July 23 Aug. 3.
Meanwhile momentous19 events elsewhere had led to fresh complications. In 1748 Nizam-ul-Mulk, the Viceroy of the Deccan, died, and his death was followed as usual by a quarrel over the succession to his throne. The successor nominated by the dead ruler was his grandson, Murzapha Jung; the rival was his second son, Nasir Jung; and, as was natural, both claimants cast about them for allies. It has already been related how Chunda Sahib, the devoted21 admirer of the French, had been captured by the Mahrattas in Trichinopoly in 1741. Ever since that time he had been kept in close confinement22 at Satara; the Mahrattas, who knew him by reputation as the ablest soldier that had been seen for years in the Carnatic, refusing to release him except for an impossible ransom23. He had, however, a friend in Dupleix, who throughout his imprisonment24 had protected his wife and family in Pondicherry, and had contrived further to maintain with him a friendly correspondence. Murzapha Jung while travelling in search of help from the Mahrattas encountered Chunda Sahib at Satara, and at once perceived the value of such a man for an ally. Dupleix was called in, and took in the whole situation at a glance. If the force of the French arms could enthrone Murzapha Jung as viceroy, there would be little or nothing to hinder French[194] influence from becoming predominant in the Deccan, or, in other words, to prevent Dupleix from becoming practically if not nominally25 viceroy himself. He at once pledged himself to discharge Chunda Sahib's ransom, and immediately after his release allowed him to take into his pay two thousand Sepoys from the garrison26 of Pondicherry; agreeing also, on receipt of a further cession20 of territory near the town, to give him the assistance of four hundred European soldiers. With these and with the troops that he had collected, in all some six thousand men, Chunda Sahib joined himself to Murzapha Jung's army of thirty thousand men, and advanced with them against Arcot. The capture of this, the capital town of the Carnatic, would place the resources of that province at their disposal and win for them the first step to the throne of the Deccan. The old Nabob Anwarudeen had collected a force to oppose them, but he could bring forward no troops to match the disciplined infantry27 of the French. After a sharp action at Amoor he was defeated and slain29: the victorious30 army entered Arcot on the following day, and the Carnatic was won.
Murzapha Jung having proclaimed himself Viceroy of the Deccan, and taken steps to assert his sovereignty, proceeded next with Chunda Sahib to Pondicherry, where they were received in great state by Dupleix, and in return rewarded him with yet another grant of the neighbouring territory. Meanwhile the English looked on, indignant but helpless, having barred their right to protest by their own foolish action at Tanjore. Boscawen did indeed take advantage of Anwarudeen's death to hoist31 the British flag over St. Thomé, as a masterless town which might be of profit to the Company; but for the rest the arm of the British seemed paralysed. Mohammed Ali, son of the dead Nabob Anwarudeen, who had fled from the field of Amoor to Trichinopoly, invoked32 the aid of the East India Company; but though profoundly distrustful of the friendship between Chunda Sahib and Dupleix, the[195] authorities sent but one hundred and twenty men to help him. This done, they actually permitted Boscawen to return to England with his fleet and transports, retaining but three hundred of his men in India to strengthen the British garrison. This was the moment for which Dupleix had longed. The one force which he dreaded33 was removed. It remained only for Murzapha Jung and Chunda Sahib to march to Trichinopoly and crush Mohammed Ali; and Southern India was gained once for all.
Dec. 20 31 .
Dupleix did not fail to urge this step upon his two allies; but they had spent so much money over their own enjoyment34 at Pondicherry that they had exhausted35 the treasure necessary for the decisive campaign. Judging that the easiest and speediest method of replenishing their empty purse would be to extort36 funds from the Rajah of Tanjore, they led their armies against that city and summoned it to surrender. The Rajah, Partab Singh, gained time by astute37 negotiation38 to summon the English and Murzapha Jung's rival, Nasir Jung, to his assistance; but the English hardly responded, and the Rajah, cowed by an attack of the French infantry on the defences of the city, agreed to pay the sum required of him. None the less, by continual haggling39 he continued to keep his enemies inactive before the walls until the news of Nasir Jung's approach, with a force of overwhelming strength, caused them to fall back in panic upon Pondicherry.
1750.
April 1 12 .
The favourable40 moment in fact had been lost, despite Dupleix's pressing entreaties41 that it might be seized. Nasir Jung had not only invaded the Carnatic with his own forces but had called Mohammed Ali and the British to his standard; and the East India Company, roused by the imposing42 numbers of his army, had sent him six hundred European soldiers under command of Stringer Lawrence in person. At the end of March the hostile armies stood within striking distance of each other midway between Pondicherry and Arcot, near the fortress43 of Gingee; but no blow was struck. A[196] mutiny of the French troops practically broke up Murzapha Jung's army; Murzapha himself surrendered to Nasir Jung; and the whole of Dupleix's grand combinations seemed to be shattered beyond repair. With inexhaustible energy, however, the French Governor set himself to restore the discipline of the troops, and meanwhile opened negotiations44 with Nasir Jung. Finding his overtures45 rejected he boldly surprised his camp by night with a handful of men, and with such effect that Nasir Jung retreated hurriedly to Arcot. The British, thus abandoned, retired46 likewise to Fort St. David, and the field was left open once more to the ambition of Dupleix.
Aug. 31 Sept. 11.
Dec. 5 16 .
