Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v1.c8.s4.57

v1.c8.s4.57

The Coromandel coast too was lined with towns. Faria y Sousa gives us a long list of some of the cities in A.D. 1506 from Cape Comorin to Orissa. "The first the Kingdom of Bisnaga contains 200 Leagues, and these Towns: Tarancurii, Manapar, Vaipur, Trechendur, Caligrande, Charcacale, Tucucurii, Benbar, Calicare, Beadala, Manancort, and Cannameira, whence takes the name that Cape that stretches out there in 10 degrees of North Latitude; then Negapatan, Habor, Triminapatan, Tragambar, Trimenava, Colororam, Puduchiera, Calapate, Connumeira, Sadrapatam, and Meliapur, now called St. Thomas because that Apostle's Body was found there. From St. Thomas to Palicata are nine Leagues, then go on Chiricole, Aremogan, Coleturo, Calecirco, Pentipolii, where ends the Kingdom of Bisnagur, and begins that of Orixa...".² Barbosa is more precise not only as regards the names of some of the most important of the Vijayanagara cities on the eastern coast but also as regards their general prosperity. "Twelve leagues further on the coast turns to the north, the country is called Cholmender (i.e., Chōḷamaṇḍala or Coromandel), and it extends seventy or eighty leagues along the coast. In it there are many Gentile cities, towns and villages, and it belongs to the King of Narsinga; it is a land abounding in rice, meat, and wheat, and all sorts of vegetables, because it is a country which has very beautiful plains. And many ships of Malabar come here to load rice, and they bring goods from Cambay to this country, that is to say, copper, quicksilver, vermilion, pepper and other goods. And throughout all this Cholmender much spice and drugs, and goods of Malaca, China, and Bengal are to be met with, which the Moorish ships bring here from those parts, since they do not venture to pass to Malabar from dread of the Portuguese. And although this country is very abundantly provided, yet if it should happen any year not to rain, it falls into such a state of famine that many die of it, and some sell their children for a few provisions, or for two or three fanoes, each of which will be worth thirty-six maravedis. And in these times the Malabars carry rice and cocoa nuts to them, and return with their ships laden with slaves, and all the chetis, Gentile merchants, who live throughout India, are natives of this country of Cholmender; as they are very sharp, great accountants, and dexterous merchants. And many country-born Moors, mercantile and sea-faring men, live in the seaports".¹