A Forgotten Empire (Vijayanagar): A Contribution to the History of India c18.10

c18.10

Writing of the approach to Vijayanagar from the western coast, and describing the "first range," *i.e.* the first that is seen on passing upwards from the plains, he states that in these hills was the principal entrance from that side. He alludes to the gates and wall, and the city, Nâgalâpur, constructed by King Krishna. Then he writes, "the king made a tank *there*," *i.e.* close to Hospett, at the mouth of two hills, and in order to this end "broke down a hill." He saw innumerable people at work on the tank. He confirms the story of Nuniz as to the sixty human beings offered in sacrifice to ensure the security of the dam. Both writers are therefore describing the same tank, and, taking the chronicles together, I can have no doubt as to the soundness of my identification.