Page:Vizagapatam.djvu/319

GAZETTEER. an Uriya, who at the same time was given the title Nissanku, meaning 'the fearless.' His family, like the other lesser zamindars, was dispossessed by Vizianagram about 1769. In 1796, after the death of the Vizianagram Rája, the property was restored by Government to the representative of the eldest branch, Venkanna Nissanku, and with him the permanent settlement of 1803 was made. Mr. Carmichael says that Venkanna was succeeded by his son Peddanna, whose mental incapacity led to the Court of Wards assuming the management of the estate, who died in 1829, and who was succeeded by his posthumous son Mrityunjaya. The latter came of age in 1847 and built the house in the pettah east of Sangamvalasa called Mrityunjaya-nagaram. He was known for his literary tastes and held the estate for no less than 58 years until his death in 1904. The second of his three sons brought a suit 1 against him for the partition of the estate, but it was dismissed. He was followed by his eldest son's son Visvésvara. The estate suffers at present from financial embarrassment. 299