Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/629

BOOK XII miles distant to the N. E. In the other direction of the country, it stands nearly midway between Gingee and Alamparvah on the sea-shore; and on its left, five miles towards Alamparvah, is a fortified rock, called Permacoil. The wars between the two nations having never before brought any decision before this place, it had hitherto remained neglected by both: But as soon as the French army fell back towards Pondicherry, Permacoil became of importance to the protection of the intermediate districts; and Mr. Lally, immediately after the defeat of Vandivash, had prevailed on the Kelladar to admit a party, with some cannon, into his fort; but the easy reduction of Chittapett and Arcot made the Kelladar repent of his hasty compliance; and, as soon as the English army were returning from Arcot to the southward, he wrote to Colonel Coote, pretending, that the French party had got into his fort by surprize, advised him to attack it, and promised all the assistance in his power; and Colonel Coote resolved to try the sincerity of his professions. In this intention, he set off before the army in the last march to Tondivanum, with most of the cavalry and two companies of Sepoys, and arriving there before day-break went on to reconnoitre Permacoil. Besides the fortified rock, lie others of less height before and behind it; the direction in length of the whole plot is 1200 yards, and extends from the N. E. to the s. w.: end of the rocks lay nearest to Tondivanum; but Colonel Coote, having no guide, followed the best ground, which brought him to the north-east end, opposite to the northern face of the pettah, which lies under the western side of the rock of Permacoil, and extends beyond it under part of the other rocks to the north. When near, the troops were fired upon by cannon from the nearest tower on the rock, and by field-pieces and musketry from the walls of the pettah below. Soon after came a man, commissioned by the Kellidar, who informed Colonel Coote, that the French in the fort were 50 Europeans, 30 Coffrees, and 50 Sepoys; that they had got some guns up the rock; but that four large pieces of cannon, which arrived the day before, were still remaining in the pettah below; and offered to conduct them to the gate; for, although the pettah was under the main rocks, the