1838.] Zemindars of Dottiya fort. 471 



the invaders, came to the rayer's presence. The rayer, being greatly 

 pleased, honored him with various insignia of favor ; and directed my 

 ancestors to build a fort 30 miles due west of Madura : in consequence 

 of which a mud fort named Dottiya-cottai was formed. Two of the 

 tribe were Bommana Nayaker the elder, and Bettalu Nayaker; 

 the eldest governed for twelve years. The second in succession 

 Bettalu Nayaker cleared away some waste lands. But as he was 

 very young, and the country was that of the Kallar caste, he did not 

 find himself at ease there. At that time Vira Segara Cholan having 

 invaded the country of Chandra Segara Pandiyan, the latter, be- 

 ing unable to resist, went to the rayer ; who sent with him N a gam a 

 Nayaker to reinstate him in his possessions. Bettalu Nayaker 

 accompanied the pandiyan to the rayer ; expecting, if the pandiyan were 

 restored, that his own district would be secured to himself. But in 

 consequence of Chandra Segara having only five illegimate sons, he 

 made over his kingdom to Visvanatha Nayaker; and Bettalu 

 Nayaker derived no benefit from waiting on Chandra Segara. At 

 a later period, when Visvanatha Nayaker, in conjunction with 

 Ariya Natha Muthaliar, had fixed appointments to bastions of the 

 fort, in reply to a petition my ancestors were confirmed in the posses- 

 sion of the Dottiya fort and lands. Subsequently, when the king went 

 to fight against Kayattattur fort, Bettalu Nayaker was appointed 

 to guard the royal tent ; for his service on which occasion, he received 

 some acknowledgments. A tribute was fixed of one hundred chacrams. 

 He ruled thirty-five years. His sons were, Bommalu Nayaker, the 

 eldest, Chinduma Nayaker the younger. Bommalu was the third 

 in succession, and ruled twenty-two years. The fourth in succession 

 was Bettalu Nayaker, who ruled thirty-eight years. His tribute was 

 153 chacrams ; 5th, Bommalu Nayaker ruled 20 years, paid 150 cha* 

 crams ; 6th, Bettalu Nayaker, 27 years, paid 150 chacrams ; 7th, 

 Macala Nayaker, 26 years, paid 200 chacrams ; 8th, Chinduma 

 Nayaker, 27 years, paid 200 chacrams ; 9th, Bettalu Nayaker. In 

 his time Ramapaiyan general of Firumala Nayaker, being about 

 to proceed against the Sethupathi, called for the said Bettalu Na- 

 yaker, and gave him orders to construct, with his people, a bridge at 

 the straits of Pamban ; which bridge was built with great labour, so that 

 the entire army passed over to the island of Ramesvaram, and, the 

 Sethupathi being conquered, Bettalu Nayaker received honorable 

 notice for the great trouble which had fallen to his share. He ruled 50 

 years.. 



3 n 2 



