Pondichery when he yielded to the solicitations of the Nuwáb to turn aside from the road to Trichinopoli, and march into northern Arcot. The object of Chandá Sáhib was to obtain money and troops. He succeeded in both objects; but, oblivious of the cardinal fact that, in war, time is a main factor, he had succeeded at the cost of leaving Muhammad Alí and the English masters in the southern district, occupying various posts and becoming daily more capable of offering him a very solid resistance.
At length, his own levies raised to 17,000 men, Chandá Sáhib took the road to Trichinopoli, always accompanied by D'Auteuil. But the delay had been considerable, and it was not till the first week of July that he came in sight of Volkondá, a strongly fortified town thirty-eight miles to the north-north-east of Trichinopoli. In front of it, on the south-west face, apparently blockading it on that side, was the joint army of Muhammad Alí and De Gingen.
The English leader had been unable, in consequence of the non-arrival of the levies of Muhammad Alí, whose presence with him would alone legitimatise his action, to carry out the intentions of Mr. Saunders. When, at last, 1600 horsemen from Trichinopoli did reach him, led by the brother of Muhammad Alí, De Gingen moved forwards, captured the fortified pagoda of Vardáchalam, and then marched on Volkondá. He arrived before it on the 2nd of July and at once summoned it. But the Governor, who had not