Thoroughly47 understanding the Oriental character, he hastened to follow up this first blow with another. First he turned upon Mohammed Ali, who had been left in isolation48 near Pondicherry, dispersed49 his army, though vastly superior to his own, almost without loss of a man, and sent him flying northward50. He then detached one of his best officers, M. de Bussy, with a handful of troops against the fugitives51 of Mohammed Ali's force which had rallied under the walls of Gingee; and Bussy not only routed them in the field but actually carried the fort of Gingee itself, for generations deemed an impregnable stronghold, by escalade. This feat28, one of the most brilliant and marvellous ever achieved by Europeans in India, provoked Nasir Jung anew to try his fortune in the field and lured54 him on to his destruction. Notwithstanding the lateness of the season he collected a vast unwieldy host of a hundred thousand men and moved down to Gingee, only to find military operations absolutely impossible owing to the breaking of the monsoon55. For three months he remained perforce inactive, while Dupleix sedulously56 fostered sedition57 and conspiracy58 in his camp. At last, in December, the French attacked and utterly59 defeated his army, while the conspirators60 made an end of Nasir Jung himself. Murzapha Jung was at once saluted61 as Viceroy of the Deccan, and a few days later was solemnly installed as[197] such at Pondicherry; Dupleix, in all the splendour of Oriental robes, sitting by his side as one of equal rank, to receive with him the homage62 of the subordinate princes. The French Governor was declared Nabob of the whole of the country south of the Kistnah to Cape13 Comorin, and Chunda Sahib was appointed Nabob of Arcot and of its dependencies under him; his former rival, Mohammed Ali, being only too glad to gain Dupleix's favour by renouncing64 all pretensions65 of his own. Finally, new privileges and concessions66 were showered on the French East India Company. To such a height indeed had French ascendency risen that Dupleix gave orders for the erection of a city with the pompous67 title of the Place of the Victory of Dupleix.
1751.
Jan. 4 15 .
June 18 29 .
Nothing now remained but to escort the new Viceroy of the Deccan to his capital at Aurungabad, a duty which was entrusted68 to Bussy. At one point in the march some opposition69 was encountered, which, though easily swept aside by the French artillery70, proved fatal to Murzapha Jung. His vindictive71 temper led him forward to a personal contest of man to man, and while actually within reach of the goal of his ambition he was struck dead. The incident, untoward72 though it might appear at such a time, proved to be of little moment. One puppet would serve as well as another for Viceroy of the Deccan, so the actual sovereignty rested with Dupleix. Salabat Jung, a younger brother of Nasir Jung, was accordingly released by Bussy from the prison in which he was confined, and was elevated with general approval to the place of the potentate73 whose career had been so unfortunately cut short. Needless to say, he at once confirmed all former privileges to the French and added yet others to them. Finally, in June, the poor creature entered Aurungabad in state, attended by Bussy and his troops, who did not omit to take up their quarters permanently74 in the capital. Thus from the Vindhya mountains to the Kistnah the country was practically under the control of Bussy, while from the Kistnah to Cape Comorin Dupleix ruled[198] as actual vicegerent of the Mohammedan sovereign of the Deccan. The moment marks the zenith of French power in India.
March.
May.
Throughout these transactions the British had remained open-mouthed and inactive, so inactive that in October 1750 they had permitted their ablest soldier, Stringer Lawrence, to return to England. Thoroughly alarmed at the rapid progress of Dupleix's influence, and irritated by the ostentatious display of his sovereignty on its boundaries, the Company at last resolved to initiate1 a steady policy of opposition to the French in all quarters. There was but one pretext75 for intervention. Mohammed Ali, the son of the late Nabob Anwarudeen, while negotiating with Dupleix for the surrender of Trichinopoly, had never ceased to make piteous appeals for British assistance. Rather, therefore, than allow this last excuse for interference to be taken from them, the British authorities consented to give him help, and as a first instalment despatched three hundred British and as many Sepoys to Trichinopoly in February 1751. The main issue now turned on the possession of Trichinopoly, and Dupleix was not slow to recognise the fact. Chunda Sahib was already preparing to march upon the city with a native army of about eight thousand men, and to these Dupleix added four hundred French under an able officer. The British replied by equipping a further force of five hundred Europeans, one hundred Africans, and a thousand Sepoys, under the command of Captain Gingen, with Lieutenant76 Robert Clive for his commissariat-officer. Not daring to act as principal, for French and English were still nominally at peace, Gingen waited at Fort St. David until the middle of May, when he was joined by sixteen hundred of Mohammed Ali's troops. Vested by the advent77 of this rabble78 with the character of a legitimate79 auxiliary80, he then marched southward to seize the pagoda81 of Verdachelum, which commanded the communications between Fort St. David and Trichinopoly. This was successfully accomplished82; and having[199] received further reinforcements he moved south-westward83 to Volconda, on the road between Arcot and Trichinopoly, to intercept84 the advancing army of Chunda Sahib.
July 17 28 .
The result was disastrous85 for Gingen. After the exchange of a few cannon7-shots the British troops were seized with panic, flung down their arms, and could not be rallied even by Clive himself. Gingen, finding them much shaken, thereupon fell back upon Trichinopoly. Chunda Sahib immediately followed them; and after three days of skirmishing the British crossed the river Coleroon and finally took refuge under the walls of the city. The enemy lost no time in closing in around them, and now the French could look upon their success as well-nigh assured. Almost the whole of the British force in India was cooped up in the city before them; there seemed to be no prospect86 of relief for them from any other quarter, and it was therefore necessary only to keep them strictly87 blockaded to make them prisoners in a body.
The British authorities in Fort St. David saw the danger, but could not divine how to avert88 it. A small force of Europeans had lately arrived from England, but every military officer was shut up in Trichinopoly, and there was not one at hand to take charge of a relieving force. None the less a convoy89 was equipped at the end of July and sent off with an escort of eighty Europeans and three hundred Sepoys under command of a civilian90, Mr. Pigot, with Robert Clive, who had returned from the army after the retreat from Volconda, as second in command. Pigot conducted his convoy safely as far as Verdachelum and passed his reinforcement successfully into Trichinopoly, but both he and Clive were cut off while returning to Fort St. David, and only with the greatest difficulty evaded91 capture. Clive, now raised to the rank of captain, was presently sent into Tanjore with a second reinforcement, which, like its predecessor92, contrived to make its way into Trichinopoly, and raised the strength of the British[200] battalion93 therein to six hundred men. But the French on their side could bring nine hundred Europeans to meet them; and the salvation94 of Trichinopoly, and of British power in India which lay bound up in it, seemed to be hopeless.
August.
Aug. 26 Sept. 6.
