Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/214

208 plundered the neighbourhood indiscriminately. The Nobob then pretended to suspect him of being in league with Maphuze Khan at Madura, and Nazeabulla at Nelore; but as soon as it was known, that the government of Pondicherry intended to attack Elavanasore, he requested the presidency of Madrass to protect him, rather than suffer such valuable districts to fall into the hands of the French. Mr. D'Auteuil advancing by forced marches appeared before Elavanasore on the 10th; and, Whilst they were encamping, Meer Saheb sallied with all his cavalry and most of his foot, and had well nigh routed the whole of the French force, when he was shot through the body: his troops immediately ceased the fight, but escorted him with much attention back to the fort. D'Autueil, on this trial, sent to Gingee for reinforcements and cannon; and, in the meantime, prepared to make a regular attack: on the 16th arrived 250 Europeans, with 1000 Sepoys, and the battering cannon; but on the same day Meer Saheb died of his wound; on which his brother, with the families of both, went away in the night, and the garrison after their example likewise abandoned the fort before the morning. Reports had prevailed in this part of the country, ever since the French troops had taken the field, that they intended to fall upon Tritchinopoly, which, by the absence of the troops with Captain Calliaud, was left with a garrison very inadequate to its extent; and even Capt. Jos. Smith, who now commanded in the city, apprehended and warned the presidency of this danger. But the force which had taken Elavanasore was unequal to the enterprize; and D'Auteuil moved back from Elavanasore to Chilambrum, where he arrived on the 1st of May. From hence he marched and encamped on the skirts of the woods of Warriorepollam, and summoned the polygar to pay his tributes on the same pretensions as Maissin had demanded them two years before. The polygar as usual endeavoured to gain time by discussions, on which the French attacked one of his barriers, but were repulsed with loss: however he was