Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/205

Book VIII having received every kind of hospitality in the countries of both Polygars. Excepting the feet of a few missionaries, this track had never before been trodden by any Europeans. At Mangalum, Calliaud met the brother of the Nellicotah; and at Paralachy, the principal man of the greater Moravar: and learnt from them that the two Polygars and Tondiman had entered into a league to attack the king of Tanjore with all their forces united, on the very next attempt he should make against the territories of either of the three. The troops having halted a day at Paralachy, continued their march to Tinivelly, through the open country, in districts belonging to this government. The Pulitaver, with the Polygars of his alliance, had taken the field in the middle of January, as soon as Maphuze Khan arrived at Nellitangaville; their force amounted to 10,000 men, and the cavalary of Madura under the command of Berkatoolah, to one thousand. This army moved by slow stages to the eastward, the Colleries plundering day and night on either hand, and at length encamped before Panialumcrutch, at this time the principal residence of Catabominaigue, the chief of the eastren Polygars, and demanded his assistance; who, dreading the destruction that would follow his refusal, complied, and joined them with 3 or 4000 men. But the Polygar of Etiaporum, the next in importance, made some pretence to withhold his troops, for which the Pulitaver was not sorry; and the army marched from Panialumcrutch directly to Tinivelly, Still plundering all the way; but were deterred from attacking the town itself, by the activity of the Company's Sepoys stationed there under the command of Bussiponaigue. Returning with their plunder to the northward, they ravaged all the accessible and cultivated districts bolonging to Etiaporum in revenge for his neutrality; and from hence sent off a detachment with their booty, amongst which were 5000 beeves, to Nellitangaville. In this while Mahomed Issoof the commandant, and Moodilee the renter of these countries, not being certified which way Calliaud would direct his march, expected that he would come in somewhere near Madura, and remained at Chevelpetore, under the hills to the west,