Page:The Aristocracy of Southern India.djvu/125

Rh another competition with an elephant of the Rajah known as "Bulbul," he showed his prowess and daring by dragging it backwards with its tail, and by pulling it forwards with its tusks. He became famous at Oudh and married the daughter of Rana Beer Singh the brother of the Rajah and stopped there for four years. He had two sons and Chandrasekara, the elder succeeded him. Sudham Chandra Singh and Balaram Sing, brothers of the Rajah of Pattali, went to Puri, where they saw Chandrasekar, took him to their place, and arranged for his wedding with the three daughters of a member of their family. He had eight sons who went to the west for their marriages, when there were evil omens in the State, and the Rajah with a weakness of heart performed a jagam called "Chine" for the well being of his sons. Before the completion of the ceremony two of the Rajah's wives died on one and the same night, while the other died a few days after, in child-bed.

Nilambar Singh, the next in succession, went with his brothers to Maidinapur and married the two daughters of Jalam Singh, a man of great reputation, went to Benares on pilgrimage with his wives and died there. They also jumped into the Ganges and died after the custom known as "Sohayavanam."

The next prominent member of the family was Sarbasewar Deva Rana. He left his native place, went to Puri, formed the acquaintance of the Rajah of that place called Rama Kesari, stopped there for some time, and then married the daughter of the Maharajah of Oudh, Daduva Amrita Singh Takur. There he performed a jagam called Sharada Braja Peya and died three years after. Raghu-