Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/756

732 Tritchinopoly; but the Sepoys and Coffrees being excellent were taken into the Company's service. In the mean time, the detachment from Tellicherry was prosecuting the reduction of the dependencies of Mahé. The first is called Fort Delhi, situated on the strand of a promontory called Mount Delhi, which is a remarkable head-land ten miles to the north of Tellicherry; four miles further on is the mouth of the river of Neliserum, which, descending from the mountains to the east, turns short many miles above, and continues parallel to the beach of the sea, from which it is no where a mile asunder; a mile and a half up this river on the left hand, and on the mouth of another, stands Ramatilly, which is a small fort; on the same side, five miles beyond, is the fort of Mattalavy, which stands strong on a rocky eminence; seven miles farther, on the N. side of the mouth of another river, is the fort of Neliserum, which is much larger; and six miles up this river, to the east, and on its left shore, stands the fifth fort, which is small, and called Veramaly. Fort Delhi, Neliserum and Ramatilly were garrisoned by French troops, but the government of Mahé had delivered up the other two in pledge for debt to two chiefs of the country, who were determined not to part with them until compensated; and as they equally commanded the rivers, which were the channels of traffick, the other three would be of no service, if the two continued in hostility. Delhi and Ramatilly surrendered on the first summons, but at Mattalavy were assembled a large body of Naires, whose bravery is always desperate. The two ships from Pondicherry, which were carrying back the Bombay troops, were at this time working up the coast of Malabar, and had passed beyond the river of Neliserum; and Major Monro, finding more resistance than he expected in his expedition, sent after them for artillery-men and cannon, which came, and two batteries were erected against Mattalavy: but the settlement of Tellicherry had in the mean time been negotiating with the two chiefs who were in possession of Matalavy and Veramally, who consented to surrender them on codition of receiving an annual fine, which for both amounted to 3000 rupees. As soon as these