Page:Sir Thomas Munro and the British Settlement of the Madras Presidency.djvu/33

 IVAR WITH HAIDAR ALI 25

find the greatest plenty, for that they would not dare to touch them when they themselves were in the power of Haidar. This language afforded little comfort to the desponding part of our army, who., when they beheld the great extent of the Mysorean camp, and the numerous bodies of horse and foot that moved about it, could not avoid thinking Haidar as for- midable as he was represented by those who had escaped from Perambakam, and entertaining the strongest apprehensions of the event of the approaching engagement. But those who considered our artillery, served by men whom Mr. Bellecombe had pronounced superior to everything he had seen in Europe, the perfect discipline of the troops, and their confidence in their commander, regarded Haidar offering battle as the most fortunate circumstance that could have happened. 'A little after daybreak, on the 1st of July, the General drew up the army in a large plain which lay between the two camps. On his right was a chain of sand-hills, which ran along the coast at the distance of about a mile from the sea in the rear ; and on the left, woods and enclosures, but with an open space between. Two miles to the left ran another chain of sand-hills, parallel to the former, and behind them lay the principal part of the Mysorean army. At eight o'clock the enemy opened eight guns, in two batteries which they had raised among the sand- banks ; but they were too distant to do much execution. The General, having reconnoitred their situation, saw that it was their wish that he should