Page:The Aristocracy of Southern India.djvu/220

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The Aristocracy of Southern India.

versed in a number of languages, and was also a poet. Raya Jagapathi Razu Bahadur Garu, who succeeded him, conquered all his enemies, and killed a Muhammedan ruler named Jaffer Ali near the Vindia mountains. He composed some verses in Telugu in honor of the God, Ramaswami at Bhadrachalam, and gave away Yanam, which was a sub-division of the Peddapur estate, to the Trench. His son Timma Jagapathi Razu Bahadur maintained a large army consisting of cavalry and infantry. He died in 1797. It was his son Raya Jagapathi Razu Bahadur Garu that obtained a permanent, sunnud for enjoyment of lands under him from the British Government in 1802, He died in 1805 leaving behind him three widows of whom the senior, Rani Lakshmi Narasayya Garu succeeded him. Soon after this, disputes arose as regards the succession between the Rani and Jagannadha Jagapathi Razu Bahadur Garu, the cousin of the former Rajah. The matter was referred to Government ; they upheld the claims of the latter, and accordingly installed him as such. After the death of the youngest Rani in 1837, Suryanaraya Jagapathi Razu Bahadur, son of Jagannadha Jagapathi Razu Bahadur, succeeded to the estate. He was in charge of the same only for five years, during which period, owing to unforeseen difficulties such as cyclones and famine, the arrears of tax could not be paid to Government. Further the estate was encumbered with dpbt owing to mismanagement during the time of the Rani referred to above.

For scarcely had three years elapsed from the date of his succession, when the Collector brought the estate for sale on account of arrears. His proceedings were, however, set aside by the local Government, and they passed an