Clive grasped at once the significance of the situation, and without wasting further time over the blockaded city returned with all haste to Madras. The only hope for Trichinopoly, as he pointed63 out, lay in a vigorous diversion which should carry the war into the enemy's country. Though the bulk of the British forces might be shut up in Trichinopoly, the bulk of Chunda Sahib's army was equally tied down before it, and therefore the capital of the Carnatic must be left unguarded. Let a bold stroke be aimed at Arcot, and Chunda Sahib must either raise the siege of Trichinopoly to save it, or suffer a loss for which the gain of Trichinopoly would be poor compensation. The plan was audacious beyond measure, but the Governor, Mr. Saunders, a resolute95 and far-seeing man, perceived its merit; so reducing the garrisons96 of Madras and Fort St. David to the lowest point he equipped a force of two hundred Europeans and three hundred Sepoys, together with three field-guns, and placed Clive in command with unlimited97 powers. With this handful of men and eight officers, of whom four had like himself been taken from desk and ledger98, Clive marched on the 6th of September from Madras.
Aug. 31 Sept. 11.
Arcot, the capital of the Carnatic, and then the seat of Chunda Sahib's government, lies sixty-four miles to south and west of Madras. It was then an open town of about one hundred thousand inhabitants, with no defences but a ruined fort, which was held by a garrison of a thousand natives. Five days, including a halt of one day at Conjeveram, sufficed to bring Clive within ten miles of the city. At this point he again made a short halt, but resuming his march through a terrific thunderstorm pushed forward to the gates on the same evening. Rumour99 of his approach had gone before[201] him. Spies had reported that the British were striding on unconcerned through lightning, rain, and tempest; and the garrison, afraid to oppose a man who set the very elements at defiance100, evacuated101 the fort without firing a shot.
Sept. 4 15 - 6 17 .
Sept. 23 Oct. 4.
Clive at once occupied the deserted fort, repaired the defences, mounted the guns that he found there, and made every preparation to resist a siege. The native garrison having encamped about six miles from the city, Clive made two successful sorties against them, in order to keep them in a becoming state of alarm; and hearing a week later that they had been reinforced to a strength of three thousand men, he burst suddenly upon their camp by night, killed several, sent the rest flying away in panic terror, and returned to the fort without the loss of a man. But by this time Chunda Sahib had heard of the misfortune to his capital, and had detached four thousand men from before Trichinopoly to recapture the fort. Dupleix, though greatly averse103 to any diminution104 of the blockading army, added one hundred French soldiers to this detachment, while other levies105 raised it to a total of ten thousand men. With this force Raju Sahib, Chunda Sahib's son, entered Arcot on the 4th of October and began the investment of the fort.
Sept. 24 Oct. 5.
Sept. 25 Oct. 6.
Oct. 30 Nov. 10.
Nov. 13 24 .
Nov. 14 25 .
On the very next day Clive made a bold sally with the object of driving the enemy from the town, but was driven back with the loss, very serious in view of his numbers, of two officers and thirty-one European soldiers killed and wounded. On the morrow the besiegers received further reinforcement, which raised their numbers to eleven thousand natives and one hundred and fifty Europeans; whereas Clive's garrison was by this time reduced to six score Europeans and two hundred Sepoys only. A fortnight later the enemy's battering train arrived, and on the 10th of November, a practicable breach having been made in the walls, Raju Sahib summoned Clive to surrender. He was answered by a message of contemptuous defiance; but knowing that[202] the supplies of the fort were running low, he hesitated to storm, in the hope of reducing the garrison by starvation. Meanwhile, however, Governor Saunders was pushing forward reinforcements, and had induced the Mahrattas, under the redoubtable106 Morari Rao, to throw in their lot with the British. Intelligence of this last put an end to Raju Sahib's inaction, and on the 24th of November he laid his plans for an assault. The day chosen was the festival of the brothers Hassan and Hussein, an anniversary on which Mohammedan fanaticism107 is inflamed108 always to its fiercest heat. Fortunately Clive had been warned by a spy of the intended attack, and had made such preparations as he could by training cannon on to the breach, and keeping relays of muskets109 loaded for the maintenance of a continuous fire. At dawn the enemy's troops swarmed111 up to the breach, while elephants, with their heads armoured by plates of iron, were brought forward to batter8 down the gates. But the fire of the British was too hot and deadly to be endured, and the elephants, galled112 by wounds, swerved113 back and trampled114 all around them under foot. Once only the storming-party seemed likely to gain ground, and then Clive, taking personal charge of one of the field-guns, dispersed them effectively with three or four rounds. After maintaining the attack for an hour the enemy fell back defeated. The French for some reason held aloof115, and the bravest of the native leaders were killed. How hot the affair was while it lasted may be judged from the fact that Clive's garrison, though reduced to eighty Europeans and one hundred and twenty Sepoys, expended116 twelve thousand cartridges117 during the assault. The loss of the defenders118 was but six killed and wounded; that of the enemy was reckoned at not less than four hundred. On the following day Raju Sahib raised the siege and marched away, abandoning several guns and a great quantity of ammunition119; and Clive was left in Arcot triumphant120. The siege had lasted fifty days and had cost the little garrison one-fourth of its number in killed alone, besides a still[203] greater number wounded; but this was no heavy price to pay for the re-establishment of British prestige. The feast of Hassan and Hussein may justly be accounted the birthday of our empire in India.
On the evening of the day of the assault Clive was joined by a reinforcement of men and of four guns, which enabled him, after leaving a garrison in the fort, to take the field with two hundred Europeans and seven hundred Sepoys. Raju Sahib's army had in great measure disbanded itself during his retreat, none remaining with him except his small party of French and the men which he had brought with him from Trichinopoly. With these he retired westward to Vellore. There a reinforcement from Pondicherry increased the number of his French to three hundred, while the successful repulse121 of a rash attack of Mahrattas had served to raise the spirits of his troops. But Clive, though inferior in numbers, was not the man to let them escape scot free. Picking up six hundred Mahratta horsemen he made a forced march in pursuit of them and caught them as they were about to cross the river Arnee. The enemy could show three hundred Europeans against two hundred, fifteen hundred Sepoys against seven hundred, and three thousand native levies against the Mahratta horse; but they were out-man?uvred and defeated, with the loss of fifty Europeans, thrice as many natives, and the whole of their artillery, while Clive's loss did not exceed eight Sepoys and fifty Mahrattas. After this action Clive marched on Conjeveram, captured it after a siege of three days and dismantled122 the fort. Then, having thrown a strong garrison into Arcot, he returned at the end of December to Fort St. David to concert measures for the relief of Trichinopoly.
