22 



Narrative of the last outbreak 



[No. 31. 



first week of February 1801, all the prisoners in the fort 

 made their escape. It was very obvious that much secret 

 intercourse must have been kept up between them and the 

 population of the confiscated Pollams, which received the 

 fugitives with open arms, feeling abundantly discontented, 

 no floubt, at the peaceful life now required of them. An 

 entrenchment and breast work were run up with incredible 

 celerity round the mound and remnant of the old fort of 

 Panjahlumcoorchey, and all the concealed arms were quickly 

 restored to light, it having been the considerate policy of the 

 time, to invite the surrender of arms by the payment of a 

 liberal price for them, rather than to adopt a more rigorous 

 scrutiny for their seizure. 



Major Macaulay moved with all possible dispatch against 

 the fugitives, with the disposable part of the Garrison 

 of Palamcottah, and a few horsemen drawn from the 

 Nabob's establishment to Seevalapary, there to await the 

 junction of Major Sheppard with the 3d regiment N. I. 

 This small force appeared before Panjahlumcoorchey, in 

 less than a week from the escape of the prisoners, and had 

 there to view the formidable body securely entrenched, arm- 

 ed far beyond expectation, and to crown all, displaying an 

 exulting front from the flattering course of their enterprize. 

 It was now a very serious question, whether they should be 

 attacked forthwith, and thus hazard in case of any check 

 much more extensive commotions, or whether it were more 

 advisable that the detachment should withdraw for a time, 

 and await reinforcement from Trichinopoly. Happily the 

 latter alternative, painful as it seemed, was agreed on in per- 

 fect concurrence by Majors Macaulay and Sheppard, and 

 the detachment commenced its retreat in the afternoon, sur- 

 rounded by thousands all the night using incessant attempts 

 to create confusion on some point or other, and then to break 

 in and cut off the detachment. The provincial corps was 

 but newly raised, and the Nabob's few horsemen were not to 

 be considered — all indeed depended on the 3d regiment N. I., 

 whose steady and firm conduct carried the detachment 



