Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/433

Book V. deemed too valuable, to compel him by the exercise of hostilities. From Etiaporum they crossed the country to Coilorepettah, a strong fort situated near the great road; it belonged to a, Polygar named Condam-naigue, who on the first summons promised without hesitation to pay the tribute demanded of him; but continued day after day to send pretences and excuses instead of the money: at length Mahomed Issoof finding himself trifled with, battered, and then stormed the fort. It was well defended. The serjeant of the Coffres, and 8 of that company were killed: of the Sepoys 8 with the commander of one of the companies were killed, and 65 were wounded: the Colleries suffered still more, and all who were not killed, were made prisoners, amongst whom, the Polygar himself. From Coilorepettah, the whole army proceeded to Chevelpetore, and encamped under this fort on the 10th of June, where most of the neighbouring Polygars, terrified by the example of Coilorepettah, made their submissions either in person or by their agents. Even the Politaver with his usual duplicity sent one with proposals of reconciliation, and the Polygar of Elerampenah, whose place lies between Coilorepettah and Chevelpetore, redeemed his hostages. But the Polygar of Calancandan, which lies 13 miles north-east of Chevelpetore, paying no regard to the usual summons, Mahomed Issoof marched and attacked his fort, which was abandoned after a slight resistance. The presidency of Madrass, after the retreat of their army from Velore, had had no provocations worthy the contest, to induce them to engage in any military operations in the Carnatic, at the risque of drawing the French again into the field; and the government of Pondicherry, conducting themselves by intelligence, of winch the English were ignorant, were equally averse to venture any hostilities that might diminish their means of maintaining the advantages they had acquired in the Decan, which from their former security were at this time approaching to the utmost risque and uncertainty. In the month of February of this year, Salabad-jing took the field again, and marched against the city of Savanore, the capital of one of the three Pitan Nabobs, by whose treachery both Nazir-jing and Murzafa-jing had lost their lives. The successor of this Nabob had hitherto refused