Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/661

Book XII The Dalaway had agreed to retire to the fort of Mysore with a jaghire allowed for his maintenance and security, and Hyder Ally was left without controul; for the King was young, weak, and timid. Not unmindful, however, of a reverse of fortune, Hyder Ally cast about to get some place of refuge immediately for his treasures, and contingently for his own person; and judiciously preferred Thiagar in the Carnatic, as well for the difficulty of access to it from Mysore, as the inexpugnable nature of its fortifications. A Portuguese monk, named Norognha, who assumed, and perhaps had obtained, the title of Bishop of Halicarnassus, had, by residence under the pretext of religious mission, acquired much knowledge of the adjacent countries, as well as of the Carnatic itself, and Mr. Lally, immediately on his arrival at Pondicherry, gave him his confidence, and employed him in all his transactions with the chiefs of the country. The bishop performed his commissions with zeal; for he was greedy of money, and it is a common custom in India to give some to the negotiator of a treaty. It was he who bargained for the Morattoes who joined the French army at Arcot; after which he continued in Velore, watching over opportunities, and either suggested to Hyder Ally, or discovered his inclinations, to obtain Thiagar. Mr. Lally seeing no other means of procuring relief to the necessities which began to threaten Pondicherry, repressed the contempt with which he had hitherto regarded the military faculties of the princes in India, and sent two of his officers to conclude the treaty with Hyder Ally. It was agreed, that Hyder should immediately send a body of 2000 horse, and 3000 Sepoys, with artillery, who, on their arrival at Thiagar, were to be put in possession of that fort, and of Elvanasore, with the dependencies of both, which were to remain the property of the Mysoreans in perpetuity as long as the flag of France existed in India. This army was to be paid at the rate of 100,000 rupees a month, from the day of their arrival at Thiagar. Ten eighteen-pounders were to be given as a present to Hyder, exclusive of the artillery in the two forts, which, as well as all the military stores, was to be delivered with them. His troops were to be furnished