Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/254

248 rock, a small chapel, which is held in extreme veneration, from a persuasion, that whosoever, except the appointed Bramins, should presume to enter it, would immediately be consumed by a subterraneous fire, rising for the occasion. On the eastern side is a large pettah, surrounded by a slight mud wall; it was this Berkatoolah defended; from which are the only paths leading to the chapels, and in the innermost part, immediately under the mountain, is a spacious and well-built pagoda, the residence of a multitude of Bramins and their families, as well as of the images to which the whole mountain and pagoda are consecrated. The mountain, pettah, and a space of arable land to the westward, is enclosed by a bound hedge, such, although not so thick set, as that of Pondicherry. The Nabob's governor and garrison abandoned the pettah on the appearance of the French army; which then separated into various detachments against various places. The neighbouring kellidar of Polore surrendered on the first summons, and the stronger fort of Arni, redeemed the attack, which was threatened, although not intended, for a sum of money. On the 4th of November the strongest of the detachments commanded by Saubinet appeared before the fort of Thiagar, otherwise called Tagadurgam. This stands 30 miles south of Trinomalee, in the high road to Volcondah and Tritchinopoly. It consists of two fortifications, on a high mountain, one above, but communicating with the other, and a pettah on the plain to the eastward, which has not only the common defence of a mud wall, but his likewise surrounded at a small distance by an impenetrable hedge; from which the cannon and musketry of the French detachment could not remove the matchlock men who defended it, concealed themselves, and hitting every thing that appeared in sight: after two days trial, Saubinet received orders to return to Pondicherry, and all the other detachments were recalled at the same time. They had reduced eight forts in the neighbourhood of Chittapet, Trinomallee, and Gingee, and established renters in the districts which depended on them.

As soon as the rains abated, the garrisons of Outramalore and Chittapet sent out parties to attack the districts and smaller forts dependant