Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v2.c21.s2.t4.1

v2.c21.s2.t4.1

Etiquette governed the actions of the people in public and private life. When foreign *pṛthvī-śeṭṭis* came to a particular locality, they were treated with marked courtesy. According to a copper-plate grant dated only in the cyclic Siddhārtin, Bhādrapada, Śu. 5, Monday, but assignable to A. D. 1379, "if the prithvi-seṭṭis of any countries within the four seas came to another country, first presenting to them betel leaf, dress and allowance of food, the authorities of that country will give... to those seṭṭis". The same record narrates that, in addition to those honours the prithvi-seṭṭis were granted the customs duties "on the roads both ways".¹