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26
WARS OF THE RAJAHS.
[Chap. III.

12. After two years,[1] this (A. P.) Ramappa N. wished to recapture his own village Kanumukkula, which was [formerly] seized by Koneti Rao of Raidurgam. He marched with his bands from Buccapatnam, bringing scaling ladders: he set them up against the fort of Kanumukkula; but before [the swordsmen] could mount up, the people in that town with the leader Erra[2] Nagi Reddi were aroused; they threw down the ladders and drove the baron of Anantapuram to flight. Then [Erra Nagi Reddi] wrote a letter to [his lord] Koneti Rao, of Raya Durgam; who on reading it was displeased. He marched with his troops to Buccapatnam; and as the lake was not full he halted there: he besieged the town and set (mōrjā[3]) batteries against it; and as he made it a close[4] siege, one Virappa, who was commandant and superintendent of the place, wrote and sent a letter to his lord (A. P.) Ramappa stating that "the village is closely besieged, and there is no relief [to be hoped]: if you will within four or five days bring a force and raise the siege, well: otherwise the village will fall into their hands."

13. When this reached Ramapa he read it, and immediately set ready the troops and the horse that were here: and he wrote a letter to Sānē Narasimha Nayu, at Peddapalem, stating that "Buccapatnam is now besieged; please (v.) to come and assist in raising the siege." This letter he gave to the hand of Narayanappa the (desai) head man, saying "set out from hence, deliver this letter, and summon Narasimha Nayu with all speed; come to the Puttu Parru border, and then send me word"—So saying he sent him. Then this (A. P) Ramapa Nayu set out with his troopers. They deviated from the road, and went into the Tadimarri country: they then rapidly marched by the Mallemgonda route, and entered Buccapatnam by the gate at the chapel of Saint Someswara.

  1. Page 23.
  2. Many family names have a particular import. Erra means Red, or fair: not black.
  3. Morja (Persian mōrcheh) is explained a battery: but a mound or bank might be the best interpretation. See 2 Sam. xx 15, Ezek. xvii. 17. Or, approaches; See Johnson's quotation from Dryden.
  4. Cheru: the root in U of cheruta, to approach.