1752.
Feb. 2 13 .
Feb. 3 14 .
No sooner was his back turned than the scattered123 levies of Raju Sahib reassembled; and having first restored the defences of Conjeveram and thrown a garrison into it to cut off communication between Madras and Arcot, ravaged124 the country to within a few miles of Madras itself. This diversion, which was[204] brought about at the instigation of Dupleix, had the effect which he desired. The preparations for the relief of Trichinopoly were suspended, and on the 13th of February Clive marched from Madras with three hundred and eighty Europeans and thirteen hundred Sepoys, together with six guns; the troops being drawn125 in great part from the garrison at Arcot. The enemy, though superior in strength of Europeans and very far superior in native troops and artillery, would not await his coming, but retired to an entrenched126 camp at Vendalore, about five-and-twenty miles south-westward of Madras. Clive hurried after them, but arriving at Vendalore at three o'clock in the afternoon found that they had disappeared, no one knew whither. A few hours later he received certain information that they were gone to Conjeveram. It was now nine o'clock in the evening, and the men had already marched twenty-five miles on that day, but Clive without a moment's hesitation128 called them out for another forced march, and by four o'clock next morning had reached Conjeveram. The garrison of the fort surrendered at the first summons, but gave the bad news that the enemy had marched on Arcot. Clive's troops were too much exhausted to follow them at once, but at noon the march was resumed. At sunset Clive had reached Covrepauk, sixteen miles on his road, when his advanced guard was surprised by a sudden fire of nine field-guns upon its right flank. The enemy, failing in their design against the fort of Arcot, had retraced129 their steps by a forced march and laid an ambush130 for Clive; and Clive, quite unsuspectingly, had marched straight into it.
The position taken up by the enemy was well fitted for their purpose. About a furlong to the north of the road, or on the right of Clive as he advanced, was a dense131 grove132 of mango-trees covered in front by a ditch and a bank; and here were stationed the nine field-guns of the French with a body of infantry in support. On Clive's left, or to the south of the road,[205] and about one hundred and fifty yards from it ran a dry water-course, in the bed of which troops were well sheltered from fire; and here was massed the remainder of the enemy's infantry. Between the road and the water-course and beyond the water-course to the southward was drawn up the enemy's cavalry, some two thousand in all, ready to bar the British advance to the front or to sweep round upon their rear. The peril133 of Clive's position, already formidable enough, was enhanced by his inferiority in numbers, for the French could match four hundred Europeans against his three hundred and eighty, and two thousand Sepoys against his eighteen hundred; while against their two thousand horsemen Clive could not produce a man. Without losing his presence of mind for an instant Clive at once brought up three of his field-guns to reply to the French artillery, ordered the main body of his infantry to take shelter in the water-course, directed the baggage to be drawn back for half a mile with one gun and a small guard to defend it, and posted his two remaining guns, with forty Europeans and two hundred Sepoys, to the south of the water-course to check the enemy's cavalry. The rapidity with which he grasped the situation, surprised as he was in the waning134 light, and the readiness with which he made his dispositions135 to meet the danger, suffice in themselves to distinguish Clive as a man almost unmatched for steadfastness137 and resource.
Meanwhile the sun went down, and the moon shone cold and white to light the combatants to battle. In the water-course the French infantry, six abreast138, encountered the English, and exchanged a savage139 fire at close range; but both sides, worn out with long marching, recoiled140 from a fight with the bayonet. On the other flank the British gunners, though outnumbered by three to one, stood to their guns and fell by them under the ceaseless rain of fire from the French pieces. And all the time the enemy's cavalry careered restlessly backward and forward, now pressing on the[206] guns to the south of the water-course, now swooping141 on the infantry that guarded them, now making a dash upon the baggage, but never charging home, for they dared not face the white man. So the combat went fitfully on for three full hours under the silver moon, but the red flashes never ceased to leap from the shadow of the grove, and the British artillerymen were at last so much thinned that there were scarce enough of them to work the guns. It was plain that unless the French battery could be silenced the battle was lost. Clive bethought him that the mango-grove, though protected by the ditch in front, might be open in the rear, and sent a native sergeant142 round to reconnoitre. The sergeant returned to report that the rear of the battery was unguarded; and Clive, withdrawing two hundred of the British from the water-course, marched off stealthily at their head, with the sergeant for his guide. Like Cromwell at Dunbar he wished to direct the turning movement that was to decide the day; but no sooner was he gone than the troops in the water-course began to waver. The whole of them ceased firing and prepared for flight: some of them, indeed, did actually make off. Perforce Clive returned to rally them and appointed Lieutenant Keene to command the turning movement in his place.
