278 



Statistical Report 07i the 



[No. 35, 



ing to the childish vanity of the Hindoo, it is perfect in its way ; yet 

 some threads of truth may run through the web of misrepresentation, 

 such as Kundhur, a fortress twenty miles south of the Godaveri not 

 far from Nandair, being the first seat of the monarchy ; Hunnumcon- 

 dah where there are remains of extensive fortifications, being the capi- 

 tal before Warungul. For this reason a brief account of the history 

 will be given, illustrating too as it does what monstrous deviations 

 from all truth are eagerly seized on by the Indian mind. 



The rajahs of Warungul drew their origin from Narrain himself 

 and counted Brahma and a host of rishees as their ancestors. It ap- 

 pears that one of these heaven-descended mortals came — from whence 

 or for what reason the chronicle is silent — to the Deccan, and settled 

 at Dhurmapoor a village on the south bank of the Godaveri: that he 

 subdued many rajahs, took four hundred and sixty fortresses, and 

 built the town of Nandair, on the Godaveri. By constant fasting and 

 sacrifices he gained so much heavenly wisdom, that he was deemed 

 a meet companion of the gods, and admitted into their abode ; such 

 was his courage that while in the celestial company he stood un- 

 daunted before the awful form of Nursing Deo. This so pleased his 

 protecting divinity that she conferred on him a sword, a shield, and a 

 pair of slippers, all of miraculous power, especially the last, for no 

 sooner had he placed his feet in them, than he was whirled through 

 the air, and straightway rested in his own capital of Nandair. Arm- 

 ed with his god-given weapons he waged a successful war against 

 the rajah of Chola, whose daughter he married ; and on threatening 

 the king of Ceylon with invasion was only diverted from his purpose 

 by submission and promise of tribute. Fortunate in all his wars he 

 wearied of the world, and for a life of contemplation resigned his 

 sceptre to his son. This son cursed by a wild beast while out hunt- 

 ing, went mad, but being cured by a gooroo he had a son born to him. 

 Meanwhile his sister also had a son, and between the two children 



gooroo divided the kingdom. Then came famine, pestilence, and 

 civil wars, and the next rajah we find reigning at Khandhar where he 

 waxed great and wealthy, but his munificence was equal to his riches, 

 for on the Brahmins he conferred many thousand villages, and dy- 

 ing he left his throne to his son who rivalled his father in generosity 

 but not in forttme; for waging war with the king of Kuttack who was 

 envious of his prosperity, and coveted the possession of his flocks and 

 herds, he lost his life in battle, and his capital of Khandhar was plun- 

 dered and destroyed. His wife who was pregnant fled to Hunnum- 



