Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/464

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440
The War of Coromandel.
Book X.

improve any advantageous change which might happen in his disposition, and the king, alarmed by the resentment of his departure, sent out the remainder of the horse with scribes to clear their accounts; on which Calliaud returned on the 21st to Condore, and, advancing them fifteen days pay, they crossed the Coleroon the next day, and on the 23d moved to Trimalvedy, a fort belonging to the Arielore Polygar, on the bank of the river, about five miles above Condore. Here he proposed that they Should proceed 10 miles farther that day; but they halted, parlying for more pay, until the 25th, when they marched 20 miles to Mongalpaddy, a village still in the districts of Arielore; where they were joined by three companies of Sepoys from Tritchinopoly. The whole arrived and halted the next day at Volcondah, and on the 25th reached Thiagar: here the horse refused again to proceed until they received their arrears, which the king had promised, and failed to send. They were however satisfied with another advance of 15 days, but requested another day's halt in expectation of some of their necessaries which were not yet come up from Tanjore. On the 31st they marched from Thiagar to Tricolore, which is 15 miles onwards. The killidar Kistnarow, who had before taken the field with Mahomed Issoof, promised to follow with all his force from Thiagar: but none appeared. On the 1st of February, Calliaud, with his own troops, reached Trivanalore, and the next day Villaporam. The partizan Lambert, with 500 Sepoys, had advanced to this place to oppose their progress; but, receiving certain intelligence of their force, went off the same day to Gingee. The want of provisions detained Calliaud's party at Villaporum until the 4th; and on the 7th, at noon, they arrived at Chinglapet, both foot and horse so much fatigued, for the march was seventy-five miles in three days, that they could proceed no farther; on which Calliaud left them there to refresh, and went away with his own attendants to the Mount, where he arrived at seven that night; and as the elder officer took the command of all the forces there, Preston's, Mahomed Issoof's, and Abdulwahab's.