428 Political Events in the Camatic, from 1564 to 1687. [No. 150. 



that subsequently led to their consolidation once more under one 

 general government. 



16. The Polligars of Chittledroog,* Raidroog, Harponelly, Tara- 

 keira, Ruttinghery, &c. at this time acquired some strength and consi- 

 deration, and seemed to promise jointly to oppose a formidable barrier 

 to further Mahomedan encroachments, had not this hope been des- 

 troyed by their restlessness, and their perpetual contests for power and 

 territory. To this period of confusion we may assign the origin of 

 most of the Droogst of the Carnatic. Most of these new chiefs were 

 of the lower and hardier classes, the Baya or Beder, Gollar and Vil- 

 lallur, or the hunting, pastoral and agricultural tribes; these in their 

 earlier accession to power exhibited traits of fortitude, hardihood, and 

 a severity of manners, originating in the simplicity of their original 

 modes of life that would have dignified their resistance to the north- 

 ern invaders of their country, had they not been marked by excesses 

 that quickly descended into savage, ferocious contests, feuds, and ani- 

 mosities among themselves, till their crimes at last paved the way for 



* Historical Memoirs and Annals of various other Hindoo families originating in this 

 period are collected, but not yet translated, which being wrote in their own language, 

 and not intended for European eyes, convey their sentiments in forcible terms.— Rai- 

 droog, Mysore, &c. Memoirs. 



f As Chitteldroog, Rutlingeery, Hosdroog, Paughur, Gardangeery, and a vast num- 

 ber of others in gradation form impregnable mountains provided with natural springs 

 of water, to rocks of very inferior height, and proportioned to the condition or talents 

 of the occupier, Kyfeyats of almost every one are preserved, wherein the circumstances 

 that gave rise to their occupation at first, whether from " warning in a dream of the 

 tutelar Deity of the place," or the " discovery of some sacred symbol," or to the con- 

 veniences of water and shelter to some bold leader with his savage band, are related 

 with minute details, and the dates of their foundation are preserved with scrupulous 

 care in the families originally appointed to keep these records ; some of which have 

 come into our hands, as Cancoopa, Chitteldroog, &c. To no country indeed can the 

 description of the Poet be more appositely applied, for here it may be truly said that, 



" Not a mountain rears its head unsung" in some Mahatuam, or Pooranum or 

 ancient legend; for scarce a hill or rock whereon a cistern could be found but has 

 been fortified with walls, sanctified by temples, and converted into the fastness 

 of some hardy chief. The same causes give rise to the same order of things in all 

 nations ; and we here find the same age of castles and of petty fortresses which in Europe 

 followed the dissolution of the Roman empire, in the period of anarchy that preceded 

 the gradual forming of the modern (I had almost said, late) states of Europe, actually 

 following in the South of India the dissolution of the Hindoo monarchy, and preceding 

 the gradual renovation of one general government. 



