SUPPL. VOL. II. Part I.
tants of the same horde strangers to each other, and gives them a motley appearance, as if they were dressed for a masquerade.
KRISHNA or CRISNA, is an eastern river of considerable magnitude, which is very little known in Europe. We have the following account of it, and its tributary waters, and the countries through which it flows, in Mr Pennant's View of Hindustan:
"From Gangapatam, on the northern mouth of the Pennar, the land runs due north as far as Mottapilli, when it forms a strong curve toward the east; the point of which is one side of the great river Crisna, in about lat. . Its Delta, which winds round as far as Masulipatam, is not considerable. This river annually overflows a vast tract of country, like the Indus on the western side of this empire, and like all the other great rivers on this extensive coast. The Crisna rises from the foot of the western Ghauts, and not more than 45 miles from Severndrug, on the western coast. There is another branch to the east, that rises still more northerly. On that side is Sattara, a strong fortress, the capital of the Mahrattha state in the time of the rajahs of Sivaji's race. It was taken by him in 1673, and found to be the depository of immense treasure; at that time it belonged to the king of Vijapur: it was afterwards used by the Mahrattas as the lodgment of their riches, and also as a retreat for the more defenceless inhabitants of Panna, and other open towns, in time of potent invasions.
"The river continues descending to the east. In latitude is Meritch, a strong fortress, with a Jaghirdar territory, conquered from its owner by Hyder. In lat. , a small river discharges itself into the Crisna from the north. It would not be worth mentioning, but that Pannala, a fortress of vast strength, was made by Sumbuji, the profligate son of Sivaji, his residence just before his surprisal in 1689, betrayed by Cablis Khan, the vile instrument of his pleasures, corrupted by Aurengzebe. His extravagant love of women brought on him ruin. Informed by Cablis that a Hindu of rank and great beauty was on the road to be delivered by her parents to her husband, according to the custom of the Hindus, he instantly put himself at the head of a small body of horse to carry off the prize, and ordered Cablis to follow at a distance for his protection, in case of accidents in that hostile time. The traitor had given notice to Aurengzebe of this expedition, who, sending a body of cavalry, surprised Sumbuji just as he had dispersed the nuptial procession.
"Into the north side of the Crisna, in lat. , falls the great river Bima, after a course of 350 miles. It rises at the head of the western Ghauts, parallel to Chaul in the Concan, and not above 50 miles from the sea. It descends rapidly towards the south-east. In lat. it receives a small river from the west, on the southern banks of which stands Vijapur, the capital of the famous kingdom of the same name, now possessed by the Mahrattas, but once governed by its own monarchs, till conquered by Aurengzebe in 1686. It was of great extent, and reached to the western sea, where it possessed the ports of Dabul, Vingorla, and Carapatan.
"The capital Vijapur is some leagues in circuit, seated in a fine but naked country, well watered. It makes a singular appearance from an adjacent eminence, filled with numbers of small domes, and one of a majestic size.
size. It was once a city of great splendour, and filled with palaces, mosques, mausoleums, and public and private buildings of great magnificence; many of them are fallen to ruin, and give melancholy proofs of its former splendour. I shall not attempt to detail them. The palaces of the kings, and accommodations for their attendants, were within a vast fort, surrounded with a ditch 100 yards wide; the depth appeared to be great, but is now filled with rubbish: within the fort is the citadel. Tavernier says, that the great ditch was filled with crocodiles, by way of garrison, to prevent all access by water. Lieutenant Moor has his doubts about this, imagining that there never was any water in this fort. That such garrisons have existed I doubt not. I have read in Purchas, that in Pegu the fosses of fortified places were stocked with those tremendous animals, not only to keep out enemies, but to prevent desertion. This practice has certainly been of great antiquity in some parts of India: Pliny mentions it as used in a fair city of the Horatæ, a people I cannot trace.
"The Crisna, above and below its conflux with the Bima, is fordable; and a few miles below its channel is 600 yards wide, made horrid with the number and rudeness of the variously formed rocks, which are never covered but in the rainy season.
"The Thungbuddra is another vast branch of the Crisna. It falls into it in lat. 16° 25', and originates extremely south, from a doubtful fountain. Towards its lower part it divides into three or four small branches, which rise remote from each other; the most southern is the Curga Nair's country; the most northern from the head of the Ghauts opposite to Onor, and scarcely 20 miles from the sea. What must give this river great celebrity, is its having had on its banks, in lat. 15° 22', the splendid city of Vijanagar. Ferishta says, that it was founded in 1344 by Beladco king of the Carnatic, which in those days included the whole peninsula. It was visited by Cæsar Frederick a Venetian traveller, in 1565, and found deserted and ruinous, having been sacked by four confederated Mahomedan princes two years before, on which its monarch had retired to Penuconda. Frederick says that its circumference was 24 miles. Mr Kennel has given us a view of its present state from Lieutenant Emmitt, who visited it in 1792.
"The ruins of Vijanagar are in the little Sircar of Anzundi, which does not extend above 20 miles around this vast city. It is very singular, that that little Sircar is now possessed by a lineal descendant of Rama Rajah, the last great monarch of Vijanagar, and its attendant nations Canarine and Malabar, united 700 years before under the rule of Crisna Deva. Tipu wished to reserve this little tract to himself, for the satisfaction of generously restoring to the descendant the small relique of the great empire of his ancestors. He is denied the title of Rajah, instead of which he has the diminutive Ral bestowed on him. This is suitable to his revenues, which do not exceed two lacs of rupees, or 25,000 per annum, with the empty regality of a mint at Anzundi." In the remainder of its course the Crisna offers nothing remarkable.