Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v1.c8.s2.64

v1.c8.s2.64

Besides these two animals there was another one which had been since the days of Harshavardhana a native of the land. Indeed there is reason to believe that the camel has played a small but significant part in the economic life of the people from the times of Kauṭilya.³ Bāṇa acquaints us with the fact that the camel was used as a swift courier in the 7th century A.D. Harshavardhana foreboding his father's death, "in hot haste he despatched express couriers and swift camel riders one after another to procure his brother's coming".⁴ These animals have been so faithfully represented on the walls of Vijayanagara that it would not be wrong to say that they must have been an extremely common sight in the streets of the capital. From the sculptures at Hampe it can be made out that camels were used for carrying persons, and perhaps, loads as well. Judged by the profusion with which they are carved on the walls of the City of Victory, it may be said that the persons who used them must have been powerful and prosperous.⁵ Their introduction as well as that of the horse was due to the intimate relations with foreigners, especially with the Muhammadans. In fact, Nuniz relates that the ambassador from the court of 'Adil Shāh, by name "Matucotam", brought with him one hundred and fifty horses and pack animals, among which were certain camels.⁶ It is this fact, perhaps, which is illustrated in the sculptures of the capital in which a drummer, with his drum slung round his waist, is followed by persons one of whom is blowing a trumpet, and by a small person who is leading two camels that have two Muhammadans dancing behind them. In the days of Dēva Rāya II it is said that the great general whom the king selected for his southern campaigns, called Nāgama Nāyaka, possessed an imperial army which was made up of 40,000 horse, 4,000 elephants, and 10,000 camels.¹