Robert Sewell ...........................................................................................................................................1

Preface ......................................................................................................................................................2

A Forgotten Empire..............................................................................................................................................5

CHAPTER 1. Introduction......................................................................................................................5

CHAPTER 2. Origin of the Empire (A.D. 1316)..................................................................................11

CHAPTER 3. The First Kings (A.D. 1336 to 1379) ..............................................................................14

CHAPTER 4. Growth of the Empire (A.D. 1379 to 1406) ....................................................................23

CHAPTER 5. Deva Raya I. (A.D. 1406 to 1419) ..................................................................................26

CHAPTER 6. Deva Raya II. (A.D. 1419 to 1444 or (?) 1449) ..............................................................30

CHAPTER 7. The City of Vijayanagar in the Reign of Deva Raya II. (A.D. 1420(?), 1443).............36

CHAPTER 8. Close of the First Dynasty (A.D. 1449 to 1490) .............................................................42

CHAPTER 9. The First Kings of the Second Dynasty (A.D. 1490 to 1509).......................................47

CHAPTER 10. The Reign of Krishna Deva Raya (A.D. 1509 to 1530)...............................................52

CHAPTER 11. The Siege and Battle of Raichur, and Close of Krishna's Reign (A.D. 1520 to

1530)......................................................................................................................................................58

CHAPTER 12. The Buildings, Works, and Inscriptions of Krishna Deva ...........................................68

CHAPTER 13. The Reign of Achyuta Raya.........................................................................................70

CHAPTER 14. The Beginning of the End .............................................................................................75

CHAPTER 15. Destruction of Vijayanagar (A.D. 1565)......................................................................82

CHAPTER 16. The Third Dynasty ........................................................................................................88

CHAPTER 17. The Story of Barradas (1614).......................................................................................91

Chronicle of Fernao Nuniz ................................................................................................................................116

(ORIG. were) from the era one thousand two hundred and thirty, which was after the general

destruction of the kingdom of Bisnaga.[468].....................................................................................116

CHAPTER 2. Of what the King (of Delhi) did after he had slain the King of Bisnaga, and

entirely overthrown him, and seized his lands for himself, none being left to defend them.............118

CHAPTER 3. How the King of Dily departed with his troops, and took to his kingdom the six

captives that he had taken in the fortress, ..........................................................................................118

CHAPTER 4. How the City of Bisnaga was built by that King Dehorao..........................................119

CHAPTER 5. Of the things done by King Crisnarao after he was raised to the throne. ....................125

CHAPTER 6. How Crisnarao, after he had made peace with the King of Oria, determined to

go against the land of Catuir................................................................................................................127

CHAPTER 7. How Crisnarao, on the arrival of Salvatinia, determined to attack Rachol, a city

of the Ydalcao, and to break the peace that had lasted so long; and the reason why........................128

CHAPTER 8. Of the manner in which the King had his camp, .........................................................131

CHAPTER 9. How the King attacked the city of Rachol. ...................................................................132

CHAPTER 10. Of the spoil taken from the Moors, of how the King burned all the dead, and of

what Christovao de Figueiredo did. .....................................................................................................134

CHAPTER 11. How those in the city asked for terms, and the king granted them quarter..............136

CHAPTER 12. How the King entered the city, and of the feast that was made for him, and of

the regulations and arrangements he made there................................................................................137

CHAPTER 13. How a number of people left the city, and the King did much kindness to them. ....137

CHAPTER 14. How the Captain acquitted himself of his embassy before the King. ........................138

CHAPTER 15. How the King sent to call the ambassador, and of the answer which he gave to

him.......................................................................................................................................................139

CHAPTER 16. How Acadacao went as ambassador for his King and compassed the death of

Sallabatecao.........................................................................................................................................140

CHAPTER 17. How the King went to the extremity of his territory to meet the Ydalcao, and

what he did on not finding him. ...........................................................................................................140

CHAPTER 18. How this King, during his own lifetime, raised to be King his son, being of the

age of six years. ....................................................................................................................................141

CHAPTER 19. How the Ydallcao came against Rachol, and did not dare to await the King,

and fled. ................................................................................................................................................142

CHAPTER 20. How on the death of Crisnarao his brother Achetarao was raised to be king. ..........143

CHAPTER 21. Of the manner of attendance on these kings, which is as follows.............................144

CHAPTER 22. Of the manner in which obeisance is done to the King, ...........................................146

CHAPTER 23. Of the ceremonies practised at the death of Brahmans. .............................................153

CHAPTER A. Diamonds .....................................................................................................................154

CHAPTER B. The Wealth of the Dakhan in the Fourteenth Century A.D........................................155

CHAPTER C. Portuguese Viceroys and Governors of Goa ................................................................156

NOTES .................................................................................................................................................157

CHAPTER 7. The City of Vijayanagar in the Reign of Deva Raya II. (A.D. 1420(?), 1443)

CHAPTER 11. The Siege and Battle of Raichur, and Close of Krishna's Reign (A.D. 1520 to 1530)

CHAPTER 1. Copy and Summary of a Chronicle of the Kings of Bisnaga, who reigned (ORIG.

were) from the era one thousand two hundred and thirty, which was after the general destruction of

CHAPTER 2. Of what the King (of Delhi) did after he had slain the King of Bisnaga, and entirely

overthrown him, and seized his lands for himself, none being left to defend them.

CHAPTER 3. How the King of Dily departed with his troops, and took to his kingdom the six

CHAPTER 5. Of the things done by King Crisnarao after he was raised to the throne.

CHAPTER 6. How Crisnarao, after he had made peace with the King of Oria, determined to go

CHAPTER 7. How Crisnarao, on the arrival of Salvatinia, determined to attack Rachol, a city of the

CHAPTER 10. Of the spoil taken from the Moors, of how the King burned all the dead, and of what

CHAPTER 11. How those in the city asked for terms, and the king granted them quarter.

CHAPTER 12. How the King entered the city, and of the feast that was made for him, and of the

CHAPTER 13. How a number of people left the city, and the King did much kindness to them.

CHAPTER 15. How the King sent to call the ambassador, and of the answer which he gave to him.

CHAPTER 16. How Acadacao went as ambassador for his King and compassed the death of

CHAPTER 17. How the King went to the extremity of his territory to meet the Ydalcao, and what he

CHAPTER 18. How this King, during his own lifetime, raised to be King his son, being of the age of

CHAPTER 19. How the Ydallcao came against Rachol, and did not dare to await the King, and fled.

CHAPTER 20. How on the death of Crisnarao his brother Achetarao was raised to be king.

The two Portuguese chronicles, a translation of which into English is now for the first time offered to the

public, are contained in a vellumbound folio volume in the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris, amongst the

manuscripts of which institution it bears the designation "PORT. NO. 65." The volume in question consists of

copies of four original documents; the first two, written by Fernao Nuniz and Domingo Paes, being those

translated below, the last two (at the end of the MS.) letters written from China about the year 1520 A.D.

These will probably be published in translation by Mr. Donald Ferguson in the pages of the INDIAN

The first pair of original papers was sent with a covering letter by some one at Goa to some one in Europe.

The names are not given, but there is every reason for believing that the recipient was the historian Barros in

Both these papers are in the same handwriting, which fact since they were written by separate Portuguese

merchants or travellers at Vijayanagar in different years, one, I believe, shortly subsequent to 1520 A.D., the

latter not later than about 1536 or 1537 conclusively proves them to be copies of the originals, and not the

originals themselves.[2] I have inserted a facsimile of two pages of the text, so that no doubt may remain on

this point. The first portion consists of the conclusion of the text of Fernao Nuniz; the second of the covering

letter written by the person who sent the originals to Europe; the third of the beginning of the text of

Paes being the earlier in date (about 1520) I have given his account of personal experiences first, and

afterwards the historical summary composed by Nuniz about the year 1536 or 1537.

I have stated that the person to whom the documents were sent from Goa was probably the celebrated

historian Barros. He is alluded to in the covering letter in the words: "It seemed necessary to do what your

Honour desired of me," "I send both the summaries ... because your Honour can gather what is useful to you

from both;" and at the end of the long note on "Togao Mamede," king of Delhi, quoted in my introduction, "I

Since the first DECADA of Barros was published in 1552,[3] this argument is not unreasonable; while a

comparison between the accounts given by Nuniz and Barros of the siege and battle of Raichur sufficiently

proves that one was taken from the other. But we have fortunately more direct evidence, for the discovery of

which we have to thank Mr. Ferguson. I have mentioned above that at the end of the MS. volume are copies

of two letters concerning China. These were written subsequent to the year 1520 by Vasco Calvo and

Christovao Vieyra. Mr. Ferguson has pointed out to me that, in the third DECADA (liv. IV, caps. 4, 5), after

quoting some passages almost verbatim from this chronicle of Nuniz regarding Vijayanagar, Barros writes:

"According to two letters which our people had two or three years afterwards from these two men, Vasco

Calvo, brother of Diogo Calvo, and Christovao Vieyra, who were prisoners in Canton, etc...." He also

mentions these letters in two subsequent passages, and quotes from them. This renders it certain that Barros

saw those letters; and since they are copied into the same volume which contains the chronicles of Nuniz and

Paes, we may be sure that Barros had the whole before him. It is of little importance to settle the question

whether the chronicles of Nuniz and Paes were sent direct to Barros whether, that is, Barros himself is the

addressee of the covering letter or to some other official (the "our people" of the passage from Barros last

quoted); but that Barros saw them seems certain, and it is therefore most probable that the Paris MS. was a

These documents possess peculiar and unique value; that of Paes because it gives us a vivid and graphic

account of his personal experiences at the great Hindu capital at the period of its highest grandeur and

magnificence "things which I saw and came to know" he tells us and that of Nuniz because it contains

the traditional history of the country gathered firsthand on the spot, and a narrative of local and current

events of the highest importance, known to him either because he himself was present or because he received

the information from those who were so. The summaries of the wellknown historians already alluded to,

though founded, as I believe, partly on these very chronicles, have taken all the life out of them by

eliminating the personal factor, the presence of which in the originals gives them their greatest charm. Senhor

Lopes, who has published these documents in the original Portuguese in a recent work,[4] writes in his

introduction: "Nothing that we know of in any language can compare with them, whether for their historical

importance or for the description given of the country, and especially of the capital, its products, customs, and

the like. The Italian travellers who visited and wrote about this country Nicolo di Conti, Varthema, and

Federici are much less minute in the matter of the geography and customs of the land, and not one of them

has left us a chronicle." They are indeed invaluable, and throw an extraordinary light on the condition of

Thus, for instance, we have in Nuniz for the first time a definite account of the events that led to the fall of

the First Dynasty and the establishment of the second by the usurpation of Narasimha. Previous to the

publication of these chronicles by Senhor Lopes we had nothing to guide us in this matter, save a few vague

and unsatisfactory lines in the chronicle of the historian Firishtah.[5] Now all is made clear, and though as yet

the truth cannot be definitely determined, at least we have an explicit and exceedingly interesting story. Paes

too, as well as Nuniz, conclusively proves to us that Krishna Deva Raya was really the greatest of all the

kings of Vijayanagar, and not the mere puppet that Firishtah appears to consider him (Firishtah does not

mention him by name); for Paes saw him on several occasions and speaks of him in warm and glowing terms,

while Nuniz, whose narrative was evidently firsthand, never so much as hints that his armies were led to

victory by any other general but the king himself. Nuniz also gives us a graphic description from personal

knowledge of the character of Krishna's degenerate successor Achyuta, whose feebleness, selfishness,

cowardice, and cruelty paved the way for the final destruction of the great empire.

By the side of these two chronicles the writings of the great European historians seem cold and lifeless.

I have mentioned the publication of Senhor Lopes. It is to that distinguished Arabic scholar that we owe the

knowledge of the existence of these precious documents. He it was who brought them to light in the first

instance, and to him personally I owe the fact of my being able to translate and publish them. His

introduction to the DOS REIS DE BISNAGA is full of valuable matter. India owes him a debt of gratitude

for his services; and for myself I desire to record here my sincere thanks for the disinterested and generous

My thanks are also due to Mr. Donald Ferguson for his careful revision of the whole of my translations.

I desire further to express my appreciation of a particular kindness done to me by Colonel R. C. Temple,

C.I.E., and lastly to acknowledge gratefully the liberality of H.E. the Governor of Madras and the Members

of his Council, who by subsidising this work have rendered its publication possible.

I trust that my remarks regarding the causes of the downfall of Portuguese trade in the sixteenth century will

not be misunderstood. It is not in any spirit of criticism or comparison that I have written those passages.

History, however, is history; and it is a fact that while the main cause of the small success which attended the

efforts of the Portuguese to establish a great and lasting commerce with India was no doubt the loss of trade

after the destruction of Vijayanagar, there must be added to this by the impartial recorder the dislike of the

inhabitants to the violence and despotism of the Viceroys and to the uncompromising intolerance of the Jesuit

Fathers, as well as the horror engendered in their minds by the severities of the terrible Inquisition at Goa.

A word as to my spelling of names. I have adopted a medium course in many cases between the crudities of

former generations and the scientific requirements of the age in which we live; the result of which will

probably be my condemnation by both parties. But to the highly educated I would point out that this work is

intended for general reading, and that I have therefore thought it best to avoid the use of a special font of type

containing the proper diacritical points; while to the rest I venture to present the plea that the time has passed

Thus I have been bold enough to drop the final and essential "a" of the name of the great city, and spell the

word "Vijayanagar," as it is usually pronounced by the English. The name is composed of two words,

VIJAYA, "victory," and NAGARA, "city," all the "a's" to be pronounced short, like the "u" in "sun," or the

"Narasimha" ought, no doubt, to be spelt "Nrisimha," but that in such case the "ri" ought to have a dot under

the "r" as the syllable is really a vowel, and I have preferred the common spelling of modern days. (Here

As with the final "a" in "Vijayanagara," so with the final "u" in such names as "Kondavidu" it has been

dropped in order to avoid an appearance of pedantry; and I have preferred the more common "Rajahmundry"

to the more correct "Rajamahendri," "Trichinopoly" to "Tiruchhinapalle," and so on.

This system may not be very scientific, but I trust it will prove not unacceptable.

The name of the capital is spelt in many different ways by the chroniclers and travellers. The usual

Portuguese spelling was "Bisnaga;" but we have also the forms "Bicheneger" (NIKITIN), "Bidjanagar"

Introductory remarks Sources of information Sketch of history of Southern India down to A.D. 1336

A Hindu bulwark against Muhammadan conquest The opening date, as given by Nuniz, wrong

In the year 1336 A.D., during the reign of Edward III. of England, there occurred in India an event which

almost instantaneously changed the political condition of the entire south. With that date the volume of

ancient history in that tract closes and the modern begins. It is the epoch of transition from the Old to the

This event was the foundation of the city and kingdom of Vijayanagar. Prior to A.D. 1336 all Southern India

had lain under the domination of the ancient Hindu kingdoms, kingdoms so old that their origin has never

been traced, but which are mentioned in Buddhist edicts rockcut sixteen centuries earlier; the Pandiyans at

Madura, the Cholas at Tanjore, and others. When Vijayanagar sprang into existence the past was done with

for ever, and the monarchs of the new state became lords or overlords of the territories lying between the

There was no miracle in this. It was the natural result of the persistent efforts made by the Muhammadans to

conquer all India. When these dreaded invaders reached the Krishna River the Hindus to their south, stricken

with terror, combined, and gathered in haste to the new standard which alone seemed to offer some hope of

protection. The decayed old states crumbled away into nothingness, and the fighting kings of Vijayanagar

And yet in the present day the very existence of this kingdom is hardly remembered in India; while its once

magnificent capital, planted on the extreme northern border of its dominions and bearing the proud title of the

"City of Victory," has entirely disappeared save for a few scattered ruins of buildings that were once temples

or palaces, and for the long lines of massive walls that constituted its defences. Even the name has died out of

men's minds and memories, and the remains that mark its site are known only as the ruins lying near the little

Its rulers, however, in their day swayed the destinies of an empire far larger than Austria, and the city is

declared by a succession of European visitors in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries to have been marvellous

for size and prosperity a city with which for richness and magnificence no known western capital could

compare. Its importance is shown by the fact that almost all the struggles of the Portuguese on the western

coast were carried on for the purpose of securing its maritime trade; and that when the empire fell in 1565,

Our very scanty knowledge of the events that succeeded one another in the large area dominated by the kings

of Vijayanagar has been hitherto derived partly from the scattered remarks of European travellers and the

desultory references in their writings to the politics of the inhabitants of India; partly from the summaries

compiled by careful mediaeval historians such as Barros, Couto, and Correa, who, though to a certain degree

interested in the general condition of the country, yet confined themselves mostly to recording the deeds of

the European colonisers for the enlightenment of their European readers; partly from the chronicles of a few

Muhammadan writers of the period, who often wrote in fear of the displeasure of their own lords; and partly

from Hindu inscriptions recording grants of lands to temples and religious institutions, which documents,

when viewed as state papers, seldom yield us more than a few names and dates. The two chronicles, however,

translated and printed at the end of this volume, will be seen to throw a flood of light upon the condition of

the city of Vijayanagar early in the sixteenth century, and upon the history of its successive dynasties; and for

the rest I have attempted, as an introduction to these chronicles, to collect all available materials from the

different authorities alluded to and to weld them into a consecutive whole, so as to form a foundation upon

which may hereafter be constructed a regular history of the Vijayanagar empire. The result will perhaps seem

disjointed, crude, and uninteresting; but let it be remembered that it is only a first attempt. I have little doubt

that before very long the whole history of Southern India will be compiled by some writer gifted with the

power of "making the dry bones live;" but meanwhile the bones themselves must be collected and pieced

together, and my duty has been to try and construct at least the main portions of the skeleton.

Before proceeding to details we must shortly glance at the political condition of India in the first half of the

fourteenth century, remembering that up to that time the Peninsula had been held by a number of distinct

Hindu kingdoms, those of the Pandiyans at Madura and of the Cholas at Tanjore being the most important.

The year 1001 A.D. saw the first inroad into India of the Muhammadans from over the northwest border,

under their great leader Mahmud of Ghazni. He invaded first the plains of the Panjab, then Multan, and

afterwards other places. Year after year he pressed forward and again retired. In 1021 he was at Kalinga; in

1023 in Kathiawar; but in no case did he make good his foothold on the country. His expeditions were raids

and nothing more. Other invasions, however, followed in quick succession, and after the lapse of two

centuries the Muhammadans were firmly and permanently established at Delhi. War followed war, and from

that period Northern India knew no rest. At the end of the thirteenth century the Muhammadans began to

press southwards into the Dakhan. In 1293 Alauddin Khilji, nephew of the king of Delhi, captured

Devagiri. Four years later Gujarat was attacked. In 1303 the reduction of Warangal was attempted. In 1306

there was a fresh expedition to Devagiri. In 1309 Malik Kafur, the celebrated general, with an immense force

swept into the Dakhan and captured Warangal. The old capital of the Hoysala Ballalas at Dvarasamudra was

taken in 1310, and Malik Kafur went to the Malabar coast where he erected a mosque, and afterwards

returned to his master with enormous booty.[6] Fresh fighting took place in 1312. Six years later Mubarak of

Delhi marched to Devagiri and inhumanly flayed alive its unfortunate prince, Haripala Deva, setting up his

Thus the period at which our history opens, about the year 1330, found the whole of Northern India down to

the Vindhya mountains firmly under Moslem rule, while the followers of that faith had overrun the Dakhan

and were threatening the south with the same fate. South of the Krishna the whole country was still under

Hindu domination, but the supremacy of the old dynasties was shaken to its base by the rapidly advancing

terror from the north. With the accession in 1325 of Muhammad Taghlaq of Delhi things became worse still.

Marvellous stories of his extraordinary proceedings circulated amongst the inhabitants of the Peninsula, and

Everything, therefore, seemed to be leading up to but one inevitable end the ruin and devastation of the

Hindu provinces; the annihilation of their old royal houses, the destruction of their religion, their temples,

their cities. All that the dwellers in the south held most dear seemed tottering to its fall.

Suddenly, about the year 1344 A.D., there was a check to this wave of foreign invasion a stop a halt

The check was caused by a combination of small Hindu states two of them already defeated, Warangal

and Dvarasamudra defeated, and therefore in all probability not overconfident; the third, the tiny

principality of Anegundi. The solid wall consisted of Anegundi grown into the great empire of the

If a straight line be drawn on the map of India from Bombay to Madras, about halfway across will be found

the River Tungabhadra, which, itself a combination of two streams running northwards from Maisur, flows in

a wide circuit north and east to join the Krishna not far from Kurnool. In the middle of its course the

Tungabhadra cuts through a wild rocky country lying about forty miles northwest of Bellary, and north of

the railway line which runs from that place to Dharwar. At this point, on the north bank of the river, there

existed about the year 1330 a fortified town called Anegundi, the "Nagundym" of our chronicles, which was

the residence of a family of chiefs owning a small state in the neighbourhood. They had, in former years,

taken advantage of the lofty hills of granite which cover that tract to construct a strong citadel having its base

on the stream. Fordable at no point within many miles the river was full of running water at all seasons of the

year, and in flood times formed in its confined bed a turbulent rushing torrent with dangerous falls in several

places. Of the Anegundi chiefs we know little, but they were probably feudatories of the Hoysala Ballalas.

