Page:History of the French in India.djvu/214

 192 THE FIRST STRUGGLE IN THE KARNATIK. chap, which now, for the first time, seemed to threaten the _ French colony. As to his promise, he considered him- 1746. self absolved from its performance by the fact, that the Nawwab was now endeavouring to obtain by force of arms that which Dupleix, if left to himself, would have been willing, on the earliest possible occasion com- patible with his own security, to concede. Having resolved on this course, Dupleix sent instruc- tions to Despremesnil to keep Madras at all hazards, but to refrain from any act of hostility towards the troops of Mafauz Khan, beyond those which would necessarily result from the defence of the place. The French troops who garrisoned Madras amounted to be- tween five and six hundred Europeans, and about the same number of natives, disciplined in the European fashion. In obedience to the orders received from Dupleix, the Governor, Despremesnil, withdrew the whole of these troops within the walls on the approach of the enemy, with the intention of confining himself strictly to the defence of the town. But as Mafauz Khan showed himself very earnest in his attack, and in the course of a few days reduced the garrison to some difficulties, by cutting off from them the only spring which supplied them with good water, Despremesnil found it necessary to abandon this cautious policy, and to try the effect of a sortie. On the 2nd November, therefore, early in the morning, he detached a body of 400 men, accompanied by two field-pieces, to attack that portion of the enemy's army which had gained possession of the spring. As this handful of men advanced, the guns following close in the rear, to encounter, as it seemed, certain destruction from the overwhelming force of the Mughal, the enemy's cavalry hastily col- lected and galloped towards them with the intention of riding them down. Still steadily, undaunted by the imposing array of the squadrons charging towards them, the French advanced. When, however, they judged