Page:Gódávari.djvu/58

34 latter on their side engaged to pay the Subadar a tribute of nine lakhs of rupees per annum, and to furnish him with military assistance whenever required. The treaty made no mention of the previous free grant of the country by the emperor. Almost immediately afterwards the Subadar faithlessly joined Haidar Ali of Mysore against the British; but the success of the latter nation in the south and an invasion of his country from Bengal brought him to his senses; and, by a second treaty dated February 23, 1768, the tribute was reduced and the imperial grant was acknowledged. Tribute continued to be paid until as late as 1823, when it was capitalized by the payment of a lump sum of Rs. 1,66,66,666.*

The country was not at once administered directly by the English, but was leased out to native renters. The Gódávari district continued to be under Hussain Ali Khán. His lease expired in 1769, and then the system of Provincial Chiefs and Councils described in Chapter XI was introduced, this district being placed under the Chief and Council of Masulipatam.

It only remains to refer to the various disturbances of the peace by the rebellions of zamindars or the outbreaks (fitúris, as they are locally called) of hill tribes which have occurred since the English occupation. The powerful zamindars of Pithápuram, Pólavaram and Peddápuram occupied most of the centre and north of the district, while beyond them ruled the untamed mansabdars of Rampa, Tótapalli and Jaddangi. At first, the latter recognized no authority whatever; while the former maintained large bodies of troops and did much as they liked. Constant attempts were made to reduce the power of both, but for a long time in vain. 'It has been the object,' wrote the Board of Revenue in 1794, 'of every new settlement with the zamindars to endeavour to reduce their military force, and a clause has been inserted in their cabooliats binding them to keep up only such sibbendy (militia) as may be indispensably necessary for the purpose of collection and (in some situations near the hills) for protection; but a clause so vague and indefinite, it may easily be supposed, has never met the smallest attention from the zamindars.' Considerable difficulty was consequently experienced in keeping the hill men and the zamindars from breaking the peace. The first disturbance appears to have occurred in 1785, and was due to disputes about the division and management of the property belonging to three brothers who owned,