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296
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
had then about one hundred men with him. Subsequently many more joined him, and he went about looting and burning various villages in Bidi, among the rest Nandigad. In a short time he had a thousand men with him. He spent the day in the Balgund and HandiBadaganath hills; and at night they divided into parties to loot. The Mâmlatdâr's of Sampgaum, Krishna Rau, my informant's father, got instructions to endeavour to arrest Râyappa. He placed the treasure, Rs. 50,000, on top of the mosque in Sampgaum, and leaving a guard of peons, he started for Bidi. In the popular account, it is against him that the revolt was made, and it is his exertions which are represented as having quelled it. It was hoped at first that the rising might be put down without military force, but when the Kittûr Sêtsanadis refused to serve, and the disturbance continued increasing, it became necessary to obtain the services of strong detachments. These regular troops, however, as might be expected, were not found well suited for pursuing bands of robbers through close and difficult country. Krishna Rau, after scouring the jungles in vain, came from Bidi to Muguṭkhân-Huballi with a large body of Śêtsanadis, and some Jahgir horse. There he learned that Râyappa had eluded him, and had passed by a littleknown path by Kâdarôlli to Sampgaum, where he had burned the Kacheri and destroyed the records. The Mamlatdar hastened forward and overtook the rear of Rayappa's band at the little tank outside Sampgaum on the north. He had ten Sawârs1 with him, and succeeded in killing four of the rebels. The rest retired to Suttagatti, where they divided into two large bands, one of which returned with Râyappa to Kittûr hill by Sangolli, while the other looted and burned Marikaṭṭi. The Mimlatdâr attacked the latter band on Nêsargi hill, and dispersed it, killing ten or twenty, and taking about one hundred prisoners.
"At this time, the late Desâî's widow, Îravva, was living at Bail-Hougal. It was found advisable to remove her to Dhârwâd. This nearly excited another rising; in fact, a thousand men
15 Mâmlatdar, or properly Mu'âmladár, or Mu'amlâtdar, is the head revenue and magisterial officer of a Taluka (properly Ta'lûqa) or Subdivision of a District. 1 See note 5 above.
Jahgir, or more correctly Jagir, is an assignment of lands or revenue for the performance of public service.
[NOVEMBER, 1885.
got together at Anegol to resist the removal of fravva. Most of them, however, submitted on receiving a promise of pardon; while the rest joined Rayappa.
"Îravva died in July at Dharwad,-it was supposed by poison, taken by herself or administered to her. Soon after this the insurrection was quelled. Krishna Rau, the Mâmlatdâr, discovered that Linganaganda," Patil's of Khudinpûr, had wished his own son to be adopted on the death of the late Dêsâî, and resented the refusal with which his proposition was met. He was chosen as a fit instrument to betray Rayappa. Emissaries were sent to join the rebels and suggest to them to call in the Khudânpur Pâtil, who could aid them with three hundred men. Râyappa took the bait, and wrote to Linganagauda to ask his cooperation. The Mâmlatdâr sent Liiganagauḍa with a body of men; and, as he was timid and weak, Yenkanaganda1 of Nêginhâl, who was bold and courageous, was sent with him to support him. They joined Râyappa, and continued with him, for a fortnight, looting. Then one day, when Râyappa had laid aside his arms, and was bathing, Lakkappa, a Sanadi of Nêginhâl, rushed suddenly on him and clasped him round the body, whilst another secured his weapons. The rest overwhelmed him, bound him hand and foot on a stretcher, and carried him in triumph to Dharwad.
"He was condemned to be hanged at Nandigad, the scene of his chief robbery. As he passed along the road to the gallows, he pointed out a spot for his burial, stating that a great tree would spring from his remains. He was buried where he desired, and a magnificent banian is now shown close to the road near Nandigaḍ, as the one which grew from his grave. Under the shade of it a temple has been erected, to which poor people who desire offspring, or wealth, or health, make pilgrimages from great distances; and where the husbandmen, on their way with their produce to the market in Nandigad, stop to vow an offering on their return, if they obtain good prices. This deification of Râyappa is the
16 Sawar is a horseman or cavalry soldier. 17 The Ninganagauda of the ballad. Lingana and Ningana are only different forms of the same name.
18 Patil is the head managing officer of a village. 1 The Venkanagauda of the ballad. Yenkana and Venkana are only different forms of the same name.
