b«chanan*s journey through

Chap. VI. — From Doda Bala-pura lo Sira.

THE 18th July I went two codes to Burra, Pedda, Doda, or Great Bala-pura, asit is called in the Muffulman, Telinga, Karnata, and Englifh languages. All the-country through which I paffed has formerly heen under cultivation; but now it isalmoft entirely unoccupied.

On the diffolution of the Vijaya-nagara kingdom, Narayana Swatni, the polygarof Bala-pura, alfumed independency; and in the fort, remains of his caftle, fur-rounded as ufual by temples, may dill be traced. On the invafion by the Mogularmy under Cofiim Khan, the polygar was obliged to give up this open part ofhis country, and to retire to Chica Bala-pura, fituated nearer his flrong holds. DodaBala-pura formed then one of the feven did riels of the Sira government; but ifwas foon wrefted from the Muffulmans by the Marattahs. On their decline again,after the battle of Panniput, it was feized by the Nizam, who gave it as a jaghir,or feu, to Abbafs Khuli Khan, a native of the place. He enlarged the fort to itsprefent fize, made very good gardens after the Muffulman fafhion, and built apalace with all conveniencies fuitable to his rank. On the growth of Hyder’spower, however, he was under the neceffity of giving up the place without refill-->ance ; but not choofing to enter into that adventurer’s fervice, whom he confideredas his inferior in rank, he returned with his children into the Lower Carnatic, andentered into the fervice of the Nabob of Arcot. One of his wives and her grand-fon refufed to follow him ; and thefe live now in the fort upon a fmall penfionthat was granted them by Hyder, and which has been continued by the Company.The fort, confidering that it is built entirely of mud, is very large, and very ftrong.All within, as ufual, is a fad heap of rubbilh and confufion. The Affur Khanaof Abbafs Khuli Khan is, however, a handfome building. In- this kind of templethe Muffulmans of the Decan, infefted by the fuperftition of their neighbours,worfhip Allah under the form of a human hand, painted on a board between twofigures that reprefent the fun and moon.-

One fide of the fort is furrounded by gardens ; and the other three fides bythe town of Bala-pura, which contains 2000 houfes, and is fortified by a mud walland hedge. In this town was born Meer Saduc, the deteftable minifter of thelate Sultan. He adorned his native place by a garden, which, together with thatof the Abbafs Khuli Khan, is kept up by the Raja.

19th and 20th July. -—I remained at Doda Bala-pura, making fome enquiries.

The GoIIaru, or, as' they are called in their own language, the Gollawanlu, area tribe of Telingana defeent, and mult be didinguifhed from the Cadu, or CarridyGoalaru, who keep cattle; with whom they never eat in common, nor intermarry.They are one of the tribes of Sudra, whofe duty it is to cultivate the ground,and to adt as the village militia. This call has, befides, a particular duty, thetranfporting -of money, both belonging to the public, and to individuals. Itis faid, that they may be fafely intruded with any fum; for, each man carrying acertain value, they travel in bodies numerous in proportion to the fum put undertheir charge; and they confider themfelves bound in honour to die in defence oftheir trud ; of courfe, they defend themfelves vigoroufly, and are all armed; fothat robbers never venture to attack them. The have hereditary chiefs called Gotu-garu, who with the ufual council fettle all difputes, and punifh all tranfgredionsagaind the rules of cad. The mod flagrant is ,the embezzlement of money in-

. truded