Firishtah declares that they had existed as a ruling family for seven hundred years prior to the year 1350

The chronicle of Nuniz gives a definite account of how the sovereigns of Vijayanagar first began to acquire

the power which afterwards became so extensive. This account may or may not be accurate in all details, but

it at least tallies fairly with the epigraphical and other records of the time. According to him, Muhammad

Taghlaq of Delhi, having reduced Gujarat, marched southwards through the Dakhan Balaghat, or high lands

above the western ghats, and a little previous to the year 1336[8] seized the town and fortress of Anegundi.

Its chief was slain, with all the members of his family. After a futile attempt to govern this territory by means

of a deputy, Muhammad raised to the dignity of chief of the state its late minister, a man whom Nuniz calls

"Deorao," for "Deva Raya." or Harihara Deva I. The new chief founded the city of Vijayanagar on the south

bank of the river opposite Anegundi and made his residence there, with the aid of the great religious teacher

Madhava, wisely holding that to place the river between him and the evermarauding Moslems was to

establish himself and his people in a condition of greater security than before. He was succeeded by "one

called Bucarao" (Bukka), who reigned thirtyseven years, and the next king was the latter's son, "Pureoyre

We know from other sources that part at least of this story is correct. Harihara I. and Bukka were the first two

kings and were brothers, while the third king, Harihara II., was certainly the son of Bukka.

The success of the early kings was phenomenal. Ibn Batuta, who was in India from 1333 to 1342, states that

even in his day a Muhammadan chief on the western coast was subject to Harihara I., whom he calls "Haraib"

or "Harib," from "Hariyappa" another form of the king's name; while a hundred years later Abdur Razzak,

envoy from Persia, tells us that the king of Vijayanagar was then lord of all Southern India, from sea to sea

and from the Dakhan to Cape Comorin "from the frontier of Serendib (Ceylon) to the extremities of the

country of Kalbergah ... His troops amount in number to eleven lak," I.E. 1,100,000. Even so early as 1378

A.D., according to Firishtah,[9] the Raya of Vijayanagar was "in power, wealth, and extent of country"

The old southern states appear (we have little history to guide us) to have in general submitted peaceably to

the rule of the new monarchy. They were perhaps glad to submit if only the dreaded foreigners could be kept

out of the country. And thus by leaps and bounds the petty state grew to be a kingdom, and the kingdom

expanded till it became an empire. Civil war and rebellion amongst the Muhammadans helped Harihara and

Bukka in their enterprise. Sick of the tyranny and excesses of Muhammad Taghlaq, the Dakhan revolted in

1347, and the independent kingdom of the Bahmanis was for a time firmly established.

"In the year twelve hundred and thirty these parts of India were ruled by a greater monarch than had ever

reigned. This was the king of Dili,[10] who by force of arms and soldiers made war on Cambaya for many

years, taking and destroying in that period the land of Guzarate which belongs to Cambaya,[11] and in the

After this the king of Delhi advanced against Vijayanagar by way of the Balaghat.

This date is a century too early, as already pointed out. The sovereign referred to is stated in the following

note (entered by Nuniz at the end of Chapter xx., which closes the historical portion of his narrative) to have

"This king of Delhi they say was a Moor, who was called Togao Mamede. He is held among the Hindus as a

saint. They relate that once while he was offering prayer to God, there came to him four arms with four

hands; and that every time he prayed roses fell to him from out of heaven. He was a great conqueror, he held

a large part of this earth under his dominion, he subdued ... (blank in original) kings, and slew them, and

flayed them, and brought their skins with him; so that besides his own name, he received the nickname ...

"There is a story telling how he fell into a passion on account of (BEING GIVEN?) eighteen letters (OF THE

ALPHABET TO HIS NAME?), when according to his own reckoning he was entitled to twentyfour.[12]

There are tales of him which do indeed seem most marvellous of the things that he did; as, for instance, how

he made ready an army because one day in the morning, while standing dressing at a window which was

closed, a ray of the sun came into his eyes, and he cried out that he would not rest until he had killed or

vanquished whomsoever had dared to enter his apartments while he was dressing. All his nobles could not

dissuade him from his purpose, even though they told him it was the sun that had done it, a thing without

which they could not live, that it was a celestial thing and was located in the sky, and that he could never do

any harm to it. With all this he made his forces ready, saying that he must go in search of his enemy, and as

he was going along with large forces raised in the country through which he began his march so much dust

arose that it obscured the sun. When he lost sight of it he made fresh inquiries as to what the thing was, and

the captains told him that there was now no reason for him to wait, and that he might return home since he

had put to flight him whom he had come to seek. Content with this, the king returned by the road that he had

taken in his search for the sun, saying that since his enemy had fled he was satisfied.

"Other extravagances are told of him which make him out a great lord, as, for instance, that being in the

Charamaodel country he was told that certain leagues distant in the sea there was a very great island, and its

land was gold, and the stones of its houses and those which were produced in the ground were rubies and

diamonds: in which island there was a pagoda, whither came the angels from heaven to play music and

dance. Being covetous of being the lord of this land, he determined to go there, but not in ships because he

had not enough for so many people, so he began to cart a great quantity of stones and earth and to throw it

into the sea in order to fill it up, so that he might reach the island; and putting this in hand with great labour

he did so much that he crossed over to the island of Ceyllao, which is twelve or fifteen leagues off[13], This

causeway that he made was, it is said, in course of time eaten away by the sea, and its remains now cause the

shoals of Chillao. Melliquiniby,[14] his captaingeneral, seeing how much labour was being spent in a thing

so impossible, made ready two ships in a port of Charamaodell which he loaded with much gold and precious

stones, and forged some despatches as of an embassy sent in the name of the king of the island, in which he

professed his obedience and sent presents; and after this the king did not proceed any further with his

"In memory of this work he made a very large pagoda, which is still there; it is a great place of pilgrimage.

"There are two thousand of these and similar stories with which I hope at some time to trouble your honour;

and with other better ones, if God gives me life. I kiss your honour's hand."[15]

To conclusively establish the fact that this account can only refer to Muhammad Taghlaq of Delhi, who

reigned from 1325 to 1351, it is necessary that we should look into the known character of that monarch and

Nuniz states that his "Togao Mamede" conquered Gujarat, was at war with Bengal, and had trouble with the

Turkomans on the borders of Sheik Ismail, I.E. Persia.[16] To take these in reverse order. Early in the reign

of Muhammad Taghlaq vast hordes of Moghuls invaded the Panjab and advanced almost unopposed to Delhi,

where the king bought them off by payment of immense sums of money. Next as to Bengal. Prior to his reign

that province had been subdued, had given trouble, and had again been reduced. In his reign it was crushed

under the iron hand of a viceroy from Delhi, Ghiyasuddin Bahadur "Bura," who before long attempted to

render himself independent. He styled himself Bahadur Shah, and issued his own coinage. In 1327 (A.H. 728)

the legends on his coins acknowledge the overlordship of Delhi, but two years later they describe him as

independent king of Bengal.[17] In 1333 Muhammad issued his own coinage for Bengal and proceeded

against the rebel. He defeated him, captured him, flayed him alive, and causing his skin to be stuffed with

straw ordered it to be paraded through the provinces of the empire as a warning to ambitious governors. With

reference to Gujarat, Nuniz has been led into a slight error. Muhammad Taghlaq certainly did go there, but

only in 1347. What he did do was to conquer the Dakhan. Firishtah mentions among his conquests

Dvarasamudra, Malabar, Anegundi (under the name "Kampila," for a reason that will presently be explained),

Warangal, and these places "were as effectually incorporated with his empire as the villages in the vicinity of

Delhi."[18] He also held Gujarat firmly. If, therefore, we venture to correct Nuniz in this respect, and say that

"Togao Mamede" made war on the "Dakhan" instead of on "Gujarat," and then advanced against Anegundi

(wrongly called "Vijayanagar," which place was not as yet founded) we shall probably be not far from the

Then as to the extraordinary stories told of him. True or not, they apply to that sovereign. Muhammad is

described by contemporary writers as having been one of the wonders of the age. He was very liberal,

especially to those learned in the arts. He established hospitals for the sick and almhouses for widows and

orphans. He was the most eloquent and accomplished prince of his time. He was skilled in many sciences,

such as physic, logic, astronomy, and mathematics. He studied the philosophies and metaphysics of Greece,

"But," continues Firishtah, from whom the above summary is taken, "with all these admirable qualities he

was wholly devoid of mercy or consideration for his people. The punishments he inflicted were not only rigid

and cruel, but frequently unjust. So little did he hesitate to spill the blood of God's creatures that when

anything occurred which excited him to proceed to that horrid extremity, one might have supposed his object

was to exterminate the human species altogether. No single week passed without his having put to death one

or more of the learned and holy men who surrounded him, or some of the secretaries who attended him."

The slightest opposition to his will drove him into almost insane fury, and in these fits he allowed his natural

ferocity full play. His whole life was spent in visionary schemes pursued by means equally irrational. He

began by distributing enormous sums of money amongst his nobles, spending, so it is said, in one day as

much as [pound sterling]500,000. He bought off the invading Moghuls by immense payments instead of

repelling them by force of arms. Shortly after this he raised a huge army for the conquest of Persia, his

cavalry, according to Firishtah, numbering 370,000 men. But nothing came of it except that the troops, not

receiving their pay, dispersed and pillaged the country. Then he decided to try and conquer China and sent

100,000 men into the Himalayas, where almost all of them miserably perished; and when the survivors

returned in despair the king put them all to death. He tried to introduce a depreciated currency into his

territories as a means to wealth, issuing copper tokens for gold, which resulted in entire loss of credit and a

standstill of trade. This failing to fill the treasury he next destroyed agriculture by intolerable exactions; the

husbandmen abandoned their fields and took to robbery as a trade, and whole tracts became depopulated, the

survivors living in the utmost starvation and misery and being despoiled of all that they possessed.

Muhammad exterminated whole tribes as if they had been vermin. Incensed at the refusal of the inhabitants

of a certain harassed tract to pay the inordinate demands of his subordinates, he ordered out his army as if for

a hunt, surrounded an extensive tract of country, closed the circle towards the centre, and slaughtered every

living soul found therein. This amusement was repeated more than once, and on a subsequent occasion he

ordered a general massacre of all the inhabitants of the old Hindu city of Kanauj.[19] These horrors led of

course to famine, and the miseries of the Hindus exceeded all power of description. On his return from

Devagiri on one occasion he caused a tooth which he had lost to be interred in a magnificent stone

But perhaps the best known of his inhuman eccentricities was his treatment of the inhabitants of the great city

of Delhi. Muhammad determined to transfer his capital thence to Devagiri, whose name he changed to

Doulatabad. The two places are six hundred miles apart. The king gave a general order to every inhabitant of

Delhi to proceed forthwith to Devagiri, and prior to the issue of this order he had the entire road lined with

fullgrown trees, transplanted for the purpose. The unfortunate people were compelled to obey, and

thousands including women, children, and aged persons died by the way. Ibn Batuta, who was an

eyewitness of the scenes of horror to which this gave rise, has left us the following description:

"The Sultan ordered all the inhabitants to quit the place (Delhi), and upon some delay being evinced he made

a proclamation stating that what person soever, being an inhabitant of that city, should be found in any of its

houses or streets should receive condign punishment. Upon this they all went out; but his servants finding a

blind man in one of the houses and a bedridden one in the other, the Emperor commanded the bedridden man

to be projected from a balista, and the blind one to be dragged by his feet to Daulatabad, which is at the

distance of ten days, and he was so dragged; but his limbs dropping off by the way, only one of his legs was

brought to the place intended, and was then thrown into it; for the order had been that they should go to this

It is characteristic of Muhammad's whimsical despotism that shortly afterwards he ordered the inhabitants of

different districts to go and repeople Delhi, which they attempted to do, but with little success. Batuta relates

that during the interval of desolation the king mounted on the roof of his palace, and seeing the city empty

and without fire or smoke said, "Now my heart is satisfied and my feelings are appeased."

Ibn Batuta was a member of this king's court, and had every opportunity of forming a just conclusion. He

"Muhammad more than all men loves to bestow gifts and to shed blood. At his gate one sees always some

fakir who has become rich, or some living being who is put to death. His traits of generosity and valour, and

his examples of cruelty and violence towards criminals, have obtained celebrity among the people. But apart

from this he is the most humble of men and the one who displays the most equity; the ceremonies of religion

are observed at his court; he is very severe in all that concerns prayer and the punishment that follows

omission of it ... his dominating quality is generosity.... It rarely happened that the corpse of some one who

had been killed was not to be seen at the gate of his palace. I have often seen men killed and their bodies left

there. One day I went to his palace and my horse shied. I looked before me and I saw a white heap on the

ground, and when I asked what it was one of my companions said it was the trunk of a man cut into three

pieces.... Every day hundreds of individuals were brought chained into his hall of audience, their hands tied to

their necks and their feet bound together. Some were killed, and others were tortured or well beaten."[21]

A man of these seemingly opposite qualities, charity, generosity, and religious fervour linked to unbridled

lust for blood and an apparently overmastering desire to take life, possesses a character so bizarre, so totally

opposed to Hindu ideals, that he would almost of necessity be accounted as something superhuman,

monstrous, a saint with the heart of a devil, or a fiend with the soul of a saint. Hence Muhammad in the

course of years gathered round his memory, centuries after his death, all the quaint tales and curious legends

which an Oriental imagination could devise; and whenever his name is mentioned by the old chroniclers it is

Nuniz, therefore, though accurate in the main, was a century too early in his opening sentence. His "Togao

Muhammad's capture of Kampli and Anegundi Death of his nephew Bahauddin Malik Naib made

governor of Anegundi Disturbances Harihara Deva Raya raised to be king of Anegundi

Madhavacharya Vidyaranya The city of Vijayanagar founded Legends as to the origin of the new

The city of Vijayanagar is, as already stated, generally supposed to have been founded in the year 1336, and

that that date is not far from the truth may be gathered from two facts. Firstly, there is extant an inscription of

the earliest real king, Harihara I. or Hariyappa, the "Haraib" of Ibn Batuta,[23] dated in A.D. 1340. Secondly,

the account given by that writer of a raid southwards by Muhammad Taghlaq tallies at almost all points with

the story given at the beginning of the Chronicle of Nuniz, and this raid took place in 1334.[24]

For if a comparison is made between the narrative of Batuta and the traditional account given by Nuniz as to

the events that preceded and led to the foundation of Vijayanagar, little doubt will remain in the mind that

both relate to the same event. According to Ibn Batuta,[25] Sultan Muhammad marched southwards against

his rebel nephew, Bahauddin Gushtasp, who had fled to the protection of the "Rai of Kambila," or

"Kampila" as Firishtah calls the place, in his stronghold amongst the mountains. The title "Rai" unmistakably

points to the Kanarese country, where the form "Raya" is used for "Rajah;" while in "Kambila" or "Kampila"

we recognise the old town of Kampli, a fortified place about eight miles east of Anegundi, which was the

citadel of the predecessors of the kings of Vijayanagar. Though not itself actually "amongst the mountains,"

Kampli is backed by the mass of rocky hills in the centre of which the great city was afterwards situated. It is

highly natural to suppose that the "Rai," when attacked by the Sultan, would have quitted Kampli and taken

refuge in the fortified heights of Anegundi, where he could defend himself with far greater chance of success

than at the former place; and this would account for the difference in the names given by the two chroniclers.

Ibn Batuta goes on to say that the Raya sent his guest safely away to a neighbouring chief, probably the

Hoysala Ballala, king of Dvarasamudra in Maisur, then residing at Tanur. He caused a huge fire to be lit on

which his wives and the wives of his nobles, ministers, and principal men immolated themselves, and this

done he sallied forth with his followers to meet the invaders, and was slain. The town was taken, "and eleven

sons of the Rai were made prisoners and carried to the Sultan, who made them all Mussalmans." After the fall

of the place the Sultan "treated the king's sons with great honour, as much for their illustrious birth as for his

admiration of the conduct of their father;" and Batuta adds that he himself became intimately acquainted with

There are only two substantial points of difference between this story and the traditional Hindu account given

by Nuniz. One of these concerns the reason for the Sultan's attack. According to the Hindus it was a war

undertaken from pure greed of conquest; according to Muhammadan story it was a campaign against a rebel.

The second is that while the Hindus declare that none of the blood royal escaped, Batuta distinctly mentions

the survival of eleven sons, and proves his point incontestably. But this does not vitiate the general

resemblance of the two accounts, while the synchronism of the dates renders it impossible to believe that they

can refer to two separate events. We may suppose that since the eleven sons became followers of Islam they

After the capture of the fortress the Sultan, according to Ibn Batuta, pursued Bahauddin southwards and

arrived near the city of the prince with whom he had taken refuge. The chief abandoned his guest to the

tender mercies of the tyrant, by whom he was condemned to a death of fiendish barbarity.

"The Sultan ordered the prisoner to be taken to the women his relations, and these insulted him and spat upon

him. Then he ordered him to be skinned alive, and as his skin was torn off his flesh was cooked with rice.

Some was sent to his children and his wife, and the remainder was put into a great dish and given to the

elephants to eat, but they would not touch it. The Sultan ordered his skin to be stuffed with straw, to be

placed along with the remains of Bahadur Bura,[26] and to be exhibited through the country."

To continue briefly the story given by Nuniz. After the capture of Anegundi in 1334 the Sultan left Malik

Naib (whom Nuniz calls "Enybiquymelly" in his second chapter, and "Mileque neby," "Meliquy niby," and

"Melinebiquy" in the third) as his local governor, and retired northwards. The country rose against the

usurpers, and after a time the Sultan restored the principality to the Hindus, but made a new departure by

raising to be Raya the former chief minister Deva Raya, called "Deorao" or "Dehorao" by Nuniz. He reigned

seven years. During his reign this chief was one day hunting amongst the mountains south of the river when a

hare, instead of fleeing from his dogs, flew at them and bit them.[27] The king, astonished at this marvel, was

returning homewards lost in meditation, when he met on the riverbank the sage Madhavacharya, surnamed

VIDYARANYA or "Forest of Learning," for so we learn from other sources to name the anchorite

alluded to who advised the chief to found a city on the spot. "And so the king did, and on that very day

began work on his houses, and he enclosed the city round about; and that done, he left Nagumdym, and soon

filled the new city with people. And he gave it the name VYDIAJUNA, for so the hermit called himself who

Thus, in or about the year A.D. 1336, sprung into existence the great city which afterwards became so

The chronicle continues by saying that the king constructed in the city of Vijayanagar a magnificent temple in

honour of the sage. This temple I take to be the great temple near the river, still in use and known as the

temple of Hampi or Hampe, having a small village clustering about it. On the rocks above it, close to a group

of more modern Jain temples, is to be seen a small shrine built entirely, roof as well as walls, of stone.

Everything about this little relic proves it to be of greater antiquity than any other structure in the whole

circuit of the hills, but its exact age is doubtful. It looks like a building of the seventh century A.D. Mr. Rea,

superintendent of the Madras Archaeological Survey, in an article published in the MADRAS CHRISTIAN

COLLEGE MAGAZINE for December 1886, points out that the fact of mortar having been used in its

construction throws a doubt upon its being as old as its type of architecture would otherwise make it appear.

It is quite possible, however, that the shrine may have been used by a succession of recluses, the last of whom

was the great teacher Madhava. If we stand on that rock and imagine all the great ruins of the city visible

from thence, the palaces and temples, the statues and towers and walls, to be swept out of existence, we have

around us nothing but Nature in one of her wildest moods lofty hills near and far, formed almost entirely

of huge tumbled boulders of granite, but with trees and grass on all the low ground. It was a lonely spot,

separated by the river from the mere inhabited country on the farther side, where dwelt the chiefs of

Anegundi, and was just such as would have been chosen for their abode by the ascetics of former days, who

We shall, however, in all probability never know whether this hermit, whose actual existence at the time is

attested by every tradition regarding the origin of Vijayanagar, was really the great Madhava or another less

celebrated sage, on whom by a confusion of ideas his name has been foisted. Some say that Madhavacharya

There are a number of other traditions relating to the birth of the city and empire of Vijayanagar.

