A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar c17.36

c17.36

The loss of the western ports in the reign of Virūpāksha II had dislocated the horse trade of the Arabs on which the Vijayanagar army depended for its cavalry. Narasimha, however, revived the trade by conquering the Tulu country and manning the ports of Honavar, Bhaṭṭakkula (Bhatkal), Bākanūr and Mangalore. ‘He caused horses to be brought from Ormuz and Aden into his kingdom, and thereby gave profit to the merchants, paying them for the horses just as they had asked’ (Nuniz). He also took steps to strengthen the efficiency and the martial spirit of his troops.