Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/330

324 was therefore sent to bring up three twenty-four-pounders from Karical, which were all that this place could spare, and the two vessels laden with the cannon and mortars from Pondicherry were still far to leeward: several other detachments, which all together employed half the infantry and all the cavalry of the army, were at the same time sent abroad to bring in the cattle of the adjacent country; and a body of Colleries, who had probably deserted from the Tanjorines, were likewise hired for the same employment. The abundance was much greater than the consumption; and the surplus were driven away as before to be sold on the sea-coast. The vast detriment which the country was likely to suffer by the continuance of these desolations induced the king to renew the negociation on the 22d, and the next day he paid 50,000 rupees; and the Jesuit St. Estevan, with Kenedy a lieutenant-colonel, were sent to remain as hostages for the re-payment of the money, in case a treaty should not be concluded, and hostilities be renewed. But the Colleries in the French army could not be restrained from continuing their depredations, which the Tanjorine horse revenged, by giving no quarter to any they fell in with: quarrels likewise ensued with the market people and dealers, who, with the king's permission, came from the city to sell provisions and other necessaries in the camp; and the discussion of these broils and violences interrupted the more important negotiation until the arrival of the three pieces of cannon from Karical, which came up on the 29th; and Mr. Lally, having at this time received intelligence, that the king was pressing the English at Tritchinopoly to send another and stronger reinforcement, resolved to renew hostilities, although his hostages still remained in the power of the king, who, frightened by the arrival of the cannon, conferred in earnest, and concluded the treaty, of which the terms were founded on Mr. Lally's declarations, that he intended to march immediately from Tanjore against Tritchinopoly, for which service the king agreed to lend 300 of his best horse, to furnish 1000 coolies and mattock-men, and to supply the army with provisions during the siege; to deliver two respectable hostages, and to give in money 500,000 rupees, of which 200,000