Page:Dupleix and the Struggle for India by the European Nations.djvu/82

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THE ZENITH OF HIS SUCCESS
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having entered into an agreement with Dupleix whereby he was to receive the aid of 2000 sipáhis, drilled in the European fashion, and 400 Frenchmen. When he reached the frontier his own levies had increased to 6000. There he was joined by Muzaffar Jang at the head of 30,000 men. Towards the end of July the French auxiliaries, to the number stipulated, commanded by Bussy, afterwards to become very famous, and by d'Auteuil who had distinguished himself at the defence of Pondichery, found him at the Damálcherrí Pass in the district of North Arcot. There they learnt that the actual Nuwáb, Anwár-ud-dín, the same who had disputed the right of the French to retain Madras, was with his two sons and a force of 20,000 experienced soldiers, aided by sixty European adventurers, waiting for them at Ambur, in the same district. On Ambur, then, they marched, sighted the Nuwáb's army on the 3rd of August, attacked it, and obtained a complete victory. In the heat of the battle Anwár-ud-dín was slain; the eldest son, Maphuz Khán, was taken prisoner; the younger, Muhammad Alí, destined to become famous through the championing of his cause by the English, fled as fast as he could ride to Trichinopoli.

The battle was decisive. The two princes supported by Dupleix became, in consequence of it, masters of all the Karnátik, save Trichinopoli. There remained, however, in addition to Trichinopoli, Nádir Jang to be reckoned with. That prince was in the field at the head of a considerable army. The