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 of the Province, thus passed into the possession of the East India Company.

For the remainder Of the century, the history of the

District

all-powerful.

The

intrigues

of Si'tarama Raz,

is

princi-

who were

pally connected with the fortunes of the Vizianagram family,

the Raja’s

brother,

and of the Diwan Jagannath Raz, in 1781, led to the dismissal of Sir Thomas Rumbold, then Governor of Madras, by the Court of Directors. In 1784, the Committee of Circuit, who had been appointed by Government to make a careful inquiry into the condition and resources of the Northern Circars, sent in their Report on the Kasimkota division of the Chicacole Circar. That portion of it which is

now included

lands, w’hich

in

Vizagapatam District was divided into

consisted of the lands immediately under

—

(i) Havili

Government

Vizagapatam farms, or 33 petty villages in the vicinity of the and (3) the Vizianagram zaminddr'i, including the tributary estates of Andhra, Golconda, Jaipur (Jeypore), and Palkonda. No action was taken on this Report. The administration of affairs remained in the hands of the Chief and Council at Vizagapatam but in 1794, the Provincial Councils were abolished, and the whole of the Northern Circars was divided into Collectorates, the present District of Vizagapatam being apportioned between three.

Bitter disputes continued between the Raja of Vizianagram and his brother Si'tarama Raz, who was at last summoned by the authorities to (2) the

town





Madras.

The zaminddri

had, moreover, fallen into heavy arrears of

management ; and it was found necessary to proceed to the severe measure of sequestration. detachment of European artillery and sepoys was sent to Vizagapatam to enforce this measure, and took possession of the Raja’s fort at Vizianagram. The realization of the revenue was not the only Political reasons also influenced the Government, reason for this step. as the Raja’s military force was larger than was considered advisable, and he had obtained too great a preponderance of power over the other zaminddrs in the District. The R^ja naturally resented what he considered unjust treatment, and was vigorously upheld in his He took up his quarters opposition to Government by his supporters. at Padmanabham, a village half-way between Vizianagram and Bimlijiatam, where he was attacked by the military force under LieutenantColonel Prendergast. He himself was slain, with several of his devoted This sharp but decisive followers, who had vowed not to desert him. After some little difficulty, a action took place on loth July 1794. lease for his father’s estate was given to Narayana Baba, the late Raja’s youthful son. The extent of the zavnnddri was considerably curtailed, arrangements for their territories being made direct by Government with the hill chiefs, and part of the estate was incorporated with the revenue, owing to the incompetence of the Raja’s