WYNAAD MISFORTUNES. HYDAR SEIZES COORG. 93

naad men were sent for and examined. Hyder Ali found, that the country claimed had really belonged to Lingaraja's ancestors, and promised to assist him in the recovery of this old possession. Upon this Lingaraja returned to Coorg and collected a force of 3000 men. He invaded the Wynaad and erected a wooden fort at Kalpavati. He himself remained there a whole year. Then he left a garrison of 2000 men under Kaggoɗlauàdu Annappa's Appayanna in the new fort, the command of which he entrusted to Manjira Appaya. He himself with 1000 men returned to Coorg. A. D. 1775 (Kaliyuga 4877, Manmata year) Appájiraja died. Lingaraja himself succeeded. He brought up the two sons of Appàjiràja with his own son Víraràja Vodea and the rest of the family. The Wynaal garrison, posted at Kalpàvati kept their ground for five years, from 1774-1779. In the year 1779, however, they were forced to retreat, being short of provisions and closely pressed by the Rajah of Kóte.

Upon receipt of this disagreeable intelligence, Lingaraja despatched the two sons of his elder brother Appáji with a force of 2000 Coorgs to the Wynaad. On their way they were intercepted by the Rajah of Kóte, who cut them in pieces to a man. Also one of the princes was slain on the spot. The other was taken prisoner and carried to the Kadanùrkúla, where he was killed also.

Lingaraja departed this life in the beginning of the year 1780. (Kaliyuga 4881, Vikári year, on Wednesday, the tenth day of Mághamása, i. e. February.) His sons, Virarája Vodea and his younger brother Lingaràja, were of tender age. (The elder of the two being only seventeen.) Hyder Ali was glad of a pretext for taking possession of Coorg, until, as he said, the princes would come of age. A Brahman, Subarasaya, formerly minister (Káranika) of the Coorg Rajahs, was appointed Màmaldàr of Coorg by the usurper.

In the year 1780 (Kaliyuga 4882, Shàrvari year) Hyder Ali marched an army to Arkàdu (Arcot) against Mohammad Ali Khan. The Coorgs were enraged at the abduction of their princes from the country, and the Brahman's lording it over them. Their discontent broke out into open rebellion in 1782 (Kaliyuga 4884, Shubhakrit year.) They took up arms in June, at the setting in of the monsoon. Subarasaya reported to Hyder Ali. Hy der replied from Arcot: "The princes are to live in the fort of Garúru. On my return I shall come to Coorg, settle the affairs of the country, and reinstate the princes." Subarasaya deported the princes from Mercara to Garúru in September 1782. Upon this all the Coorgs flew to arms, drove the Musulmans out of the country, and proclaimed their independence. In the same year Hyder Ali was afflicted with the king's ulcer (a boil, rising on the back and affecting the spine, deemed mortal by the Hindus) and died at Arcot.

On receiving the news of Hydar Ali's death, the Bombay Government resolved on sending an expedition against Nagara under General Matthews. He had orders to take also Kodyál (Mangalore) and other forts held by Mysore garrisons. General Matthews was successful. He left a garrison at Mangalore, and took up his head quarters at Nagara. Tippu took the field against him. The family of the Coorg Rajahs was sent to Periapatna, where they suffered from want, and fell sick. Many of them were cut off by the small pox. Among the first victims was the mother of Víraràjéndra Vodea. Vìraràjèndra's elder brother, the son of another wife of his father's, and the families of the two brothers survived. Tippu, being unable to prevail over General Matthews by force of arms, offered him free passage with the troops under his command, if he would surrender Nagara. The General capitulated on these terms. But when he had left the fort, he was taken

NAGARA MANGALU'R. RISING OF THE COORGS. 95

prisoner with all his men. Tippu possessed himself of Nagara, and thence moved to Mangalore, where he invested the Fort. The garrison capitulated, and went on board of ships, which lay in the roads off Mangalore. Tippu destroyed the fort of Mangalore, and came to Coorg in 1784, when he compounded matters with the Insurgents, and returned to Seringa patam.

