History of Orissa from the Earliest Times to the British Period v2.c41.326

v2.c41.326

The Council of Revenue wrote to Peiarce, the Collector of Mednipur (the date of the letter not given in the copy supplied to me), conveying the instructions of the Governor-General in Council. The Collector of Medinipur was directed to commence a judicial process against Rāja Dāmodar Bhañja of Mayurbhañja by issuing a public summons to him requiring him personally to appear as a tenant of the Company at Medinipur on a fixed day to answer for his depredation into British territory. The Collector was also authorised to take possession of all zamindaries belonging to Dāmodar Bhañja on the northern side of the Suvarṇarekhā. In a letter dated the 16th July, 1781, the Collector informed the Board of Revenue that Rāja Dāmodar Bhañja took no notice of the summons served on him and troops of the Company have driven out the Rāja's men from the Parganah of Beloorichor. In a letter from Major Macpherson to the Collector dated 24th July, 1781, we are informed that Mayurbhañja troops had been driven out of Amardah and Rājghāt. They made a stand at Amardah, where one Bhishtī was killed and one Jamādar and one Sepoy wounded on the British side. Major Macpherson applied for re-inforcements and Captain Fenwick marched to Beloorichor with one hundred and fifty men (letter dated 29th July, 1781). In a letter dated 1st August, 1781, Major Macpherson informed Peiarce of Medinipur that Lieut. MacGregor had informed him that Dāmodar Bhañja had at one time promised cessation of hostility; but on the 29th July his people advanced towards the British and fought for one hour. When they gave way, one Sepoy was killed and one Hāvildār and one Sepoy wounded, while the Mayurbhañja army lost about twenty-five killed and wounded. Dāmodar Bhañja's troops were joined by two thousand Maratha horse and men and the people of the neighbourhood fled to the jungles and British troops had to fall back upon the Suvarṇarekhā. On the 2nd of the same month Macpherson reported that Captain Fenwick had joined him. The arrival of a *Wakil* from Rājā Dāmodar Bhañja with a letter is reported in a letter from Captain MacGregor from his camp near Patpore dated the 28th July, 1781, to Macpherson. Two letters from Rājā Dāmodar Bhañja of Mayurbhañja protesting against British invasion, but without date, are preserved. In the second one Dāmodar Bhañja states that he received charge of the country from Rajghat to Rājārāṇī *Talāv* from Mahārājā Chumpājee (Chimnājī Bāpu), who gave him some Maratha Jamādārs. The summons sent to him is dated 23rd Āshāḍha 1188 *Amlī* or 12th July, 1781.