of Dadma Avatat Ram Sing. Haricharan Rajah who succeeded him had a chequered career. He was once captured by the Rajah of Parla and kept in confinement for sometime. It was not long, before he married the granddaughter of the Rajah of Parla and got the title of Chotra Sahib. He went with his wife to Kallikote and spent the remaining portion of his life there. He was succeeded by Krishna Saran who performed a jagam called Saradhabaja Peya. He was ill for a long time, and thinking a change would restore his health, he went to Cuttack, where he died. Balakeswara Deo who succeeded him went with the Rajah of Puri to Cuttack and there they married the daughters of Sri Rama Singh, a member of the Chohanu community. It was on this occasion that the Rajah of Puri conferred on Bala Keswara Deo, the title of Marda Raja as a hereditary distinction. The latter discovered the waterfall, known as Nirmala Jhar, where he also built some temples. He dug a big tank Marda Sagar, founded a village and gave it away as a gift to poor Brahmins, and also built a fort called "Mardakote." Jagannadha Marda Raja Deo, who succeeded him, lived to a great age, and had the pleasure of seeing his great grandson.
The next prominent member of the family was Madan Gopal Marda Raja Deo. He had many brothers, and *^ there was a quarrel among them, with the result that some of them were killed, and a few left the place. One of them Nalinakya Marda Raja Deo succeeded him. He founded many villages in his name, and made considerable improvement in the estate.
The people of Ganjam, in a body, at this time, rose against the British Government, when it would appear that
