Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v1.c8.s2.7

v1.c8.s2.7

Nothing could escape the notice of these foreign travellers. John Nieuhof in A.D. 1664 writes thus in his *Voyages and Travels* about the venomous creatures of the extreme south of the Empire: ". . . the Sea shoar abounds in Hares and Partridges, the first of which resemble our Rabbits, their Flesh being tough, yet in Taste like our Hares. . . They have here Mice as big as Cats. . . which dare not approach them, for, if they be pursued, they will settle upon a Chair or Chest, and sitting upright, Fight and Bite like Dogs. . . They will dig underneath the Doors and do considerable mischief to the Merchandise in the Warehouse. . . This Country also produces Serpents and diverse other sorts of venomous Creatures".¹