Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/428

420 camp; imagining however, that the Phousdar would soon recollect the impolicy of his conduct, in refusing to comply with his agreement. But by this time the French troops were advanced as far as Arni, and the English not venturing to commence hostilities, not farther proposals were received from him; major Kilpatrick returned soon after with the army to Arcot, and the French troops retired to Pondicherry, The presidency of Madrass were not sorry that the negociation as well as the intended hostilities broke up in this manner; for they had marched against Velore only to indulge the Nabob, being convinced themselves that their force, even without any interruption from the French, was insufficient to reduce the place; which opinion was confirmed to them by the opinion of several of their officers, as well as the deputy, who described it as one of the strongest holds in Indostan; at the same time that its situation and domain rendered it of such importance, that all the supposed treasures of the Phousdar would not have been a compensation for exempting it from the authority of Arcot. The conclusion of this fruitless attempt enabled the presidency to prosecute the reduction of the countries of Madura and Tinivelly. Maphuze-Khan, after loitering before the Pulitaver's place until the middle of November, returned to Tinivelly, in order to borrow money for the payment of his troops, which could only be obtained by giving assignments of the land to the lenders. Meanwhile the Pulitaver with Moodemiah and Nabi Cawn Catteck, encouraged by their late successes extended their views. The Pulitaver, more from the subtilty and activity of his character, than the extent of his territory and force, had acquired the ascendance in the councils of all the western Polygars of Tinivelly: of these, the most powerful was the Polygar of Vadagherri, whose districts adjoin on the west to the Pulitaver's, and exceeded them in extent and inhabitants: he nevertheless conformed to whatsoever the Pulitaver suggested, and sent his men on every call. The Polygars to the eastward of Tinivelly were under the direction of Catabominaig. The Pulitaver proposed an union between the two divisions; but Catabominaig, as well as his dependant of Etiaporum, having given hostages to colonel Heron, who were in prison at Tritchinopoly, feared for their safety, and refused. The Polygars of Madura, whose districts lie along the foot of the