Page images
PDF
EPUB

Evidence in proof of this is obtained from(1) The old book entitled, "Kanchi-Kaveri" written four hundred years back in Orissa graphically describes the event though probably with some exaggeration. (2) The temple archives known as "Madala Panji" preserved in the temple of Sri Jagannatha in palm leaf, make clear mention of these facts.

The South Indian images of Sakhi Gopala and Ganesa brought by the King during the expedition from Kanchi are to be seen to this day consecrated at Satyavādī and Furi respectively.

(3) The " Sarasvathi-Vilasa," the huge legal compilation of the Orissan Xing Prataparudra Deva, son of Purushottama Deva and Padmavathi, makes in the introduction in unmistakeable terms mention of the expedition of his father and his marriage.

(4) In the contemporary Tamil inscriptions of South India this is referred to as the "Oddiyan Kalapam." (5) The contemporary records of the Muhammadan Kings

of Gulbarga also make mention of the expedition. (6) Two inscriptions at Udayagiri (Nellore District) in the fort on the hill state that Krishna Deva Raya made certain grants after having defeated Prataparudra Deva Gajapathi of Orissa and taken prisoner the latter's uncle Tirumalappa Raya in Salivahana Śaka 1436 or 1514 A.D. This Tirumalappa Raya was obviously a maternal uncle of the Orissan King and a descendant of the first ruling dynasty of Vizianagar, left in charge of the fort at Udayagiri.

(7) King Purushottama Deva during his victorious triumphant return from Kanchi rewarded most of his generals who had helped him in the war by making them petty chiefs with small tracts of land and their descendants are to be found even to this day in the Oriya-speaking tracts of the district of Ganjam,

It is rather difficult at present to fix with precision the date of this Kanchi-Kaveri expedition of King Purushottama Deva and find out the name of his contemporary King of Karnata with whom he waged war and whose daughter Padmavathi he married. Purushottama Deva ruled over Orissa from 1479 A.D. to 1504 A.D., or according to some from 1469 to 1496 A.D. Virūpaksha Deva Raya, the last king of the first ruling dynasty of Vizianagar, is said to have ruled from 1466 A.D. to 1486 A.D. He was weak and licentious. During his time Saluva Narasimharāja, his chief general and minister, was all powerful. This general in fact usurped the throne of Vizianagar for himself and founded a new dynasty. Saluva Narasimha succeeded in repelling the Orissan King from Vizianagar in his first attempt but failed to offer any effective resistance when the latter advanced a second time and met him at Kanchi. Kanchi, or the modern Conjeeveram, was an important stronghold of the Vizianagar Kings in the South. Purushottama Deva during his second campaign against the Karnata kingdom obviously did not meet with any opposition till he advanced as far south as Kanchi, which fell in spite of the brave defence by Saluva Narasimha Raya. Purushottama Deva appears to have extended his conquests this time as far south as the Kaveri river before he returned to his capital. There is reason to believe that he invaded Karnata soon after his accession. So the year of the Kanchi-Kaveri expedition may be fixed as 1470 or 1480 A.D. The King of Karnata with whom he fought would be Virupaksha Deva Raya.

Some people would be inclined to ask as to why the King of Orissa who had extended his conquests so far south failed to leave behind him any inscriptions. In the first place it has to be observed that the Kings of Orissa were not fond of making their names permanent in stone inscriptions like their brothers in the South. Secondly, their conquests beyond the Nellore District were but merely military occupations. Lastly, Oriya inscriptions, if any in the South, I think, have not yet been picked up and deciphered, the language being quite foreign there.

IV.-Note on a Discovery of Ancient Copper Smelting Apparatus at Rakha in the Dalbhum Pargana of Singhbhum.

By C. Olden, Superintendent, Cape Copper Company,

Limited.

I have for a long time been searching for evidence of the process by which the ancients smelted their copper, and have been successful so far in discovering segments of a clay circle which I should say belonged to an oven about 2 feet or 2 feet 6 inches in diameter, with which were connected clay blast-pipes, of which also I have found portions. I imagine their method must have been as follows, viz :

(1) The oxidized ores from the portions of the lode above Permanent water level may have been smelted between alternate layers of charcoal and copper ores, the layers being about 6 inches thick, the pile being brought to the shape of a cone, and ignited from the bottom. This would have the effect of causing the carbon in the charcoal to combine with the oxygen in the oxides, giving off CO and CO2, while liquating or sweating out shots of copper.

(2) When the fire was extinguished, I suggest the copper shots were collected and put into a receptacle, referred to above, and, by means of an air-blast, shot copper with charcoal was melted and poured into shapes or moulds to suit requirements.

This is purely a surmise on my part, but I know this is the process in Central Africa and Central Borneo by natives who have no knowledge of modern practice.

I shall continue to look for other relics of the ancient copper industry of which I will advise you from time to time.

I have found some pieces of native copper, evidently manufactured by the ancients, and from its appearance and general properties, I suggest that they were able to produce a very fine class of metallic copper suitable for beating into various forms.

NOTES OF THE QUARTER.

I.-Proceedings of a Meeting of the Council of the Bihar and Orissa Research Society held on the 25th January 1919 at 3 p.m. at the Society's Office.

PRESENT:

The Hon'ble Mr. E. H. C. Walsh, c.s.I., I.C.S.
The Hon'ble Mr. C. E. A. W. Oldham, c.S.I., I.C.S.

The Hon'ble Mr. J. G. Jennings, C.I.E.

Professor J. N. Samaddar, B.A., F.R.E.S., FR.H.S., Honorary

Treasurer.

1. Letter from Mr. Jayaswal, Honorary Secretary, was read, regretting that he is unable to attend the meeting.

2. The proceedings of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

3. The following new members were elected :

(1) Pandit Kashi Nath Das, Professor, Ravenshaw College, Cuttack.

(2) Kumar Hari Krishna Dev, M.A., Sobha Bazar, Calcutta.

(3) Professor H. R. Bhateja, M.A., Patna College.

(4) Professor Jagannath Prasad Pandey, Patna College.

(5) Ray Bahadur Baroda Kant Ganguly, Deputy Magis

trate, Patna.

(6) Babu Suparva Das Gupta, Central Jain Library, Arrah.

(7) N. Chatterji, Esq., 41, Chowringhee, Calcutta.

(8) Rai Yatindra Nath Choudhari, M.A., B.L., 1, Kuthi

ghata Road, Baranagore, Calcutta.

(9) Babu Ramanugrah Narayan Singh, M.A., B.L., Munsif, Buxar.

« PreviousContinue »