Page:The Aristocracy of Southern India.djvu/54

36 The Aristocracy of Southern India. title has since been used by all succeeding members of the Bobbili family.

The sixth of the Rajahs whose reign is memorable on account of the Battle of Bobbili, was Rajah Gopala Krishna Ranga Row Bahadur Garu. In 1756 the disorderly behaviour of the Poligars called for measures of repression, and M. Bussy marched with a European force to restore order. On his arrival in Vizianagram, he was assured by the Rajah that the Chief of Bobbili was the instigator of all disturbances. We take the following from the Madras Manual of the Administration by Dr. Macleane, about the attack on the Fort of Bobbili, and its result:—

“The Rajah of Vizianagram to testify his own loyalty joined the French with a force of 11,000 men to assist in crushing his rival. Before attacking the latter, M. Bussy offered the chief a pardon for the past, and land of equal value elsewhere, if he would abandon his ancestral estate, but the offer was refused. The attack on the fort of Bobbili is one of the most memorable in Indian History. At daybreak, the field pieces began to play on the mud defences, practicable breaches were at once made, and the assault sounded. After four hours' desperate fighting, hand to hand, Bussy called off his men to allow the cannon to widen the breaches. A second assault was then ordered, but with no better results; for not a man had gained footing within the ramparts when five hours later Bussy again withdrew the storming party to repeat the argument of artillery. The defenders now recognised their desperate position, and collecting their wives and families put them to death, and returned to their posts. The assault soon recommenced; and when at sunset,