In the last years of the eighteenth century, the Marathas overran the feudatory state of Korea, then under Surguja's suzerainty. They did not take full possession of the territory - finding it too difficult a terrain to control. Instead, they demanded a mere Rs. 2,000 from the Raja of Korea. Discovering that he could not pay, they lowered this charge to Rs. 200 a year for five years and grabbed several head of cattle in warning. Soon, according to the district gazetteer, even the ruthless Marathas came around to understanding that the Raja could not pay a single rupee. They settled, therefore, for 'five small horses, three bullocks and one female buffalo.' They then released and even returned some of the other cattle that they had looted, finding them largely worthless. The hostilities came to an end, and the Marathas marched back.
P Sainath, 'Everybody Loves a Good Drought'
