276 ON ORISSA PROPER 



upon, but was well treated by the King or Nawab, and on the death of 

 his patron soon after, was allowed to return to Orissa, when he assumed the 

 government, A. D. 1451, under the title of Kapil Indra Deo. His reign is 

 described to have been one continued series of wars, sieges, and expeditions. 

 He visited in person every quarter of his widely extended dominions, but 

 was occupied chiefly to the southward, and resided a good deal at Kimedy 

 and Rajamandry. He also visited the city of Vijianagara (Bidyanagar) 

 and founded there several Sasans, more especially one called Damoderpur 

 Sasan. The Raja afterwards pursued his conquests as far down as Rama's 

 bridge, which the natives call Set Band Rameswara. The subjugation of a 

 fort called Kondajoi or Kondjuri, perhaps Condapilly, and his proceed- 

 ings there, are much spoken of. He is said to have deposed one Raja, and 

 set up another called Narsinh Rai. Amongst his conquests, places 

 called Maligunda and Malka (Malanca) are likewise mentioned. The 

 particulars of the Raja's wars and expeditions in that distant quarter are, 

 however, so loosely and indistinctly narrated, that it is impossible to make 

 any thing satisfactory out of the account. He died near Condapilly, on 

 the banks of the Kistna, after a busy and distinguished reign of twenty- 

 seven years. The period of his administration was farther remarkable for 

 the occurrence of two dreadful famines which swept off vast numbers of the 

 human race. The price of paddy again rose during them to 125 kalians per 

 bharan. 



The chasms and omissions above noticed in the native annals of Orissa, 

 are curiously enough supplied in part by Ferishteh's history of the Bah- 

 mini Sovereigns of Kalberga. Up to this period the Musselman kings 

 of the Deccan, engaged in perpetual contests with the ousted Rais of Te- 

 lingana and the Carnatic, had possessed neither leisure nor inclination to in- 

 terfere with the affairs of Orissa. The two powers seem first to have come 

 in contact during Kapil Indra Deo's reign ; and if the Musselman accounts 

 are correct, disputes between them originated in the aggressions of the 

 Raja of Orissa. 



