Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/118

112 of pay of the Sepoys employed by himself; but Mahomed Issoof, by a wrong interpretation, imagined that Moodilee was obliged to maintain the whole number wheresoever employed; and moreover to discharge the arrears of their pay, of which two months were due on his arrival in the country. In consequence of this mistake, JemaulsahabJemaulsaheb [sic], who commanded the Sepoys in Tinivelly, demanded the amount, and on Moodilee's refusing to pay it, confined him under a guard for several days; during which he ordered the Pulitaver and the other Polygars to quit the town, with threats of severe punishment if they remained any longer. They departed immediately; but instead of returning to their homes, the Pulitaver went to Nabey Cawn Catteck and offered him his assistance, both in men and money; and by their united representations, Catabominaigue was induced to join their league. At the same time the troops of Travancore kept their ground, and continued their depredations in the districts dependant on Calacad. The hopes of the advantages which might be derived from these confusions, were much more agreeable to the disposition of Berkatoolah, than the success of his negotiation with the English, by which he was to obtain nothing more than the pardon of his offences; and in the middle of November, as soon as the ground was sufficiently dry, to march, he went from the city, and put himself at the head of the 500 horse, which had gone out before, and were now joined to those of Nabey Cawn Catteck, and the troops of the Polygars. The whole force amounted to 10000 men, of which 1000 were horse. They were assembled about 40 miles to the south of Madura, and instead of proceeding directly to the south, in the open country, struck to the east into the districts of Catabominaigue, a part of whose woods extend within a few miles of the town of Tinivelly. Issuing from thence at night before their approach was known, they entered the town at day-break by several avenues, which were weakly guarded: for Moodilee a few days before had marched with the greatest part of the Sepoys and his other force, about twenty miles to the south-east, in order to protect the districts of Alwar Tinivelly, against which he had been led to believe the enemy designed to bend their attack. The enemy re-