Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/391

Book V. The army began early in the morning to attack a part of this barrier: the field pieces were placed upon an eminence from whence they commanded the towers that defended the face of attack; the Colleries appointed to guard the towers not being accustomed to the annoyance of cannon shot, soon abandoned them; but numbers, nevertheless, armed with matchlocks, and bows and arrows, persisted in defending the hedge, hiding themselves within it, and firing with excellent aim through the smallest intervals; whilst others appeared on the hills on each hand, leaping and bounding, by the help of their long spears, from stone to stone, with the agility of monkeys, and howling and screaming in hopes to terrify the assailants; but as soon as they found themselves within reach of their fire, they gained the summits again as nimbly as they had descended: returning, however, in the same manner as soon as the firing ceased. At length, about ten o'clock in the forenoon, the army, after having lost several men, forced their way through the barrier, when Mahomed Issoof was detached with 500 Sepoys, some Europeans and a field piece, to attack the principal town, distant about four miles from that part of the barrier through which they had forced their way; but before the detachment came within sight of the town, they were unexpectedly stopped by another circumvallation of the same kind, but stronger than the first: here the enemy had assembled their whole force, and defended themselves with much more obstinacy than before; insomuch that Mahomed Issoof, after losing 100 Sepoys and 12 Europeans, was obliged to send for succours from the main body; from whence a party of 100 Europeans was immediately detached to his assistance; but before they arrived, the enemy having expended all their ammunition, abandoned their defences and disappeared. The army then proceeded without any interruption to their principal town, which they found likewise deserted, the enemy having retired with their cattle to the hills out of the reach of farther pursuit: however, Lachenaig finding that they shewed no inclination to quit his country, renewed his negociation, and in a few days paid the remaining part of his tribute. The Nabob now returned to Tritchinopoly, and the army, together with Maphuze Khan, proceeded to Madura, where they arrived in ten days. This city, since the death of Allum Khan, which happened