One has it that two brothers named Bukka and Harihara, who had been in the service of the king of Warangal

at the time of the destruction of that kingdom by the Muhammadans in 1323, escaped with a small body of

horse to the hill country about Anegundi, being accompanied in their flight by the Brahman Madhava or

Madhavacharya Vidyaranya, and by some means not stated became lords of that tract, afterwards founding

Another states that the two brothers were officers in the service of the Muhammadan governor of Warangal

subsequent to its first capture in 1309. They were despatched against the Hoysala Ballala sovereign in the

expedition under the command of Malik Kafur in 1310, which resulted in the capture of the Hindu capital,

Dvarasamudra; but the portion of the force to which the brothers belonged suffered a defeat, and they fled to

the mountainous tract near Anegundi. Here they met the holy Madhava, who was living the life of a recluse,

A variant of this relates that the two brothers for some reason fled direct from Warangal to Anegundi. This

account redounds more to their honour as Hindus. Though compelled first to accept service under their

conquerors, their patriotism triumphed in the end, and they abandoned the flesh pots of Egypt to throw in

A fourth story avers that the hermit Madhava himself founded the city after the discovery of a hidden

treasure, ruled over it himself, and left it after his death to a Kuruba family who established the first regular

A fifth, mentioned by Couto,[30] who fixes the date as 1220, states that while Madhava was living his ascetic

life amongst the mountains he was supported by meals brought to him by a poor shepherd called Bukka, "and

one day the Brahman said to him, 'Thou shalt be king and emperor of all Industan.' The other shepherds

learned this, and began to treat this shepherd with veneration and made him their head; and he acquired the

name of 'king,' and began to conquer his neighbours, who were five in number, viz., Canara, Taligas,

Canguivarao, Negapatao, and he of the Badagas, and he at last became lord of all and called himself Boca

Rao." He was attacked by the king of Delhi, but the latter was defeated and retired, whereupon Bukka

established a city "and called it Visaja Nagar, which we corruptly call Bisnaga; and we call all the kingdom

by that name, but the natives amongst themselves always call it the 'kingdom of Canara.' " Couto's narrative

seems to be a mixture of several stories. His wrong date points to his having partly depended upon the

original chronicle of Nuniz, or the summary of it published by Barros; while the rest of the tale savours more

of Hindu romance than of historical accuracy. He retains, however, the tradition of an attack by the king of

Another authority suggests that Bukka and Harihara may have been feudatories of the Hoysala Ballalas.

Nikitin, the Russian traveller, who was in India in 1474, seems to favour the view that they belonged to the

old royal house of the Kadambas of Banavasi, since he speaks of "the Hindoo Sultan Kadam," who resided at

Here we have a whole bundle of tales and traditions to account for the origin of the great kingdom, and can

take our choice. There are many others also. Perhaps the most reasonable account would be one culled from

the general drift of the Hindu legends combined with the certainties of historical fact; and from this point of

view we may for the present suppose that two brothers, Hindus of the Kuruba caste, who were men of strong

religious feeling, serving in the treasury of the king of Warangal, fled from that place on its sack and

destruction in 1323 and took service under the petty Rajah of Anegundi. Both they and their chiefs were filled

with horror and disgust at the conduct of the marauding Moslems, and pledged themselves to the cause of

their country and their religion. The brothers rose to be minister and treasurer respectively at Anegundi. In

1334 the chief gave shelter to Bahauddin, nephew of Muhammad of Delhi, and was attacked by the Sultan.

Anegundi fell, as narrated by Batuta, and the Sultan retired, leaving Mallik as his deputy to rule the state.

Mallik found the people too strong for him, and eventually the Sultan restored the country to the Hindus,

raising to be rajah and minister respectively the two brothers who had formerly been minister and treasurer.

[The following shows the pedigree of this dynasty as given in the EPIGRAPHIA INDICA (iii. p. 36).

Inscriptions not yet satisfactorily examined will probably add to the information given.]

Rapid acquisition of territory Reign of Harihara I. Check to Muhammadan aggression Reign of

Bukka I. Kampa and Sangama? The Bahmani kingdom established, 1347 Death of Nagadeva of

Warangal Vijayanagar's first great war Massacres by Muhammad Bahmani Battle at Adoni, 1366

Flight of Bukka Mujahid's war, 1375 He visits the Malabar coast Siege of Vijayanagar

The city of Vijayanagar, thus founded about the year 1335, speedily grew in importance and became the

refuge of the outcasts, refugees, and fighting men of the Hindus, beaten and driven out of their old

The first rulers of Vijayanagar, however, did not dare to call themselves kings, nor did even the Brahmans do

so who composed the text of their early inscriptions. It is for this reason that I have spoken of Harihara I. and

Bukka I. as "Chiefs." The inscription referred to of Harihara in 1340 calls him "Hariyappa VODEYA," the

former name being less honourable than "Harihara," and the latter definitely entitling him to rank only as a

chieftain. Moreover, the Sanskrit title given him is MAHAMANDALESVARA, which may be translated

"great lord" not king. And the same is the case with his successor, Bukka, in two inscriptions,[32] one of

which is dated in 1353. Already in 1340 Harihara is said to have been possessed of very large territories, and

he was the acknowledged overlord of villages as far north as the Kaladgi district, north of the Malprabha, a

country that had been overrun by Muhammad Taghlaq. That this was not a mere empty boast is shown by the

And thus we see the first chief of Vijayanagar quietly, and perhaps peacefully, acquiring great influence and

extensive possessions. These so rapidly increased that Bukka's successor, Harihara II., styles himself

But to revert to the first king Harihara, or, as Nuniz calls him, "Dehorao," for DEVA RAYA. He reigned,

according to our chronicle, seven years, "and did nothing therein but pacify the kingdom, which he left in

complete tranquillity." His death, if this be so, would have taken place about the year 1343. Nuniz relates that

he founded a temple in honour of the Brahman hermit, his protector. This was the great temple at Hampe

close to the river, which is still in full preservation and is the only one among the massive shrines erected at

the capital in which worship is still carried on; the others were remorselessly wrecked and destroyed by the

Muhammadans in 1565. As already stated, the traveller Ibn Batuta refers to this king under the name of

"Haraib" or "Harib" in or about the year 1342. If the traditions collated by Nuniz, according to which

Harihara I. lived at peace during the seven years of his reign, be true, his death must have occurred before

1344, because in that year, as we learn from other sources, Krishna, son of Pratapa Rudra of Warangal, took

refuge at Vijayanagar, and, in concert with its king and with the surviving Ballala princes of Dvarasamudra,

drove back the Muhammadans, rescued for a time part of the Southern Dakhan country, and prepared the way

for the overthrow of the sovereignty of Delhi south of the Vindhyas. I take it, therefore, that Harihara died in

As to his having reigned quietly, I know of only one statement to the contrary. An inscription of Samgama II.

recording a grant in 1356, and referred to below, states that Harihara I. "defeated the Sultan;" but perhaps this

only alludes to the fact that Muhammad Taghlaq had to abandon his hold on the country.

The next king was Harihara's brother, Bukka I. ("Bucarao"), and according to Nuniz he reigned thirtyseven

years, conquering in that time all the kingdoms of the south, even including Orissa (Orya). Without laying too

much stress on conquests by force of arms, it seems certain that most if not all Southern India submitted to

his rule, probably only too anxious to secure a continuance of Hindu domination in preference to the

despotism of the hated followers of Islam.[33] According to the chronicle, therefore, the death of Bukka I., as

we must call him, took place about the year A.D. 1380. As to inscriptions of his reign, Dr. Hultzsch[34]

mentions that they cover the period from about 1354 to 1371, while the first inscription of his successor,

Harihara II., is dated in 1379.[35] If, then, we assume that Bukka I. reigned till 1379, we find the chronicle so

far accurate that Bukka I. did in fact reign thirtysix years, though not thirtyseven A.D. 1343 to 1379.

But meanwhile we have another story from an inscription on copperplates which is to be seen preserved in

the Collector's office at Nellore.[36] It has been carefully edited by Mr. H. Krishna Sastri. According to this it

would appear that Bukka I., who undoubtedly was a man of war, usurped the throne. It asserts that the father

of Harihara I., who was named Samgama, had five sons. The eldest was Harihara himself, the second Kampa,

and the third Bukka. We want to know who succeeded Harihara. There is extant an inscription of Bukka

dated in 1354, and there is this Nellore inscription dated in 1356. The latter comes from a faroff country

near the eastern coast, and it relates that Kampa succeeded Harihara, and that Samgama II., son of Kampa,

succeeded his father, and granted a village in the Nellore district to the Brahmans on a date which

corresponds to May 3, A.D. 1356. It implies that Samgama had succeeded his father Kampa exactly a year

previous to the grant. Thus it claims that Kampa was king from 1343 to 1355. We know nothing more of this,

and there is only one other document at present known to exist which was executed in the reign either of

Kampa or of Samgama This is alluded to by Mr. Krishna Sastri, who refers us to the colophon of the

MADHAVIYA DHATUVRITTI, according to which its author, Sayanacharya, uterine brother of the great

Madhavacharya, was minister to king Samgama, son of Kampa. The only possible inference is that the

succession to Harihara was disputed, and that somehow Bukka got the upper hand and at least as early as

1354 declared himself king, afterwards claiming to have immediately succeeded Harihara. It will be seen

farther on that in almost every case the kingdom was racked with dissension on the demise of the sovereign,

and that year after year the members of the reigning family were subjected to violence and murder in order

On the assumption, therefore, that the reign of Bukka I. lasted from 1343 to 1379, we turn to Firishtah to

learn what were this king's relations with the followers of Islam, now supreme on the north of the Krishna.

Just after his accession, as it would appear, occurred the successful campaign alluded to above, in which a

combination of Hindus from different States drove back the invaders. Here is Firishtah's account of what took

place.[37] He is speaking of the year A.H. 744, which lasted from May 26, A.D. 1343, to May 15, 1344, and

he says that Krishna Naik, son of Rudra Deva of Warangal, went privately to Ballala Deva and urged him to

join a combination of Hindus with the view of driving out the Muhammadans from the Dakhan. The Ballala

prince consented, and Krishna Naik promised, when the preparations were complete, to raise all the Hindus

Ballala Deva then built the city of Vijayanagar,[38] raised an army, and the war began. Warangal, then in the

hands of the Muhammadans, was reduced, and its governor, ImadulMulkh, retreated to Daulatabad or

Devagiri. The two chiefs then induced other Rajahs of the Malabar and Kanara countries to join them, and the

joint forces seized the whole of the Dakhan and expelled the Muhammadans there, "so that within a few

So far the Muhammadan historian. It is necessary to observe that this success of the Hindus was only

temporary, for their enemies still swarmed in the Dakhan, and immediately after this contest the Hindus

appear to have retired south of the Krishna, leaving the distracted country a prey to temporary anarchy. This,

however, was of short duration, for though the domination of the Sultan of Delhi in that tract was completely

destroyed, yet three years later, viz, on Friday the 24th Rabialakhir A.H. 748, according to Firishtah, a date

which corresponds to Friday, August 3, A.D. 1347, Alauddin Bahmani was crowned sovereign of the

Dakhan at Kulbarga, establishing a new dynasty which lasted for about 140 years.

A few years after this there was a successful invasion of the Carnatic country by AlaudDin; but though the

army returned with some booty Firishtah does not claim for him a decisive victory. He does, however, claim

that the new Sultan extended his territory as far south as the river Tungabhadra, "the vicinity of the fortress of

Adoni." Alauddin died at the age of sixtyseven on Sunday, February 2, A.D. 1358,[39] and was

succeeded by Muhammad Shah. The Raya of Vijayanagar had presented Alauddin with a ruby of

inestimable price, and this, set in a bird of paradise composed of precious stones, the Sultan placed in the

canopy over his throne; but some say that this was done by Muhammad, and that the ruby was placed above

Early in the reign of Muhammad it was discovered that the gold and silver coins of the Bahrami Sultans were

being melted down in large quantities by the Hindus of Vijayanagar and Warangal, and numbers of the

merchants were put to death. At the same time Bukka I., supported by his friend at Warangal, demanded the

restoration of certain territories,[40] and as the Sultan was not ready for war, he "during a year and a half kept

the ambassadors of the Raies at his court, and sent his own to Beejanugger to amuse his enemies." Finally he

resolved on war, and made extravagant counterdemands on the Hindus. Bukka joined forces with Warangal,

and Muhammad waged war on the latter state, plundering the country up to the capital, and retiring only on

receipt of a large indemnity. Firishtah does not relate that any further campaign was at that time initiated, and

we are therefore free to suppose that the Muhammadans were unable to press their advantage. Warangal was

not long left in peace, and it may be well to glance at its subsequent history before returning to the events of

After an interval, enraged at an insult offered or supposed to have been offered by the Rajah of Warangal,

Muhammad made a rapid advance to the former's city of "Vellunputtun," as it is spelt by Firishtah, or

"Filampatan," according to the author of the BURHANIMAASIR. He seized it, slaughtered the inhabitants

without mercy, and captured the unfortunate prince Vinayaka Deva.[41] The Sultan "commanded a pile of

wood to be lighted before the citadel, and putting Nagdeo in an engine (catapult), had him shot from the walls

into the flames, in which he was consumed." After a few days' rest the Sultan retired, but was followed and

harassed by large bodies of Hindus and completely routed. Only 1500 men returned to Kulbarga, and the

This was followed by a joint embassy from Bukka of Vijayanagar and the prince of Warangal to the Sultan of

Delhi, in which they offered to act in conjunction with him should an army be sent southwards by that

monarch in order to regain his lost power in the Dakhan; "but Feroze Shah, being too much employed with

domestic commotions to assist them, did not attend to their representations." Thus encouraged, Muhammad

assembled fresh forces and despatched them in two divisions against Warangal and Golkonda. The expedition

was successful and the Rajah submitted, the Sultan receiving Golkonda, an immense treasure, and a

magnificent throne as the price of peace. The throne was set with precious stones of great value, and being

still further enriched by subsequent sovereigns was at one time valued at four millions sterling.[42] Warangal

finally fell in A.D. 1424, and was annexed to the Bahmani kingdom, thus bringing the Muhammadans down

to the River Krishna all along its length except in the neighbourhood of the east coast.

Now for the principal events of Bukka's reign and the affairs of Vijayanagar. The story deepens in interest

from about the year 1365, and for two centuries we can follow the fortunes of the Hindu kingdom without

Early in A.D. 1366[43] the Sultan opened his first regular campaign against Vijayanagar. Originating in an

afterdinner jest, it ended only after such slaughter that Firishtah computes the victims on the Hindu side

alone as numbering no less than half a million. The story is told us by an eyewitness, one Mullah Daud of

"One evening, when the spring of the garden of mirth had infused the cheek of Mahummud Shaw with the

rosy tinge of delight, a band of musicians sung two verses of Ameer Khoossroo in praise of kings, festivity,

and music. The Sultan was delighted beyond measure, and commanded Mallek Syef ad Dien Ghoree to give

the three hundred performers a draft for a gratuity on the treasury of the roy of Beejanuggur. The minister,

though he judged the order the effect of wine, in compliance with the humour of the Sultan wrote it, but did

not despatch it. However, Mahummud Shaw penetrated his thoughts. The next day he inquired if the draft

had been sent to the roy, and being answered, not, exclaimed, 'Think you a word without meaning could

escape my lips? I did not give the order in intoxication, but serious design.' Mallek Syef ad Dien upon this,

affixed the royal seal to the draft, and despatched it by express messenger to the roy of Beejanuggur. The roy,

haughty and proud of his independence, placed the presenter of the draft on an ass's back, and, parading him

through all the quarters of Beejanuggur, sent him back with every mark of contempt and derision. He also

gave immediate orders for assembling his troops, and prepared to attack the dominions of the house of

Bhamenee. With this intent he marched with thirty thousand horse, three thousand elephants, and one

hundred thousand foot to the vicinity of the fortress of Oodnee;[45] from whence he sent detachments to

The Raya, in spite of the season being that of the rains, pressed forward to Mudkal, an important city in the

Raichur Doab, or the large triangle of country lying west of the junction of the Krishna and Tungabhadra

rivers, a territory which was ever a debatable ground between the Hindus and Mussulmans, and the scene of

constant warfare for the next 200 years. Mudkal was captured, and all the inhabitants, men, women, and

children, put to the sword. One man only escaped and carried the news to Kulbarga.

"Mahummud Shaw, on hearing it, was seized with a transport of grief and rage, in which he commanded the

unfortunate messenger to be instantly put to death; exclaiming that he could never bear in his presence a

wretch who could survive the sight of the slaughter of so many brave companions."

The same day I.E. on a day in A.H. 767, in the month of Jamadulawwal, which lasted from January to

"that till he should have put to death one hundred thousand infidels, as an expiation for the massacre of the

faithful, he would never sheathe the sword of holy war nor refrain from slaughter. When he reached the banks

of the Kistna, he swore by the power who had created and exalted him to dominion, that eating or sleep

should be unlawful for him till he had crossed that river in face of the enemy, by the blessing of heaven

routed their army, and gladdened the souls of the martyrs of Mudkul with the blood of their murderers. He

then appointed his son Mujahid Shaw to succeed him, and Mallek Syef ad Dien regent of his kingdom. He

resigned all his elephants, except twenty, to the prince, gave him his advice, and sent him back to Kulbarga.

He then crossed the river with nine thousand chosen horse without delay. The roy of Beejanuggur,

notwithstanding his vast army, was so alarmed[46] that he sent off all his treasure, valuable baggage, and

elephants towards his capital, intending to engage the next morning, or retreat, as he should find it adviseable.

The night being stormy and heavy rain falling, the elephants and other beasts of burden stuck frequently in

the mud,[47] and were not able to advance above four miles from the camp. Mahummud Shaw heard of the

enemy's movement during the night, and immediately marched towards them, leaving his encampment

standing. Towards the dawn he arrived at the roy's camp, and the alarm being given, so great was the

confusion, that the infidels fled with the utmost precipitation towards the fortress of Oodnee, leaving

everything behind them. Mahummud Shaw entered the camp of their market and baggage, putting all to death

without any distinction; and it is said that the slaughter amounted to seventy thousand men, women, and

Muhammad passed the hot weather and the season of the early rains that year near Mudkal, and after being

reinforced marched against Adoni "in the plains of which, on the banks of the Tummedra (Tungabhadra),

the roy of Beejanuggur had taken up his station in his own territories, having given the command of Oodnee

to his sister's son. Here he had collected a great army, and brought elephants and all the splendid insignia of

The Sultan had with him a train of artillery[49] and in a short time crossed the Tungabhadra, "and entered the

domains of Beejanuggur, which were now for the first time invaded by a Muhammadan sovereign in person."

This remark of Firishtah's is historically correct, for the Delhi Sultan's attack on Anegundi took place on the

Before continuing the story I must note that Firishtah calls the king of Vijayanagar "Kishen Roy," otherwise

Krishna Raya; but there can be no doubt that his real name was Bukka. The historian collected his

information more than two hundred years after these events, and often misnamed the Hindu kings of whom

Muhammad, then, crossed the Tungabhadra, and only about twentyfive miles intervened between him and

the great fortress of Adoni, which is situated on a precipitous range of hills about that distance from the river.

The Tungabhadra at this portion of its course may be considered as forming the arc, west to north, of a

quarter circle having Adoni for its centre, the radius roughly measuring about twentyfive miles. The river is

fordable at most seasons of the year, lying as it does in a shallow rocky bed with low banks. It is difficult to

locate with any certainty the scenes of this campaign, but I gather generally that, finding the Muhammadans

aiming at the reduction of Adoni, Bukka marched out with a very large force to intercept this move, and

placed himself on the south bank of the Tungabhadra, In the neighbourhood of the threatened fortress. The

Sultan crossed somewhere near the present town of Siruguppa, and the great battle that ensued took place in

"Roy Kishen Roy (I.E. Bukka), on receiving the intelligence (that Muhammad had crossed), called together

all the first nobles of his court, and consulted on the best mode of opposing the mussulmauns. It was agreed

that Hoje Mul,[51] a maternal relation to the roy and commander of his armies, should have the conduct of

the war. Hoje Mul, vain to excess, on receiving his command, asked the roy if he should bring the prince of

the mussulmauns alive a prisoner into his presence, or present him only his head upon a spear. Kishen Roy

replied, that a living enemy, in any situation, was not agreeable, therefore he had better put him to death as

soon as he should take him. Hoje Mul, having received his dismission marched to oppose Mahummud Shaw

with forty thousand horse and five hundred thousand foot. He commanded the Bramins to deliver every day

to the troops discourses on the meritoriousness of slaughtering the mahummedans, in order to excite zeal for

expelling them. He ordered them to describe the butchery of cows,[52] the insults to sacred images, and

"Mahummud Shaw, when the enemy arrived within fifteen coss[53] of his camp, commanded his general,

Khan Mahummud, to muster the troops, who were found to be fifteen thousand horse and fifty thousand foot.

Ten thousand horse and thirty thousand foot, with all the artillery, he advanced under Khan Mahummud

"On the 14th of Zeekaud (A.H. 767, or Thursday, July 23, A.D. 1366), the armies of light and darkness met.

