Page:Dupleix and the Struggle for India by the European Nations.djvu/72

Rh had pledged herself to supply 120 men from the garrison of the Dutch settlement of Nágápatnam. The same power had supplied likewise six ships belonging to her East India Company, conveying 500 tried soldiers. Added to these a large proportion of the sailors of both fleets were available for land service. It was certain that the Admiral would be able to put in action against the town not less than 3720 Europeans, aided by more than 2000 natives, armed and drilled in the European fashion.

Against this overwhelming force, as it seemed to the defenders, Dupleix had in Pondichery and Ariákupum 1800 Europeans and 3000 sipáhis.

The combined fleets appeared off the coast on the 11th of August, and the land operations began on the 19th. They continued till the 17th of October.

The attack was conducted with great vigour, for the Admiral knew that it would be dangerous to stay off the coast after the second week in October. The operations against Ariákupum, which it was necessary to gain before Pondichery could be attacked, were conducted with the greatest energy. But the defence was in all respects equal to the attack. I have before me a journal of the daily operations of the defence, written by the Diwán of M. Dupleix, a native named Rangápoulé, full of interesting details. It would seem from this that to Paradis was intrusted the defence of Ariákupum; that he repulsed all the assaults made upon it by the besiegers up to the 30th of August; that on that date the English succeeded