260
தஞ்சை மராட்டிய
250
on his behalf and retired after garrisoning the fort with his troops. (Thanjavur was under Muslim rule from 17-9-1773 to 11-4-1776.)
One of the ministers of Tulaja was Kilibili" Anna. His name was Lingoji. During his regime, a Desasta Brahmin jamedar, Koneri Rao came from Arni to Thanjavur. His salary was in arrears. He came and sat before the minister to remonstrate. The minister was enraged. There was a hand to hand fight between the Rao and the servant of the minister. The Rao was puplicly dishonoured by being drawn in the public street. The Rao died.
There was now a general impression that the king lost his throne because of such unlawful and inhuman acts.
The Court of Directors of the East India Company in England expressed. their disapproval of the action of the Nawab and ordered the restoration of Tulaja to the throne. Lord Pigot came to Thanjavur and Tulaja was made king.
Tulaja, in order to show gratitude to the English, gave not only the posts of Killedar and Foujdar to them but also a lakh of “pon” and Nagore with 227 villages attached to it). He also declared that he would not pay peshkush to the Nawab as the Nawab had appropriated to himself priceless jewels from the palace during his occupation.
Mohana Bai, Tulaja's third wife died after delivering a child. To beget male children, he married two more wives Sulakhana Bai and Mohana Bai Mohana brought forth a still born child. Then she delivered a son. He was named Abdul Pratap Ram. He died of small-pox after two years. Tulaja had grandson, Maruthisami through his daughter Apurupa Bai, and a grand daughter Shantamma. Apurupa Bai also died and those two children also passed away.
As Tulaja had to face such calamities he became depressed and indisposed.
Now Hyder Ali invaded Thanjavur.
A horrible famine broke out.
As Tulaja had none to succeed, he wanted to adopt a son. He selected a charming boy from a colleteral family, named him Sarabhoji and left him under the care of the Christian Missionary Schwartz, the Resident Huddleston, and Colonel Stuart. He also convened a Durbar and placed
- Kili pillai (Bhonsle Vamsa Charitra - English rendering - Page XV)
