Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v1.c10.s9.29

v1.c10.s9.29

The places where customs duties were levied in the Telugu country in about A.D. 1520 were the following: vasantagaruvus (i.e. ? rest-houses), water-sheds, salt beds, market towns, and roads frequented by people.⁴ The dues (āya) levied on articles at the fair at Hoḷalakere, Chitaldroog district, in A.D. 1522, seem to have been fixed with the unanimous consent of the Gauṇḍas, and the Nānā-dēśis of the 96,000 (Gaṅgavāḍi ?).⁵ The miscellaneous excise duties in A.D. 1536 were these—the miscellaneous excise for oil (chiluvāna suṅka gāṇa), plantain leaves and grain (bāle-yele taragu), watch and ward (mādārike taḷavārike), salt-guards (uppinakāvali) mambāla (?); export duty and all other taxes payable to the palace (hora-saluvali muntāda kuḷagal).⁶ The rate on every pack of oxen collected at the main gate of the capital, according to Nuniz, as already remarked, was three vintēes (or 3½d).⁷ This may be compared with the rate levied at Virupāpura, Bellary district, which, according to an inscription dated Saka 1479 (A.D. 1557-8), was one kāśu per hēru (bullock pack).⁸ The rate allowed per every load (of bullock-pack) by the great Āvaṭi-nāḍ Prabhu, Hāvaḷi Bayappa Gauḍa, in A.D. 1586, was one mūle-gāsu.⁹ Floris in A.D. 1613 on reaching Masulipatam, "took a Caul at foure per Centum, & landed goods".¹⁰