From the dawn till four in the afternoon, like the waves of the ocean, they continued in warm conflict with

each other, and great numbers were slain on both sides. Mooseh Khan and Eeseh Khan, who commanded the

right and left wings of Khan Mahummud's line, drank the sherbet of martyrdom, and their troops broke;

which misfortune had nearly given a blow to the army of Islaam. At this instant Mahummud Shaw appeared

with three thousand fresh horse. This restored the spirits of Khan Mahummud as also of the disordered

troops, who rallied and joined him. Mukkrib Khan, advancing with the artillery, was not wanting in

execution, greatly disordering the enemy's horse and foot. He asked leave to charge and complete the rout.

Khan Mahummud upon this, detached a number of the nobility to support him, and permitted him to advance;

which he did with such rapidity that the infidels had not time to use fireworks (I.E. cannon), but cane to short

weapons such as swords and daggers. At this time an elephant, named Sheer Shikar,[54] belonging to Khan

Mahummud, refused the guidance of his driver, and rushed into the center of the enemy's line, where he was

stopped by the elephants of Hoje Mul Roy, and his driver was killed. Khan Mahummud with five hundred

horse followed, and the elephant becoming unruly, turned upon the enemy, throwing their ranks into

confusion. Hoje Mul Roy, after receiving a mortal wound, fled, and his followers no longer made resistance.

The infidels, seeing their center broke, fled on all sides. The scymetars of the faithful were not yet sheathed

from slaughter when the royal umbrella appeared. The sultan gave orders to renew the massacre of the

unbelievers. They were executed with such strictness that pregnant women, and even children at the breast,

"Mahummud Shaw halted a week on the field, and dispatched accounts of his victory to his own dominions.

In performance of his vow of massacre he next marched towards the camp of Kishen Roy, who, thinking

himself unable to oppose notwithstanding his numerous force, fled to the woods and mountains for shelter.

The sultan followed him from place to place for three months, putting to death all who came in his way,

without distinction. At length Kishen Roy took the road of Beejanuggur, his capital. The sultan, pursuing,

To make a long story short, the Sultan besieged Vijayanagar in vain for a month, and then retreated across the

Tungabhadra, harassed at every step by masses of the Hindus from the city. He halted at last in an open plain,

and the king also pitched his camp at no great distance. Muhammad's retreat had been deliberately carried out

in order to draw on his enemy, and cause him by overconfidence to neglect proper precautions. The ruse

was successful. The Muhammadans made a sudden and unexpected nightattack. Bukka (called, as before,

"Kishen") was off his guard, having indulged in wine and the amusements provided by a band of

dancingwomen. The slaughter was terrible, and the Raya fled to Vijayanagar, ten thousand of his troops

being slain; "But this did not satisfy the rage of the sultan, who commanded the inhabitants of every place

"At this time a favourite remarked to the sultan that he had only sworn to slaughter one hundred thousand

Hindoos, and not totally to destroy their race The sultan replied that though twice the number of his vow

might have been slain, yet till the roy should submit, and satisfy the musicians, he would not pardon him or

spare the lives of his subjects. To this the ambassadors, who had full powers, agreed, and the money was paid

at the instant. Mahummud Shaw then said, 'Praise be to God that what I ordered has been performed. I would

The ambassadors then pleaded that no religion ordained that the innocent, and particularly helpless women

"If Kishen Roy had been faulty, the poor and wretched had not been partakers in his crimes. Mahummud

Shaw replied that the decrees of providence had so ordered, and that he had no power to alter them."

The ambassadors finally urged that as the two nations were neighbours, it were surely best to avoid

unnecessary cruelty, which would only embitter their relations with one another; and this argument had

"Mahummud Shaw was struck by their remarks, and took an oath that he would not in future put to death a

single enemy after victory, and would bind his successors to observe the same lenity."

For some years, no doubt, the promise was fulfilled, but we read of wholesale massacres perpetrated by

sovereigns of later date. As to Muhammad, Firishtah glories in the statement that he had slaughtered 500,000

Hindus, and so wasted the districts of the Carnatic that for several decades they did not recover their natural

Thus ended the war, and for some years there was peace between Vijayanagar and Kulbarga.

Muhammad Shah died on 21st April A.D. 1375,[55] and was succeeded by his son Mujahid, then nineteen

years old. Shortly after his accession Mujahid wrote to Bukka Raya (still called "Kishen Roy" by

Firishtah[56]), "that as some forts and districts between the Kistnah and Tummedra (Tungabhadra) rivers

were held by them in participation, which occasioned constant disagreements, he must for the future limit his

confines to the Tummedra, and give up all on the eastern side to him, with the fort of Beekapore and some

other places." This "Beekapore" is the important fortress of Bankapur, south of Dharwar. The Dakhani

sovereigns always looked on it with covetous eyes, as it lay on the direct route from Vijayanagar to the sea,

The Raya replied by a counterdemand that the Sultan should evacuate the whole of the Doab, since Raichur

and Mudkal had always belonged to the Anegundi family. Bukka declared the Krishna river to be the true

boundary, and asked that the elephants taken by Sultan Muhammad should be restored.

The Sultan's answer was a declaration of war. He advanced in person, crossed both the rivers, and arrived

before Adoni. On hearing that the Raya was encamped on the bank of the Tungabhadra, he left one force to

besiege the fortress, sent another to advance towards Vijayanagar, and himself marched, probably in a

northwesterly direction, towards the river, "by slow marches and with great caution." The Hindu prince at

first prepared to receive his attack, but for some reason[57] lost heart and retired to the forests on the hills of

Firishtah here pays a tribute to the interest felt by the inhabitants of this part of India in the new city, then

"Mujahid Shaw, having heard great praises of the beauty of the city, advanced to Beejanuggur; but thinking it

too strong to besiege at present, he moved in pursuit of the enemy in the field."

Now follows a passage on which it is difficult to place full reliance, but which only echoes common tradition.

"fled through the woods and hills towards Seet Bunder Ramessar followed by the sultan, who cut passages

for his cavalry; through forests before inaccessible. In this manner the roy fled from place to place for six

months, but never dared to appear without the woods. It was in vain that the favourites of the sultan

represented the pursuit as fruitless and destructive to the troops. He would not desist. At last his good fortune

prevailed. The health of Kishen Roy and his family became affected by the noxious air of the woods, and

they were warned to quit them by the physicians.... Driven by necessity, he retired by secret paths to his

capital of Beejanuggur. The sultan despatched an army after him, while he himself, with the ameer al amra

Bahadur Khan and five thousand men, went to amuse himself with the sight of Seet Bunda Ramessar.

"The sultan at this place repaired a mosque which had been built by the officers of Sultan Alla ad Dien

Khiljee. He broke down many temples of the idolaters, and laid waste their country after which he hastened

It is a fact that a mosque is declared to have been erected by Malik Kafur on the seacoast in 1310, but

apparently not at Ramesvaram, which lies in the extreme south of India, on the eastern coast opposite the

island of Ceylon. Moreover, it is extremely improbable that a Muhammadan sovereign could, in the

fourteenth century A.D., have penetrated so far south with such a handful of men. They would have been

harassed at every step by myriads of Hindus, who, though doubtless trembling at the sight of a

Muhammadan, would, we may be sure, never have permitted 5000 men to traverse in peace 1000 miles of

forest and mountain; for Ramesvaram is fully 500 miles from Vijayanagar. Malik Kafur's expedition is said

to have taken place after the conquest by him of the Ballala Rajah of Dvarasamudra in Maisur, when he

erected a mosque on the SEACOAST OF MALABAR, and therefore nowhere near Ramesvaram. Colonel

Briggs has observed this difficulty,[58] and thinks that the place alluded to must be Sadasivaghur, on the

western coast,) south of Goa, adding, "The spot ... is called Cape Ramas on our maps."[59] He believes,

however, that the remains of an old mosque do exist at Ramesvaram, and its date should be settled. Leaving it

to others better informed to throw light on this point, I return to Bukka Raya and his doings.

"one fit for the passage of armies, the other narrow and difficult. As the former was lined with ambushes, he

chose the latter, through which he marched with a selectbody of troops, and appeared suddenly in the

If Mujahid came up from the Malabar coast, the former of these two roads would perhaps be the usual route

adopted by travellers, which leads through open undulating plains. Avoiding this route, the Sultan may have

turned the Sandur hills by a flank movement to his right, and approached either along the valley of Sandur or

along the valley which now carries the main road from Bellary to Vijayanagar, between the Sandur hills and

"Kishen Roy was astonished at his boldness, and sent myriads of his people to defend the streets. The sultan

drove them before him and gained the bank of a piece of water which alone now divided him from the

citadel, in which Kishen Roy resided. Near this was an eminence, upon which stood a temple covered with

plates of gold and silver set with jewels, much venerated by the Hindoos, and called in the language of the

country Puttuk. The sultan, esteeming the destruction of it as a religious obligation, ascended the hill, and

The piece of water alluded to may have been the picturesque lake at Kamalapuram; but which was the temple

that Mujahid destroyed? It seems useless to speculate, considering that the historian only wrote from tradition

after a lapse of two centuries. There are many temples on hills to choose from, and several pieces of water.

But the strangest part of the story is that we are not told how the Sultan succeeded in penetrating the outer

lines of works, and in reaching a spot which divided him only from the inner citadel or palace enclosure. It

must, however, be remembered that though in A.D. 1443 Abdur Razzak saw seven lines of walls, we are not

"The idolaters, upon seeing their object of veneration destroyed, raised their shrieks and lamentations to the

sky. They obliged Kishen Roy to head them and advanced resolutely in astonishing numbers. Upon which the

sultan formed his disposition. He laid aside his umbrella, and with one of his armsbearers, an Afghaun

named Mhamood, crossed a small rivulet to observe the numbers and motions of the infidels. A Hindoo, who

knew the sultan from the horse he rode, resolved, by revenging the destruction of his gods and country, to

gain immortal reputation for himself. He moved unperceived through the hollows and broken ground along

the bank of the rivulet, had gained the plain, and was charging towards the sultan at full speed, when Mujahid

Shaw, at a lucky instant, perceiving him, made a sign to Mhamood Afghaun, who without delay charged the

Hindoo. Mhamood's horse rearing, he fell to the ground. His antagonist, having every advantage, was on the

point of putting him to death, when sultan Mujahid Shaw advanced with the quickness of lightning. The

Hindoo, changing his object, aimed a heavy stroke at the sultan, giving at the same instant a shout of triumph,

which made the spectators believe his blow was effectual. Luckily, a helmet of iron saved the head of the

sultan, who now inflicted such a wound on his enemy that he was divided from the shoulder to the navel and

fell dead from his horse,[60] upon which the sultan remounted Mhamood and joined his army on the other

A battle ensued in which the Hindus were defeated; but while the invading force had hardly recovered from

their fatigue, the Raya's brother[61] "arrived at the city from his government with a reinforcement of twenty

thousand horse and a vast army of foot"[62] The fighting then became furious. In the middle of the battle the

Sultan's uncle, Daud Khan,[63] fearful for the safety of his sovereign, quitted his post at "Dhunna Sodra"[64]

and joined in the engagement with distinguished gallantry. The Muhammadans were again victorious; but the

enemy, having taken advantage of Daud Khan's movement, had captured the abandoned position, and thus

seriously threatened the Sultan's retreat. He therefore left the field, and by skilful manoeuvring enabled the

whole of his force to extricate themselves in safety from the hills. With between sixty and seventy thousand

prisoners, mostly women, he retreated from Vijayanagar and sat down before Adoni; but after a siege lasting

nine months the attempt was abandoned, and the Sultan retired to his own territories. Thus ended the

Firishtah gives a short account of the kingdom of Vijayanagar at this period (about 1378 A.D.), from which

"The princes of the house of Bahmanee maintained themselves by superior valour only, for in power, wealth,

and extent of country the roles of Beejanuggur were greatly their superiors;" and he implies that at this time,

as certainly in after years, all Southern India had submitted to the sway of the Raya.

"The seaport of Goa,[65] the fortress of Malgaon,[66] ... belonged to the roy of Beejanuggur, and many

districts of Tulghaut[67] were in his possession. His country was well peopled, and his subjects submissive to

his authority. The roles of Malabar, Ceylon, and other islands and other countries kept ambassadors at his

We must revert for a moment to the Sultan's uncle and his behaviour before Vijayanagar. It will be

remembered that, filled with the best intentions, he had quitted his post to defend his king.

"The sultan, on seeing the standard of Daood Khan, was enraged, but stifled his displeasure till the gale of

victory had waved over the standards of the faithful. He then called Daood Khan before him, and gave him a

harsh reprimand for quitting a station so important that, should the enemy gain possession, not a mussulmaun

Daud treasured up his resentment at this treatment, and, being joined by other disaffected nobles, secretly

plotted the assassination of the Sultan. The conspirators waited till Mujahid was on his way from Adoni

towards Kulbarga, and then one night, that of Friday, April 16, A.D. 1378,[69] while the Sultan was asleep in

his tent, Daud, accompanied by three other men, rushed in and stabbed him. There was a struggle, and the

unfortunate monarch was despatched by the blow of a sabre.[70] Daud at once proclaimed himself Sultan as

nearest of kin Mujahid having no children and being acknowledged, proceeded to Kulbarga, where he

The assassination of his nephew availed Daud but little, as the country was at once divided into two opposing

factions, and on May 21, A.D. 1378,[71] after a reign of only one month, the murderer was himself

assassinated while at prayer in the great mosque of the capital. Meanwhile Bukka Raya overrun the Doab,

Daud was succeeded by Alauddin's youngest son Mahmud I,[72] Mujahid's sister Ruh Parvar Agah having

blinded Daud's son, then a boy of eight years, in order to prevent dissension. Mahmud was apparently

welcome to all parties, for even the Raya raised the siege of Raichur and agreed to pay him the tribute

exacted by Muhammad Shah; so at least says Firishtah. And during the whole of his reign of nearly twenty

years there was peace and tranquillity at home and abroad. He died on the 20th April A.D. 1397.[73]

The decease of Bukka I. of Vijayanagar must apparently, for reasons shown, be placed at about A.D. 1379.

Harihara II. Firuz Shah of Kulbarga Fresh wars Assassination of a prince in 1399 A.D. Bukka

Bukka I. was succeeded by Harihara II., his son by his wife Gauri. Nuniz calls the new king "Pureoyre

Deorao," and "Pureoyre" seems to be a rough Portuguese version of the name Harihara; H and P representing

the same sound in the Kanarese and Telugu languages. According to the inscriptions,[74] Harihara II. reigned

at least twenty years, and he was the first king who gave himself imperial titles under the style of

MAHARAJADHIRAJA. He gave many grants to the temples, and consolidated the supremacy of his dynasty

over all Southern India. Sayana, brother of Madhavacharya, appears to have been his chief minister, as he

was to King Samgama II.[75] Mudda is mentioned in two inscriptions of A.D. 1379 and 1382 as the king's

general. Another of his generals was called Iruga. He was son of Chaicha, minister of Bukka II. His name

appears on a pillar in a Jain temple near Kamalapura at Vijayanagar in an inscription bearing date A.D. 1385;

which proves that the king was tolerant in religious matters. There seems also to have been a general named

Gunda living in his reign, but his date is uncertain.[76] According to another inscription,[77] King Harihara

early in his reign expelled the Muhammadans from Goa; and the last inscription of his reign at present

discovered[78] mentions that one Bachanna Udaiyar was then governor of that place.

The king's wife, or one of his principal wives, was Malladevi, or Mallambika. The extent of his domination is

shown by the fact that inscriptions of his reign are found in Mysore, Dharwar, Conjeeveram, Chingleput, and

Trichinopoly.[79] He was a worshipper of Siva under the form Virupaksha, but appears to have been

singularly tolerant of other religions. The latest actual date of the reign afforded by inscriptions is October 15,

Ghiasuddin, a boy of seventeen, eldest son of the late Sultan Mahmud, had succeeded his father on the

throne of Kulbarga; but on June 14, 1397,[81] he was treacherously blinded during an entertainment by an

ambitious slave, after a reign of only one month and twenty days. His younger brother, Shamsuddin, was

then placed on the throne, but after a reign of five months was blinded and deposed by his cousin Firuz,

second son of the late Sultan Daud. Firuz was by birth undoubtedly of the elder branch, and he became one of

the most celebrated monarchs of his line, ascending the throne on November 15, A.D. 1397.[82] He must

have then been well advanced in years, as Firishtah says he was "old" in A.D. 1419.

The date of the last inscription of Harihara II. as yet brought to light is, as before stated, October 15, A.D.

1399. There are two inscriptions extant of Bukka II., his eldest son, both dated in A.D. 1406,[83] and several

of the latter's successor, the younger brother of Bukka II., whose name was Devaraya I., and whose reign

It will be remembered that the first king of Vijayanagar, Harihara I., was an old man (Nuniz says "very old"),

and reigned seven years. His successor, Bukka, his brother, reigned thirtyseven years according to Nuniz,

and perhaps, therefore, it would be best not to assume too great an age for Harihara I. However this may be, it

would appear that when the peaceful monarch Harihara II., son of Bukka I., came to the throne, his father

must have died at a very advanced age, and he himself must have been by no means young. He reigned at

least twenty years, as before stated, and we are therefore justified in assuming that at the close of his reign (in

A.D. 1399) he was quite an old man. With this in our minds, let us turn to Firishtah's narrative of the reign of

He tells us that in the Hijra year 801 (13th September 1398 to 3rd September 1399), month not given

"Dewal Roy of Beejanuggur, with thirty thousand horse and a vast army of foot, invaded the royal territories

between the rivers, with a design to reduce the forts of Mudkul and Roijore" (Raichur).

And in a later passage we are told that the campaign was at an end a few months before the end of Hijra 801;

I.E. a few months before the end of August A.D. 1399. The first movement of the Hindu army must therefore

have taken place at the beginning of the cold season of A.D. 1398, probably not earlier than December in that

year, when the great cotton plains across which the troops had to march were passable. It can hardly be

supposed that King Harihara II., then quite old and always a lover of peace, would without motive have

waged this sudden war and himself led his armies into the field, and it seems more likely that the invasion

was a bold dash made by his son with the king's permission. The Muhammadan historians admit an unbroken

It seems, therefore, that the chronicles of Nuniz, the writings of Firishtah, and the extant inscriptions all agree

together, and that we must place the death of Harihara II. at the close of the year A.D. 1399. Little more can

The new king, his eldest son, Bukka II., must have been a man of middle age, as he had a son old enough to

"This king ('Pureoyre')," says Nuniz, "had a son, who by his death inherited the kingdom, who was called

Ajarao; and he reigned fortythree years, in which time he was always at war with the Moors."

I can give no explanation as to why Nuniz calls the successor of Harihara II "Ajarao," nor as to his estimate

of fortythree years for his reign. The names and lengths of reigns given to "Ajarao's" successors by our

chronicler prove that by "Ajarao" he means two kings, Bukka II. and his successor, Deva Raya I.; and the

period covered by their combined reigns was only fourteen years, not fortythree.

Nuniz states that the successor of Harihara II. greatly improved the city of Vijayanagar, raising fresh walls

and towers, increasing its extent, and building further lines of fortification. But his great work was the

construction of a huge dam in the Tungabhadra river, and the formation of an aqueduct fifteen miles long

from the river into the city. If this be the same channel that to the present day supplies the fields which

occupy so much of the site of the old city, it is a most extraordinary work. For several miles this channel is

cut out of the solid rock at the base of the hills, and is one of the most remarkable irrigation works to be seen

in India. No details are given of the wars he engaged in, except that, besides his campaigns against the Moors,

he took "Goa, Chaul, and Dabull," and reduced the Choromandel side of the peninsula to loyalty and

We learn a great deal more about the doings of Bukka II. and Deva Raya I. from Firishtah than from Nuniz,

and I make no apology for quoting copiously from the former author, whose writings throw much light on the

Bukka's first war began with the invasion already alluded to. It took place during his father Harihara's reign,

apparently about the month of December A.D. 1398 (rather later than earlier). The wide cotton plains of that

tract are only passable during prolonged dry weather, and the prince would certainly not have risked an

advance while there was any likelihood of rain falling. Bukka's son accompanied his father, and the objective

was the country of the Doab, and particularly the fortresses of Mudkal and Raichur, then in the hands of the

Bahmani Sultan. Sultan Firuz moved to meet him, slaughtering on the way a Hindu chief or zamindar and

seven or eight thousand of his followers, "who had always been very troublesome and refractory." The Raya

had advanced to the northern frontier of the debatable land and was encamped on the river Krishna, then in

full flood, having large bodies of troops posted to oppose the passage of the Muhammadans.

