OR CUTTACK. 275 



tury, when paddy rose to the (then) enormous price of 120 kahans of 

 cowris per bharan — about three times its present average rate calculat- 

 ed in the same currency, but nearly sixty times the ordinary selling price 

 of that age, if an account in my possession is to be credited, which states, 

 that under the Bhanus, rice in the husk sold for two kahans per bha- 

 ran, clean rice at ten cowris per ser, and cotton one pan ten gandas. 

 per ser. 



The last of the Rajas surnamed Bhanu, being childless, he adopted as 

 Iiis son and successor a youth, named Kapila or Kapil Santra, of the Su- 

 raj-bansi tribe of Rajputs. The boy became afterwards a prince of high 

 renown under the title of Kapil Indra Deo, and the Native Chroniclers have 

 not failed therefore to embellish the history of his early life, with flattering 

 fictions and stories of supernatural occurrences, prophetic of his future rise 

 and greatness. It is said, that when a child, he gained his livelihood by 

 tending the cows of a brahmin. One day his master found him fast asleep 

 on the ground at mid-day, and a huge snake standing erect near him, with 

 its hood spread out and held in such a manner, as to shelter him from 

 the fierce rays of the meridian sun. This indication satisfied the brah- 

 min that he was destined to become something great. Shortly after, 

 the Raja, whilst passing one day to the temple, took notice of him, 

 enquired his name, and being struck with his answers and appearance, 

 finding moreover that he was by caste and descent a rawat or leader of 

 the Suraj-bansi Rajputs, he attached him to the royal household, where 

 he speedily became a favorite. He was soon directed by Mahadeo in a 

 dream to adopt him as his son and successor. The lad was now cabled 

 Kapil Bhowarbar, and rose rapidly through several offices to the post of 

 Pater or Prime Minister. The Moguls having come into the country from 

 the north with a large army to demand tribute, the Raja feeling himself 

 unable to cope with them in the field, sent his favorite to negociate a treaty 

 Qi peace. He was detained as a hostage for the payment of the sum agreed 



Ji2 



