Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v1.c13.s6.6

v1.c13.s6.6

To the evidence of those records which show the impartial attitude of the rulers towards the people, we may add that of Duarte Barbosa and Varthema, both of whom in clear terms contradict the statement of Nuniz. While describing the busy commercial life in the capital, Duarte Barbosa says: "There is great traffic and an endless number of merchants and wealthy men, as well among the natives of the city who abide therein as among those who come thither from outside, to whom the King allows such freedom that every man may come and go and live according to his own creed, without suffering any annoyance and without enquiry whether he is a Christian, 'Jew', Moor or Heathen. Great equity and justice is observed to all, not only by the rulers, but by the people one to another".¹ Varthema substantiates the above statement of Barbosa in the following sentence: "In this kingdom you can go everywhere in safety".²