Page:A Family History of Venkatagiri Rajas.djvu/126

 Military. — As the "Nellore District Manual" says, the Rajah was the first of the house, who was brought into relation with the English. In the year 1782 A.D., disputes arose between Hyder and the Nawab of Arcot, the latter being aided by the English. On the request of Hyder Ali, the Zemindar of Kalahasti went over to his side with an army, but the Rajah of Venkatagiri unmindful of the prowess of Hyder, assisted the Nawab and the English, for which act of kindness he received from the Nawab his grateful thanks and rich presents in the form of an elephant and the precious "Sasperu Laggi." But Hyder got enraged at this, and so in 1782. A.D., during the absence of the Rajah in Madras, he sent a garrison which pillaged the town, and set it on fire along with the main palace. But luckily before he started to Madras, the Rajah had removed women, wealth and valuable record to the Venkatagiri Durg, and so they were left uninjured. Soon