Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v2.c23.s2.32

v2.c23.s2.32

Such of the features as are applicable to the inhabitants of the south, given in the above passage, may be compared with those given by the eye-witnesses in the Vijayanagara Empire, who speak of the various parts of the country. Varthema in A. D. 1502 summarily describes the people of Maṅgaḷūr : "The inhabitants are pagans and Moors. Their mode of living, their customs, and their dress, are like those above described."¹ He is here referring to his own observations made in connection with the people of Honnāvūru, which we have seen. While describing the citizens of the capital, he says : "They live like pagans. Their dress is this : the men of condition wear a short shirt, and on their head a cloth of gold and silk in the Moorish fashion, but nothing on their feet. The common people go quite naked with the exception of a piece of cloth about their middle."² According to the same traveller, "Their (i.e, of the people of Paleachet or Pulicat) laws, manner of living, dress, and customs, are the same as at Calicut, and they are a warlike people, ..."³