same name with the province, and of Palagant, with their reciprocal communications, had been intrusted to Major Cuppage. That officer deeming Coimbatore incapable of sustaining a siege, removed the heavy guns, ammunition, and stores to Palagant; but Lieutenant Chalmers, who was left at Coimbatore, on examining the guns which had been cast aside as unserviceable, found three which stood proof. By collecting and joining wheels and fragments of carriages which lay scattered about the fort, he found the means of mounting them. With these and a few swivels, a quantity of damaged powder, and five hundred shot, obtained from Major Cuppage, he hoped to make a stand for a few days, in the event of the fort being attacked.
The apprehension of attack was soon converted into certainty. The place was invested by a force of two thousand infantry, a considerable body of cavalry, eight guns, and a number of irregular troops. The garrison consisted of a hundred and twenty Topasses, or natives partially of Portuguese origin, and about two hundred Travancoreans; half of whom ran away when they found a siege was expected, while those who remained were extremely insubordinate.
The enemy pitched on the north-west of the pettah, and summoned the place to surrender, under pain of death to every person within it, not excepting women and children. The summons was disregarded, and was repeated after the expiration of two days without effect. On the third day a battery was completed, and the fort was once more summoned, but with an offer of favourable terms. The offer was rejected, and in the evening the besiegers began to fire from the battery. The shot did considerable damage to the works, which it gave the garrison abundant employment to repair. Another battery was completed on the following day, and a vigorous fire of guns and rockets was maintained. A third battery was soon in a forward state. In the meantime, Lieutenant Chalmers had prepared several casks, filled
