346 
A JOURNEY FROM MADRAS THROUGH 
1 ' ■ 
CHAPTER VI. 
FROM DODA BALA-PURA TO SIRA. 
CHAPTER 
July 18 . 
Doda &ala- 
pura. 
r T 1 HE 1 8 tli July I went two cosses to Burra , Pedda, Doda , or 
“*■ Great Bala- pur a, as it is called in the Mussulman, Telinga f 
Karnata , and English languages. All the country through which I 
passed has formerly been under cultivation ; but now it is almost 
entirely unoccupied. 
On the dissolution of the Vijaya-nagara kingdom, Ndrdyana 
Swdmi, the Polygar of Bala-pura, assumed independency ; and in 
the fort, remains of his castle, surrounded as usual by temples, may 
still be traced. On the invasion by the Mogul army under Cossim 
Khan , the Polygar was obliged to give up this open part of his 
country, and to retire to Chica Bala-pura , situated nearer his strong* 
holds. Doda Bala-pura formed then one of the seven districts of 
the Sira government; but it was soon wrested from the Mussulmans 
by the Marattahs. On their decline again, after the battle of Pan - 
niput, it was seized by the Nizam , who gave it as a Jaghir, or feu, 
to Abbass Khuli Khdn, a native of the place. He enlarged the fort 
to its present size, made very good gardens after the Mussulman 
fashion, and built a palace with all conveniencies suitable to his 
rank. On the growth of Hyder’s power, however, he was under 
the necessity of giving up the place without resistance ; but not 
choosing to enter into that adventurer’s service, whom he con* 
sidered as his inferior in rank, he returned with his children into 
the lower Carnatic , and entered into the service of the Nabob of 
Arcot. One of his wives and her grandson refused to follow him; 
and these live now in the fort upon a small pension that was granted 
them by Hyder , and which has been continued by the Company. 
