Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/237

Book VIII. the war-office, most of the common men inlisted in the Company's troops; and there being no conveyance ready to carry away the rest, no alteration ensued in the strength of the army.

The French army at Vandiwash, as soon as the English cantoned themselves in Conjeveram, employ their Sepoys and horse to ravage the country. A detachment immediately took possession of Outramalore, and from thence plundered the districts of Salawauk: a much larger, with two field-pieces, marched into the districts of Chittapett, where they were surprized and beaten by 200 Sepoys and 500 horse from the fort. This routed body being reinforced, divided into two, one of which plundered as far as Timery within five miles of Arcot, and the other to Cavantandalum within ten of Conjeveram; but these incursions were so sudden and transitory, that no motions were made by the troops there to repel them. However, 100 Sepoys were sent from the fort of Arcot, to assist Chittapet, who were attacked and made their way through a stronger party of the enemy's. The month of August passed in these alarms, which were then succeeded by one of more consequence. Of the three feasts which are annually celebrated at Tripetti that which falls in the beginning of September is held in much higher devotion than, either of the other two, and more money is collected in proportion, since the number of pilgrims is much greater. In the beginning of June Nazeabulla, the rebel governor of Nelore, returned from Masulipatam, accompanied by eighty French soldiers. He, however, remained quiet until the Nabob's troops under the command of Abdulwahab, had marched away to Arcot, and those of the two Polygars, Damerla Venkytapah and Bangar Yatcham, had withdrawn to their homes. He then took the field, but confined his operations to incursions into the opener country of the Polygars, until the middle of August, when he marched suddenly with his whole force, and sat down before the fort of Cadawah, situated within twelve miles of Tripetti, and belonging to the Nabob. This moion left no doubt of his intention to collect the revenue of the approching feast, which had for some years been assigned to the company. On the first advices of the danger, the presidency