Making a wide circuit to avoid discovery, Keene stole round to the rear of the mango-grove, halted within three hundred yards of it and sent Ensign Symmonds forward to examine the French dispositions. Symmonds was not gone far when he came upon a deep trench127, in which a detachment of infantry was taking shelter until its time for action should come. He was challenged as he drew nearer, and could see muskets pointed at him, but answering calmly in French he was allowed to pass and to enter the grove in rear of the French guns. Behind the battery stood a detachment of one hundred French soldiers, all gazing eagerly towards the failing fire of the British cannon in their front, and without any precaution against attack from[207] the rear. Symmonds stole back to his men, avoiding the trench; and the two hundred British advanced silently and noiselessly, by the track of his return, into the grove, halted under the deep shadow of the mangos within thirty yards of the French detachment and fired a volley. The effect was instantaneous. Many of the French fell, the rest of them broke, the artillerymen abandoned their guns, and the whole fled away in confusion, they knew not whither, through the trees, with the British in pursuit. A building in the grove presented a refuge, and there the fugitives crowded in, not knowing what they did, one on the top of another until they were packed so tightly that they could not use their arms. The British presently came up with them and offered quarter, whereupon the whole of them surrendered as prisoners of war. Meanwhile the silence of the French battery told Clive of Keene's success, and his troops in the water-course regained143 their confidence. Presently a few of the fugitive52 French who had escaped capture came running up to their comrades with news of the disaster in the grove, and therewith the whole of the enemy's infantry in the water-course incontinently took to flight. The native cavalry was not slow to follow the example, and very soon all sign of an enemy had vanished and the victory was won. Clive gathered his men together, and the exhausted army lay under arms until the moon paled and the sun rose up to show what manner of victory it had won. On the field fifty French soldiers and three hundred Sepoys lay dead; sixty more French had been captured in the grove, and the whole of the French artillery was abandoned to the British. Of Clive's force forty Europeans and thirty Sepoys were killed and a still greater number wounded, no extravagant144 price to pay for so far-reaching a success.
For by Covrepauk not only was the work begun at Arcot completed but Trichinopoly was saved; not only was British military reputation established but supremacy145 in the south of India was wrenched146 from the French.[208] It was essentially147 a general's action, Clive's action; and when we reflect on the hours that preceded it, hours of continuous marching, doubtful information, and incessant148 anxiety, we can only marvel53 at the moral and physical strength which enabled him to present instantly a bold front, to keep his weary soldiers together during those four hours of fighting by moonlight, and to devise and execute the counterstroke which won the day.
From Covrepauk Clive marched on to Arcot, and was proceeding149 southward from thence when he was recalled to Fort St. David, to command an expedition which was preparing for the relief of Trichinopoly. On his way he passed the growing city which was to commemorate150 the victories of Dupleix and razed151 it to the ground;[236] but he met with no trace of an enemy. Raju Sahib's army had dispersed; the French and their Sepoys had been recalled to Pondicherry; and Raju Sahib himself, on returning thither152 from the scene of his defeat, was received by Dupleix with a displeasure and contempt which showed how deeply the dart153 of Clive's victory was rankling154 in the breast of the ambitious Frenchman.
Meanwhile, through all these months the French had maintained the siege of Trichinopoly, feebly indeed but persistently155. In September 1751 their battering train had arrived and batteries had been erected156 before the town, but, like Boscawen's before Pondicherry, at too great a distance to do effectual damage. In fact the French commander, Law, a nephew of the famous Scottish financier, had proved himself both unenterprising[209] and incompetent157. The force under his orders comprised the unparalleled number of nine hundred French troops and two thousand Sepoys, over and above the thirty thousand native levies of Chunda Sahib; yet he had effected little or nothing. He was now to be put to a sterner test than the mere158 blockading of an inferior force under an inactive leader. The supreme159 command of the expedition for the relief of Trichinopoly was indeed taken from Clive at the last moment, but only to be transferred to Stringer Lawrence, who had just returned from England. Moreover Clive was to accompany Lawrence as a trusted subordinate, so that the change signified only the presence of two officers of conspicuous160 ability instead of one. Dupleix's instructions to Law were explicit161: to leave the least possible number of his troops to continue the blockade of Trichinopoly, and to march out with the rest to intercept the relieving army.
March 17 28 .
On the 28th of March Lawrence started from Fort St. David at the head of four hundred Europeans and eleven hundred Sepoys, together with eight guns and a large convoy of stores. The distance to be traversed was about one hundred and fifty miles, and the way was barred by several rivers. The most important of these was the Coleroon, which a few miles above Trichinopoly parts itself into two branches, the northern branch retaining the name of Coleroon while the southern becomes the Cauvery. It is on the south bank of the Cauvery, and about three miles below the parting of the streams, that Trichinopoly stands. The long narrow strip of land between the two branches is called the island of Seringham, on which, about fifteen miles below and to eastward162 of Trichinopoly, stood the fort of Coilady, barring the advance of any enemy from that side. About six miles up the river from Coilady the Cauvery splits again into two branches, and it was along the narrow delta163 between these two branches that the advance of Lawrence must necessarily be made. The ordinary road passed within range of the guns of Coilady[210] across the Cauvery; and Law, assuming that the British would certainly follow it, threw the whole of his intercepting164 army into the fort. Lawrence, on learning of this disposition136, naturally looked for another road, and although, by an error of his guides, the British did come under the fire of Coilady and suffer some loss, yet Law took no advantage of the favourable moment. Lawrence therefore was able to cross the river and to advance on the same evening to within ten miles of Trichinopoly.
On the following day Law took up a position astride of the direct road to Trichinopoly, extending obliquely165 from the village of Chukleypollam on the south bank of the Cauvery past a rocky eminence166 known as French Rock, whereon he had mounted cannon, and thence to another almost inaccessible167 rock called Elimiseram. Lawrence, apprised169 of these dispositions, made a circuit to southward which carried him outside Elimiseram, and a mile beyond it effected a junction170 with a detachment of the garrison which had been sent forward to meet him under Captain Dalton. Law now made a feeble and half-hearted attempt at an attack; but the action soon resolved itself into a duel171 of artillery, from which the French retired with heavy loss, leaving Lawrence to enter Trichinopoly unmolested.
April 1 12 .
April 6 17 .
A few days later Law, taking fright at a threatening movement of the British against some of his native levies, resolved forthwith to withdraw from the south of the Cauvery to the island of Seringham. In such haste did he execute this pusillanimous172 decision that he abandoned most of his baggage, destroyed vast quantities of stores, and left a small garrison isolated173 at Elimiseram, which was promptly174 captured by the British. Clive then proposed to cut matters short by dividing the British forces into two bodies, one to remain to the south of the Cauvery, the other to cross without delay to the north bank of the Coleroon, in order to cut off the supplies of the French and sever102 their communications with Pondicherry. Lawrence assented175, and on the[211] night of the 17th of April four hundred British, seven hundred Sepoys and four thousand Mahratta and Tanjorine horse, together with six field-guns, crossed the Cauvery and Coleroon under Clive himself, and took up a position at Samiaveram, about nine miles north of Seringham, on the road to Pondicherry.
