Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/236

230 evasion, demanded a positive answer. The next day arrived a vessel from Bombay, dispatched with letters from England, which had been sent over the desert of Arabia, and were date he 5th of January; they gave intelligence, that four ships of the line, with a frigate, under the command of Admiral Stevens, were sailed for India. This news produced no change in the temper of Armetrow, whom the utmost entreaties of the Nabob could hardly prevail on not to depart that evening. A consultation was held in the morning, when it was finally deemed expedient to pay the money; but on condition that 3000 horse should immediately join the English troops at Conjeveram, and proceed with them to attack the French army, which still remained at Vandiwash. A second conference passed, in which Armetrow was as before inflexible, asserted the chout as a right, would receive nothing with any condition; when the money was paid, he was ready to treat for the loan of a body of horse. Various messages and explanations, however, detained him until the 14th, when in the middle of the night he ordered his retinue, 300 Morratoes, to be in readiness to march in the morning: on which the presidency resolved to pay the money without reserve; and he staid two days more to receive it, part in coin, and part in bills on the shroffs. During the embassy, Balaventrow went with 3000 horse from his camp at Cudapanatam to the pagoda of Tripetti, which stands 120 miles N. E. of that place; they passed through the straits of Damalcherry, and when arrived within ten miles, he, at the request of the renter who farmed the offerings, halted his troops; and, proceeding himself with a few attendants, paid his devotions with much reverence one day on the top of the mountain, and the next, in the temples below. During the march and return of this pilgrimage, he restrained all the troops which accompanied him from committing any violences in the country through which they passed: but several parties from the camp were at this time ravaging the skirts of the province of Cudaph.

With the other advices from England came orders for recalling Col. Adlercron and his regiment; but according to permission from