1844.] Political Events in the Carnatic, from 1564 to 1687. 431 



that ought to have been rather devoted to a general league for oppos- 

 ing the common enemy. Without possession of more authentic mate- 

 rials, it is only to some of these causes that can be attributed the 

 joint partition and conquests of the Zemindars* of the Carnatic, (as 

 they affect to call them,) which was planned and commenced precisely 

 about this period by the joint forces of the rival states of Beejapoor 

 and Golconda. 



22. On the occasion, it is said, that a mutual agreementt was en« 

 Now unite for their tered into by the Golconda and Beejapoor govern- 



re^ctfoxfan/pLti^ ments, to avail themselves of the weakened state of 

 tion of the Carnatic. t h e Carnatic to reduce the several petty chieftains, 

 and to divide the country amongst them, each keeping possession of 

 what they first got possession of, independent of other motives. It is 

 handed down in Hindoo MSS. and traditions, that they were in- 

 vited by several of the chiefs, by the weakness of the government, and 

 Invited by some of ^7 tne eterna ^ j ar s and feuds of the petty usurpers, 

 the Hindoo chiefs. R a j a hs, Naiks and Poligars, who in this interval had 

 seized the districts, and formed the country into several subordinate 

 petty states, and reduced the remaining branches of the ancient royal 

 family to an abject dependence on their capricious or venal support. 



23. The Beejapoor chiefs having already established a regular 

 government in the centre of the Carnatic, would find less difficulty in 

 extending their possessions in that quarter, while the Golconda state 

 naturally turned its views towards the South-Eastern quarter, and the 

 sea coast, till at last they came in mutual collision. Our plan does not 

 admit of a regular development of their progressive reduction of the 

 several provinces, nor could it be well attempted here, from a deficiency 



* A term rather applicable to the original system of the conquerors in their own 

 country, than to the former, or the new state of these chiefs. For it is well known that 

 those of Bednore and Mysore in particular, never acknowledged their power, and still 

 resisted their authority. 



•f In consequence of this treaty, Gandicotta, Chunderghery, Chingleput and the 

 country south to the Palar was overrun by the Golconda chief, Meer Jumla; and 

 Gingee, Vellore, &c. reduced by Mustapha Cawn from Beejapoor, from 1646 to 1652, 

 and were formed into provinces under officers dependent on Golconda and Beejapoor. 

 This continued till the Mogul conquest in 1687, when they were annexed to the pro- 

 vinces of Carnatic, Balla Ghaut, or of Payen Ghaut. 



