120 THE FRENCH IN INDIA UNDER DUPLEIX

nopoli to retake Arcot, made some fierce assaults that were repulsed by the desperate valour of dive's scanty garrison, who made such an obstinate stand behind very feeble defences that the attempt had to be abandoned. The English and their allies, led by Clive and Lawrence, then took the open field against their enemy, cut off the French communications, dispersed Chanda Sahib's army, captured the French officers, and completely re- lieved Trichinopoli. Chanda Sahib was murdered by the Marathas who had joined Mohammad Ali; and Muzaffar Jang was killed in a skirmish on his march toward Haidarabad. Meanwhile, Bussy had established himself at Hai- darabad, where he had set up a Nizam, had organized a complete corps d'armee under his own command, and had made himself so much too powerful for the native government that he necessarily provoked much jeal- ousy, enmity, and plotting against him. Having suc- ceeded, nevertheless, by great dexterity and firmness in maintaining his position, he obtained from the Nizam an assignment of four rich districts lying along the eastern coast above the Karnatic, still called the North- ern Sirkars, which yielded ample revenue for the pay- ment of his troops. Yet Bussy was well aware that his footing at Hai- darabad, far inland, was isolated and precarious, de- pendent entirely on a semi-mutinous army under a few French officers. He had, therefore, consistently advised making peace with the English; and now the campaign in the Karnatic was visibly turning against