On that day, therefore, on which occurred a great defeat and dispersion of the victorious troops, Hydur, seeing no advantage in continuing the action, turned his line of march towards Vinkuta Peenth, and the bodies of the slain of his army were consigned to the earth, and the wounded, placed in Doolies and on cots,* were sent to Arkat. Syud Sáhib was despatched from the same ground of encampment, with his own Dusta and a party of foot soldiers, to conquer the country of Tanjore, (or as it is written, Tujawur), and Nuthurnuggur.

The General, having conquered in this battle, again returned to Phoolcheri, (Pondicheri), and from that place, by the route of Purmokul Gurh, and Chungul Peenth,* entered his station at the French Mountains;* but at no place did he halt more than one or two days. The sanguinary Kuzzaks, however, in the mean time, attacked and harassed the English army on all sides, and by their exploits effaced the memory of those of Roostum and Isfendiar. The Nawaub now also left his encampment, and, marching by the route of Turwadi and Beelpoor, encamped at Tondivellum. It hap­pened that some of the Nawaub’s stable horse, going near Purmokul Gurh, for grass and wood, entered a garden about one fursung from the fort, and began collecting forage there. The officer, who commanded in the fort, espying them from the top of the mountain, despatched a Jamadár, with a party of infantry, to attack them, and the Jamadár advancing to the garden, under cover of the tank, belonging to the town, arrived there and com­menced a fire to disperse them. Being surprised and unprepared, at the sound of the discharge, the horse fell into confusion; some left their horses and escaped, and some, without obtaining any thing, lost their lives. The aforesaid Jamadár, therefore, seized the horses of the Nawaub’s men, and returned to the mountain.

The Chief* or staff-officers of the army apprised the Nawaub of this occurrence, stating that in that neighbourhood was a Hill fort, which had not yet been reduced by his troops, and that the officer commanding there attacked unnecessarily both the peasantry and the soldiers of the army, and that, on that day, he had seized several horses of the Paigah, after killing their riders. On hearing this, the fire of Hydur’s rage burned furiously, and he imme­diately ordered his army to assault and take the fort. He himself, left his encampment, and took his station on the ground formerly occupied by Roshun Khan. His brave officers now crowded round from all parts, and enclosed the Hill fort, like a dot in the centre of a circle; the Prince and Monsieur Lalli, ran trenches or the sap* from the rear of the mountain, and the artillery were placed in battery to breach the fort. The foot soldiers, in the mean time, notwithstanding the shot showered fast upon them, and a number of lives were sacri­ficed, ascended the hill, under cover of the rocks, and established themselves at the foot of the walls. Although the fort was garrisoned by three hundred men, with abundant stores and provisions, yet the Commandant, smitten with the beauty of one of the courtezans of the town, was in all matters desirous to avoid giving her pain or uneasiness; but, when he saw her readiness and importunity to make peace, or give up the fort, he the first day renounced her love, and determined to plant his foot in the field of manhood, and defend his charge. After that, however, her obstinacy exceeding all bounds, the woman wantonly placing the hand of pertinacity on the garment of his love, and shed­ding tears, said, “If you are determined to fight, first kill me.” Some other persons, also, being in league with her in this plan, and the disposition of the officer being mild, he consented to surrender. The Soubadár* of the garrison, however, whose name was Abdul Kadur, took the command of the fort on his own responsibility, and defended it six days; but, being killed by a musket shot on the seventh day, the walls of the fort being much shattered and beat down, courage deserted the garrison, and the commanding officer submitted to the Nawaub, and surrendered the place to his agents. The Nawaub immediately placed it in charge of his most faithful servants, and, giving them orders to repair the works, marched towards Wandiwash.

It is proper to mention here, that the General, hearing of the siege of Purmokul Gurh, despatched two Risalas or battalions of infantry, with a convoy of provisions and ammunition, to reinforce the gar­rison. This body of troops had arrived in the vicinity of Achur Wakum, when they became aware of the conquest of Purmokul, and, stealing a march by night, they entered the fort of Wandiwash,* and, strengthening the fort, remained there. But, although the circuit of the fort was previously blockaded, or in a state of siege, and the Nawaub himself, for three or four days, had formed his plans to reduce it, and several fearful assaults had been already made, still, as certain state affairs of the utmost importance pressed on his mind, the Nawaub, after he had well tried and ascertained that the Commandant of the fort had a stout heart, and, was a man of great skill and experience, appointed Monsieur Lalli, Syud Humeed, and Shaikh Oonsur, to take the fort, and he himself proceeded to Arkat. The Frenchmen and other officers having raised their batteries on all sides, and mounted guns in them, began to batter the walls of the fort, so that, in a short time, they were beaten down, and many furious assaults were made; but, in spite of all their exertions, the officer command­ing in the fort did not allow his heart to fail him, and fought valiantly, being uniformly successful in beating off his assailants.