In 1785 (Kaliyuga 4887, Vishvavasu year) a new insurrection broke out. Tippu ordered Janulabdin to march into Coorg with 15,000 men, and to restore order. Janulabdin entered Coorg at Ulugulli (a place in Múdugèrinádu) and encamped there. Between four and five thousand Coorgs attacked and defeated him. He retreated to Mercara. Being unable to hold out against the Coorgs, he resolved to fight his way back to Bettadapura, a strong place on the western frontier of Mysore. At Uligulli, on his way back, he suffered again a severe loss. When Tippu heard of the repulse of his General, he collected another army within two months, and re-entered Coorg at Uligulli. He came to terms with the Coorgs, and stayed six weeks at Uligulli. Thence he proceeded to Mercara, where he effected another amicable settlement. After fifteen days he went to Talakàvéri. He encamped at Dèvattuparambu. At first he negotiated. When the Coorgs felt secure, he seized them suddenly with their families and carried them to Mysore. There he separated them and forced them to become Musulmans. They were received as Sheiks, Syeds, Mogals, and Patans. In return he sent Mohammadans of the four classes into Coorg, and gave to them the lands and slaves of the exiles. Besides he transplanted large numbers of farmers from Adwàni (Adoni) in the Bellary district, into Coorg as laborers on the estates of the new Musulman settlers. Nagappaya, the nephew of Subarasaya, was charged with the Government of the country. Soon,

however, the Brahman Commissioner was found guilty of malversation, and condemned to the gallows. He fled in time to save his life, and found refuge with the Kóle Rajah. From Kóte he returned to Coorg with a band of one hundred marauders, and commenced pillaging the country. Vìraràja, who was still detained at Periapattana, received intelligence of the state of affairs in his principality. One Thursday night, at twelve o'clock, on the 22d day of Margèshira, about the middle of December 1788 (Kaliyuga 4890, Kilaka year) he made his escape, with his family, from Periapatua. Some faithful Coorg friends assisted him, and conducted him safely into his own country. He found a secure retreat for his family at Kurchi in Kiggattnàdu. Nagappaya informed the Rajah of Kóte, that Víraràjèndra had returned. The Kóte Rajah desired Nagappaya, to allure Víraràja to the Malayàlam. The cunning Brahman succeeded in gaining the confidence of the young prince, and inveigled him as far as A'rala, below the ghatts. There he left Vírarája in order to apprize the Rajah of the arrival of his victim. On his return, he was accompanied by fifty armed Nairs, who watched Víraraja, and detained him at A'rala under various pretexts. Nagappaya went back to the Kóle Arasu. After an absence of five days, he returned again and made excuses, It became evident at length, that the Rajah of Kóle was bent on mischief. Messengers now came from Kiggattnádu, informing the Prince, that troops had been sent by Tippu, to search after the fugitive and to apprehend him. Vìraràja sent word to the Kóte Rajah, that he wished to go to Coorg, in order to secure his family. Having accomplished this object, he would return and wait upon the Rajah. The latter replied, that he would now have his revenge for the blood of his ancestor Víravarma, slain at Tómára by one of Vírarája's ancestors. However, Vírarájéndra contrived his escape out

TREACHERY OF THE KO'TE RAJAH.

97

of the fatal snares by signing a document, transferring to the Rajah of Kôte ten Nadu (districts), viz. Kiggattnádu, Ahmadnádu, Yedenálkanádu, and a fort at Tómára. He hastened back to Kurchi. Part of his family, and his nephews, he left at this place. He himself, with the rest, retired to a spot on the banks of the Bárpolle river. After the lapse of fifteen days, the Rajah of Kóte advanced into Coorg with a body of three hundred Nairs, to take possession of the new territory, acquired by fraud. Now came Vírarája's turn. He called together a considerable force of Coorgs, surrounded the camp of the Rajah, and exacted of him the return of the document, signed at A'rala, and the signature of another paper, renouncing on the part of the Rajah of Kóte every claim upon Kiggattnàdu or Bainadu (Wynaad). As soon as this settlement was made, the Kóte Rajah fled at midnight in the direction of his own country. Vírarájah sent a detachment of Coorgs after the fugitive. These, on their way fell in with Nagappaya and took him prisoner. Vírarájéndra took him to Yevvakapádi in Pádinȧlkanádu where he kept him in chains. To the same spot he removed that part of his family, which had resided near the Bárpolle river. And now he sallied forth with his Coorgs against the Musulman usurpers. Soon the whole country from Bislighatt to Mánantvádi was cleared of them. The rightful Coorg sovereign re-possessed himself of his hereditary country. Víraràjéndrä established his camp at Siddhéshvera (a place between Fraserpett and Vírarájéndrapett.) In the day time he fought the Musulmans, during the night he collected provisions for his people in the Mysore districts contiguous to Coorg. When Tippu saw the Musulmans; who had been expelled by Vírarájéndra, he ordered Gulám Ali, Gáji Khán and Darvedil Khán to chastise Coorg. A large force of infantry and cavalry was

I