"Sultan Feroze Shaw,[84] on his arrival near the river, held a council of war with his chief officers, but

"While the sultan was debating in his own mind how to act, Cauzi Serauje, seeing his concern, offered, if the

sultan would permit him, to cross the river with a few of his friends, whom he would select for that purpose,

"The sultan approving the measure, some hundreds of hurdles covered with leather[85] were prepared

expeditiously for the troops to cross. Cauzi Serauje, with seven of his friends disguised as holy mendicants,

proceeded to the roy's camp, and repaired to the quarter where the dancinggirls resided.[86] Here the cauzi

pretended to be enraptured with a courtesan, and was guilty of a thousand extravagances to support his

character. In the evening the girl, having adorned herself in her richest ornaments, prepared to go out, on

which the cauzi, like a jealous and distracted lover, falling at her feet, entreated her to stay, or let him attend

her, and not rend his heart by her absence. The woman upon this informed him that she was ordered to attend

an entertainment by the roy's son, and durst not disobey, nor could she take him with her, as only musicians

and dancers would be admitted. The cauzi upon this replied that he played on the same instrument as herself,

and had, besides, some curious accomplishments that would highly please the roy's son. The dancinggirl,

thinking him in jest, out of contempt gave him her mundal,[87] and desired him to play, which he did in so

masterly a manner that she was delighted, saying that his company would give her superiority over her

fellows and do her honour with the roy's son. Accordingly he with his companions attended the girl to the

"As is the custom of Dekkan, many sets of loolies[88] and dancinggirls were ordered to perform at the same

time, and having finished their parts, the roy's son called for the players and mummers. The dancinggirl now

obtained leave for the cauzi and one of his companions to show their feats. Having assumed the dress of

women, they entered ogling and smiling, and so well imitated the mummers in playing on the mundal,

dancing, and mimicry, that the roy's son was charmed with their performances. At length they each drew a

dagger, and, like the dancers of Dekkan, continued to flourish them for some time, making a thousand antic

postures in advancing, retreating, and turning round. At last, suddenly rushing upon the roy's son, they

plunged both the daggers into his breast, afterwards attacking his companions. Their remaining friends, who

were watching without the tent, on hearing an alarm, ripped up the curtain, and entered to assist them. Many

of the company, being much intoxicated, were easily put to death. The cauzi with his friends extinguished all

the lights, and, making their escape through the rent, mingled with the crowd. The outcry soon became

general round the tents. Great confusion ensued, and various reports and alarms took place. Some said that

the sultan had crossed the river and surprised the camp, others that one of his chiefs, with twelve thousand

men, had cut off both the roy and his son. The night was uncommonly dark, and the camp extended near ten

miles, so that circumstances were variously reported, and the different chiefs, ignorant of the real cause of the

alarm, contended themselves with waiting in their several quarters; under arms. About four thousand of the

sultan's troops, in this interim, crossed the river in boats and rafts which had been prepared for the purpose.

The enemy's foot, stationed to oppose the passage, terrified by the alarm in camp and the approach of the

sultan's forces, fled in confusion without waiting to be attacked. Before the morning Feroze Shaw had crossed

the river with his whole army, and at dawn assaulted the enemy's camp with great fury. Dewul Roy grieved

by the death of his son and panic struck at the bravery of the assailants, made but a faint resistance. Before

sunrise, having taken up his son's corpse, he fled with his army. The sultan gained immense plunder in the

camp, and pursued him to the vicinity of Beejanuggur. Several actions happened on the way, all of which

were fortunate to the sultan, and the roads were heaped up with the bodies of the slaughtered Hindoos."

Bukka reached Vijayanagar in safety and took refuge behind its fortifications, while the Sultan sent his

brother Ahmad (afterwards Sultan), whom he had honoured with the title of "Khankhanan," to ravage the rich

districts south of the city. Ahmad fulfilled his instructions and returned with numberless prisoners, and

amongst them many Brahmans. The relatives of these in the city begged the aged Raya (Harihara II., still

alive) to offer ransom, and after much negotiation the Sultan accepted "ten lakhs of oons"[89] and agreed to

According to this treaty, which was entered into a few months before the close of the Hijra year 801, I.E. a

few months before 3rd September A.D. 1399, the boundaries of the two kingdoms were to be the same as

before the war, and each party agreed to refrain from molesting the subjects of the other. This does not look

as though the Sultan had gained any very material advantage in the campaign, since the true boundary was

always a subject of dispute. I obtain the date above given from Firishtah's sentence: "In a few months after

the conclusion of this campaign, and the beginning of the year 802, the sultan marched to punish Nersing," a

The BURHANI MAASIR passes over this war with great brevity. It states that the Sultan began it, and that

at its close he accepted a large indemnity and promise of payment of annual tribute. The date given is

Not long after this war, but certainly not before October 15, A.D. 1399, Harihara II, died, and was succeeded

We have little to guide us as to the events of Bukka's reign, but Firishtah states that he ceased to pay tribute to

Firuz Shah, partly owing to instigation from Gujarat, Malwa, and Khandeish. In Hijra 808 (June 1405 to June

1406 A.D.) four years' tribute was owing, but the Sultan took no notice, and waited for a more convenient

Bukka was followed on the throne of Vijayanagar by his brother Deva Raya I., the date of whose coronation

is fixed by an inscription at Hasan in Mysore as November 5, 1406.[90] The last inscription of Bukka Raya at

present known bears a date corresponding to April 30th in that year in Hindu reckoning the 12th day of

the first half of the month Vaisakha, in the (expired) Saka year 1328, the name of the cyclic year being

The amorous monarch, Deva Raya I. The farmer's beautiful daughter The king's escapade The city

threatened A Hindu princess wedded to a Muhammadan prince Firuz Shah's anger Pertal's marriage

Firishtah tells us of an event that must have taken place towards the end of the year A.D. 1406, in which the

principal actor was the king of Vijayanagar. This king I believe to have been Bukka II.'s successor, his

younger brother, Deva Raya I. The story relates to a mad adventure of the Raya which he undertook in order

to secure for himself the person of a beautiful girl, the daughter of a farmer in Mudkal. His desire to possess

her attained such a pitch, that he made an expedition into the debatable land north of the Tungabhadra for the

sole purpose of capturing the girl and adding her to his harem. I have already shown reasons for supposing

that Bukka II. was a middleaged man at his accession, and it is not unreasonable to suppose that this

hotblooded monarch was his younger brother, who began to reign in November 1406 A.D. His escapade

must be narrated in full as told by Firishtah, since it led to very important consequences.

"There resided in the town of Mudkul a farmer, who was blessed with a daughter of such exquisite beauty,

This attractive person was educated by an old Brahman, whose admiration of her led him to think that she

"He proceeded to Beejanuggur and being introduced to the roy, spoke in such praise of the beauty and

accomplishments of the young maid, that he was fired with the desire of possessing her, and entreated the

bramin to procure her for him of her parents in marriage. This request was what the bramin earnestly wished,

and he immediately agreed to satisfy him; upon which the roy despatched him with rich gifts and great

promises of favours to the parents, and the title of ranee, or princess, for their beautiful daughter. The bramin

lost no time in his journey, and, upon his arrival at the farmer's house, delivered to him and his wife the roy's

orders, that they should repair to Beejanuggur with their daughter. The parents were overjoyed at such

unexpected good fortune, and calling for the young maid, laid before her the rich gifts of the roy,

congratulated her on being soon to be united to a great prince, and attempted to throw upon her neck a golden

collar set with jewels, as a token of immediate espousals, and which, if done, could not have been broken off.

"The beautiful virgin, to their great astonishment, drawing her neck from compliance, refused to receive the

collar, and observed, that whoever entered the harem of Beejanuggur, was afterwards not permitted to see

even her nearest relations and friends; and though they might be happy to sell her for worldly riches, yet she

was too fond of her parents to submit to eternal absence from them, even for all the splendour of the palace of

Beejanuggur. This declaration was accompanied with affectionate tears, which melted her parents; who rather

than use force, dismissed the bramin with all his gifts, and he returned, chagrined and disappointed, to

"When the bramin arrived at Beejanuggur, and related to the roy the failure of his scheme, the prince's love

became outrageous, and he resolved to gratify it by force, though the object resided in the heart of Feroze

Shaw's dominions.[92] For this purpose he quitted Beejanuggur with a great army, on pretence of going the

tour of his countries; and upon his arrival on the banks of the River Tummedra, having selected five thousand

of his best horse, and giving the reins of his conduct to love, commanded them, in spite of the remonstrances

of his friends, to march night and day with all expedition to Mudkul,[93] and, surrounding the village where

Pertal[94] lived, to bring her prisoner to him, with her whole family, without injury."

The unexpected, however, happened. The king neglected to send the Brahman to warn Pertal's family, and on

the arrival of news at Mudkal that a large force of the Raya's troops was approaching, the inhabitants fled,

and amongst them the girl and her relatives. The troops therefore resumed, but on the way looted the country.

They were attacked by superior forces and 2000 of them were slain. This led to a war.

"In the beginning of the winter of the year 809 (I.E. the winter of A.D. 1406),[95] he (the Sultan) moved in

great force, and arrived near Beejanuggur, in which Dewul Roy had shut himself up. An assault was made

upon the city, and the Sultan got possession of some streets, which, however, he was obliged to quit, his army

being repulsed by the Carnatickehs. Dewul Roy, encouraged by his success, now ventured to encamp his

army under protection of the walls, and to molest the royal camp. As the mussulmauns could not make proper

use of their cavalry in the rocky unevenness of ground round Beejanuggur, they were somewhat dispirited.

During this, Sultan Feroze Shaw was wounded by an arrow in the hand, but he would not dismount; and

"The enemy were at last driven off by the valour and activity of Ahmed Khan and Khankhanan, and the

Sultan moved farther from the city to a convenient plain, where he halted till his wounded men were

He halted here for four months, holding the Raya a prisoner in his own capital, while bodies of troops

harassed and wasted the country south of Vijayanagar, and attacked the fortress of Bankapur. The

"convenient plain" was probably in the open and rich valley near the town of Hospett, south of the city; for

the Sultan could not have ravaged the country to the south unless he had been master of the whole of this

valley for many miles. Bankapur was taken, and the detached forces returned bringing with them 60,000

Hindu prisoners; on which the Sultan left Khankhanan to hold Vijayanagar, while he himself attempted to

Deva Raya then began to treat for peace, and was compelled to submit to conditions to the last degree

humiliating. He agreed to give the Sultan his daughter in marriage, to indemnify him with an immense

"Though the roies of Carnatic had never yet married their daughters but to persons of their own cast, and

giving them to strangers was highly disgraceful, yet Dewul Roy, out of necessity, complied, and preparations

for celebrating the nuptials were made by both parties. For forty days communication was open between the

city and the sultan's camp. Both sides of the road were lined with shops and booths, in which the jugglers,

drolls, dancers, and mimics of Carnatic displayed their feats and skill to amuse passengers. Khankhanan and

Meer Fuzzul Oollah, with the customary presents of a bridegroom, went to Beejanuggur, from whence at the

expiration of seven days they brought the bride, with a rich portion and offerings from the roy, to the sultan's

camp. Dewul Roy having expressed a strong desire to see the sultan, Feroze Shaw with great gallantry agreed

"A day being fixed, he with his bride proceeded to Beejanuggur, leaving the camp in charge of Khankhanan.

On the way he was met by Dewul Roy in great pomp. From the gate of the city to the palace, being a distance

of six miles,[97] the road was spread with cloth of gold, velvet, satin, and other rich stuffs. The two princes

rode on horseback together, between ranks of beautiful boys and girls, who waved plates of gold and silver

flowers[98] over their heads as they advanced, and then threw them to be gathered by the populace. After this

the inhabitants of the city made offerings, both men and women, according to their rank. After passing

through a square directly in the centre of the city,[99] the relations of Dewul Roy, who had lined the streets in

crowds, made their obeisance and offerings, and joined the cavalcade on foot, marching before the princes.

Upon their arrival at the palace gate, the sultan and roy dismounted from their horses, and ascended a

splendid palanquin, set with valuable jewels, in which they were carried together to the apartments prepared

for the reception of the bride and bridegroom, when Dewul Roy took his leave, and retired to his own palace.

The sultan, after being treated with royal magnificence for three days, took his leave of the roy, who pressed

upon him richer presents than before given, and attended him four miles on his way, when he returned to the

"Sultan Feroze Shaw was enraged at his not going with him to his camp, and said to Meer Fuzzul Oollah that

he would one day have his revenge for the affront offered him by such neglect. This declaration being told to

Dewul Roy, he made some insolent remarks, so that, notwithstanding the connection of family, their hatred

Firuz returned after this to his capital and sent for the lovely Pertal, and on her arrival, finding that her beauty

surpassed all report, he gave her in marriage to his eldest son, Hasan Khan, when "the knot was tied amid

great rejoicings and princely magnificence." The lady's husband is described by Firishtah as being "a weak

and dissipated prince." He was heir to the throne, but was easily ousted by the valiant Ahmad "Khankhanan,"

and lived privately at Firuzabad, "entirely devoted to redolence and pleasure." The last we hear of him is that

his usurping uncle, Ahmad Shah I., treated him kindly, "gave him the palace of Firozeabad for his residence,

with an ample jaghire (estate), and permission to hunt or take his pleasure within eight miles round his

palace, without restriction to time or form." Hasan "was more satisfied with this power of indulging his

appetites than with the charge of empire. While his uncle lived he enjoyed his ease, and no difference ever

happened between them; but he was afterwards blinded and kept confined to the palace of Firozeabad." This

Deva Raya I. lived till at least 1412 A.D., and was succeeded by his son ViraVijaya, whom Nuniz calls

"Visaya," and who, he says, reigned six years. The last extant inscription of Deva Raya I. is dated in A.D.

1412 13, the first of his successor Vijaya in 1413 14. Vijaya's last known inscription is one of 1416

17, and the first yet known of his successor, his eldest son, Deva Raya II., is dated Monday, June 26, 1424

I am inclined to think that Deva Raya II. began to reign in 1419, for the following reason. The informants of

Nuniz stated that during Vijaya's reign he "did nothing worth relating," and the chronicle records that during

the reign which followed, namely that of Deva Raya II., there was "constant warfare." Now we have it from

Firishtah that in 1417 Firuz, Sultan of Kulbarga, commenced a war of aggression against the Hindus of

Telingana He besieged the fortress of Pangul,[100] seventy miles northeast of Adoni, for a period of two

years, but the attempt to reduce it ended in failure owing to a pestilence breaking out amongst both men and

"Many of the first nobility deserted the camp and tied with their followers to their jaghires. At this crisis

Dewul Roy collected his army, and having obtained aid from the surrounding princes, even to the Raja of

Telingana (Warangal), marched against the sultan with a vast host of horse and foot."

This then took place in 1419 A.D., and since this energetic action was not consonant with the character of

Vijaya, the FAINEANT sovereign, "who did nothing worth recording" in all his career, we must suppose that

it took place as soon as Deva Raya, his successor, was crowned; when the nobles surrounding him (he was, I

believe, quite young when he began to reign)[101] filled with zeal and ambition, roused the Hindu troops and

If this be correct, the reign of Deva Raya II., granting that it lasted as stated by Nuniz for twentyfive years,

ended in A.D. 1444. Now the chronicle tells us a story of how this Deva Raya's son and successor, "Pina

Rao,"[102] was attacked by his nephew with a poisoned dagger, and died from the effects of his wounds after

a lapse of six months. Abdur Razzak, more reliable because he was not only a contemporary but was at

Vijayanagar at the time, relates the same anecdote of Deva Raya II. himself, making the wouldbe assassin

the king's brother, and definitely fixing the date beyond a shadow of a doubt. The event occurred on some

day between November 1442 and April 1443 the outside limits of Razzak's visit to Calicut during his

stay at which place he says it happened. Abdur Razzak does not mention the king's death, and this therefore

had not supervened up to the time of the traveller leaving the capital in December 1443. On the assumption

that we need not be too particular about Nuniz's "six months," we may conclude that the attack was made

about the month of April 1443, and that Deva Raya II. died early in 1444 A.D. There is still, however, a

difficulty, as will be noticed below, inscriptions giving us the name of a Deva Raya as late as 1449 A.D., but

Putting together the facts given above, we find that the twentyfive years of the reign of Deva Raya II. lay

A fresh war, 1419 Success of Vijayanagar Death of Firuz Sultan Ahmad attacks Deva Raya The

latter's adventure and narrow escape Ahmad at the gates of the city He nearly loses his life

Submission of Deva Raya Fall of Warangal Sultan Alauddin Deva Raya's precautions His

attempted assassination, 1433 The story as told by Abdur Razzak Expedition against Kulbarga

Improvements at the capital Probable date of the kings death Was there a King Deva Raya III.?

There was war then with Kulbarga in 1419, Deva Raya II. being king of Vijayanagar. The Sultan had been

unsuccessful in his attack on the Warangal fortress, Pangul, and the troops of Vijayanagar marched against

him with horse, foot, and elephants. Firuz Shah gave battle forthwith, though he judged his forces to be

"Meer Fuzzul Oollah, who commanded the troops of Islaam, charged the infidels with heroic vigour, and,

routing their center, proceeded to attack their right wing. He was on the point of gathering the flowers of

victory, when one of his own attendants, bribed for the purpose by Dewul Roy, gave him a mortal wound on

the head, and he instantly quaffed the sherbet of martyrdom. This fatal event changed the fortune of the day;

the sultan was defeated, and with the utmost difficulty, by the most surprising and gallant efforts, made his

escape from the field. The Hindoos made a general massacre of the mussulmauns, and erected a platform

with their heads on the field of battle. They followed the sultan into his own country, which they wasted with

fire and sword, took many places, broke down many mosques and holy places, slaughtered the people without

mercy; by their actions seeming to discharge the treasured malice and resentment of ages. Sultan Firoze

Shaw, in the exigence of distress, requested aid of the sultan of Guzarat, who, having but just acceded to the

throne, could afford none. At last fortune took a turn favourable to his affairs, and the enemy, after repeated

battles, were expelled from his dominions by the Sultan's brother, Khankhanan; but these misfortunes dwelt

on the mind of Firoze Shaw, now old, and he fell into a lingering disorder and lowness of spirits."

The Sultan desired the throne for his son Hasan, husband of the beautiful Pertal, but on Ahmad Khankhanan

taking up arms to support his intended usurpation and advancing, supported by most of the nobles, to the

Firuz died on September 24, A.D. 1422,[103] and Khankhanan became Sultan of Kulbarga under the title of

The first act of the new monarch, after "impressing the minds of his people with affection to his government"

probably, that is, after an interval of a few months was to strengthen his army in order to take revenge

for the invasions of the Raya; and having made all preparations he advanced to the attack. Deva Raya's

generals collected their troops, sent for aid to Warangal, and marched to the Tungabhadra where they

encamped. From this it appears that they had retired from the Doab after their successful raid. The Sultan

arrived on the north bank of the river opposite the Hindu camp, and LAAGERED, if we may use the term

now in fashion. Firishtah says that he "surrounded his camp with carriages (carts and waggons), after the

usage of Room (Turkey in Europe), to prevent the enemy's foot from making nightattacks. Here he halted

for forty days." We are now, therefore, probably in the dry season at the beginning of the year A.D. 1423, for

if the river had been in flood there would have been no fear of the enemy's crossing it. In the early months of

the Christian year that river is usually shallow in the open country east of the Hindu capital and away from

the hills that surround it, having only thin streams running in its rocky bed. Indeed, Firishtah himself tells us

Then ensued a dramatic episode. The Muhammadan cavalry had crossed the river and devastated the country

of the Raya, who remained inactive, and the Sultan determined on a direct frontal attack. The troops of

"Early in the morning Lodi Khan, Aulum Khan, and Dillawer Khan, who had marched during the night and

forded the river at distance, reached the environs of the enemy's camp. It happened that the roy was sleeping,

attended by only a few persons, in a garden, close to which was a thick plantation of sugarcane.[104] A

body of the mussulmauns entered the garden for plunder, and Dewul Roy, being alarmed, fled almost naked

into the sugarcane plantation. Here he was found by the soldiers, who thought him only a common person,

and having loaded him with a bundle of canes, obliged him to run with it before them. Dewul Roy,

rejoiced at his being undiscovered, held his peace, and took up the burden readily, hoping that he should be

"They had not gone far when the alarm of Sultan Ahmed Shaw's having crossed the river, and the loss of the

roy, filled the camp, and the Hindoos began to disperse. The sultan entered the camp, and Dewul Roy's

masters, hoping now for more valuable plunder than sugarcane, hastened to join their own fronds, leaving

him to shift for himself. Dewul Roy ran with his own troops, and about noon came up with some of his

nobles, by whom he was recognised and received with great joy. His safety being made known, his army

rallied into some order; but as he regarded the late accident as an ill omen, he laid aside all thoughts of

"Ahmad Shaw not stopping to besiege the city, overran the open country, and wherever he came, put to death

men; women, and children, without mercy, contrary to the compact made by his ancestor Mahummud Shaw

with the roies of Beejanuggur. Laying aside all humanity, whenever the number of the slain amounted to

twenty thousand, he halted three days, and made a festival in celebration of the bloody work. He broke down

the idol temples, and destroyed the colleges of the Bramins. During these operations a body of five thousand

Hindoos, enraged to desperation at the destruction of their country and the insults of their gods, united in

taking an oath to sacrifice their lives in attempting to kill the sultan, as the grand author of all their sufferings.

