to aid the French, but to command them in person. Under the circumstances, then, Dupleix hoped that, judiciously employing the resources thus available to him, he might so plan his campaign that his superiority in cavalry and in native troops generally might atone for and neutralise the great superiority of his enemy in Europeans. With this end in view, he resolved, in consultation with his allies, that whilst the Mysore troops should invest Trichinopoli, the French troops and Morárí Ráo should act as in a certain sense a covering army to baffle all the attempts which Lawrence might make to relieve the beleaguered place. They would, in a word, keep Lawrence employed. Having regard to the superiority in cavalry which Dupleix could command, we are bound to admit that no more skilful plan could have been devised. If the league could be maintained, the want of provisions would compel the surrender of Trichinopoli.
At the outset, the plan worked well. Whilst the Mysore army blockaded Trichinopoli, Morárí Ráo and the French contingent, under the command of M. Maissin, took up an intrenched position on the river Punar, near the English post of Tiruvádí, seven miles from Fort St. David. From this post they commenced a series of harassing movements against the English, cutting off their supplies, capturing foraging parties, and rendering it very difficult for the garrison of Tiruvádí to communicate with that of Fort St. David. In vain did Lawrence do his utmost to bring them
