1844.] Political Events in the Car natic, from 1564 to 1687. 585 



12. The important part that the three families* of Sanoor, Kurpa 

 and Canoul, (who appear to have now rallied around them the remains 

 of the first Affghan invaders,) took in the political transactions of the 

 Carnatic, shortly after the death of Chick Deo Raja, had not yet com- 

 menced ; and the origin of their power was yet in embryo ; but was 

 shortly to make a considerable figure in events connected with Mysore, 

 and the rest of the country. 



13. It is proper to advert to this political organization of the country 

 under these divisions of Beejapoor and Hydrabad Carnatic- Balla-Ghaut, 

 as they are necessary for understanding the discussions that have since 

 repeatedly followed this distribution on the official and revenue records 

 of the Government ; and the frequent claims and pretensions on differ- 

 ent chiefs or zemindaries as dependents on one or other claims, which 

 have been even referred to in the political negotiations^ of later 

 years, under circumstances that tended to embarrass and distract; and 

 might have eventually been followed by more important consequences. 



14. In the wars and negotiations that ensued for HO years in the 

 Carnatic, before the basis of one regular system of Civil government 

 was established in 1800, the extent, situation and relative connection 

 of the several subjects of contention can scarcely be understood with- 

 out recollecting the origin of these two great divisions or governments, 

 which though sometimes united at first in one person, were afterwards 

 separated, and under the title of the Nabobs of Serah J and of Arcot. 

 The officers holding them came by degrees to assume a political charac- 

 ter, and degree of power that enabled them to establish their families 

 in the hereditary government of these provinces in a state little short 

 of independence. 



15. Indeed, their origin was so far lost sight of, that the legitimate 

 rights of the native provinces and population were entirely absorbed 

 in the mutual pretensions of the families of Hyder Alii and of Maho- 



* Memoir of the Patan families of Sanoor, Canoul and Kurpa. The Kurpa-cur 

 obtained possession at one time of nearly the whole country extending along the East- 

 ern Ghauts, from the Kistna to the Cavery, including Cummum, Kurpa, Gurramcon- 

 da, Baramahl, Colar, &c. 



f See the treaty of Seringapatam in 1792. 



X Hyder's first appearance as General of Mysore, was followed by the pretensions to 

 the Nabobship of Serah, after the cession of Serah and Ooscotta, from Basalut Jung, 

 in A. D. 1761. 