For this purpose they employed spies to observe his motions, that they might seize the first opportunity of

"It happened, that the sultan going to hunt, in the eagerness of chase separated from the body of his

attendants, and advanced near twelve miles from his camp.[106] The devoted infidels, informed of the

circumstance, immediately hastened to intercept him, and arrived in sight when even his personal attendants,

about two hundred Moguls, were at some distance from him. The sultan alarmed, galloped on in hopes of

gaining a small mud enclosure which stood on the plain as a fold for cattle, but was so hotly pursued, that

some broken ground falling in his way, he was not able to cross it before his pursuers came up. Luckily some

archers at this instant arrived to his aid, so that the enemy were delayed sufficiently to give the sultan time to

reach the enclosure with his friends. The infidels attempted to enter, and a sharp conflict took place; all the

faithful repeating the creed of testimony, and swearing to die, rather than submit.... Their little troop being

mostly killed and wounded, the assailants advanced close to the wall, which they began to throw down with

pickaxes and hatchets, so that the sultan was reduced to the extremity of distress. At this critical juncture

arrived AbdalKadir, first armourbearer to the sultan, and a body of troops, with whom, fearful of some

accident having happened to occasion his absence, he had left the camp in search of his master. The infidels

had completed a wide breach, and were preparing to enter, when they found their rear suddenly attacked The

sultan with his remaining friends joined AbdalKadir in attacking the enemy, who after a long struggle

were driven off the field, with a loss of a thousand men, and about five hundred of the mussulmauns attained

martyrdom. Thus the sultan, by the almost inspired caution of AbdalKadir, acceded, as it were, a second

time, from the depths of danger to the enjoyment of empire.[107] It deserves place among the records of time,

as a remarkable event, that two sovereigns at the head of armies, should fall into such danger for want of

"after this event Ahmed Shaw, having laid waste the whole country, marched to Beejanuggur, which he kept

so closely blocked up, that the inhabitants were reduced to the greatest distress; when Dewul Roy, to spare

his people, sent ambassadors to the sultan entreating peace, to which he consented, on condition that he

would send the tribute of as many years as he had neglected to pay,[108] laden on his best elephants, and

conducted by his son, with his drums, trumpets, and all the other insignia of state, to his camp. Dewul Roy,

unable to refuse compliance, agreed to the demands, and sent his son with thirty favourite elephants, loaded

with treasure and valuable effects. The sultan sent some noblemen to meet him; and after being led in

ceremony through the market and great streets of the camp, he was brought to the presence.[109] The sultan,

after embracing, permitted him to sit at the foot of his throne, and putting on his shoulders a magnificent

robe, and girding him with a sabre set with jewels, gave him twenty beautiful horses of various countries, a

male elephant, dogs for the chase, and three hawks, which the Carnatickehs were till then strangers to the use

of. He then marched from the environs of Beejanuggur, and on his arrival on the bank of the Kistnah

To form some idea of the date of this cessation of hostilities we must see what follows in Firishtah's narrative.

The historian states that during the year of the Sultan's return to Kulbarga there was a grievous famine in the

Dakhan, and "the next year also, no rain appearing, the people became seditious." These two years were

probably A.H. 826, 827, extending from 15th December A.D. 1422 to 23rd November 1424. He continues,

"In the year 828" the Sultan marched against Warangal. The last campaign began about December A.D.

1422; and since we must allow some months for Ahmad's blockade of Vijayanagar, which resulted in his

reducing the inhabitants to a state of starvation so that the Raya was compelled to capitulate, the date for the

end of the war cannot be safely placed earlier than the winter of the year A.D. 1423. During these twelve

months, however, there was a famine and failure of rain, so that the Sultan may have been able to traverse the

cotton plains lying between Vijayanagar and Kulbarga, plains quite impassable for troops in wet weather,

The Sultan's next war took place in A.H. 828, when he advanced against Warangal over the undulating plains

of the Dakhan, then rich in crop, and was completely successful. The Hindu kingdom was completely and for

ever destroyed. The English date usually given for this event is A.D. 1424, but it is quite possible that a

mistake has been made owing to the use of imperfect chronological tables by those who have written on the

subject, and that Ahmad Shah's capture of Warangal may have taken place in A.D. 1425. Briggs, for instance,

calls A.H. 828 "A.D. 1424," but the year only began on November 23, 1424. The campaign, however, was

very short, and may have been concluded before the end of December of that year.

We hear nothing more from Firishtah regarding the affairs of Vijayanagar till the early part of the reign of

Ahmad's son and successor, Alauddin II., which began on Sunday, February 27, A.D. 1435,[110] the day

Alauddin's first act was to despatch his brother Muhammad Khan with a powerful army against Deva Raya

"who had withheld his tribute for five years and refused to pay the arrears. They laid waste the country in

such a manner that the Roy in a short time was glad to procure peace by giving twenty elephants, a great sum

of money, and two hundred female slaves skilled in music and dancing, besides a valuable present to

Flushed with this victory, and in command of a large force, Prince Muhammad rebelled against his brother,

and Firishtah states that in doing so he obtained aid from Deva Raya. The prince took Mudkal, Raichur,

Sholapur, Bijapur, and Naldirak from the Sultan's governors, but in a pitched battle with the royal forces was

completely defeated and fled. Shortly afterwards, however, he was forgiven by his generous sovereign, and

About the year 1442 Deva Raya began to consider more seriously his situation in relation to his powerful

"He called[111] a general council of his nobility and principal bramins, observing to them that as his country

of Carnatic in extent, population, and revenue far exceeded the territories of the house of Bahmenee; land in

like manner his army was far more numerous, wished therefore to explore the cause of the mussulmauns'

successes, and his being reduced to pay them tribute. Some said ... that the superiority of the mussulmauns

arose from two circumstances: one, all their horses being strong, and able to bear more fatigue than the weak,

lean animals of Carnatic; the other, a great body of excellent archers always kept up by the sultans of the

"Deo Roy upon this gave orders for the entertainment of mussulmauns in his service, allotted them

jaghires,[112] erected a mosque for their use in the city of Beejanuggur, and commanded that no one should

molest them in the exercise of their religion. He also ordered a koraun to be placed before his throne, on a

rich desk, that the mussulmauns might perform the ceremony of obeisance in his presence, without sinning

against their laws. He also made all the Hindoo soldiers learn the discipline of the bow; in which he and his

officers used such exertions, that he had at length two thousand mussulmauns and sixty thousand Hindoos,

well skilled in archery, besides eighty thousand horse and two hundred thousand foot, armed in the usual

On a day which must have been between November 1442 and April 1443 a desperate attempt was made on

the life of King Deva Raya by one of his closest relatives a brother, according to Abdur Razzak, a

nephew, according to Nuniz. Abdur Razzak's story is without doubt the more reliable of the two, since he is a

contemporary witness. The story as told by Nuniz is given in the chronicle at the end of this volume.[113]

Abdur Razzak was ambassador from Persia to Calicut and Vijayanagar, and his account is particularly

"During the time that the author of this narrative was still sojourning at Calicut (November 1442 to April

1443) there happened in the city of Bidjanagar an extraordinary and most singular occurrence....

"The king's brother, who had had a new house built for himself, invited thither the monarch and the principal

personages of the empire. Now it is an established usage of the infidels never to eat in presence of each other.

The men who were invited were assembled together in one grand hall. At short intervals the prince either

came in person or sent some messenger to say that such or such great personage should come and eat his part

of the banquet. Care had been taken to bring together all the drums, kettledrums, trumpets, and flutes that

could be found in the city, and these instruments playing all at the same time, made a tremendous uproar. As

soon as the individual who had been sent for entered the abovementioned house, two assassins, placed in

ambush, sprang out upon him, pierced him with a poignard, and cut him in pieces. After having removed his

limbs, or rather the fragments of his body, they sent for another guest, who, once having entered this place of

carnage, disappeared.... In consequence of the noise of the drums, the clamour, and the tumult, no one was

aware of what was going on. In this manner all those who had any name or rank in the state were slaughtered.

The prince leaving his house all reeking with the blood of his victims, betook himself to the king's palace,

and addressing himself to the guards who were stationed in that royal residence, invited them with flattering

words to go to his house, and caused them to follow the steps of the othervictims. So that the palace was

thus deprived of all its defenders. This villain then entered into the king's presence, holding in his hand a dish

covered with betelnut, under which was concealed a brilliant poignard. He said to the monarch, 'The hall is

"The king, following the maxim which declares that eminent men receive an inspiration from heaven, said to

"This unnatural brother, thus losing the hope of enticing the king to his house, drew his poignard, and struck

him therewith several violent blows, so that the prince fell at the back of his throne. The traitor, thus

believing that the king was dead, left there one of his confidants to cut off the monarch's head; then going out

of the hall he ascended the portico of the palace, and thus addressed the people: 'I have slain the king, his

"Meanwhile his emissary had approached the throne with the intention of cutting off the king's head, but that

prince, seizing the seat behind which he had fallen, struck the wretch with it with so much violence on the

chest that he fell upon his back. The king then, with the help of one of his guards, who at the sight of this

horrible transaction had hidden himself in a corner, slew this assassin, and went out of the palace by way of

"His brother, still standing on the steps of the hall of council, invited the multitude to recognise him as their

king. At that moment the monarch cried out, 'I am alive. I am well and safe. Seize that wretch.'

"The whole crowd assembled together threw themselves upon the guilty prince and put him to death.

"The only one who escaped was Danaik, the vizier, who previously to this sad event had gone on a voyage to

the frontier of Ceylon. The king sent a courier to him to invite him to return, and informed him of what had

just occurred. All those who had in any way aided in the conspiracy were put to death. Men in great numbers

were slain, flayed, burnt alive, and their families entirely exterminated. The man who had brought the letters

Nuniz states that the king died six months later and was succeeded by his son, but Abdur Razzak declares that

he was presented in person to Deva Raya about the month of December 1443. The name of Deva Raya's son

is not given by Nuniz, nor yet the length of his reign; he only states that he did nothing worth relating except

to give enormous charities to temples. This king again was succeeded by a son called "Verupaca Rao," who

must be identical with Virupaksha, and Nuniz dates from his reign the commencement of the troubles that led

But before putting together the confusing records of this period I must revert to the events of the year A.D.

"At this period," says Abdur Razzak, referring to the second half of the year 1443, "Danaik[114] the vizier set

out on an expedition into the kingdom of Kalbarga." The reasons which had led to this invasion were as

follows: Sultan Alauddin had heard of the treacherous attempt to kill the king of Vijayanagar and the

murder of the nobles and Principal people, and he had sent a message to the king demanding payment of

"seven lakhs of varahas," as he thought the moment auspicious for an attempt to crush the kingdom.

"Diourai, the king of Bidjanagar, was equally troubled and irritated by the receipt of such a message," but he

"Troops were sent out on both sides, which made great ravages on the frontiers of the two kingdoms....

Danaik, after having nit de an invasion upon the frontiers of the country of Kalbarga, and taken several

Firishtah also describes this war of A.D. 1443. He states that Deva Raya wantonly attacked the Bahmani

"crossed the Tummedra suddenly, took the fortress of Mudkul, sent his sons to besiege Roijore and

Beekapore, encamped himself along the bank of the Kistnan, and sent out detachments, who plundered the

"Sultan Alla ud Dien, upon intelligence of this invasion, prepared to repel it, and commanded all his forces

from Telingana, Dowlutabad, and Berar to repair to the capital of Ahmedabad without delay. Upon their

arrival he reviewed the whole, and found his army composed of fifty thousand horse, sixty thousand foot, and

a considerable train of artillery. With this force he began to march against the enemy; and Deo Roy, upon his

approach, shifted his ground, and encamped under the walls of the fortress of Mudkul, detaching a large body

"The sultan halted at the distance of twelve miles from Mudkul, and despatched Mallek al Tijar with the

troops of Dowlutabad against the sons of Deo Roy;[115] also Khan Zummaun, governor of Beejapore, and

Khan Azim, commander of the forces of Berar and Telingana, against the main body of the enemy.

MallekalTijar, going first to Roijore, gave battle to the eldest son of Deo Roy, who was wounded in the

action, and fled towards Beekapore, from whence he was joined by his younger brother, who quitted the siege

"In the space of two months, three actions happened near Mudkul between the two grand armies; in the first

of which multitudes were slain on both sides, and the Hindoos having the advantage, the mussulmauns

experienced great difficulties.[116] The sultan was successful in the others; and in the last, the eldest son of

Deo Roy was killed by a spear thrown at him by Khan Zummaun, which event struck the Hindoos with a

panic, and they fled with the greatest precipitation into the fortress of Mudkul."

Two chief Muhammadan officers, in the ardour of pursuit, entered the city with the fugitives, and were

Deo Roy then sent a message to the Sultan that if he would promise never again to molest his territories he

would pay the stipulated tribute annually, and return the two prisoners. This was accepted, a treaty was

executed, and the prisoners returned with the tribute and added presents; and till the end of Deva Raya's reign

From the terms of the agreement we gather that, though Firishtah does not expressly mention it, tribute had

been demanded by the Sultan, and this confirms the account given by Abdur Razzak. It also shows why the

"Danaik" in Abdur Razzak's narrative had not returned covered with glory, but merely, having "taken several

The campaign must have been of short duration, since, while it began in A.H. 847 (May 1, A.D. 1443, to

April 19, 1444) according to Firishtah, it was over before December 1443 when Abdur Razzak left

The narrative being thus brought down to the close of the year 1443, let us, before passing on, turn to other

records and see what they tell us about the reign of Deva Raya II. I have already stated that he appears to

have been very young at his accession in A.D. 1419. In 1443 he had already reigned twentyfour years. Now

the Hakluyt translation of Abdur Razzak's chronicle states that Razzak saw King Deva Raya II. in 1443, and

the India Office copy contains the additional information that the king was then "exceedingly young." I am

not aware which version is the more accurate. But even if these added words be accepted as part of the

original, the difficulty is capable of being explained away by the supposition that perhaps the ambassador was

presented to one of the princes and not to the king himself. The king appears to have been in doubt as to

whether the traveller was not an impostor in representing himself as an envoy from Persia, and may have

Several inscriptions of the reign are extant. One records a proclamation made in the king's name in A.D.

1426.[117] According to another bearing a date corresponding to Wednesday, October 16, in the same

year,[118] he caused a Jain temple to be erected in the capital, in a street called the "Pan Supari Bazaar." This

temple is situated southwest of the temple marked as No. 35 on the Government map. It is within the

enclosure of the royal palace, and close to the rear of the elephant stables still standing. The king is honoured

in this inscription with the full imperial title of MAHARAJADHIRAJA RAJAPARAMESVARA. The site of

this bazaar is thus definitely established. It lay on either side of the road which ran along the level dry ground

direct from the palace gate, near the temple of HAZARA RAMASVAMI, in a northeasterly direction, to

join the road which now runs to the Tungabhadra ferry through the fortified gate on the south side of the river

immediately opposite Anegundi. It passed along the north side of the Kallamma and Rangasvami temples,

leaving the imperial office enclosure with its lofty walls and watchtowers, and the elephant stables, on the

left, skirted the Jain temple and the temple numbered "35" on the plan, and passed along under the rocky hills

that bound this plain on the north till it debouched on the main road above mentioned. This street would be

In A.D. 1430 the king made a grant to a temple far in the south in the Tanjore district.[119] There are two

inscriptions of his reign dated respectively in 1433 34 and 1434 35 A.D. at Padavedu in North

Arcot.[120] If, as stated by Nuniz, King Deva Raya II. died a few months after his attempted assassination,

and if Abdur Razzak saw him in December 1443, we are led to the belief that he died early in 1444. Definite

proof is, however, wanting. Other inscriptions must be carefully examined before we can arrive at any certain

conclusion. Thus an inscription at Sravana Belgola, of date corresponding to Tuesday, May 24 A.D. 1446,

published by Professor Kielhorn,[121] relates to the death on that day of "Pratapa Deva Raya;" and as it is

"In the evil year Kshaya, in the wretched (month) second Vaisakha, on a miserable Tuesday, in a fortnight

which was the reverse of bright,[122] on the fourteenth day, the unequalled store of valour (PRATAPA)

But since royal titles are not given to the deceased, he may have been only a prince of the blood. An

inscription at Tanjore, also dated in A.D. 1446, mentions the name Deva Raya, but gives no further royal

titles than the BIRUDA "Lord of the four oceans."[123] An inscription bearing date corresponding to

Saturday, August 2 A.D. 1449, at Conjeeveram,[124] records a grant by a king called Vira Pratapa

It is provoking that Nuniz omits the name of the successor of Deva Raya II., as known to tradition in the

sixteenth century, for this might have helped us to a decision. At present it looks as though there had been a

Deva Raya III. reigning from A.D. 1444 to 1449; but this point cannot as yet be settled.

Mr. Rice has shown that one of the ministers of Deva Raya II. was named Naganna; he had the title

Description given by Nicolo to Bracciolini The capital Festivals Immense population Abdur

It will be well to suspend our historical narrative for a time in order to acquire some idea of the appearance

and condition of the great city of Vijayanagar in these days. We have already noticed that as early as 1375

A.D. Sultan Mujahid of Kulbarga had heard so much of the beauty of this capital that he desired to see it, and

it had grown in importance and grandeur during the succeeding halfcentury. About the year 1420 or 1421

A.D. there visited Vijayanagar one Nicolo, an Italian, commonly called Nicolo Conti or Nicolo dei Conti, and

CHAPTER 7. The City of Vijayanagar in the Reign of Deva Raya II. (A.D. 1420(?), 1443) 36

if he was not the earliest European visitor, he was at least the earliest that we know of whose description of

the place has survived to this day. His visit must have taken place shortly after the accession of Deva Raya II.

Nicolo never apparently wrote anything himself. His stories were recorded in Latin by Poggio Bracciolini, the

Pope's secretary, for his master's information. Translated into Portuguese, they were retranslated from the

Portuguese into Italian by Ramusio, who searched for but failed to obtain a copy of the original in Latin. This

original was first published in 1723 by the Abbe Oliva of Paris under the title P. BRACCIOLINI, DE

Nicolo, on reaching India, visited first the city of Cambaya in Gujarat. After twenty days' sojourn there he

passed down the coast to "Pacamuria," probably Barkur, and "Helly," which is the "Mount d'Ely" or "Cabo

d'Eli" of later writers. Thence he travelled inland and reached the Raya's capital, Vijayanagar, which he calls

"The great city of Bizenegalia is situated near very steep mountains. The circumference of the city is sixty

miles; its walls are carried up to the mountains and enclose the valleys at their foot, so that its extent is

thereby increased. In this city there are estimated to be ninety thousand men fit to bear arms."

I must here interpose a correction. There were no "mountains" properly so called at Vijayanagar; only a

confused and tumbled mass of rocky hills, some rising to considerable altitude. The extent of its lines of

defences was extraordinary. Lofty and massive stone walls everywhere crossed the valleys, and led up to and

mounted over the hillsides. The outer lines stretched unbroken across the level country for several miles. The

hollows and valleys between the bouldercovered heights were filled with habitations, poor and squalid

doubtless, in most instances, but interspersed with the stonebuilt dwellings of the nobles, merchants, and

upper classes of the vast community; except where the elaborately constructed waterchannels of the Rayas

enabled the land to be irrigated; and in these parts rich gardens and woods, and luxurious crops of rice and

sugarcane, abounded. Here and there were wonderfully carved temples and fanes to Hindu deities, with

Brahmanical colleges and schools attached to the more important amongst their number.

As to the appearance of the scenery, I cannot do better than quote the description given in 1845 by a

"The whole of the extensive site occupied by the ruins of Bijanugger on the south bank of the Tumbuddra,

and of its suburb Annegundi on the northern bank, is occupied by great bare piles and bosses of granite and

granitoidal gneiss, separated by rocky defiles and narrow rugged valleys encumbered by precipitated masses

of rock. Some of the larger flatbottomed valleys are irrigated by aqueducts from the river.... The peaks, tors,

and loggingstones of Bijanugger and Annegundi indent the horizon in picturesque confusion, and are

scarcely to be distinguished from the more artificial ruins of the ancient metropolis of the Deccan, which are

usually constructed with blocks quarried from their sides, and vie in grotesqueness of outline and

massiveness of character with the alternate airiness and solidity exhibited by nature in the nicelypoised

logging stones and columnar piles, and in the walls of prodigious cuboidal blocks of granite which often crest

The remains of palaces, temples, walls, and gateways are still to be seen, and these abound not only on the

site of Vijayanagar proper, but also on the north side of the swiftly rushing river, where stood the stately

citadel of Anegundi, the mother of the empirecity. The population of this double city was immense, and the

area occupied by it very extensive. From the last fortification to the south, beyond the present town of

Hospett, to the extreme point of the defences of Anegundi on the north, the distance is about twelve miles.

