on the musnud by the British Government as he was very helpful to them when they established their power over Northern Circars. Venkata Nishanka ruled the estate for a long time. He had two sons, Peddanna Nishanka and Karranna Nishanka; the elder succeeded to the estate. His life was rendered miserable owing to family dissensions, and he therefore applied to the Rajah of Bobbili to interfere in his behalf and to effect a compromise. When Karranna Nishanka went to Bobbili on this mission, the Rajah of the latter place treated the former with great condescension, and offered him a palace to live in. There, his son, Sri Rajah Mritinjaya Nishanka Bahadur Garu, was born in April 1828, a posthumous child. As he was born at Bobbili, the Eajah of that place conceived a great liking for him and treated him as a child of his own. The British Government interfered, and took the management of the estate under them.
Sri Rajah Nishanka Bahadur Garu, when he was young, was sent to Vizagapatam, under the guardianship of his maternal uncle, Sri Medini Rao Narasimha Razu Garu. Efficient tutors to teach him different languages were appointed under the orders of Government. He was very studious and intelligent, and therefore without much effort learnt many languages. He did not waste a single moment but made the best use of his time in the acquirement of knowledge. He learnt the Vedas, and other branches of philosophical Hinduism under a great preceptor, Mahamahopadyaya Srimath Paravasthu Venkata Rangachariar. In 1847, Sri Rajah Nishanka Bahadur Garu was installed on the guddi of his ancestors, when there was much rejoicing all over the estate. His maternal uncle built a neat town, near Sangam Valasa, on account of the salubriousness of its climate, and called it Mritunjayanagar, which has since