March 30 April 10.
April 15 26 - 16 27 .
Meanwhile Dupleix with unconquerable energy had, on the news of Law's retreat, despatched one hundred and twenty Europeans and four hundred Sepoys to him under M. d'Auteuil. Leaving Pondicherry on the 10th of April, D'Auteuil marched to within fifteen miles of Clive's position at Samiaveram, and resolved to advance from thence by a circuitous176 route to the Coleroon in order to avoid him. Clive, however, having intercepted177 one of the messengers sent by D'Auteuil to apprise168 Law of his intentions, moved out to meet him; whereupon D'Auteuil, learning in turn of Clive's advance, retreated to Uttatoor, while Clive on his side hastened back to Samiaveram. Meanwhile Law, hearing of Clive's departure from Samiaveram but not of his return, sent a force of eighty Europeans, forty of whom were British deserters, and seven hundred Sepoys to attack his camp, as he supposed, during his absence. At midnight of the 26th of April Law's party approached the English encampment. Clive, never dreaming of such enterprise on the part of the French commander, was in bed and asleep. As the French drew nearer they were challenged by a sentry178 of the British Sepoys; but the officer of the deserters, an Irishman, stepped forward and explained that he was come with a reinforcement from Major Lawrence, and the sentry, hearing the deserters speak English, allowed them, after some hesitation, to pass. The British troops at Samiaveram occupied two pagodas179 a quarter of a mile apart, and the native troops were encamped around them. The French marched through the heart of the natives' camp and came to the smaller of the two pagodas, near which Clive was sleeping under an open shed in his palanquin. Here they were again challenged. They answered by firing a volley into both[212] pagoda and shed, and then, pressing into the pagoda, put all within it to the sword.
April 16 27 .
Clive, startled out of his sleep, and never doubting but that the fire was the result of a false alarm, ran to the greater pagoda, turned out two hundred of his Europeans and hurried back with them to the shed. Here he found a large body of French Sepoys drawn up before it and firing incessantly180 at they knew not what, but in the direction of Seringham. Confirmed by this circumstance in the idea that these were his own men, for the darkness obliterated181 all distinctions of dress, he drew up his Europeans in their rear and ran in among them, rebuking182 and even striking them for what he supposed to be their panic. For some minutes this absurd position remained unchanged, until one of the Sepoys discovering at last that Clive was a Englishman, attacked him and wounded him in two places with his sword. Clive turned upon him instantly, and the Sepoy finding himself overpowered fled into the pagoda pursued by Clive, who was now in the highest pitch of exasperation183 over what he conceived to be the mutinous184 behaviour of one of his own men. To his amazement185 Clive was accosted186 at the gate by six Frenchmen; and then at last he was undeceived. With astonishing composure he told them that he was come to offer them terms, and invited them to see his whole army drawn up ready to attack them. Completely deceived by his confidence the French surrendered; and Clive then prepared to attack the Sepoys, but found that they were already withdrawn187 out of reach of his Europeans. There still remained, however, the larger force of the enemy's Europeans, including the British deserters, which had occupied the greater pagoda. These last refused to surrender, and made so desperate a resistance that at daybreak Clive approached them to open a parley188. Owing to weakness from loss of blood he was obliged to lean on the shoulders of two sergeants189; but the officer of the deserters, whether through desperation or sheer brutality190, at once presented a musket110 at him and fired.[213] The bullet missed Clive but wounded both of the sergeants to death; whereupon the French soldiers, fearing that their apparent connivance191 with such an act might debar them from any claim to quarter, immediately laid down their arms. All the Europeans of the enemy's force being now secured, the Mahratta horse was despatched in pursuit of the retreating Sepoys, whom they overtook before they had reached the Coleroon and cut down to a man. Thus for the second time did Clive's marvellous presence of mind not only pluck himself and his troops out of deadly peril, but turn his enemies' devices with terrible retribution upon their own head.
April 26 May 7.
April 28 May 9.
June 2 13 .
After this repulse the toils192 closed rapidly round the French in Seringham. On the 7th of May Lawrence captured the fort of Coilady together with all the stores therein and cut off Law from communication with the east; and after this little remained to be done except to dispose of D'Auteuil, who still lingered at Uttatoor waiting for an opportunity to effect a junction with Law. On the 9th of May Lawrence detached Captain Dalton with five hundred Europeans and Sepoys and as many Mahratta horse to oust193 him; a task which Dalton accomplished by making such a display of his force that D'Auteuil, conceiving Clive's whole army to be upon him, retreated after a faint resistance to Volconda. In the course of the next few days Clive captured an important post which severed194 Law's communications with the north and commanded the camp of Seringham. Thereupon the greater part of Chunda Sahib's army deserted, some of the men even taking service with Clive. Shortly afterwards the British crossed the Cauvery and established themselves on the island of Seringham itself, hemming195 the French in closer and closer. Then D'Auteuil, roused by the desperate state of his comrade, took courage and again moved southward from Volconda. Clive was at once despatched with a force to Uttatoor to meet him; but D'Auteuil's heart again failed him when he arrived within seven miles of that[214] position, and he retreated hastily towards Volconda. He was not, however, to escape thus easily. Clive at once pushed forward the Mahrattas to harass196 him on the march; his Sepoys, veterans of Arcot, marched their swiftest after the Mahrattas and opened the attack by themselves; and last of all the British, who had been unable to keep pace with the Sepoys, arrived at the scene of action, when D'Auteuil, seeing resistance to be hopeless, surrendered. His force consisted of but one hundred Europeans and less than eight hundred Sepoys and natives, of whom the latter were at once disarmed197 and released. Thus vanished Law's last hope of relief. Chunda Sahib in vain urged him to make a sally against the divided forces of the British, and to cut his way out to Carical. Law would not move. On the 13th of June he surrendered; and eight hundred French troops and two thousand Sepoys became prisoners of war, while forty-one pieces of artillery passed into the hands of the victors. A few days later Chunda Sahib, who had made terms of surrender for himself, was treacherously198 assassinated199 by order of the Tanjorine General, and his head was sent to his successful rival, Mohammed Ali. Thus for the present ended the long agony of the contest for Trichinopoly. To all appearance Dupleix was really beaten at last; but his resources were not yet exhausted, and the last battle had not yet been fought before the city on the Cauvery.
