1844.] and final subjugation of the Southern Poligars. ?Jd 



was hardly pressed, and it would have been considered a 

 great acquisition by the enemy, as it was far stronger in its 

 construction than the general run of native forts. The name 

 of the officer I have alluded to was Greaves. He had much 

 credit given to him for his spirited conduct on this occasion, 



but he did not live long to enjoy it. 



- • > 



Our commandant having at Madura received his final in- 

 structions for the reduction of Shevagungah, and having 

 made all his arrangements for the peculiar warfare now be- 

 fore him, moved in July to the north-east for the purpose 

 of allowing a select corps to join from Dindigul under Colonel 

 James, which had been lately employed in that quarter in 

 putting down the Veerapatchy Poligar and his adherents. — 

 After this junction, the whole moved forward, consisting now 

 of a very efficient force, (of I should think at the least 7000 

 strong) to the attack of Sherevail, situated to the east of us. 

 This town had become of some note since the rise of the 

 Murdoo's fortunes. He made it his constant residence, and 

 it was conjectured, that he might here make some vigorous 

 stand. The march, not more than 8 or, 9 miles, occupied us 

 all the day, though the main road was a very good one ; it 

 lay through a strip of country of the general breadth of 

 J 200 or 1500 yards, shut in on each side by high and strong 

 jungle, whilst the intermediate space was every where crossed 

 or flanked by the banks of tanks, close palmira topes, or 

 occasional patches of thin and common jungle, all that the 

 Poligar could covet for his desultory warfare.— The enemy 

 was abundantly armed, and he possessed a great number of 

 the small guns of his own particular description. The firing 

 on his part was incessant all the day through, and a distant 

 hearer might have concluded that we were in desperate con- 

 flict, but happily it was all noise and random firing, and did 

 no serious harm ; our own field pieces rarely opened but 

 when the Poligars were in great crowds in front and on the 

 flanks. Whenever our parties closed in upon them, they re- 

 treated to other points. The country to the left, north of our 

 main body, seemed that in which the enemy harboured with 



