PITHAPURAM DIVISION.
The Pithapuram division lies along the coast, north of theGódávari delta, and, except Nagaram, is the smallest in the district. Most of it is included in the Pithápuram zamindari. Though it adjoins the delta, where the rainfall is heavy, it receives only 34'46 inches annually on an average, the lowest figure in the district. Part of it, however, benefits from the excellent irrigation provided by the Yeléru river. The head-quarter town is of much historical and archæological interest. Good weaving is done at Múlapéta, Uppáda and Kottapalli, and excellent bronze-work at Pithápuram. Chandurti was the scene of the great battle of 'Condore.'
Chandurti: Seven miles north by east of Pithápuram. Population 1,087. It is called Condore by Orme, and has given this name to the decisive battle which took place near it on the ninth of December 1758, which resulted in the wresting of the sovereignty of the Northern Circars from the French by the English. The battle is described in detail by Orme,1[1] and in somewhat different terms by Cambridge 2[2] and Malleson.3[3] A very precise local tradition survives in the village to this day as to the locality in which it was fought, and old swords, bullets, cannon-balls, remains of pewter vessels, and elephants' bones have been found in quantities in the neighbourhood by the villagers while cultivating their fields. The account given by Orme is more detailed than the others and agrees more closely with the local tradition.
When the English under Colonel Forde entered the Pithápuram division they found the French under M. Conflans encamped at Gollaprólu,4[4] some four miles north-east of Pithápuram on the main road. This was on December 3rd. The French force consisted of 500 Europeans, 500 native cavalry, 6,000 sepoys and a great number of local levies.5[5]
- ↑ 1 Orme (Madras, 1861), ii, 378 ff.
- ↑ 2 The War in India (London, 1761), 204 ff.
- ↑ 3 Decisive battles of India, 80-87.
- ↑ 4 Cambridge says 'near Tallapool' (i.e., Tatiparti); and local tradition places the French camp at the now deserted village of Vodulapenta. The latter may refer to the temporary occupation of that village by the French on the morning of the battle.
- ↑ 5 Orme says 'a great number of the troops of the country, of which 500 were horse and 6,000 sepoys;' Cambridge says '8,000 sepoys and a great many of the country powers.'
