Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v2.c19.s3.39

v2.c19.s3.39

Nation among all the Indian Heathens:¹ for they doe alwaies serve in the chiefest places about the King, as Receivers, Stewards, Ambassadors, and such like Offices. They are likewise the Priests and Ministers of the Pagodas, or devilish Idols. They are of great authoritie among the Indian people, for that the King doth nothing without their counsel and consent, and that they may bee knowne from other men, they weare upon their naked bodie, from the shoulder crosse under the arme over their bodie downe to the girdle, or the cloth that is wrapped about their middle, three or four strings like sealing thread, whereby they are knowne: which they never put off although it should cost them their lives, for their Profession and Religion will not permit it. They goe naked, saving onely that they have a cloth bound about their middles to hide their privie members. They weare sometimes when they go abroad, a thinne cotton linnen Gowne called Cabaia, lightly cast over their shoulders, and hanging down to the ground like some other Indians, as Benianes (Banyas?) Gusartes (Gujeratis?) and Decanins (Deccanis?). Upon their heads they weare a white cloth, wound twice or thrice about, therewith to hide their haire, which they never cut off, but weare it long and turned up as the women doe. They have most commonly round rings of gold hanging at their eares, as most of the Indians have. They eate not anything that hath life, but feed themselves with herbes and Rice, neither yet when they are sick will for anything be let bloud, but heale themselves by herbs and ointments, and by rubbing their bodies with Sanders, and such like sweet woods. In Goa and on the Sea coasts there are many Bramenes, which commonly doe maintayne themselves with selling of Spices and other Apothecarie ware, but it is not so cleane as others, but full of garbish and dust. They are very subtile in writing and casting accounts, whereby they make other simple Indians beleeve what they will”.¹