Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/18

12 these intentions, and were instructed to call in all their factors and concerns, that all the English subjects and property might be in readiness to repair on board the ships, as soon as they should arrive in the road of Ballasore, from whence it was intended that they should proceed and surprize the city of Chittigan, on the opposite shore, where they were immediately to fortify themselves. The conduct of this war was entrusted to Job Chanock, the company's principal agent at Hughley, a man of courage, without military experience, but impatient to take revenge of a government from which he had personally received the most ignominious treatment, having not long before been imprisoned and scourged by the Nabob. One vessel of the fleet was lost; the largest ship, with another, were not able to make their passage, and the rest did not 1686 arrive before the month of October, 1686; by which time, a body of the Nabob's troops, probably from some suspicions of the intended hostilities, had surrounded the factory at Hughley. Chanock, therefore, on the arrival of the ships, ordered the troops, about 460 men to come up the river to his assistance, gave battle, and drove the enemy out of the town. A truce ensued, during which all the company's effects were shipped; by which time, the governor of'Hughley having received considerable reinforcements, both sides were equally willing and ready to renew hostilities. The Moors were again discomfited: but, nevertheless, prepared to blockade the factory again; to avoid which, Chanock, on the 15th of December, took the field, and marching down the western bank of the river, burned and destroyed all the magazines of salt, and granaries of rice, which he found in his way between Hughley and the island of Ingelee, which lies at the mouth of the river, near the western shore. On this spot, perhaps the most unhealthy in the province, he pitched his camp, in the month of April, whilst the ships anchored in the main stream. The Moors suffered them to remain here without molestation for three months, during which sickness swept away 300 Europeans, which was two-thirds of the whole force.