A Forgotten Empire (Vijayanagar): A Contribution to the History of India c21.s3.t17.87

c21.s3.t17.87

In this way the kingdom of Bisnaga is divided between more than two hundred captains who are all heathen,⁴ and according to the lands and revenues that they have so the King settles for them the forces that they are compelled to keep up, and how much revenue they have to pay him every month during the first nine days of the month of September. He never gives any receipts to them, only, if they do not pay they are well punished, and are ruined and their property taken away. All the captains of this kingdom make use of litters and palanqueens. These are like biers and men carry them on their shoulders, but people are not allowed to make use of litters unless they are cavaliers of the highest rank, and the captains and principal persons use palanqueens. There are always at the court where the King is twenty thousand litters and palanqueens.