HISTORY OF MAURITIUS, 
437 
Bullocks without number. 
Upwards of twelve thousand troops dispersed in different garrisons. 
Such was the amount of Haider Aly’s army in 1775; and from that time to the 
year 1780, he enjoyed an uninterrupted state of peace and tranquillity. 
Towards the latter end of July, 1780, he entered into the Carnatic, and, on the 
29th of that month, sent a large detachment of troops to Porto Novo, which they 
reached by forced marches; when they surprised and pillaged that town, which had 
ever been considered as a free port for all nations. He made the Dutch and 
Danish Residents prisoners, and by such a measure manifested his intention to drive 
the Europeans out of that peninsula. 
While Haider was ravaging the country, the English ordered their troops to as¬ 
semble at Conjeveram, under the command of General Hector Monro. On the 
8th of September that officer, having notice that Colonel Baily was pushing forward 
with the northern detachment, to form a junction with the main army ; and knowing, 
at the same time, that a large body of troops, commanded by Tippoo Saib was en¬ 
camped near the route that Colonel Baily must take, dispatched Colonel Fletcher 
that very night, with a detachment to reinforce him; and these two detachments 
formed together a body of three thousand five hundred men. In the course of their 
march they were attacked by the united forces of Haider Aly and Tippoo Saib, 
and one of their tumbrels, laden with powder, blowing up during the engagement, 
that misfortune threw the column into disorder. Tippoo observing this circum¬ 
stance, poured down his cavalry; and, though the English troops made a most 
obstinate resistance, the greater part of them were cut in pieces, and Colonel Baily, 
with all the surviving officers, taken prisoners, and sent to Seringapatam. Haider, 
immediately after this victory, sent a detachment of cavalry, commanded by a M. de 
Lally, to harass General Munro, who, on receiving the intelligence that Colonel 
Baily was defeated, retreated to Chinglepett. After this loss, the English army was 
no longer in a condition to resist Haider Aly, who now traversed, without oppo¬ 
sition, the whole southern part of the Carnatic. 
In the month of April, 1781, Haider invested the fortress of Tiagar, which, though 
impregnable from its situation, was obliged to surrender from the want of provisions. 
At length he entered the country of Tanjour, and not only destroyed all the villages 
he found in the course of his route, but even pillaged the temples of the Gentoos, 
which had hitherto been respected by every other sect and religion. 
