a forgotten empire-vijayanagar-第43节
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ner despaired of ever escaping。
〃Echama Naique； seeing that this stratagem had failed； bribed heavily a captain of five hundred men who were in the fortress to slay the guards as soon as some good occasion offered； and to rescue the King。 This man； who was called Iteobleza；＇362＇ finding one day that Jaga Raya was leaving the palace with all his men in order to receive a certain chief who had proffered his submission； and that there only remained in the fortress about five thousand men； in less than an hour slew the guards； seized three gates； and sent a message to Echama Naique telling him to come at once and seize the fortress。 But Jaga Raya was the more expeditious； he returned with all his forces； entered by a postern gate； of the existence of which Iteobleza had not been warned； and put to death the captain and his five hundred followers。
〃Enraged at this attempt； Jaga Raya； to strengthen the party of his nephew； resolved to slay the King and all his family。 He entrusted this business to a brother of his named Chinaobraya；＇363＇ ordering him to go to the palace and tell the poor King that he must slay himself； and that if he would not he himself would kill him with stabs of his dagger。
〃The prisoner attempted to excuse himself； saying that he knew nothing of the attempted revolt。 But seeing the determination of Chinaobraya； who told him that he must necessarily die； either by his own hand or by that of another a most pitiful case； and one that I relate full of sorrow！ the poor King called his wife； and after he had spoken to her awhile he beheaded her。 Then he sent for his youngest son and did the same to him。 He put to death similarly his little daughter。 Afterwards he sent for his eldest son； who was already married； and commanded him to slay his wife； which he did by beheading her。 This done； the King took a long sword of four fingers' breadth； and； throwing himself upon it； breathed his last； and his son； heir to the throne； did the same to himself in imitation of his father。 There remained only a little daughter whom the King could not bring himself to slay； but Chinaobraya killed her； so that none of the family should remain alive of the blood royal； and the throne should be secured for his nephew。
〃Some of the chiefs were struck with horror at this dreadful deed； and were so enraged at its cruelty that they went over to Echama Naique； resolved to defend the prince who had been rescued by the washerman； and who alone remained of all the royal family。 Echama Naique； furious at this shameful barbarity and confident in the justice of his cause； selected ten thousand of his best soldiers； and with them offered battle to Jaga Raya； who had more than sixty thousand men and a number of elephants and horses。 Echama sent him a message in this form： 'Now that thou hast murdered thy king and all his family； and there alone remains this boy whom I rescued from thee and have in my keeping； come out and take the field with all thy troops； kill him and me； and then thy nephew will be secure on the throne！'
〃Jaga Raya tried to evade this for some time； but finding that Echama Naique insisted； he decided to fight him； trusting that with so great a number of men he would easily not only be victorious； but would be able to capture both Echama Naique and the prince。 He took the field； therefore； with all his troops。 Echama Naique entrusted the prince to a force of ten thousand men who remained a league away； and with the other ten thousand he not only offered battle； but was the first to attack； and that with such fury and violence that Jaga Raya； with all the people surrounding his nephew； was driven to one side； leaving gaps open to the enemy； and many met their deaths in the fight。 Echama Naique entered in triumph the tents of Jaga Raya； finding in them all the royal insignia belonging to the old King and these he delivered to the young prince； the Son of Chica Raya； proclaiming him rightful heir and King of all the empire of Bisnaga。
〃The spoil which he took was very large； for in precious stones alone they say that he found two millions worth。
