Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v1.c15.s7.17

v1.c15.s7.17

It is interesting to inquire in this connection whether the Hindus had tents during a campaign. Paes, in the passage cited above, is positive about the tents and pavilions in the plains, which were great in number.¹ Nuniz also speaks of the great number of oxen which carried all the supplies and many other burdens "such as tents and other things".² Then again he says: "According to the King's custom, when he wishes to lie down and sleep, they make for him a hedge of brushwood and of thorns behind which his tent is pitched, which was done for him all along this route..."³ But he contradicts this in a later passage thus: "... and when he (the king) takes the field, wherever he pitches his camp there they make for him houses of stone and clay, for he does not stay in a tent, and he always has these decorated with cloths".⁴ Barbosa speaks of the king pitching his tents and camp in the country.⁵