Indian Antiquary Vol 46

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 21

JANUARY, 1917]
THE CYCLONE AT PONDICHERRY, 1761
of three which had been foundered, and the only four which remained in sight (on] the water covered with wreck and death which every waye brought to their strand. Nor was the prospect of their enemies et land less free from destruction in proportiog to the element in which it fell. All the tents and temporary cazernes [barracks] of the English army on the Red hill and in all their out posts were blown to pieces and torn from the ground; all the ammunition for the immediate service abroad was destroyed. Many of the natives attending the camp, from the natural weakness of their constitution, perished from the inclemency, and no vestiges remained in any order from the different battalions of Europeans, for all the soldiers have shad) been obliged to quit their arms in order to seek shelter where ever it was to be found. On the other hand, the sea had passed over the beach and overflowed the country, and, helped by the wind, had ruined all the batteries which the English had contractod [constructed] and employed against the town. But this inundation preserved the English army, for if the ground had been passable, 500 men marching out of the town with proper ammunition would for three hours no where have met fifty to oppose them. Captain Kempenfelt's 30 Account of the Storm. 31
On board the Norfolk, in Pondicherry Road,
30th January, 1761. SIR, I take this opportunity to address my respects to you and to convey some account of our Transactions here. After parting from you, we remaind all the S. W. Monsoon off Cuddilore in expectation of the French Squadron, of whose coming we had several reports, but they never appeared, either judging us too strong from the Reinforcement we had received, or unable from the want of Provisions and Stores. Our Army, after having reduced Karecal and all the Out Forts of the Enemy, except Gingy and Tegara, 32 formed the Blockade of Pondicherry and had some thoughts of commencing the Siege, but at last judged that they should not be able to go through with it till the Monsocn set in; thereupon it was deferred till that Season was over. Upon this, Mr. Stevens judged it Expedient to go to Trincomall with the most defective of the Ships to refit, and left five of the rest to continue the Blockade and risque the Monsoon; there [? these] were the America, Medway, Panther, Duke of Acquitain, and Newcastle. We arrived at Trinconomel the 29th of October, and the 16th of December sailed to return upon the Coast, with the Lenox, Grafton, York, Weymouth, Tiger, Sunderland, Falmouth, Salisbury and Queenboro', and that this might be sooner effected the Admiral directed each Ship to make the best of their way without waiting Company. The 25th of December we, with the Sunderland, Falmouth and Protector Fireship, joined our Ships before Pondicherry. They told us the Monsoon bad been very favourable. Our Army had opened some distant Batteries against the Town, and were landing Cannon, &ca., to advance their attacks. By Deserters we learnt that the place was in great Distress for Provision.
The 1st of January we had a large swell hove in from the Eastward, and indeed for two days before we had it more than common, but the Sky appeared settled and the Breezes were regular, inclining off Shore in the Night and from the Sta in the Day, till the first, when
30 Richard Kempenfelt 1718-1762, notablo as the Admiral who went down in the Royal George - with twice four hundred men." See the notice of him in the Dict. Nal. Biog,
31 Orme MSS., Vol. 62, pp. 185-190.
32 Kårikål, a French settlement on the Coromandel Coast, near Negapatam; Gingee (Chenji) a hill fortress in S. Arcot, 35 mls. N. W. from Pondicherry: Tiyaga Drug in S. Arcot, a hill fortress, situatod in 11°48 N. Lat. and 9°8' E. Long., on the road from Arcot to Trichinopoly.