Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v2.c20.s3.8

v2.c20.s3.8

Nuniz confirms Paes as regards many details but about the number of women entertained in the palace neither of these travellers agree, nor is Nuniz consistent with his own statements. Nuniz relates the following: "In his palace within the gates he is served by women and eunuchs and servants numbering fully five or six hundred; and these wives of the King all have their own officials for their service, each for herself, just as the King has within the gates, but these are all women. .... these porters do not go further inside than through four or five doors, because inside of these are none but eunuchs and women".¹ As regards women serving the king, Nuniz says : "Thus they deliver it (i.e. the water enclosed and sealed in vessels for the king's use) to the women who wait on him, and they take it inside to the other women, the King's wives".² The description of the maids of honour given by Paes is confirmed by Nuniz who writes thus: "...and with these women (i.e., the queens) come all the female servants and the other wives of the King, with canes in their hands tipped with gold and with torches burning; and these then retire inside with the King".³