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 38 The Aristocracy of Southern India.

Rajah Sitarama Kanga Eow Bahadur, the adopted son of the deceased Eajah, ruled only for five years. He gave a marked impetus to the promotion of education, and it v^as he who started the Anglo- Vernacular School at Bohbili in 1864. It is to be greatly regretted that he died at the comparatively early age of 23 years.

Rani Lakshmi Chellayamma Garu succeeded her deceased husband. Though the lady was very young when the onerous duty of guiding the destiny of a large State devolved on her, yet her enhghtened policy, her liberal-heartedne^ss and her statesmanship enabled her to excel most of her contemporaries. She very prudently appointed a Dewan of well-tried abilities, who had already given proof of his uprightness and energy during the reign of her late father-in-law. Her liberality during the great famine in Bengal, in 1873, is still a household word in many places. She sent paddy of the value of Eupees 50,000, and this noble conduct met with the approbation of the Government of India, which recorded its high sense of appreciation of the generosity of the Eani. She was represented by her Dewan, when H. E. H. the Prince of Wales, now oar Most Gracious Emperor, King Edward VII, visited Madras, and had the special honour of receiving a medal from His Eoyal Highness. In February ? 876, the Government of India, in token of their apprecia- tion of the wisdom displayed by this lady, conferred on her the title of "Eani" as a personal recognition. A re- bellion broke out at Bastar, when the Eani, with her usual promptitude, rendered her share of help in quelling it. We avail ourselves of this opportunity of giving publicity to the following letters about the Eani, who died on the 7th Mry 1887 :—