Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v2.c18.t1.24

v2.c18.t1.24

Whether these went "naked and bare-footed", as Varthema makes us believe, will be seen in connection with the dress and habits of the people. As regards the colour of the people, Barbosa says: "The natives of this land (Vijayanagara) are Heathen like himself (the king); they are tawny men, nearly white ".³ Paes tells us the following about their industrious character : " There are working people and all other kinds of men who are employed in business, besides those who are obliged to go into the field; there are also a great number of Brahmans ".⁴