Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/112

106 civil and criminal: he obliged himself to maintain not less than 1000 of the company's Sepoys, under the command of such officers as the presidency should appoint; and engaged to produce, within three months from the contract, the security of substantial shroffs, or money-changers, for the regular payment of the stipulated sums. The agreement was concluded in the beginning of July; immediately on which Moodilee appointed agents, and sent orders to place flags with the company's colours, in the cultivated lands; and soon after proceeded himself to administer his office in person.

Mahomed Issoof, on his arrival at Tinivelly, found that the agents of Moodilee had, in the beginning of their occupations, been overruled and insulted by Meir Jaffier, who had hitherto managed the country for Maphuze Cawn. The dispute indeed had ceased, but the grudge still remained: and to prevent any farther effects, Mahomed Issoof ordered Meir Jaffier to depart immediately to Madura, but permitted him to take three field-pieces which belonged to him, and whatsoever retinue he chose: he at the same time detached five companies of Sepoys to reinforce the garrison of Madura, and ordered them to protect and watch Meir Jaffier and his people on the road. They had not proceeded two days, when unexpected intelligence stopped their march.

On the arrival of Maphuze Cawn from Chevelpetore, all the cavalry in his service were assembled in the city of Madura; their number was 2000, all of good quality, for he had disbanded the less effectual. The day after his arrival, the Jemautdars in a body surrounded his house, and declared that he should not move out of it, until their arrears were paid, which, by their own account, amounted to 700,000 rupees. They were headed by the governor Danishmend Cawn, who from this time was better known in the country by the name of Berkatoolah, although not the same officer who defended Trinomalee in 1753. The company's Sepoys in the garrison wondered at these proceedings, discoursed of them, and suspected that the tumult was concerted, as a pretence to keep possession of the city; for Maphuze Cawn might have been stopped any where else, as well as at Madura: their opinions being known, and their fidelity