talled a Brahman governor at Mercara with a
Mussulman garrison. In 1782, however, the Coorgs rose in rebellion and
drove out the Mahommedans. Two years later Tippoo Sultan reduced the
country; but the Coorgs having again rebelled in 1785 he vowed their
destruction. Having secured some 70,000 of them by treachery, he drove
them to Seringapatam, where he had them circumcised by force. Coorg was
partitioned among Mussulman proprietors, and held down by garrisons in
four forts. In 1788, however, Vira Raja (or Vira Rajendra Wodeyar), with
his wife and his brothers Linga Raja and Appaji, succeeded in escaping
from his captivity, at Periapatam and, placing himself at the head of a
Coorg rebellion, succeeded in driving the forces of Tippoo out of the
country. The British, who were about to enter on the struggle with
Tippoo, now made a treaty with Vira Raja; and during the war that
followed the Coorgs proved invaluable allies. By the treaty of peace
Coorg, though not adjacent to the East India Company's territories, was
included in the cessions forced upon Tippoo. On the spot where he had
first met the British commander, General Abercromby, the raja founded
the city of Virarajendrapet.

Vira Raja, who, in consequence of his mind becoming unhinged, was guilty
towards the end of his reign of hideous atrocities, died in 1809 without
male heirs, leaving his favourite daughter Devamm[=a]ji as rani. His
brother Linga Raja, however, after acting as regent for his niece,
announced in 1811 his own assumption of the government. He died in 1820,
and was succeeded by his son Vira Raja, a youth of twenty, and a monster
of sensuality and cruelty. Among his victims were all the members of the
families of his predecessors, including Devamm[=a]ji. At last, in 1832,
evidence of treasonable designs on the raja's part led to inquiries on
the spot by the British resident at Mysore, as the result of which, and
of the raja's refusal to amend his ways, a British force marched into
Coorg in 1834. On the 11th of April the raja was deposed by Colonel
Fraser, the political agent with the force, and on the 7th of May the
state was formally annexed to the East India Company's territory. In
1852 the raja, who had been deported to Vellore, obtained leave to visit
England with his favourite daughter Gauramma, to whom he wished to give
a European education. On the 30th of June she was baptized, Queen
Victoria being one of her sponsors; she afterwards married a Br