Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v2.c20.s3.4

v2.c20.s3.4

This number 12,000 is given by Paes on two other occasions. "Within, with these maidens, they say that there are twelve thousand women; for you must know that there are women who handle sword and shield, and others who wrestle, and others who blow trumpets, and others pipes, and other instruments which are different from ours; and in the same way they have women as bearers (boois) and washing-folk, and for other offices inside their gates, just as the king has the officers of his household."²