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OCTOBER, 1917)
THE HISTORY OF THE NAIK KINGDOM OF MADURA
243
taken to restore their kingdom to them; and how he clemanded, as the price of his service, a war indemnity of 30 lakhs of rupees and a regular payment of the old annual tribute of three lakhs. Baugaru Tirumala, we are further told, replied to these demands, that, in consequence of Chanda Sahib's appropriations of all the ready money and jewels of the crown, he was unable to pay the thirty lakhs in a lump sum, and that he agreed to pay it in three yearly instaiments of ten lakhs. The Maratha chief agreed and, after taking a written agreement to that effect from Vijaya Kumâra, deputed the task of reinstating him to his gallant lieutenant, Murari Rao, and then left for his distant home, with Chanda Sahib as his prisoner. Murari Rao, the chronicle continues, discharged his duties with sympathy and with justice. He brought the whole country into order and, "giving it over to Baigaru," himself stayed in Trichinopoly to ensure proper cultivation and collection of revenue. Another chronicle, differing slightly from this version, says with greater probability, that after the capture of Trichinopoly, Fateh Singh" placed Murari Rayar in charge of the fort instructing him to send for and call Bangaru Tirumalai Nâicker hither, to crown him and give the country over to him; appointing an acknowledgment for the crown of 30 lakhs of Rupees, to be paid to Murari Rayar"; that Murari Rao, in consequence, wrote to Udaya Têvar to bring Bangaru with him, when the Nizam invaded the Trichinopoly dominions and put an end to the Maratha power there. According to this authority then, no interview took place between the Maratha general or his ropresentative and the Naik chief; nor was the latter restored to power; for, before that task was accomplished, the Maratha had to surrender Trichinopoly to the Nizam and return to the Maharashtra. A third manuscript gives some more details than the other two, though it is silent in regard to the actual treatment accorded to Baugâru Tirumala. It says that Fateh Singh (whom it wrongly calls a Mysore chief) slow Barle Khan, dispersed the Muhammadans, captured Trichinopoly, and placed Murari Rao as the chief of that fort, ordering that the Siva and Vishnu temples should be conducted according to custom. Fateh Singh then returned to the north. "Murari Rayar," continues the record, "was a just chief. Ho despatched Appachi Råvar with 20,000 cavalry (to Madura)"; and the latter took immediate steps to rostore the gods of that place. He recompensed the Setupati for his services and expenses and, on Saturday, the 17th of Avani, Dunmuki, two hours after sunset, brought the images to their own temple at Madura. Appâchi, it is further said, caused all the villages and lands endowed by the Karnāta kings to be restored.
The Nizam's Conquest and promised Naik Restoration. From this it is clear that the relations between the Marathas and the Naiks are not certain. We cannot definitely say whether Vijaya Kumara was restored and invested with full power of sovereignty or not. But the question is, after all, not important; for, as has been already mentioned, the Maratha occupation of the South barely lasted two years. In the early months of 1743, the Nizam, whose natural desire was to drive the Marathas from the assertion of supremacy over a kingdom which was tributary to his Subah of Arcot, marched at the head of 10,000 cavalry and encamped at the foot of the Trichinopoly walls. In the engagements which ensued, Murari Rao was defeated and compelled to leave the Carnatic. The Record of Carna. Govrs. says that, when Murari Rao was unable to prevail over the formidable forces of his adversary, he entered into negotia
1 In January 1742, Safdar Ali had been murdered by his brother-in-law and there was general con fusion in Mughal territory, S. of the Krishna ; and the Nizam took advantage of this opportunity to establish his power there (Duff).
