Buchanan, Francis: A Journey from Madras through the countries of Mysore, Canara and Malabar ... (Band 3) (London, 1807)

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A JOURNEY FROM MADRAS THROUGH

Jan. 17.

Hosso-dvrga

History of
the Nileswara
Rajds,

CHAPTER corocanus), Horse-gram (Dolichos biflorus), Sesamum, and different
pulses. The hill-rice is here unknown; the soil, however, is exactly
the same as that which is used to the southward for this grain.

The fort is large, and well built of the Laterite common all over
Malayala. The bastions being round, it is more capable of defence
than the native forts in general, in which the defences are usually-
square. It occupies a fine rising ground, looks well at a distance,
and commands a noble prospect. The only inhabitants are a few
Puttar Brdhmans, who serve a temple, and whose ancestors were
placed there by the Ikeri Raja, who built the fort.

According to the report of the Nairs here, all this part of the
country originally belonged to Colata-nada; but from the river of
Cavai to that near Be'dcul had been long alienated, from the house
of Colastri, to the Nilhwara Raja, a chief of the Tamuri family. In
the year 905 {A. D. 17H-)> Rama Varma Raja of Nileswara was in-
vaded by the Ikeri Raja, who in the following year built the fort.
After a struggle of twelve years, the Nair prince was compelled to
become tributary. His country was divided into three Nadas, or
districts, for each of which he agreed to pay annually 530 Ikeri
Pagodas, or 213/. 12*. 3d. On paying this sum the Rajas were
allowed to retain the entire management of their country, and seem
at least so early to have established a regular land-tax in lieu of
their claims on the moveable property of all persons dying in their
territory. These claims they entirely relinquished, and took one
half of the landlord's (Jenmcar's) profit on rice-lands, and one fifth
of his profit on gardens. On the destruction of the Ikeri family,
Hyder took possession of this country, and increased the tribute to
1500Pagodas for each district; but allowed the Raja, as collector,
an establishment of 650 Pagodas a year; so that, in fact, each dis-
trict paid 1283-j- Pagodas, or 517/. 2*. 4<id. Some time afterwards,
some landlords (Jenmcars) having made complaints of violent op-
pression against the Raja, he resisted the people sent by Hyder to
investigate the matter, and a war ensued, which ended in the