330 
A JOURNEY FROM MADRAS THROUGH 
CHAPTER Dcound-hully , and Silagutta, a country producing a yearly revenue 
of 100,000 Pagodas , or 33,5791- 0 s. 4 d. He resided chiefly at Chica 
July 15. Bala- pur a, and Nandi-durga was his principal strong-hold; from 
the strength of which he had been able to resist the power of the 
Mussulmans of Sira. This place then contained a thousand houses 
of merchants or traders; and, although not a fortress of much 
strength, it was a mart of great importance. Hyder , after reducing 
the neighbouring countries, laid siege to it ; and the Raja, unable 
to resist, agreed to pay 100,000 Pagodas; but after some delay the 
Mussulman was persuaded to go away with only 60,000. These 
the Rctja levied by a contribution from the merchants of this town, 
which was not given without great reluctance, and is considered as 
the commencement of their misfortunes. Soon after, the Raja of 
Gutti coming to the assistance of his friend Ndrdyana • Swdmi, that 
Poly gar became refractory, and again drew upon himself the anger 
of Hyder, who took all his forts, and expelled him from the country. 
The place continued to enjoy considerable prosperity under Hyder, 
although, in consequence of the contribution exacted by the Raja , 
many of the mercantile houses had withdrawn; for in India, as 
elsewhere, merchants cannot endure to be taxed. They were soon 
* after entirely dispersed by the tyranny of Tippoo ; but he added 
much to the ornament and strength of the fort. On the arrival of 
Lord Cornwallis the Raja was reinstated ; and, after the retreat of 
the British army, like the other Poly gars who had been restored to , 
their countries, he refused submission to Tippoo. Ishmael Khan, the 
father of one of the Sultan's wives, was sent with an army to reduce 
them. In besieging one of the forts he met with considerable loss; 
and it was only from its ammunition having been exhausted, that 
the place surrendered. It is said, that the garrison, consisting of 
seven hundred men, obtained terms of capitulation which were not 
observed ; the chief officers were hanged, and every soldier had 
either a hand or a leg cut off with the large knife used by the 
Madigaru, who in this country are the dressers of leather; the only 
