Page:The Aristocracy of Southern India.djvu/55

 H. H. The Mahaeajah of Bobbili. 37

Bussy entered the fort as victor with the remnant of his army, it was only because every man of the garrison was dead or desperately wounded. An old man, however, crept from a hut, and leading a child to Bussy presented him as the son of the dead chief. Four other men had preserved their lives, and two nights later when the Vizianagram camp was buried in sleep, they crept into the Bajah's tent, and before the .sentries discovered and shot down the assassins, they had stabbed the Kajah to death with thirty- two wounds. The child, Chinna Ranga Bow, saved from the slaughter, was invested by Bussy with the chiefship of the lands that had been offered to his fathers."

The Chief, whose reign was longer than that of any of his predecessors, was Rajah Sweta Chalapati Ranga Row Bahadur who became famous far and wide on account of his munificent gifts. During his reign every charitable undertaking in the District found in him a ready, willing and benevolent patron. In 1832 serious disturbances broke out in the Ganjam and Vizagapatam Districts. The Rajah devised all means in his power and succeeded in apprehending Kambara V^nkatarayadu and other Fattooridars who were the cause ol the disturbance and delivered them to Mr. Russell, the Special Com- missioner, who was appointed by the Government of* Madras. It is to the credit of the same Rajah that he made large additions to the estate.

The Rajah who had no issue adopted one of the sons of the Rajah of Pittapur as his heir and successor, and died on the 18th August 1862.