〃After this victory many of the nobles joined themselves to Echama Naique。 So much so； that in a short time he had with him fifty thousand fighting men in his camp； while Jaga Raya； with only fifteen thousand； fled to the jungles。 Here； however； he was joined by more people； so that the war has continued these two years；＇364＇ fortune favouring now one side now the other。 But the party of the young prince has always been gaining strength； the more so because； although the great Naique of Madura＇365＇ a page of the betel to the King of Bisnaga； who pays a revenue every year of； some say； 600；000 pagodas； and has under him many kings and nobles as vassals； such as he of Travancor took the side of Jaga Raya； and sustained him against the Naique of Tanjaor。 Yet the latter； though not so powerful； is； with the aid of the young King； gradually getting the upper hand。 Indeed there are now assembled in the field in the large open plains of Trinchenepali＇366＇ not only the hundred thousand men that each party has； but as many as a million of soldiers。
〃Taking advantage of these civil wars； the city of San Thome＇367＇ which up to now belonged to the King of Bisnaga； paying him revenues and customs which he used to make over to certain chiefs； by whom the Portuguese were often greatly troubled determined to liberate itself； and become in everything and for everything the property of the King of Portugal。 To this end she begged the Viceroy to send and take possession of her in the name of his Majesty； which he did； as I shall afterwards tell you。 Meanwhile the captain who governed the town； by name Manuel de Frias； seeing that there was close to the town a fortress that commanded it； determined to seize it by force； seeing that its captain declined to surrender it。 So he laid siege to it； surrounding it so closely that no one could get out。〃
In the end the Portuguese were successful。 The fortress was taken； its garrison of 1500 men capitulated； and a fleet came round by sea to complete the conquest。
The foregoing story relates to events never before； I think； made known to English readers； and so far is of the highest interest。 Let us； for the moment； grant its accuracy； and read it by the light of the genealogical table already given。＇368＇
King Venkata I。 （1586 1614） had a sister who was married to a chief whom Barradas calls 〃Obo〃 （perhaps Obala） Raya。 So far as we know； his only nephews were Tirumala II。 and Ranga III。； sons of his brother； Rama III。 Since Tirumala II。 appears to have had no sons； and Ranga III。 had a son； Rama IV； who is asserted in the inscriptions to have been 〃one of several brothers；〃 it is natural to suppose that the nephew mentioned by Barradas； who was raised to be king on the death of the old King Venkata I。 in 1614； and who had three sons； was Ranga III。； called 〃Chikka Raya〃 or 〃Crown…prince〃 in the text。 He； then； succeeded in 1614； but was afterwards deposed； imprisoned； and compelled to take his own life。 His eldest son at the same time followed his example； and his youngest son was slain by his father。 The 〃middle son〃 escaped； and was raised to the throne by a friendly chief named Echama Naik。 This second son was probably Ranga IV。 Two of King Venkata's wives were Bayama； daughter of Jaga Raya； and a lady unnamed； sister of Narpa Raya。 A niece of Venkata I。 had been given in marriage to a Brahman boy； who had been surreptitiously introduced into the palace by Bayama and educated in the pretence that he was son of King Venkata。 The plot to raise him to the throne was temporarily successful； and Ranga III。 and all the royal family were killed； saving only Ranga IV。； who afterwards came to the throne。
How much of the story told is true we cannot as yet decide； but it is extremely improbable that the whole is a pure invention； and we may for the present accept it； fixing the date of these occurrences as certainly between the years 1614 and 1616 A。D。 the date of Barradas's letter being December 12 in the latter year。
It will be observed that the inscriptions upon which the genealogical table given above； from the EPIGRAPHIA INDICA； is founded do not yield any date between A。D。 1614 and 1634； when Pedda Venkata II。 is named as king。 In 1883 I published＇369＇ a list of Vijayanagar names derived from reports of inscriptions which had then reached me。 I am by no means certain of their accuracy； and it is clear that they must all be hereafter carefully examined。 But so far as it goes the list runs thus：
A。D。 Ranga 1619 Rama 1620； 1622 Ranga 1623 Venkata 1623 Rama 1629 Venkata 1636
The last…mentioned name and date are apparently correct。
In 1633 the Portuguese； encouraged by the Vijayanagar king； still at Chandragiri； attempted to eject the Dutch from 〃Paleacate；〃 or Pulicat。 An arrangement was made by which the Portuguese were to attack by sea and the Rajah by land； but while the Viceroy sent his twelve ships as agreed on； the Rajah failed to attack； alleging in explanation that he was compelled to use his army to put down internal disturbances in the kingdom。 A second expedition met with no better success； the plans o
