Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v2.c18.s1.59

v2.c18.s1.59

entering. But the *Muthaliars* and *Vellarhas* instead of entering head foremost thrust feet in first; and thus treated the *Curumbars* with contempt. As the latter had power in their possession, they vexed the said tribes. These, at length, went to a barber, and promsing a gift of land, asked of him counsel how to destroy the *Curumbars*. The barber gave them encouragement: he then went to the houses of all his tribe; and engaged their services by promise. It was the custom of *Curumbars* that, if one of their people died, the whole family should shave the head. One of the seniors of the tribe of *Curumbars* died, and, by custom, the whole tribe at one time sat down to have their heads shaved. The aforesaid barber, on this occasion, charged all his associates each one to kill his man, which they did, by each one cutting the throat of the person shaved. The women, thus suddenly widowed, had a great pile of fire kindled, into which they leaped and died, execrating their enemies."¹