Page:A Family History of Venkatagiri Rajas.djvu/87

 Image of God is taken in a grand procession to this place. The hall is still extant and in good order.

Military.— In the year 1604 A.D., Matla Appala Rai, a powerful chieftain living in the neighbourhood of Arcot once gathered forces from the wild tribes such as Boya and Chenchu Varu races and aided by his relations and several minor Poligars fearlessly entered the parts of country now known as Guntur, Kadavagunta, Ontimitta, Nandalur and Cuddapah and freely robbed and plundered and thus caused much havoc to the inhabitants. The Nawab, Sultan Abdul Hassan Khudaff came to know this and once offered a great reward to Bangaru Yachama Naidu in the event of his capturing the rebel. The Rajah readily consented and was making arrangements to attack the enemy. With the assistance of Damara Venkatapathi Naidu and his followers, he marched to the hilly tracts of Rapur, and leaving behind some part of his