Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/571

Book XI desist, and retire, on tho 9th, by the approach of Mr. Bussy returning from the northward with a much larger force than had accompanied him out of the province.

After fifteen days march, and three of halt, Mr. Bussy, with his detachment, arrived on the 10th of November at Bassaulut Jung's camp, which was lying on a plain, six miles from the city of Cudapah. The distance from Arcot in the direct line is 110 miles nearly north; but 300 by the road, which winds more than two thirds of the way along the valleys of rocky mountains. The French detachment with Bassaulut Jung, the Europeans as well as the Sepoys, were, for want of money, in want even of food; and to maintain them, their officers had sold every thing of their own, but their clothes; from similar distresses, although not so severe, the troops of Bassaulut Jung were ready to revolt. His proposals to Mr. Bussy were, "that the French should regard him as the absolute master of the province of Arcot, should surrender to his authority all the countries of which they were in possession, whether in this province or in the dependencies of Tritchinopoly, and he would account with them for one-third of the produce; but whatsoever might hereafter be conquered, should become entirely his own, free of this deduction. All affairs and troubles were to be regulated by the Duan he should appoint. The French were to swear they would assist him against Nizamally, if he should enter the Carnatic; with whom they should make no treaty without the participation of Bassaulut Jung; and, after they had conquered or made peace with the English, should furnish him with a body of troops, to make war on Nizamally. After the peace, he was to be put in full possession of the whole Carnatic, and its dependencies, according to the ancient usages, when the French were no longer to be entitled to any part of the revenues. He might return into the Decan whensoever he pleased; and, during his absence from his capital of Adoni, the French were to furnish a detachment of 300 Europeans, and 2000 Sepoys, with artillery, ammunition, and stores, to garrison this place; and the expence of this body of troops might be deducted out of his share of the revenues