Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/448

Preston and Mahomed Issoof. Pursuing their intention of enlisting a body of better cavalry, they arrived on the 12th at Lallapet, a town of great resort, 10 miles to the N. w. of Arcot, where their invitations soon collected 500 Moorish horse, and 600 Morratoes. The Nabob's brother, Abdulwahab Cawn, was at this time residing with their mother at Chitore, and being urged by her representations to some compunction for the distress of the Nabob's affairs, he proffered his assistance; on which Mahomed Issoof, with a small escort, went to Chitore, and in a few days returned, accompanied by Abdulwahab with 1000 horse, and more foot, being the troops he had kept in pay since he quitted Arcot in the preceding year. Overtures were likewise made to a body of 3000 Morratoes belonging to Balagerow, and commanded by an officer named Gopaulrow, who were lying at the pass of Damalcherry; but Gopaulrow insisted on receiving money before any moved, on which Preston sent him the bill of an opulent shrof for 60,000 rupees, which was to be paid as soon as the horse arrived at Velore; but as the messages and march required eight days, the army in the interval set out from Lallapet on the 22d, and halted on the 25th at Trivalore, within four miles of the fort of Tripassore, in which, as well as Pondamalée, the French had a garrison of Sepoys; but the pettah of Pondamallée, being much opener than of Tripassore, Mahomed Issoof sent off a detachment to plunder it, which they effected after some skirmishing with the Sepoys from the fort, of whom several were killed. Besides the booty they got in the pettah, the detachment returned with 3000 sheep and oxen, which had been collected from the country, and were kept under the protection of the garrison, in the common round the fort, to supply the French army before Madrass. The Nabob's brother Nazeabulla, who had accompanied Mr. Moracin to Pondicherry, and afterwards the French army to the siege, had lately returned to Nelore; and the example and exhortations of his brother Abdulwahab, had reclaimed him so far, as to promise to join him at Trivalore with his force; but he delayed, and the army having been reinforced with ammunition and two more three-pounders from Chinglapet, proceeded on the 27th to Trimliwash, a town situated on the