hyderabad, resolving to proceed into the newly acquired provinces, in which Mr. Moracin had, although not without difficulty and opposition, established the authority of his nation. Jaffer-ally, who had for some years governed Rajahmundrum, and Chicacole, when summoned, resolved not to resign them; and finding Vizeramrauze, the most powerful Rajah of these countries, with whom he was then at war, in the same disposition with himself, he not only made peace, but entered into a league with the Rajah; and both agreed to oppose the French with all their force: in consequence of which treaty they applied for support to the English factory at Vizagapatnam, as also to the presidency of Madrass; the English encouraged them in their resolution, but were too much occupied in the Carnatic to furnish the succours they demanded. The interests of the Indian princes and Moorish governors perpetually clashing with one another, and with the interest of the Mogul, will perhaps always prevent the empire of Indostan from coercing the ambitious attempts of any powerful European nation, when not opposed by another of equal force; much less will any particular principality in India be able to withstand such an invader. Mr. Moracin, not having troops enough at Masulipatnam, to reduce the united forces of the Rajah and Jaffer-ally, made overtures to Vizeramrauze, offering to farm out to him the countries of Rajahmundrum and Chicacole at a lower rate than they had ever been valued at Such a temptation was perhaps never resisted by any prince in Indostan, and Jaffer-ally finding himself abandoned by his ally, quitted his country full of indignation, and determined to take refuge with Ragogee, who was at that time fighting with Sallabad-jing and Mr. Bussy: travelling with this intention to the westward he fell in with a large body of Morattoes, commanded by the son of Ragogee, whom he easily prevailed upon to make an incursion into the Chicacole countries over the mountains, which till this time were deemed impassable by cavalry; but a Polygar, who had been driven out of his territory by the Rajah, and accompanied the Nabob in his flight, undertook to conduct them