Page:History of the French in India.djvu/269

 THE TANJURIAN OUTWITS CHANDA SAHIB. 247 Kavari, was defended by two forts, the greater and the chap. lesser. The former was surrounded by a high wall and. a ditch, but the fortifications were too inconsiderable to 1749. resist the attack of a vigorous enemy. The lesser fort, a mile in circumference, was far stronger, being sur- rounded by a lofty stone wall, a ditch excavated from the solid rock, and a glacis. Within this was a pagoda surpassing in magnificence all the buildings of Southern India, and believed to contain countless riches. The allied army arrived before this place on November 7, and at once summoned it to surrender. The Raja, Partab Singh, with a view to gain time, expressed at once his willingness to negotiate, whilst he sent pressing messages to the English and to Nasir Jang, demanding assistance. The English, who had already despatched 120 men to aid Muhammad Ali at Trichinapalli, ordered twenty of these to proceed to Tanjur. How Nasir Jang responded to the summons we shall see further on. On receiving the reply of the Tanjurian, Duquesne, the commandant of the French contingent, urged upon Chanda Sahib not to waste his time in vain negotiations, but to compel compliance with his requisitions by force. This was nndoubtedly the direct and proper course to pursue. But Chanda Sahib, who wanted only the money, and who believed the raja was in earnest about paying it, begged Duquesne to abstain from all appearance of hostilities so long as negotiations should be going on. In Partab Singh, however, he met a man more wily and cunning than himself. For six weeks he suffered himself to be duped by protestations and pro- mises, fruitless though they were of any result. In vain did Dupleix press upon him the superior advantage of Trichinapalli ; to no purpose did he point out to him that he was giving time to Muhammad Ali to strengthen his position, and to Nasir Jang to march upon his com- munications. Chanda Sahib was infatuated with his negotiation. To such an extent did he carry this