From the extreme western line of walls in the plain to the last of the eastern works amongst the hills lying in

the direction of Daroji and Kampli the interval measures about ten miles. Within this area we find the remains

of the structures of which I have spoken. The hovels have disappeared, and the debris lies many feet thick

over the old groundlevel. But the channels are still in working order, and wherever they exist will be found

CHAPTER 7. The City of Vijayanagar in the Reign of Deva Raya II. (A.D. 1420(?), 1443) 37

rich crops, tall and stately trees, and a tangle of luxuriant vegetation. On the rocks above are the ruins of

buildings and temples and walls, and in many places small shrines stand out, built on the jutting edges of

great boulders or on the pinnacles of lofty crags, in places that would seem inaccessible to anything but

In the central enclosure are the remains of great structures that must once have been remarkable for their

grandeur and dignity. These immediately surrounded the king's palace; but in 1565 the Muhammadans

worked their savage will upon them with such effect that only the crumbling ruins of the more massive

edifices amongst them still stand. The site of the palace itself is marked by a large area of ground covered

with heaps of broken blocks, crushed masonry, and fragments of sculpture, not one stone being left upon

"The inhabitants of this region marry as many wives as they please, who are burnt with their dead husbands.

Their king is more powerful than all the other kings of India. He takes to himself 12,000 wives, of whom

4000 follow him on foot wherever he may go, and are employed solely in the service of the kitchen. A like

number, more handsomely equipped, ride on horseback. The remainder are carried by men in litters, of whom

2000 or 3000 are selected as his wives on condition that at his death they should voluntarily burn themselves

"At a certain time of the year their idol is carried through the city, placed between two chariots, in which are

young women richly adorned, who sing hymns to the god, and accompanied by a great concourse of people.

Many, carried away by the fervour of their faith, cast themselves on the ground before the wheels, in order

that they may be crushed to death a mode of death which they say is very acceptable to their god. Others,

making an incision in their side, and inserting a rope thus through their body, hang themselves to the chariot

by Nay of ornament, and thus suspended and halfdead accompany their idol. This kind of sacrifice they

"Thrice in the year they keep festivals of especial solemnity. On one of these occasions the males and females

of all ages, having bathed in the rivers or the sea, clothe themselves in new garments, and spend three entire

days in singing, dancing, and feasting. On another of these festivals they fix up within their temples, and on

the outside on the roofs, an innumerable number of lamps of oil of SUSIMANNI, which are kept burning day

and night. On the third, which lasts nine days, they set up in all the highways large beams, like the masts of

small ships, to the upper part of which are attached pieces of very beautiful cloth of various kinds, interwoven

with gold. On the summit of each of these beams is each day placed a man of pious aspect, dedicated to

religion, capable of enduring all things with equanimity, who is to pray for the favour of God. These men are

assailed by the people, who pelt them with oranges, lemons, and other odoriferous fruits, all which they bear

most patiently. There are also three other festival days, during which they sprinkle all passersby, even the

king and queen themselves, with saffron water, placed for that purpose by the wayside. This is received by all

The first of these festivals may be the Kanarese New Year's Day, which Domingo Paes in his chronicle

asserts to have fallen, during his visit to Vijayanagar, on October 12 "FESTAS EM QUE TODOS

should be the Dipavali festival, which occurs about the month of October, when lamps are lighted by all the

householders, and the temples are illuminated. The description of the third answers to the ninedays' festival,

called the MAHANAVAMI, at Vijayanagar, which, during the visit of Paes, took place on September 12. The

CHAPTER 7. The City of Vijayanagar in the Reign of Deva Raya II. (A.D. 1420(?), 1443) 38

Conti next describes the finding of diamonds on a mountain which he called "Albenigaras" and places fifteen

days' journey beyond Vijayanagar "towards the north." He repeats the story which we know as that of

"Sinbad the Sailor," saying that the diamonds lie in inaccessible valleys, into which lumps of flesh being

thrown, to which the precious stones adhere, these are carried up TO the summits by eagles, which are then

driven off and the stones secured. The direction given, though it should rather be east than north, points to the

mines on the Krishna river being those alluded to mines which are often styled the "mines of Golkonda"

by travellers. Marco Polo told the same tale of the same mines in the year 1296. Conti continues:

"They divide the year into twelve months, which they name after the signs of the zodiac. The era is computed

After having given a short account of the different coinages and currencies, which is interesting, but of which

"The natives of Central India make use of the ballistae,[128] and those machines which we call bombardas,

"They call us Franks and say, 'While they call other nations blind, that they themselves have two eyes, and

that we have but one, because they consider that they excel all others in prudence.'[129]

"The inhabitants of Cambay alone use paper; all other Indians write on the leaves of trees. They have a vast

number of slaves, and, the debtor who is insolvent is everywhere adjudged to be the property of his creditor.

The numbers of these people and nations exceeds belief. Their armies consist of a million men and upwards."

Abdur Razzak also visited, the city during the reign of Deva Raya II., but about twenty years later than Conti.

He was entrusted with an embassy from Persia, and set out on his mission on January 13, A.D. 1442. At the

beginning of November that year he arrived at Calicut, where he resided till the beginning of April 1443.

Being there he was summoned to Vijayanagar, travelled thither, and was in the great city from the end of

April till the 5th December of the same year. The following passage explains why he left Calicut.

"On a sudden a man arrived who brought me the intelligence that the king of Bidjanagar, who holds a

powerful empire and a mighty dominion under his sway, had sent him to the Sameri[130] as delegate,

charged with a letter in which he desired that he would send on to him the ambassador of His Majesty, the

happy Khakhan (I.E. the king of Persia). Although the Sameri is not subject to the laws of the king of

Bidjanagar, he nevertheless pays him respect and stands extremely in fear of him, since, if what is said is true,

this latter prince has in his dominions three hundred ports, each of which is equal to Calicut, and on TERRA

In obedience to this request, Abdur Razzak left Calicut by sea and went to Mangalore, "which forms the

frontier of the kingdom of Bidjanagar." He stayed there two or three days and then journeyed inland, passing

many towns, and amongst them a place where he saw a small but wonderful temple made of bronze.

"At length I came to a mountain whose summit reached the skies. Having left this mountain and this forest

behind me, I reached a town called Belour,[131] the houses of which were like palaces."

"At the end of the month of Zoul'hidjah[132] we arrived at the city of Bidjanagar. The king sent a numerous

cortege to meet us, and appointed us a very handsome house for our residence. His dominion extends from

the frontier of Serendib to the extremities of the country of Kalbergah (I.E. from the Krishna River to Cape

Comorin). One sees there more than a thousand elephants, in their size resembling mountains and in their

CHAPTER 7. The City of Vijayanagar in the Reign of Deva Raya II. (A.D. 1420(?), 1443) 39

form resembling devils. The troops amount in number to eleven LAK (1,100,000). One might seek in vain

throughout the whole of Hindustan to find a more absolute RAI; for the monarchs of this country bear the

"The city of Bidjanagar is such that the pupil of the eye has never seen a place like it, and the ear of

intelligence has never been informed that there existed anything to equal it in the world. It is built in such a

manner that seven citadels and the same number of walls enclose each other. Around the first citadel are

stones of the height of a man, one half of which is sunk in the ground while the other half rises above it.

These are fixed one beside the other in such a manner that no horse or foot soldier could boldly or with ease

The position of these seven walls and gates have long been a puzzle to me, but I hazard the following

explanation. The traveller approached from the southwest, and the first line of wall that he saw must have

been that on the neck between the two hills southwest of Hospett. Paes also describes this outer

defencework as that seen by all travellers on their first arrival from the coast. After being received at this

entrancegate Razzak must have passed down the slope through "cultivated fields, houses, and gardens" to

the entrance of Hospett, where the second line of fortification barred the way; and since that town was not

then thickly populated, the same features would meet his eye till he passed a third line of wall on the north

side of that town. From this point the houses became thicker, probably forming a long street, with shops on

either side of the road, leading thence to the capital. The fourth line of wall, with a strong gateway, is to be

seen on the south of the present village of Malpanagudi, where several remains of old buildings exist; and

notably a handsome stone well, once probably belonging to the countryhouse of some noble or chief officer.

The fifth line is on the north of Malpanagudi, and here the great gateway still stands, though the wall is much

damaged and destroyed. The sixth line is passed just to the south of the Kamalapur tank. The seventh or inner

line is the great wall still to be seen in fairly good repair north of that village. This last surrounded the palace

and the government buildings, the space enclosed measuring roughly a mile from north to south, and two

miles and a quarter from east to west. The remains of the upright stones alluded to by Razzak were seen by

Razzak describes the outer citadel as a "fortress of round shape, built on the summit of a mountain, and

constructed of stones and lime. It has very solid gates, the guards of which are constantly at their post, and

examine everything with severe inspection." This passage must refer to the outer line of wall, since Razzak's

"seventh fortress" is the innermost of all. The guards at the gates were doubtless the officers entrusted with

the collection of the octroi duties. Sir Henry Elliot's translation (iv. 104) adds to the passage as quoted the

words, "they collect the JIZYAT or taxes." This system of collecting octroi dues at the gates of principal

towns lasted till recent days, having only been abolished by the British Government.

"The seventh fortress is to the north, and is the palace of the king. The distance between the opposite gates of

the outer fortress north and south is two parasangs,[134] and the same east to west.

"The space which separates the first fortress from the second, and up to the third fortress, is filled with

cultivated fields and with houses and gardens. In the space from the third to the seventh one meets a

numberless crowd of people, many shops, and a bazaar. By the king's palace are four bazaars, placed opposite

each other. On the north is the portico of the palace of the RAI. Above each bazaar is a lofty arcade with a

magnificent gallery, but the audiencehall of the king's palace is elevated above all the rest. The bazaars are

"Roses are sold everywhere. These people could not live without roses, and they look upon them as quite as

necessary as food.... Each class of men belonging to each profession has shops contiguous the one to the

other; the jewellers sell publicly in the bazaars pearls, rubies, emeralds, and diamonds. In this agreeable

locality, as well as in the king's palace, one sees numerous running streams and canals formed of chiselled

CHAPTER 7. The City of Vijayanagar in the Reign of Deva Raya II. (A.D. 1420(?), 1443) 40

"On the left of the Sultan's portico rises the DEWAN KHANEH,[137] which is extremely large and looks

like a palace. In front of it is a hall, the height of which is above the stature of a man, its length thirty ghez

and its breadth ten.[138] In it is placed the DEFTERKHANEH (courthouse), and here sit the scribes.... In

the middle of this palace, upon an high estrade, is seated an eunuch called the Danaik,[139] who alone

presides over the divan. At the end of the hall stand chobdars[140] drawn up in line. The Dewan or Danaik

settles people's affairs and hears their petitions. There is no appeal. After concluding business the Danaik

passes through seven doors into the palace, and entering the last alone, makes his report to the king.

"Behind the king's palace[141] are the house and hall allotted to the Danaik. To the left of the said palace is

"This empire contains so great a population that it would be impossible to give an idea of it without entering

into extensive details. In the king's palace are several cells, like basins, filled with bullion, forming one

"Each elephant has a separate compartment, the walls of which are extremely solid, and the roof composed of

strong pieces of wood.... Opposite the Mint is the house of the Governor, where are stationed twelve thousand

soldiers on guard.... Behind the Mint is a sort of bazaar, which is more than three hundred ghez in length, and

more than twenty in breadth.[142] On two sides are ranged houses and forecourts; in front of them are

erected, instead of benches (KURSI), several lofty seats constructed of beautiful stones. On the two sides of

the avenue formed by the chambers are represented figures of lions, panthers, tigers, and other animals.[143]

Thrones and chairs are placed on the platforms, and the courtesans seat themselves thereon, bedecked in

The author took up his abode in a lofty house which had been allotted to him, on the 1st Muharram (May 1,

"One day some messengers sent from the palace of the king came to see me, and at the close of the same day

I presented myself at court.... The prince was seated in a hall, surrounded by the most imposing attributes of

state. Right and left of him stood a numerous crowd of men arranged in a circle. The king was dressed in a

robe of green satin, around his neck he wore a collar, composed of pearls of beautiful water, and other

splendid gems. He had an olive complexion, his frame was thin, and he was rather tall; on his cheeks might

be seen a slight down, hut there was no beard on his chin. The expression of his countenance was extremely

"If report speaks truly, the number of the princesses and concubines amounts to seven hundred."

Abdur Razzak gives a glowing account of the brilliancy of a great festival of which he was a spectator while

in the capital. He calls it the Mahanavami[145] festival, but I have my doubts as to whether he was not

mistaken, since he declares that it took place in the month Rajab (October 25 to November 23, 1443 A.D.).

The Hindus celebrate the MAHANAVAMI by a nine days' festival beginning on Asvina Sukla 1st in native

reckoning, that is, on the day following the new moon which marks the beginning of the month Asvina; while

the New Year's Day at that period was the first day of the following month, Karttika (if the year began, as it

certainly did at Vijayanagar in the time of Paes, eighty years later, on 1st Karttika). But the new moon of

Rajab in A.D. 1443 corresponded to the new moon of KARTTIKA, not to that of ASVINA.[146] Either,

therefore, the festival which he witnessed was the New Year's Day festival, or the traveller was in error in

giving the month "Rajab." It seems most probable that the former was the case, because he apparently makes

CHAPTER 7. The City of Vijayanagar in the Reign of Deva Raya II. (A.D. 1420(?), 1443) 41

the festival one of only three days' duration, whereas the MAHANAVAMI, as its name implies, was a nine

days' feast. But there is also another difficulty. The MAHANAVAMI celebrations began with the new moon,

whereas Razzak says that the festival he saw began with the "full moon." This, however, may have been due

However that may be, he certainly was a spectator of a brilliant scene, and I append his account of it.

"In pursuance of orders issued by the king of Bidjanagar, the generals and principal personages from all parts

of his empire ... presented themselves at the palace. They brought with them a thousand elephants ... which

were covered with brilliant armour and with castles magnificently adorned.... During three consecutive days

in the month of Redjeb the vast space of land magnificently decorated, in which the enormous elephants were

congregated together, presented the appearance of the waves of the sea, or of that compact mass which will

be assembled together at the day of the resurrection. Over this magnificent space were erected numerous

pavilions, to the height of three, four, or even five storeys, covered from top to bottom with figures in relief....

Some of these pavilions were arranged in such a manner that they could turn rapidly round and present a new

"In the front of this place rose a palace with nine pavilions magnificently ornamented. In the ninth the king's

throne was set up. In the seventh was allotted a place to the humble author of this narrative.... Between the

Girls were there in magnificent dresses, dancing "behind a pretty curtain opposite the king." There were

numberless performances given by jugglers, who displayed elephants marvellously trained.

During three consecutive days, from sunrise to sunset, the royal festival was prolonged in a style of the

greatest magnificence. Fireworks, games, and amusements went on. On the third day the writer was presented

"The throne, which was of extraordinary size, was made of gold, and enriched with precious stones of

extreme value.... Before the throne was a square cushion, on the edges of which were sown three rows of

pearls. During the three days the king remained seated on this cushion. When the fete of Mahanawi was

ended, at the hour of evening prayer, I was introduced into the middle of four ESTRADES, which were about

ten ghez both in length and breadth.[147] The roof and the walls were entirely formed of plates of gold

enriched with precious stones. Each of these plates was as thick as the blade of a sword, and was fastened

with golden nails. Upon the ESTRADE, in the front, is placed the throne of the king, and the throne itself is

The descriptions given by these travellers give us a good idea of the splendours of this great Hindu capital in

the first half of the fifteenth century; and with this in our minds we return to the history of the period.

Mallikarjuna and Virupaksha I. Rajasekhara and Virupaksha II. The Dakhan splits up into five

independent kingdoms The Bijapur king captures Goa and Belgaum Fighting at Rajahmundry,

Kondapalle, and other parts of Telingana Death of Mahmud Gawan The Russian traveller Nikitin

I have already stated that the period following the reign of Deva Raya II. is one very difficult to fill up

satisfactorily from any source. It was a period of confusion in Vijayanagar a fact that is clearly brought

A.D. 1449 is the last date in any known inscription containing mention of a Deva Raya, and Dr.

Hultzsch[148] allots this to Deva Raya II. It may be, as already suggested, that there was a Deva Raya III. on

the throne between A.D. 1444 and 1449, but this remains to be proved. Two sons of Deva Raya II., according

to the inscriptions, were named Mallikarjuna and Virupaksha I. respectively. There are inscriptions of the

former dated in A.D. 1452 53 and 1464 65,[149] and one of the latter in 1470.[150] Mallikarjuna

appears to have had two sons, Rajasekhara, of whom we have inscriptions in the years A.D. 1479 80 and

1486 87, and Virupaksha II., mentioned in an inscription dated A.D. 1483 84, three years earlier than

Dr. Hultzsch, in the third volume of the EPIGRAPHIA INDICA, p. 36, gives these dates, but in the fourth

volume of the same work (p. 180) he notes that an inscription of Rajasekhara exists at Ambur in North Arcot,

which is dated in the year corresponding to A.D. 1468 69. I have also been told of an inscription on stone

to be seen at the village of Parnapalle (or Paranapalle) in the Cuddapah district, of which a copy on

copperplate is said to be in the possession of one Narayana Reddi of Goddamari in the Tadpatri Taluq of the

Anantapur district. This is reported to bear the date Saka 1398 (A.D. 1476 77), and to mention as

Rajasekhara's second inscription must have been engraved very shortly before the final fall of the old royal

Amid this confusion of overlapping dates we turn for help to Nuniz; but though his story, gathered from

tradition about the year 1535, is clear and consecutive, it clashes somewhat with the other records. According

to him, Deva Raya II. had a son, Pina Raya, who died six months after his attempted assassination; but we

have shown that Abdur Razzak conclusively establishes that this unfortunate monarch was Deva Raya II.

himself, and that the crime was committed before the month of April 1443. Pina Raya left a son unnamed,

who did nothing in particular, and was succeeded by his son "Verupaca," by which name Virupaksha is

clearly meant. Virupaksha was murdered by his eldest son, who in turn was slain by his younger brother,

The period was without doubt a troublous one, and all that can be definitely and safely stated at present is that

for about forty years prior to the usurpation of Narasimha the kingdom passed from one hand to the other, in

the midst of much political agitation, discontent, and widespread antagonism to the representatives of the old

royal family, several of whom appear to have met with violent deaths. The usurpation took place at some

Leaving the Hindu and Portuguese records, we must turn to the Muhammadan historians in order to see what

were the political relations existing at this time between Vijayanagar and its hereditary enemies to the north.

Firishtah tells us of no event occurring between the year 1443 and 1458 A.D. to disturb the peaceful

conditions then existing. Kulbarga was itself in too troubled a condition to venture on further national

complications. Internal disputes and civil war raged in the Dakhan, and the country was divided against itself.

The trouble had begun which ended only with the extinction of the Bahmani monarchy, and the establishment

Alauddin died February 13, A.D. 1458, (?)[151] and was succeeded by his son Humayun, a prince of

"cruel and sanguinary temper." In the following year Humayun waged war against the country of the Telugus

and besieged Devarakonda, which made so stout a resistance that the Dakhani armies were baffled, and

retired. He died on the 5th September 1461,[152] to the great relief of all his subjects. Mallikarjuna appears to

Nizam Shah succeeded to the throne, being then only eight years old, but his reign was of short duration. He

In the middle of the year 1469, while either Rajasekhara or Virupaksha I. was the king of Vijayanagar,

Mahmud Gawan, Muhammad's minister, marched towards the west, and after a fairly successful campaign

attacked Goa, then in the possession of the Raya of Vijayanagar, both by sea and land. He was completely

The war was probably undertaken in revenge for a cruel massacre of Muhammadans which took place in this

Year A.D. 1469, according to Barros.[154] At this period the coast trade was altogether in the hands of the

Muhammadans, and they used to import large numbers of horses, principally for the use of the great

contending armies in the Dakhan and Vijayanagar. The Hindu king depended on this supply to a large extent.

In 1469 the Moors at Batecala (Bhatkal) having sold horses to the "Moors of Decan," the king of Vijayanagar

ordered his vassal at Onor (Honawar) "to kill all those Moors as far as possible, and frighten the rest away."

The result of this was a terrible massacre, in which 10,000 Musulmans lost their lives. The survivors fled and

settled themselves at Goa, thus founding the city that afterwards became the capital of Portuguese India.

Nuniz alludes to the loss of "Goa, Chaull, and Dabull" by Vijayanagar in the reign of "Verupaca."[155]

Shortly afterwards there arose to power under the Sultan Muhammad one Yusuf Adil Khan, a slave, who

before long grew to such power that he overthrew the Bahmani dynasty, and became himself the first

independent sovereign of Bijapur the first "Adil Shah." In 1470, says the BURHANI MAASIR, the

Sultan took Rajahmundry and Kondavid from the king of Orissa. An inscription at Kondapalle, a fine

hillfort beautifully situated on a range of hills, gives the date as 1470 or 1471; my copy is imperfect.

