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8 Early Dynasties of the Carnatic. THE YADAVA DYNASTY OF DEVAGIRI, OR DEQGURH. The .. the F the Yádavas two separate families can be traced bearing the same name, the one ruling partly over the Deccan proper, with a portion of the Carnatic conquered from the Chalúkyas; the other, over provinces lying to the south west of the Chalúkya dominions, which bore the distinctive appellation of "Bellal." The first of these follows the Chalúkyas in order, and the interval of 128 years which succeeded the disruption of this kingdom and the death of Vijala Kálabhúrya in S. 1088, A.D. 1166, to the Mahomedan invasion of Alla-oo-Deen in A.D. 1294, was the greatest of their power. Several inscriptions quoted by Mr. Walter Elliot give the genealogy of the eldest branch of the family from the earliest presumed ancestor, which will be noticed in its proper place. There are comparatively few inscription records of the Devagiri branch of the family, and the period at which they separated from the elder stock is not discoverable. earliest date ascertained is found in an inscription of Ballam Déva at Hippergah in the Sholapoor collectorate. which is twenty-four years subsequent to the acquisition of the Chalúkya kingdom, and is of S. 1112, A.D. 1190. It contains vague enumerations of dynasties to the following effect:-"First reigned the mighty race of Pándu; "and after them came many others of the Surya Vansa, became illustrious; "Chalúkyas, many of whom having reigned with power were overthrown; and the race of Kala-bhúrya "Bijala obtained celebrity by the strength of their arms, and reigned for a time; after which the splendour of "the Yádu Kula became conspicuous, like that of Bhíma." Traces of the conquests of the Yádus are found. for the most part in inscriptions in the present Dharwar district, and prove them to have extended over the whole of the western and south western provinces of the Chalúkyas; and it appears from these records, that not only the Chalúkya, but the Bellál kingdom, the capital of which was Dwára Samoodra, in Mysore, had also succumbed to them. These conquests were made by Sinha Déva, who succeeded his grandfather Ballam Déva in S. 1132, A.D. 1220; and the acquisition of Vulára or Malabar, and the Konkan, by his general Bomma Déva, is especially commemorated. The last of his inscriptions is dated S. 1169, A. D. 1247, when he had reigned thirty years, residing at Dévagiri, or Deogurh. Two other successors follow, Kunner Déva in S. 1170, A.D. 1248, and Mahádéva in S. 1182, A.D. 1260. The last independent prince was Mahádéva's son, Ramchunder, who succeeded his father in S. 1193, A. D. 1271, and under the name of "Ram Deo," was the first to encounter the Mahomedans under Alla-oo-Deen Khiljy in S. 1216, A. D. 1294. Against this new and warlike power, the Hindoo princes of the Deccan made comparatively little resistance; and the hardy Moghul and Tartar veterans seem to have borne down all before them. At Ellichpoor in Berar, Alla-oo-Deen fought his first action with the Hindoos of the south, and a great mound near the city bearing the legend of the "Gunj Shaheed," "the heap of martyrs," commemorates those who were slain on this occasion. It is not improbable, perhaps, that the action was a severe one; but it was decisive, for between Ellichpoor and Deogurh the young invader met with no opposition. On his arrival there, according to Ferishta's record, he invested the place, the fortifications of which were not then complete. The Rajah and his son were both absent; but the former returning with all speed, strove to throw himself between the city and the enemy, and in doing so suffered a severe defeat. This is probably the most authentic account; but another assigns the Rajah's submission to the fact of a large number of sacks of salt having been taken into the fort, by mistake, instead of flour; on the discovery of which, there being no other provision left, capitulation became inevitable. Meanwhile his son, Shunkur Déva, who had collected an army, attacked Alla-oo-Deen, in defiance of his father's request to the contrary, and being utterly overthrown, Ráma Déva was obliged to submit to enormous terms of ransom, which are scarcely credible-600 maunds of pearls, two maunds of jewels, 1000 of silver, 4000 pieces of silk, and other precious commodities are enumerated as the victor's spoils; and, perhaps, greatest of all, the engagement of the Rajah to pay an annual tribute to Dehli. It may easily be supposed that such a booty excited the cupidity of the northern Mahomedans to the highest pitch: and the comparatively easy manner in which it had been obtained, combined with the knowledge of even greater Hindoo kingdoms to the south, ripe for plunder, rendered any long inaction impossible. For a time the tribute was remitted to Dehli; but on its failure, a