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1
initiate
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| vt.开始，创始，发动；启蒙，使入门；引入 | |
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2
initiated
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| n. 创始人 adj. 新加入的 vt. 开始，创始，启蒙，介绍加入 | |
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3
intervention
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| n.介入，干涉，干预 | |
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4
deposed
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| v.罢免( depose的过去式和过去分词 )；（在法庭上）宣誓作证 | |
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detailed
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| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
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6
embarked
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| 乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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7
cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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8
batter
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| v.接连重击；磨损；n.牛奶面糊；击球员 | |
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battering
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| n.用坏，损坏v.连续猛击( batter的现在分词 ) | |
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10
breach
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| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
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11
contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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12
cavalry
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| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
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13
cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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14
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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15
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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16
precedent
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| n.先例，前例；惯例；adj.在前的，在先的 | |
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17
paltry
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| adj.无价值的，微不足道的 | |
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18
ignobly
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| 卑贱地，下流地 | |
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19
momentous
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| adj.重要的，重大的 | |
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20
cession
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| n.割让，转让 | |
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21
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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22
confinement
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| n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限 | |
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23
ransom
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| n.赎金，赎身；v.赎回，解救 | |
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24
imprisonment
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| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
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25
nominally
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| 在名义上，表面地； 应名儿 | |
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26
garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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27
infantry
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| n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
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28
feat
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| n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的 | |
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29
slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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30
victorious
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| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
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31
hoist
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| n.升高，起重机，推动；v.升起，升高，举起 | |
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32
invoked
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| v.援引( invoke的过去式和过去分词 )；行使（权利等）；祈求救助；恳求 | |
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33
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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34
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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35
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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36
extort
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| v.勒索，敲诈，强要 | |
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37
astute
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| adj.机敏的，精明的 | |
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38
negotiation
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| n.谈判，协商 | |
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39
haggling
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| v.讨价还价( haggle的现在分词 ) | |
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40
favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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41
entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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42
imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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43
fortress
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| n.堡垒，防御工事 | |
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44
negotiations
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| 协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过 | |
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45
overtures
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| n.主动的表示，提议；（向某人做出的）友好表示、姿态或提议( overture的名词复数 )；（歌剧、芭蕾舞、音乐剧等的）序曲，前奏曲 | |
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46
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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47
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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48
isolation
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| n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离 | |
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49
dispersed
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| adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
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50
northward
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| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
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51
fugitives
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| n.亡命者，逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
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52
fugitive
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| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
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53
marvel
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| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
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54
lured
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| 吸引，引诱（lure的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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55
monsoon
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| n.季雨，季风，大雨 | |
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56
sedulously
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| ad.孜孜不倦地 | |
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57
sedition
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| n.煽动叛乱 | |
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58
conspiracy
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| n.阴谋，密谋，共谋 | |
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59
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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60
conspirators
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| n.共谋者，阴谋家( conspirator的名词复数 ) | |
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61
saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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62
homage
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| n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬 | |
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63
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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64
renouncing
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| v.声明放弃( renounce的现在分词 )；宣布放弃；宣布与…决裂；宣布摒弃 | |
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65
pretensions
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| 自称( pretension的名词复数 )； 自命不凡； 要求； 权力 | |
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66
concessions
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| n.（尤指由政府或雇主给予的）特许权( concession的名词复数 )；承认；减价；（在某地的）特许经营权 | |
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67
pompous
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| adj.傲慢的，自大的；夸大的；豪华的 | |
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68
entrusted
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| v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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69
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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70
artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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71
vindictive
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| adj.有报仇心的，怀恨的，惩罚的 | |
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72
untoward
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| adj.不利的，不幸的，困难重重的 | |
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73
potentate
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| n.统治者；君主 | |
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74
permanently
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| adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地 | |
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75
pretext
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| n.借口，托词 | |
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76
lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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77
advent
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| n.(重要事件等的)到来，来临 | |
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78
rabble
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| n.乌合之众，暴民；下等人 | |
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79
legitimate
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| adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法 | |
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80
auxiliary
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| adj.辅助的，备用的 | |
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81
pagoda
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| n.宝塔（尤指印度和远东的多层宝塔），（印度教或佛教的）塔式庙宇 | |
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82
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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83
westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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84
intercept
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| vt.拦截，截住，截击 | |
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85
disastrous
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| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
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86
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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87
strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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88
avert
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| v.防止，避免；转移(目光、注意力等) | |
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89
convoy
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| vt.护送，护卫，护航；n.护送；护送队 | |
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90
civilian
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| adj.平民的，民用的，民众的 | |
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91
evaded
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| 逃避( evade的过去式和过去分词 )； 避开； 回避； 想不出 | |
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92
predecessor
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| n.前辈，前任 | |
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93
battalion
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| n.营；部队；大队(的人) | |
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94
salvation
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| n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困 | |
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95
resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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96
garrisons
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| 守备部队，卫戍部队( garrison的名词复数 ) | |
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unlimited
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| adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的 | |
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98
ledger
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| n.总帐，分类帐；帐簿 | |
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99
rumour
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| n.谣言，谣传，传闻 | |
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100
defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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101
