Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v2.c20.s5.13

v2.c20.s5.13

Pietro della Valle also observed the costume of the dancing-girls. While he was walking through the city of the Ikkeri " late in the evening without the Ambassador we saw going along the streets several companies of young girls, well cloth'd after their manner, with some of the above-mentioned wrought and figur'd Silk from the girdle downwards; and from thence upward either naked, or else with very pure linen, either of one colour, or strip'd and wrought with several, besides a scarf of the same work cast over the shoulder. Their heads were deck'd with yellow and white flowers form'd into a high and large Diadem, with some sticking out like Sun-beams, and others twisted together and hanging down in several fashions, which made a pretty sight ".¹