446
HISTORY OF INDIA.
[Book III.
A.D. 1749. true position was that of mercenaries, intent only on the gain which they stipulated, or might be able to extort, in return for their services. Tlie most favourable view that can be taken of the matter is, that the regular course of government had been completely broken up, and that, in the general scramljle which had ensued, the two companies were as well entitled as any other parties to make the most of it, more especially as it was not impossible that their important commercial interests might be compromised.
When MuzzufFer Jung first took the field, Nazir Jung .seems to have
regarded it as little more than a youtliful outbreak, which, if it did not carry its
■ own punishment along with it, might at any time be easily suppressed. After
the battle of Amboor he saw reason to view it in a very different light, and
made his preparations accordingly. Appointing the celebrated fort of Gin gee.
Nazir Jung at the head of an im- mense army
Gi:f^ G E E
£nirV.<li JunZa
- oo ^o coj "'"^ "•'■■'# ^ j^»
A, The Great Mountain of Gingee, on the top of which is a
small furt situated on an entire rock, and tenable with ten men against any open force wliich may be broiight against it There is very fine water in a cleft of the rock.
B, St. George's Mountain. C, The Engli.sh Mountain. D, The royal battery. E, The pettah of Gingee.
a, Gate of the second wall
b, Gate of the third wall V leading to the Great Mountain.
c, Gate of the fourth wall '
d, Gate leading to Temamaley. e, Poudicherry gate, f, Port-dn-I)iable, or Devil's gate. g, DevU's tank.
h h h h, Barracks and lodgings of the French garrison, i, A pagoda for travelling Bralmiins.
situated about thirty- five miles north-west of Pondicherry, as the general place of rendezvous, he issued summonses, in his character of Soubahdar of the Deccan, to all its various dependencies, and soon saw himself furnished with contingents from all quarters, to such an amoimt that his whole ai-my was estimated at 300,000. Among these were a contingent of 0000 horse, furnished and commanded by Mahomed Ali, whose hopes of the nabobsliip
