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therefore picked out fitting men for the purpose, and kept them in readiness with their weapons. Presently it drew towards dawn, and the laird of Anantapuram called the barber: he sat down and was being shaved.

Those villains told the laird of Bellari, 'This is the proper moment.' So he sent some trustworthy swordsmen, named Nīladu, and Cōdē^[1] Nīladu, and Guruvadu, with others. He armed them with Codugu swords^[2] and other weapons, and sent them in. They entered and struck off the head of the laird of Anantapuram. The barber Peda Timmadu fled out backwards, by the sally port, went into the suburbs, and told the news.

8. Then all the people in the suburbs collected in a body at the Cattulūr^[3] gate, and stood armed. The wives and sons, and other people of Anantapuram Ramapa Naya, who were in the palace, set up cries and shrieks; and when this Nīladu and others came and told their master, Ramapa of Bellari, that they had cut off the laird's head, he sent guards to stop the people in the palace from howling. When the laird of Bellari heard that the towns folk had assembled, armed, and ready for combat, he ordered his men to fasten the [murdered] laird's head on a pole, and to exhibit it at the Tiger's head^[4] [gate.] All beheld the head and cried Treason! they came back, and stood in a crowd at the Herd-meadow.

As soon as this news was told to the laird of Bellari, he called for Zaggula Mallappa and told him to pacify the multitude: and to send them all to their homes. This man came and said, Whatever has happened has been done by the will of God.^[5] "Thus he pacified them, and reassured the troops and sent them away.

1. ↑ Cōdē means younger. It is generally used of cattle.
2. ↑ That is bill hooks such as are used in Coorg.
3. ↑ Cattul-ūr, the name of a village, means "Swords" the name of a well known battle field, in England.
4. ↑ Huli, Kannadi word for a tiger.
5. ↑ This is an instance of a ruling principle of the Hindus: attributing every good and every evil act, to predestination: this is strongly insisted on in the Introduction to the Hitopadesa. This principle destroys all moral responsibility, and we sometimes find the Hindus (like Job's wife) cursing God for misfortunes.