Page:History of the French in India.djvu/280

 258 FRENCH INDIA AT ITS ZENITH. chap, give him command of the neighbouring country and , its revenues. The expedition completely succeeded. 1750. D'Auteuil captured the place without resistance, and having garrisoned it with 20 Europeans, 20 Eurasians, and 50 sipahis, began to make arrangements for push- ing his conquests further. But Nasir Jang, alarmed at the loss of Tiruvadi, yielded now to the pressing solici- tations of Muhammad Ali, and reinforced him with 20,000 men. At the same time the English, to whom the possession of Tiruvadi by the French was a stand- ing menace, sent a force of 400 Europeans and 1,500 sipahis under Captain Cope to join Muhammad Ali. This combined army took up a position on July 30, near the French force, which they found encamped on the river Panar, about seven miles from Gudalur. Notwithstanding the overwhelming superiority of the enemy, d'Auteuil resolved to maintain his position. This was not only strong by nature, but it had been strongly fortified. To hazard an attack upon French- men in a position defended by intrenchments did not suit the feeble nature of Muhammad Ali. Acting on Captain Cope's advice, therefore, he moved against Tiruvadi in the hope of drawing out d'Auteuil to its assistance. But d'Auteuil was too wary to be caught by so transparent a device, and Muhammad Ali, when he wished to change the feigned assault into a real one, found that his soldiers had the same objection to stone walls as to intrenchments, when both were manned by Europeans. He accordingly marched back to his position in front of the French camp, and, encouraged by Captain Cope, opened upon it a violent cannonade. The fire of the French was, however, so brisk, and their guns were served so efficiently, that at the end of six hours the allies had had enough of it, and retreated with a considerable loss in killed and wounded. The French loss was slight ; but they were too few in numbers to venture in pursuit. They contented them-