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A. D. 1720, &c.]

WARS OF THE RAJAS.

17

At that moment Chenna Basava who was in the palace and the [Confessor] "Cari Basava Swamulu, of Nidu-mamidi" were sitting in the square hall; called [their leaguesmen] in; and the whole troop entering stood in the open square at the chamber where they worshipped Siva. [The plotters] called four women, sensible persons, to carry in the dinner for the laird; and told them the contrivance: they accordingly conveyed the dinner inside. After the sepoys who were there arose and sat on one side [to avoid defiling them by touch, or by seeing the food,] these women gently told his honour that the way was now clear [the bolt of the wicket gate being cut] and that a body [of his lieges] had assembled. Then they unbolted the door, brought ["called"] their master in, and secured the door.

15. Meanwhile, the sepoys on guard found the mischief was done, and raised a shout: on hearing this, some (who were inside the palace) mounted on [paoti] ladders to the top of the chapel of the god Sidda Rameswar, and shot down the three sepoys, and they died. Meanwhile, the three captains, in the middle [mabl] house hearing this uproar, armed themselves, and with their men, were coming along, proposing to enter by the [hazar] great gate into, the palace, and seize the Master. Meantime this Chenna Basavappa with his two hundred who were within, came through the ward-gate,[1] as far as the great gate: they thrust down all the (Turkish) force there, and came out and stood at the front of the outer house: an engagement took place, and many were slain. The army of the Foujdars was broken; and retreated to the stone gate of the town, and continued the fight with bows and arrows.

Then[2] the (Servas) tributaries who were in the suburbs, came with their troops, and stood in a body at the bank of the great cemetery.[3] The three (Turkish "foujdars") chiefs [came] with a party, and stood in the entrance of the stone town gate and used[4] their bows and arrows to prevent any one from opposing them. Then Chenna Basavappa selected the mightiest of his men and mounted them above the marble gate: they pulled out the top stone [so as to form an embrasure] they got bags of gunpowder from the magazine, and fired it and

  1. ↑ Banku (Marati language) A ward of a building, misprinted Bankam.
  2. ↑ Page 16.
  3. ↑ Pīrlu, that is the tombs of the Mahomedan peers or forefathers.
  4. ↑ Vastu should be (Indic characters) vēstu hurling.
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