evacuated
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| 撤退者的 | |
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102
sever
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| v.切开，割开；断绝，中断 | |
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103
averse
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| adj.厌恶的；反对的，不乐意的 | |
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104
diminution
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| n.减少；变小 | |
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105
levies
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| （部队）征兵( levy的名词复数 )； 募捐； 被征募的军队 | |
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106
redoubtable
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| adj.可敬的；可怕的 | |
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107
fanaticism
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| n.狂热，盲信 | |
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108
inflamed
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| adj.发炎的，红肿的v.（使）变红，发怒，过热( inflame的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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109
muskets
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| n.火枪，（尤指）滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 ) | |
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110
musket
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| n.滑膛枪 | |
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111
swarmed
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| 密集( swarm的过去式和过去分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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112
galled
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| v.使…擦痛( gall的过去式和过去分词 )；擦伤；烦扰；侮辱 | |
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113
swerved
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| v.（使）改变方向，改变目的( swerve的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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114
trampled
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| 踩( trample的过去式和过去分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
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115
aloof
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| adj.远离的；冷淡的，漠不关心的 | |
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116
expended
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| v.花费( expend的过去式和过去分词 )；使用（钱等）做某事；用光；耗尽 | |
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117
cartridges
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| 子弹( cartridge的名词复数 )； （打印机的）墨盒； 录音带盒； （唱机的）唱头 | |
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118
defenders
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| n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者 | |
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119
ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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120
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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121
repulse
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| n.击退，拒绝；vt.逐退，击退，拒绝 | |
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122
dismantled
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| 拆开( dismantle的过去式和过去分词 )； 拆卸； 废除； 取消 | |
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123
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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124
ravaged
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| 毁坏( ravage的过去式和过去分词 )； 蹂躏； 劫掠； 抢劫 | |
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125
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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126
entrenched
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| adj.确立的，不容易改的(风俗习惯) | |
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127
trench
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| n./v.(挖)沟，(挖)战壕 | |
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128
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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129
retraced
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| v.折回( retrace的过去式和过去分词 )；回忆；回顾；追溯 | |
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130
ambush
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| n.埋伏(地点)；伏兵；v.埋伏；伏击 | |
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131
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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132
grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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133
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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134
waning
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| adj.（月亮）渐亏的，逐渐减弱或变小的n.月亏v.衰落( wane的现在分词 )；（月）亏；变小；变暗淡 | |
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135
dispositions
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| 安排( disposition的名词复数 )； 倾向； （财产、金钱的）处置； 气质 | |
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136
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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137
steadfastness
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| n.坚定，稳当 | |
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138
abreast
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| adv.并排地；跟上(时代)的步伐，与…并进地 | |
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139
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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140
recoiled
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| v.畏缩( recoil的过去式和过去分词 )；退缩；报应；返回 | |
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141
swooping
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| 俯冲，猛冲( swoop的现在分词 ) | |
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142
sergeant
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| n.警官，中士 | |
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143
regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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144
extravagant
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| adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的 | |
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145
supremacy
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| n.至上；至高权力 | |
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146
wrenched
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| v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的过去式和过去分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
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147
essentially
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| adv.本质上，实质上，基本上 | |
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148
incessant
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| adj.不停的，连续的 | |
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149
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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150
commemorate
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| vt.纪念，庆祝 | |
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151
razed
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| v.彻底摧毁，将…夷为平地( raze的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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152
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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153
dart
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| v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲 | |
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154
rankling
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| v.（使）痛苦不已，（使）怨恨不已( rankle的现在分词 ) | |
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155
persistently
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| ad.坚持地；固执地 | |
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156
ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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157
incompetent
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| adj.无能力的，不能胜任的 | |
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158
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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159
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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160
conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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161
explicit
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| adj.详述的，明确的；坦率的；显然的 | |
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162
eastward
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| adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部 | |
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163
delta
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| n.（流的）角洲 | |
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164
intercepting
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| 截取（技术），截接 | |
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165
obliquely
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| adv.斜； 倾斜； 间接； 不光明正大 | |
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166
eminence
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| n.卓越，显赫；高地，高处；名家 | |
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167
inaccessible
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| adj.达不到的，难接近的 | |
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168
apprise
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| vt.通知，告知 | |
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169
apprised
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| v.告知，通知( apprise的过去式和过去分词 )；评价 | |
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170
junction
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| n.连接，接合；交叉点，接合处，枢纽站 | |
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171
duel
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| n./v.决斗；(双方的)斗争 | |
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172
pusillanimous
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| adj.懦弱的，胆怯的 | |
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173
isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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174
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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175
assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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176
circuitous
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| adj.迂回的路的，迂曲的，绕行的 | |
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177
intercepted
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| 拦截( intercept的过去式和过去分词 )； 截住； 截击； 拦阻 | |
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178
sentry
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| n.哨兵，警卫 | |
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179
pagodas
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| 塔，宝塔( pagoda的名词复数 ) | |
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180
incessantly
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| ad.不停地 | |
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181
obliterated
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| v.除去( obliterate的过去式和过去分词 )；涂去；擦掉；彻底破坏或毁灭 | |
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182
rebuking
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| 责难或指责( rebuke的现在分词 ) | |
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183
exasperation
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| n.愤慨 | |
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184
mutinous
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| adj.叛变的，反抗的；adv.反抗地，叛变地；n.反抗，叛变 | |
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185
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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186
accosted
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| v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭 | |
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187
withdrawn
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| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
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188
parley
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| n.谈判 | |
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189
sergeants
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| 警官( sergeant的名词复数 )； （美国警察）警佐； （英国警察）巡佐； 陆军（或空军）中士 | |
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190
brutality
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| n.野蛮的行为，残忍，野蛮 | |
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191
connivance
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| n.纵容；默许 | |
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192
toils
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| 网 | |
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193
oust
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| vt.剥夺，取代，驱逐 | |
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194
severed
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| v.切断，断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 )；断，裂 | |
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195
hemming
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| 卷边 | |
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196
harass
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| vt.使烦恼，折磨，骚扰 | |
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197
disarmed
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| v.裁军( disarm的过去式和过去分词 )；使息怒 | |
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198
treacherously
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| 背信弃义地； 背叛地； 靠不住地； 危险地 | |
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199
assassinated
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| v.暗杀( assassinate的过去式和过去分词 )；中伤；诋毁；破坏 | |
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