Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/520

496 the enemy's districts, nor of crossing the Coleroon near them. Mahomed Issoof, impatient to arrive at his destination, yielded to, if he did not suggest, their repugnance, and consented to go the way they chose. Accordingly, they all quitted the straight road to the south, and striking to the west, passed by Arnee, and entered the mountains about nine miles south of Velore: then continuing along the valley of Vaniambady, they came out at another pass near Tricalore, and burning seven or eight villages under the fort which were held by the French renters, they arrived at Thiagar on the 8th of May, where Kistnarow was returned from his excursion to Trivadi. The Tanjorines and Tondimans, thinking the rest of the country from Thiagar safe, proceeded home more like travellers than troops: but Mahomed Issoofs detachment marched on in regular order to Tritchinopoly, where they arrived on the 14th; and, on the 16th, having taken leave of the Nabob, he continued his march to Madura.

Nothing could testify more confidence than the dismission of such a number of troops in the face of the enemy. Their distresses for every kind of supply, and for want even of their pay, after they arrived at Covrepauk, deferred Mr. Lally from trusting their goodwill in action, until he could satisfy their complaints. For this purpose, he went to Arcob, and, having detected various frauds in the management of the Amuldar or renter, who farmed the districts, fined him 40,000 rupees; and he received 10,000 from Mortizally of Velore, with the promise of some provisions, to refrain from molesting his domain. But before he had procured these aids, he received news, that the English squadron, consisting of nine sail of the line, and three frigates, had arrived on the 28th of April at Negapatam, from Bombay. Their appearance, whilst the French army was at such a distance, alarmed the garrison at Karical, and even Pondicherry itself; but not Mr. Lally, who, on the contrary, thought it requisite to shew better countenance, and, having satisfied immediate wants with the money he had obtained, marched on the 6th of May with the whole army from Covrepauk, and encamped