Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/119

Book VI. mained two days in Tinivelly, plundered much, but committed no cruelties; and during this delay, Moodilee regained the fort of Palamcolah, which stands on the other side of the river about three miles from the town. The fort is spacious, but the ramparts were in ruins, nevertheless capable of resisting an enemy, which had no battering cannon. Matchlocks and musketry were fired without any, mischief for two days, during which the cavalry ravaged the country round. Mahomed Issoof, who still continued at Secundermaly, before, Madura, received no certain intelligence of the enemy's design until four days after they were in motion; he immediately struck his camp and proceeded towards Tinivelly, and they hearing of his approach collected all their parties and advanced to give him battle. The two armies met on the 1st of December at Gangadoram, about twenty miles north of Tinivelly. The inferiority of numbers was much more than compensated by superior skill; the Company's Sepoys faced the enemy on every side with advantage of situation and discipline, and the field-pieces were fired with much execution against the cavalry, whose fortunes depending on the preservation of their horses, they quitted the contest and the field. The next day Mahomed Issoof proceeded to Tinivelly, and from thence marched into the desolated districts, in order to give heart to the inhabitants, and recall them to their occupations. The Polygars returned to their woods, and Berkatoolah with his cavalry to Madura; but Nabey Cawn Catteck went to Chevelpetore, and not having means to attack the fort, in which were some Sepoys, attempted to escalade the pagoda in the town; on which one of the Bramins went to the top of the high tower over the gateway, and after a short but loud prayer of execration, threw himself headlong to the pavement, which dashed out his brains; the enemy, although Mahomedans, were so much afraid of incurring the general detestation of the country, if their attempts against the pagoda should incite any more acts of such enthusiastic devotion, that they immediately retreated out of the town.

Whilst Captain Calliaud was in expectation of a conclusive answer from Maphuze Cawn's agent, he received intelligence of the new confederacy, and their operations, and of Berkatoolah's departure