^ 2 WAR WITH MYSORE. 



princes expected to see their adversary reduced to extremity 

 by the want of provisions; but this was averted by the dis- 

 covery of some hidden stores, which, according.to national 

 custom had been buried in the earth. The nfzam, impru- 

 dent and impatient, insisted that they should no longer wait 

 the slow operation of famine, but bring on a generaf action. 

 They made the attack at Trinomalee, confident in their su- 

 perior numbers and vast masses of cavalry ; but Smith, by 

 an able movement round a mountain, and by the skill with 

 which his artillery was served, completely baffled the efforts 

 of his great though irregular host. The pursuit was 

 marked by a singular occurrence. The nizam, according 

 to his absurd practice, had ranged in the rear a long line of 

 elephants, on which his favourite ladies, seated in pomp, 

 surveyed the battle. When the field was seen to be lost 

 orders vvere sent that this cavalcade should retreat at full 

 speed ; but a female voice, issuing from a splendid vehicle 

 borne by one of these animals, called, "This elephant has 

 not been instructed so to turn ; he follows the standard of 

 tne empire. The consequence was, that before the fW 

 passed several of these huge quadrupeds had fallen, and 

 the balls were already flying among the fair fu<ntives. 



Ihe nizam, on witnessing these disasters and the dis- 

 appointment of all his hopes of aggrandizement at the 

 expense of the English, began to waver in the alliance. 

 Another check sustained near Amboor, and the invasion 

 of his territory by a detachment from Bengal, confirmed 

 him in the resolution to detach himself from Hyder and 



F^ e rn^v a ,7 e fi P « ara TT e j^T " WM conc '^ed on the 23d 

 Kr 7 ' , ? ; ^der the pressure of such circumstances 

 he obtamed tolerable terms ; but was obliged to consent 

 that the tribute paid for the Circars should be reduced, and 



tTn»m " yearS ; ;UHi aIs ° lh:it no <W°sition should 

 be made to the appropriation by the British of a considerable 

 extent of Hyder's dominions. 



The presidency of Madras felt now the highest exulti- 

 t.on, and sent immediate orders to Colonel ££ t Tenter 

 Mysore and strike a blow at the centre of HyderVpow er 

 That officer represented the impossibility of subsisting; 

 army ,n the elevated and barren territory around R ? 

 lore, which upon this plan must have b2n the first oh^ 

 of attack. He rather proposed, in the first instlct To 



