Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/720

696 would be glad to obtain Gingee on the same terms; when the Morattoes would be precluded from the probability of gaining any advantage by their expedition to the Carnatic.

But as the negotiation might be protracted, and provisions, even for a few days, were become of great importance, Mr. Lally ordered the troops abroad to make what effort they could before the rains ceased; and as Gingee was so closely watched by Preston's command, he directed the main body to continue and act from Thiagar, from whence, by the distance, and the nature of the country between, their motions would be less liable to be ascertained and interrupted. In the mean time, as well to save the consumption in the town, as to convince the Morattoes that the troops in garrison were more than sufficient to defend it, he resolved to send out more to join those already in the field. Accordingly, on the night of the 1st of November, 100 Europeans crossed the river of Ariancopang in boats, and were proceeding along the sea-shore, from whence they intended to turn inland, and gain their way to the west between the two rivers, expecting no interruption, as the rains were almost continual, and had drenched the plain: but in the close of the evening, a guard of Sepoys had been advanced from the fort of Ariancopang, and took post on the strand of the sea; they fired on the first alarm upon the French party, who, imagining their force greater, and that it had been stationed on purpose to intercept them, hurried back to their boats, and regained the town: only one of the Sepoys was killed; the enemy's loss was not known, but was supposed to be more.

Excessive rain stopped any farther operations between the English camp and the French troops for several days, during which, both continued intent only on the sea. To oppose the armed boats of the town, some were equipped in the like manner at Cuttdalore, which on the 7th took a boat coming with paddy from Tranquebar, and another going thither with effects of value; and intelligence being received that the ship la Compagnie des Indes, with a schooner and several smaller vessels, were taking in provisions there, Commodore Haldan detached two of the men of war with orders