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is supported by the fact that Grecian and Roman coins have been found there. Mr. Elphinstone assumes that Ptolemy's Plithana, ΠΛΙΘΑΝΑ, is no more than Paithana, ΠΑΙΘΑΝΑ, the orthographic error being evident; and there is a Paitan on the Godavery which is supposed to have been the capital of Sháliváhana in the first century. As reasonably, however, it may be assumed that Tagara, τάγαρα, is an orthographical error for Nagara, νάγαρα (?) In this case, as Paithana and Nagara have precisely the same signification of "city," they may have originally meant one and the same place, which in reality was the ancient "city" already mentioned; and it is consistent with the splendid era of Sháliváhana that he should not only have carved out the fort of Deogurh, but Hinduized the Buddhist caves of Ellora, adding others of his own to the already existing series. To these, however, the Temple of Kylas must be an exception; its architectural style is unquestionably that of southern India, and the general design and ornamental portions of the pillars correspond with many of the temples of Mysore and the southern Mahratta country, which will be illustrated in this volume, and were erected probably between the sixth and thirteenth centuries.

Of this dynasty there are traces by inscriptions both in the Mackenzie and Elliot collections, and the legend of the rise of the family is the same in both. A "Sala" progenitor resided in Sasakapúra. In the gardens of that town dwelt a Brahpate, or Yoti, who, when sitting in "tapassa," or meditation, was attacked by a tiger, Puli, or Shardúla, a fearful beast with dreadful eyes, and lashing its sides with its tail. The devotee gave Sala a weapon, blessed it, and said, "Saladu poi" (draw and kill); on which he drew the weapon and killed the tiger, and hence the appellation Poi Sala, or Hoi Sala. Other traditions allege that Sala slew the tiger, which was committing great depredations, at the request of the villagers, who thenceforward allowed him annually "a quarter of a fanam on every candy of their grain crops, with which he raised adherents and became formidable, increasing his demands in proportion to his success, till his revenue reached fourteen fanams on every candy." Sala, in any case, became the founder of the greatness of the family, and assumed the title of "Bellála," from his power (Bala), and adopted the tiger, or Shardúla, as his family ensign. A genealogy, quoted by Mr. Walter Elliot from several inscriptions, gives a list of eight princes, the last of whom is Narasinha, who is described as ruling from his own limits to Uchangi Dargah, and laving his horses' sides in the Krishna. The actual boundary to the north, therefore, being Uchangi, not far from the present Hurpunhullee, the rest may be understood as conveying an idea of the limits of the predatory raids; and as the Chalúkyas unquestionably ruled as far as the Tumboodra, the inference that the Bellálas pressed their conquests as far as the Krishna, cannot be maintained. It has already been noticed, also, that in the reign of Vikram Chalúkya II, the Bellálas were defeated in an invasion of the Chalúkya kingdom by Achuga Devi, the Chalúkya general. Vishnuverddhana, or Bitti Déva, the Bellál king, unquestionably the greatest of the dynasty, who made this invasion, was the fifth prince in succession to Sala, and cotemporary of Vikram Chalúkya II: and, as Mr. Walter Elliot observes, may have penetrated to the Krishna before he was defeated. The local tradition, indeed, before alluded to, fixes the scene of the great battle near Moodgul, in the Rachore Dooab. The grandson of this king, by name Veer Bellála, who succeeded after two intermediate princes, Udayáditya, and Narasinha I, appears to have been a warlike person, who extended the Bellál dominions not only north of the Tumboodra, that is, probably into the Rachore Dooab, but over the whole of the southern Mahratta country or Canara, called Kuntala Dés; and it is recorded in the inscription at Guduk, that his general, Bomma, defeated the army of the Kálabhúryas, commanded by Brahma Chamupati, capturing sixty elephants; moreover, that he destroyed the "ships" of the southern country. These events would seem to fix the era of his dynasty at the period of the final dissolution of the Chalúkya kingdom under Vijala. In the record of the Devagiri Yádava, "Ballam," at Hippergah, S. 1112, A.D. 1190 (ante), a victory is claimed over the Belláls; and it is by no means improbable that both parties engaged may have claimed and recorded advantages which neither absolutely gained. Be this as it may, there is no doubt that the war between the Yádavas of Devagiri, Deogurh, and the Bellálas, continued for some time; and by an inscription at Anigiri, it is recorded that in a great battle in which Ballam was pursued from Surtur to Lokigonda, he was slain by Veer Bellál himself. Mr. Walter Elliot gives a translation of this event from the inscription, which is an interesting record:—