Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v2.c19.s3.29

v2.c19.s3.29

Barbosa has more to say about the Brahmans than the Persian Ambassador. "Among them is another class of people whom they call Bramenes, who are priests and rulers of their houses of worship. These eat nothing subject to death, they marry only one wife, and if she dies, do not marry again (and their sons inherit all their goods). As a mark of their dignity they wear over their shoulders three linen threads. Among them all these men hold the greatest liberties and privileges and are not liable to death for anything whatsoever which they do. The king, the great Lords and men of rank give them much alms on which they live; also many of them have estates while others live in the houses of worship, as in monasteries, which possess good revenues. Some are great eaters and never work except to feed well; they will start at once on a 'six days journey' [twenty or twenty-four miles, *Ramusio*; eight leagues, Spanish] only to get a good bellyfull. Their (food is?) honey and butter, rice, sugar, 'stews of' pulse and milk ".¹