A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar c18.16

c18.16

Food and dress varied with the time, place and the class of people concerned. Much authentic and detailed information on these subjects can be gathered from epigraphs, literature, and the observations of foreign travellers which become more copious and detailed after the foundation of Vijayanagar. Here, for instance, is Varthema's account of what he saw in Vijayanagar early in the sixteenth century: '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 the feet. The common people go quite naked, with the exception of a piece of cloth about their middle. The king wears a cap of gold brocade two spans long, and when he goes to war he wears a quilted dress of cotton, and over it he puts another garment full of golden piastres, and having all around it jewels of various kinds. His horse is worth more than some of our cities, on account of the ornaments which it wears. When he rides for his pleasure he is always accompanied by three or four kings, and many other lords, and five or six thousand horse. Wherefore he may be considered to be a very powerful lord.'