Page:History of the French in India.djvu/442

 416 THE FA.LL OF DUPLEIX. chap, intercept them. Between Kilakota and the village of IX ' Kutapara, a distance of five miles, the ground, covered 1754. w *th trees and underwood, afforded cover for a large body of men; here accordingly, he sent 12,000 horse under Murari Rao and Innis Khan, with instructions to lay in ambush about two miles beyond Kutapara, and not to attack the convoy until at least half its length should have passed them, and it should have been at- tacked in front by the French. He himself, with 400 French and 6,000 sipahis, took post in front of Kuta- para, at the point where the wood debouches into the plain. These dispositions having been made on the evening of the 25th, he anxiously watched the result. The morning of February 26 had already dawned, and yet no convoy had appeared. Half an hour later, however, a small platoon was seen advancing, followed by the carts and bullocks in single file, the soldiers marching also singly and unsuspicious of danger, on either side. They reached the point where Murari Rao was posted, they passed it even, not making, though they had seen some native horsemen in the woods, any change in their disposition. The French, however, were still two miles off, and Murari Rao, anxious that the surprise should be complete, noting too the negli- gent manner of marching, and fearing lest something might occur to give the alarm before the convoy should reach the French, determined to anticipate his orders. He accordingly sent to the parties he had posted in the wood to hold themselves in readiness to charge. He then gave the signal. The effect was electric. The English, without order or cohesion, their small body stretching along a long line of carts, could offer no effectual resistance. They could only die at their posts. The Marathas, galloping amongst them, attacked all who opposed them. The English still resisted, how- ever, until the French troops arriving offered them quarter. This was accepted ; of the whole force 50