1839] 



and Statistical of the Ceded Districts. 



131 



of the Kistnali. Numberless rude representations on stone, many ap* 

 parently of great antiquity, of serpents collected together in temples, 

 under trees, and the walls of the older villages are evidences of an ophi- 

 tic worship that prevailed anciently to an unknown extent. To this day 

 remnants of it exist, the clue afforded by which it might be of interest 

 to trace. There are some singular mounds of a scoriaceous substance, 

 containing carbonate of lime, in the vicinity of Bellary. 



Coins.— The numerous political changes and revolutions that have 

 convulsed this part of India, could not fail to produce a great variety of 

 coins. Among the most ancient of those formerly current are the golden 

 pagodas and half pagodas of the Bijanugger sovereigns, and of their vas- 

 sals, the chiefs of Harponhully, Raidroog and Gundicota, known by the 

 names of the Achit Raya, Kishen Raya, the old and new Harponhully, 

 Vencatpati and Timma Naid Pertap pagodas. Next succeeded those of 

 the Mahomedan kings of the Deccan, the Mogul empire, and their vice- 

 roys, called the Mahomed Shahi, Alumgiri, Farsipadi and Jummul mud- 

 goo pagodas ; some of the later of which were coined at Adoni, Cudda- 

 pah and Jummulmudgoo. The gold coins of the Mahratta conqueror 

 Morari Row were the Gooty Mahomed Shahi, the Subaroyi and the Tar* 

 puttry pagodas. A number of gold pagodas were introduced by the Asaph 

 Jahor Hyderabad chiefs, among which were the Karkmodi, coined atKark- 

 mod, Masulipatam, &c. Lastly.the conquests of Hyder andTippoo over* 

 whelmed the country with the Mysorean currency from the mints of Serin* 

 gapatam, Mysore and Cullicota. Their pagodas are generally known by 

 the terms of Bahaduri and Sultani. Those of Hyder bearing the Ara* 

 bic initial of his name, and those of Tippoo, his name and 

 title. Ashrafis or gold mohurs were rare, those of Delhi and the Ahmadi 

 being the only specimens current. The gold fanams rank next to the 

 pagoda : those of the Bijanugger dynasty are rare. TheNaidi fanam, coin- 

 ed by Timma Naid of Gundicota, is worth 5 annas 10 pice. That of the 

 PoligarsofGhuttu3annas6pice. This is also the value of the Kanjit gold 

 fanam introduced by the Cud lap ih Nuwabs, H) der and Tippoo. 

 I have not met with any silver or copper coins of the Bijanugger sove- 

 reigns : those formerly in circulation consisted almost entirely of ru- 

 pees and fanams,int inductions from the Nizam's dominions, Mysore and 

 Arcot. The Adwani rupee was coined by Basalet Jung at Adoni, and 

 is now valued at 15 annas 2 pice. The Imami Nokhara, a double rupee 

 coined by Tippoo at Seringapatam, is valued at 2 rupees 1 pice; the 

 Pulachari of Hyder at 1 rupee. The whole of the varieties termed Che- 

 lavani from the Nizam's dominions fetch 12 annas 10 pice. 



