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70 WARS OF THE BAJAHS, fChap, Vii.

le placed hereon duty. Heseized Murari Rao and sent him away by the Anantapuram road: while himself marched with his troops by the Kuderu route, towards Chitravallu. He gave the command of the district of Gooty to Balaji, Rao, desirtug bim to collect Rs. 40,006 a year froma the district of Anantapuram. They accordingly cuntinued paying this money, though not regularty.* Thus the Family fell into poverty, At this time Balaji Ruo died: and the Gutti district then was committed to Narasappa the {subedar) commandant. In year Plava, month Sravana, the 2d day of the bright fortnight (23d July 1781,] his rule began.

13, He placed his garrison and ruled over all that district. He sent his messengers to distrain for money on the Anantapuram lands. We mercilessly closed the gates of the fort and the doors of the mansion-house and exercised much severity. As they had no money to pay, this Subadar Narasappa sent a clerk named Bettadi Rayu: directing that to prevent the loss of money due by the peo- ple of the place, this man should seatt Sidda Ramapa Nayn [the helpless Jaird]: and, (said he) “you are to look to everything, and write me tidings.” Thus he sent this clerk: who on coming, and Jearning all the state of things, wrote a reply saying ‘there are ne resources in the country, nor is there any cash in the treasury.’

On receiving this letter, Narasappa came with eome troops; he halted near the head man’s garden, He sent for [the luckless baron] Sidda Ramapa from the fort and bad an interview with him, Naragappa alighted in the house of Timmanna the (sabnivees) recorder, in the suburbs. The laird then took leave and went to his mansion.

14. Next day, Narasappa the commandant went into the fort, and said, ‘If you will pay us what is due to us we will go away : what way [have you for paying] the money ? (*) Thus he questioned his honour Sidda Ramappa, who replied “* we have no means of paying the money [demanded]. Look after your possession yourselves.” So saying he delivered up the keys and the seals of the fort.

Lit; before and after :—a little before or after.

+ In such passages, fo seat means, to arrest a man and never to let him stir from under the lormentors unlil the sum demanded is paid. This was one of the primitive customs of the Hindus.

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