"In the year 877 (A.D. 1472 73) Perkna, roy of the fortress of Balgoan, at the instigation of the prince of

Beejanuggur, marched to retake the island of Goa.... Mahummud Shaw, immediately upon intelligence of this

irruption, collected his forces and moved against Balgoan, a fortress of great strength, having round it a deep

The attack ended in the reduction of the place, when the Sultan returned to Kulbarga.

The BURHANI MAASIR CALLS the chief of Belgaum "Parkatapah," and Major King, the translator of the

work, gives a large variety of spellings of the name, viz.: "Birkanah," "Parkatabtah," "Parkatiyah," "Parkitah,"

"Barkabtah."[156] Briggs gives it as "Birkana." It has been supposed that the real name was Vikrama.

About the year 1475 there was a terrible famine in the Dakhan and the country of the Telugus, which lasted

for two years. At its close the Hindu population of Kondapalle revolted, murdered the Muhammadan

governor, and invited aid from the king of Orissa. This monarch accordingly advanced and laid siege to

Rajahmundry, which was then the governorship of NizamulMulkh, but on the Shah marching in person to

the relief of the place the army of Orissa retired. In the latter part of the year 882, which corresponds to

March 1478 A.D., Muhammad penetrated to the capital of Orissa, "and used no mercy in slaughtering the

inhabitants and laying waste the country of the enemy." The Rajah submitted, and purchased his immunity

from further interference on the part of the Sultan by a present of some valuable elephants.

Firishtah and the BURHANI MAASIR differ considerably as to what followed. The former states that, after

his raid into Orissa, Muhammad Shah reduced Kondapalle, where he destroyed a temple, slew the Brahman

priests attached to it, and ordered a mosque to be erected on its site. He remained nearly three years at

Rajahmundry, secured the Telingana country, expelled some refractory zamindars, and "resolved on the

"Nursing," says Firishtah, "was a powerful raja, possessing the country between Carnatic[157] and Telingana,

extending along the seacoast, to Matchiliputtum,[158] and had added much of the Beejanuggur territory to

This was probably the powerful chief Narasimha Raya, a relation of the king of Vijayanagar, who, intrusted

with the government of large tracts, was rising rapidly to independence under the weak and feeble monarch

whom he finally supplanted. The Sultan went to Kondapalle,[159] and there was told that, at a distance of ten

days' journey, "was the temple of Kunchy,[160] the walls and roof of which were plated with gold,

ornamented with precious stones;" upon receipt of which intelligence the Sultan is said to have made a forced

The account given by the BURHANI MAASIR as to Muhammad Shah's proceedings at this period is that

on going to Rajahmundry he found there Narasimha Raya "with 700,000 cursed infantry, and 500 elephants

like mountains of iron," who, in spite of all his pomp and power, fled like a craven on the approach of the

army of Islam. The Sultan then reduced Rajahmundry, which had been held by a HINDU force not

Muhammadan, as Firishtah declares. In November 1480[161] he marched from Rajahmundry to Kondavid,

going "towards the kingdom of Vijayanagar." After reducing that fortress, he proceeded after a while to

Malur, which belonged to Narasimha, "who, owing to his numerous army and the extent of his dominions,

was the greatest and most powerful of all the rulers of Telingana and Vijayanagar," and who "had established

himself in the midst of the countries of Kanara and Telingana, and taken possession of most of the districts of

While at Malur the Sultan was informed that "at a distance of fifty farsakhas from his camp was a city called

Ganji," containing temples, to which he promptly marched, arriving before the place on 13th March A.D.

After this the Sultan went to Masulipatam, which he reduced, and thence returned to Kondapalle. This was

his last success. His coldblooded murder of the celebrated Mahmud Gawan, his loyal and faithful servant, in

1481, so disgusted the nobles that in a short time the kingdom was dismembered, the chiefs revolted, the

Muhammad Shah died on 21st March. A.D. 1482. Shortly before his death he planned an expedition to

relieve Goa from a Vijayanagar army which "Sewaroy, Prince of Beejanuggur," had sent there (Firishtah);

We have some further information on the affairs of Kulbarga during the reign of Muhammad Shah in the

writings of the Russian traveller Athanasius Nikitin, but it is very difficult to fix the exact date of his sojourn

there. Nikitin was a native of Twer, and set out on his wanderings by permission of the Grand Duke Michael

Borissovitch, and his own bishop, Gennadius. This fixes the time of his start so far that it must have taken

place subsequent to 1462, and the author of the "Bombay Gazetteer," RE Poonah, assigns the period 1468 to

"Here resides Asat, Khan of Indian Jooneer, a tributary of Meliktuchar.... He has been fighting the Kofars for

By "Meliktuchar" is probably meant the celebrated minister Mahmud Gawan, who in 1457 A.D. received the

title "MallikalTijar," a title which was borne by the chief amongst the nobility at the Bahmani court. It

meant literally "chief of the merchants." The "Kofars" are, of course, the Kaffirs or Hindus. Firishtah tells us

of fighting having taken place in 1469 between the MallikalTijar and "the roles of Songeer, Khalneh, and

rebels in Kokun," when the troops of Junir were under the Mallik's command. During the war he captured

Goa, as already stated. There were campaigns also against the Hindus of Rajahmundry, Vinukonda, and other

places, and in 1472 one against Belgaum, which has been already described. Firishtah tells us that the

Daulatabad and Junir troops were sent against the powerful Hindu Raja Narasimha on the east coast.[163] As

"The Hindus ... are all naked and barefooted. They carry a shield in one hand and a sword in the other. Some

of the servants are armed with straight bows and arrows. Elephants are greatly used in battle.... Large scythes

are attached to the trunks and tusks of the elephants, and the animals are clad in ornamental plates of steel.

They carry a citadel, and in the citadel twelve men in armour with guns and arrows.... The land is overstocked

with people; but those in the country are very miserable, whilst the nobles are extremely opulent and delight

in luxury. They are wont to be carried on their silver beds, preceded by some twenty chargers caparisoned in

gold, and followed by three hundred men on horseback and five hundred on foot, and by hornmen, ten

"There may be seen in the train of the Sultan about a thousand ordinary horses in gold trappings, one hundred

carrels with torchbearers, three hundred trumpeters, three hundred dancers.... The Sultan, riding on a golden

saddle, wears a habit embroidered with sapphires, and on his pointed headdress a large diamond; he also

carries a suit of gold armour inlaid with sapphires, and three swords mounted in gold.... The brother of the

Sultan rides on a golden bed, the canopy of which is covered with velvet and ornamented with precious

stones.... Mahmud sits on a golden bed, with a silken canopy to it and a golden top, drawn by four horses in

gilt harness. Around him are crowds of people, and before him many singers and dancers....

"Melikh Tuchar took two Indian Towns whose ships pirated on the Indian Sea, captured seven princes with

their treasures.... The town had been besieged for two years by an army of two hundred thousand men, a

"Myza Mylk, MekKhan, and Farat Khan took three large cities, and captured an immense quantity of

precious stones, the whole of which was brought to Melik Tuchar.... They came to Beder on the day of the

The Sultan's brother "when in a campaign is followed by his mother and sister, and 2000 women on

horseback or on golden beds;[165] at the head of his train are 300 ordinary horses in gold equipment."

"Melik Tuchar moved from Beder with his army, 50,000 strong, against the Indians.... The Sultan sent 50,000

of his own army.... With this force Melik Tuchar went to fight against the great Indian dominion of

CHENUDAR. But the king of BINEDAR[166] possessed 300 elephants, 100,000 men of his own troops, and

The writer then gives details as to the rest of the Sultan's forces, and the total comes to the enormous amount

"The Sultan moved out with his army ... to join Melich Tuchar at Kalbarga. But their campaign was not

successful, for they took only one Indian town, and that at the loss of many people and treasures.[167]

"The Hindu Sultan Kadam is a very powerful prince. He possesses a numerous army and resides on a

mountain at BICHENEGHER. This vast city is surrounded by three forts and intersected by a river, bordering

on one side on a dreadful jungle, and on the other on a dale; a wonderful place and to any purpose

convenient. On one side it is quite inaccessible; a road gives right through the town, and as the mountain rises

"The enemy besieged it for a month and lost many people, owing to the walls of water and food. Plenty of

"This Indian stronghold was ultimately taken by Melikh Khan Khoda, who stormed it, and fought day and

night to reduce it. The army that made the siege with heavy guns had neither eaten nor drunk for twenty days.

He lost 5000 of his best soldiers. On the capture of the town 20,000 inhabitants men and women, had their

heads cut off, 20,000 young and old were made prisoners and sold.... The treasury, however, having been

It is impossible to decide to what this refers, as we have no other information of any capture of Vijayanagar

by the Sultan's forces at this period. But the traveller may have confused the place with Rajahmundry or one

In 1482 A.D., as before stated, Mahmud Shah II. succeeded to the throne of Kulbarga, being then a boy of

twelve, but his sovereignty was only nominal. Constant disturbances took place; the nobles in many tracts

rose against the sovereign, and amongst others the governor of Goa attempted to assert his independence,

seizing many important places on the coast; civil war raged at the capital; and before long the great chiefs

threw off all semblance of obedience to the authority of the Bahmanis, and at length divided the kingdom

At Vijayanagar, too, there seems to have been chaos, and about the time when the Dakhani nobles finally

revolted, Narasimha Raya had placed himself on the throne and established a new and powerful dynasty.

The five separate kingdoms which arose in the Dakhan were those of the Adil Shahs of Bijapur, with whom

we have most to do; the Barid Shahs of Bidr or Ahmadabad; the Imad Shahs of Birar; the Nizam Shahs of

Adil Shah was the first of his line at Bijapur, and he proclaimed his independence in A.D. 1489. The unhappy

king Mahmud II. lived in inglorious seclusion till December 18, A.D. 1517, and was nominally succeeded by

his eldest son, Ahmad. Ahmad died after two years' reign, and was followed in rapid succession by his two

brothers, Alauddin III. (deposed) and Wali (murdered), after whom Kalim Ullah, son of Ahmad II., was

nominally placed on the throne but was kept a close prisoner, and with his death the Bahmani dynasty fell for

Narasimha usurps the throne Flight of the late king Saluva Timma Vira Narasimha Bijapur

again attacks Vijayanagar The Portuguese in India They seize Goa Varthema's record

In my "Sketch of the Dynasties of Southern India," published in 1883 (p. 106), the following passage occurs:

"We now come to the second or Narasimha dynasty, whose scions became more powerful than any monarchs

who had ever reigned over the south of India. Dr. Burnell fixes A.D. 1490 as the initial date of Narasimha's

reign, and at present no inscription that I can be sure of appears to overthrow that statement. I observe,

however, that Bishop Caldwell, in his 'History of Tinnevelly' (p. 48), fixes the date of the beginning of

Narasimha's ... reign as A.D. 1487.... WE HAVE YET TO LEARN THE HISTORY OF HIS ACQUIRING

Nothing has since transpired to throw light on this subject, and the whole matter has remained up to the

present in its primeval darkness; but this newlyfound chronicle of Nuniz gives us the entire story in most

interesting form though I can by no means vouch for its accuracy. It is, nevertheless, a RESUME of the

traditional history of the early sixteenth century, written within fifty or sixty years of the events with which it

deals. He tells us that Virupaksha Raya ("Verupacarao") was a weak and unworthy sovereign, in whose days

large tracts of land were lost to the Muhammadans, including Goa, Chaul, and Dabhol; and this statement, at

least, is historically accurate. Virupaksha was despotic, cruel, and sensuous, "caring for nothing but women

and to fuddle himself with drink," so that the whole country was roused to indignation and rebellion.

Eventually he was murdered by his eldest son, who in his turn was slain by his brother "Padearao," in whom

the nation merely found repeated the crimes and follies of his dead sire. Disgusted with this line of

sovereigns, the nobles rose, deposed their king, and placed on the throne one of their own number, Narasimha

Nuniz gives us a graphic account of the last scenes; how Narasimha's captain arrived at the city gates and

found them undefended; how he penetrated the palace and found no one to oppose him; how he even went as

far as the harem, "slaying some of the women;" and how at last the craven king fled.

"After that, Narasymgua was raised to be king.... And as he had much power and was beloved by the people,

The problem of Narasimha's relationship to the old royal line has never yet been satisfactorily solved. He

belonged to a family called SALUVA, and we constantly hear, in the inscriptions and literary works of the

time, of powerful lords who were relations or descendants of his. Thus our chronicle has much to say about

the Saluva Timma, whom Nuniz calls "Salvatinea," who was minister to King Krishna Deva Raya. An

inscription of the Saka year 1395, which corresponds to A.D. 1472 73, speaks of Narasimha as a great

lord, but a great lord ONLY,[168] and so does another of A.D. 1482 83.[169] In one of A.D. 1495 96,

however,[170] he is called "MAHARAYA," or the "king." But although the exact date of the usurpation and

the exact relationship of the usurper to the deposed king may be difficult to ascertain, the fact remains that

Narasimha actually became sovereign about this time, that Muhammadan aggression was stayed by his power

and the force of his arms, and that the empire of Vijayanagar was under him once more consolidated.

The account of this period as given by Firishtah differs altogether from that of Nuniz, and gives rise to much

confusion and difficulty. And as to the relationship of the succeeding sovereigns, Narasa, Vira Narasimha,

Krishna Deva Raya, Achyuta, and Sadasiva, the native inscriptions themselves are totally at variance with

one another. Some few points, however, in the general scheme of history of the second dynasty are quite

certain, and these may be shortly summarised. The last kings of the first dynasty were recognised down to

ABOUT the year 1490 A.D. Narasimha and Vira Narasimha ruled till the accession of Krishna Deva Raya in

1509; Achyuta succeeded Krishna in 1530, and Sadasiva succeeded Achyuta in 1542. The latter was virtually

a prisoner in the hands of Rama Raya, the eldest of three brothers, at first nominally his minister, but

afterwards independent. The names of the other brothers were Tirumala and Venkatadri. These three men

held the government of the kingdom till 1565, when the empire was utterly overthrown by a confederation of

the five Muhammadan kings of the Dakhan, already mentioned, at the battle of Talikota socalled and

With these few facts to guide us, we turn to the chronicles of Nuniz and Firishtah, trying in vain to obtain

some points of contact between them as to the origin of the second dynasty some clue which will enable

us to reconcile differences and arrive at the real truth. If we are to be guided purely by probabilities, it would

seem that the history given by Nuniz is likely to be the more accurate of the two. His chronicle was written

about the year 1535, during the reign of Achyuta; he lived at the Hindu capital itself, and he gained his

information from Hindu sources not long subsequent to the events related. Firishtah did not write till about

A.D. 1607, was not in any sense a contemporary recorder, and did not live amongst the Hindus, but at the

court of Nizam Shah at Ahmadnagar. The lengths of reigns, however, as given by Nuniz do not tally with the

Nuniz has it that Virupaksha's son "Padearao," the last of the old line, fled from the capital when the usurper

Narasimha seized the throne; that the latter reigned fortyfour years, and died leaving two sons. These youths

being too young to govern, the dying king intrusted the kingdom to his minister, Narasa Naik, and both the

princes were murdered. Narasa seized the throne, and held it till his death. The length of his reign is not

given. His son, "Busbalrao" (? Basava Raya), succeeded, and reigned six years, being succeeded by his

brother, the great Krishna Deva Raya. Now we know that Krishna Deva Raya began to reign in A.D. 1509.

This gives 1503 for the date of the accession of his predecessor, "Busbal." If we allow five years for the reign

of Narasa a pure guess we have his accession in 1498 A.D., and the fortyfour years of Narasimha

would begin in A.D. 1454; but this would apparently coincide with the reign of Mallikarjuna, son of Deva

Raya II. It is perhaps possible that in after years the usurper Narasimha's reign was measured by the Hindus

from the time when he began to attain power as minister or as a great noble, and not from the date when he

Firishtah mentions a certain "Sewaroy" as being raya of Vijayanagar in 1482, shortly before the death of

Muhammad Shah Bahmani. Speaking of the new sovereign of Bijapur, the first of the Adil Shahs, in 1489,

the historian tells us that the Adil's rival, Kasim Barid, asked the then minister of Vijayanagar for aid against

the rising power of his enemy;[171] and that "the Roy being a child, his minister, Heemraaje,[172] sent an

army" and seized the country as far as Mudkal and Raichur. This occurred in A.H. 895, which embraces the

period from November 1489 to November 1490. "HEEMraaje," therefore, is probably for SIMHA or

Firishtah also gives another account of the same event. According to this, the Adil Shah, hearing of

dissensions in the Hindu capital, marched, apparently in 1493, against Raichur, when Heemraaje, having

settled these dissensions, advanced "with the young Raya" to that city. A battle ensued, in which Heemraaje

was defeated; and the young king being mortally wounded, and dying before he reached home, Heemraaje

There are, furthermore, two other passages in Firishtah dealing with the overthrow of the old dynasty and the

"Heemraaje was the first usurper. He had poisoned the young Raja of Beejanuggur, son of Sheoroy, and made

his infant brother a tool to his designs, by degrees overthrowing the ancient nobility, and at length

"The government of Beejanuggur had remained in one family, in uninterrupted succession, for seven hundred

years, when Seoroy dying, was succeeded by his son, a minor, who did not live long after him, and left the

throne to a younger brother. He also had not long gathered the flowers of enjoyment from the garden of

royalty before the cruel skies, proving their inconstancy, burnedup the earth of his existence with the

blasting wind of annihilation.[175] Being succeeded by an infant only three months old, Heemraaje, one of

the principal ministers of the family, celebrated for great wisdom and experience, became sole regent, and

was cheerfully obeyed by all the nobility and vassals of the kingdom for forty years; though, on the arrival of

the young king at manhood, he had poisoned him, and put an infant of the family on the throne, in order to

have a pretence for keeping the regency in his own hands.[176] Heemraaje at his death was succeeded in

office by his son, Ramraaje, who having married a daughter of the son of Seoroy, by that alliance greatly

He then proceeds to describe an event that took place in 1535 or thereabouts, which will be considered in its

Writing of the events of the year 1530,[177] we find Firishtah stating that the affairs of Vijayanagar were

then in confusion owing to the death of Heemraaje, who was newly succeeded by his son Ramraaje. And this

passage helps us definitely to the conclusion that his Heemraaje, or Timma Raja, was the Muhammadan

name for the ruler of the state during the reigns of Narasimha, Narasa or Vira Narasimha, and Krishna Deva

Raya, the latter of whom died in 1530. Firishtah seems to have confused Narasa's and Krishna Deva Raya's

powerful minister, Saluva Timma, with Narasimha and Narasa, and made all three one person. "Ramraaje" is

mentioned as king by Firishtah from the accession of Achyuta in 1530 down to the year 1565.

Though names and details differ, it will be observed that there is evidently a common basis of truth in the

accounts given by Firishtah and Nuniz. Both relate the deaths of two young princes, brothers, the subsequent

murder of two other heirs to the kingdom, and the usurpation of the throne by a minister.

With these remarks we turn to the more reliable portion of Firishtah's narrative.

Yusuf Adil Khan proclaimed himself independent king of Bijapur in A.D. 1489. Shortly afterwards his rival,

Kasim Barid, who ultimately became sovereign of the territories of Ahmadabad, in a fit of jealousy called in

the aid of Vijayanagar against Bijapur, promising for reward the cession of Mudkal and Raichur, or the

country between the two rivers. Narasimha collected the forces of the Hindus, crossed the Tungabhadra with

a large army, and after laying waste the country seized the two cities Mudkal and Raichur, which thus once

Shortly after this, probably about the year 1493 A.D., Sultan Yusuf Adil again marched to recover the lost

territory and advanced to the Krishna, but falling ill he halted for two months; and Firishtah gives us the

following account of what occurred. This has been already alluded to, but is now given in full:

"In this interval Heemraaje, having settled his dissensions,[178] advanced with the young roy at the head of a

great army to Roijore, which struck terror into the army of Adil Shaw, for whose recovery earnest prayers

were offered up by his subjects." ... (The prayers were answered and the Sultan recovered.)

"Intelligence arriving that Heemraaje had crossed the Tummedra and was advancing by hasty marches,

Eusuff Adil Shaw ordered a general review of his army ... (and advanced, entrenching his camp a short

distance from the Hindus). Several days passed inactively, till on Saturday in Regib 898[179] both armies

drew out, and in the beginning of the action near five hundred of Adil Shaw's troops being slain, the rest were

disordered and fell back, but were rallied again by the sultan. One of the officers, who had been taken

prisoner and made his escape, observed that the enemy were busily employed in plunder, and might be

attacked with advantage. The sultan relished this advice and proceeded; when Heemraaje, not having time to

collect his whole army, drew out with seven thousand horse and a considerable number of foot, also three

hundred elephants. Adil Shaw charged his center with such fury, that Heemraaje was unable to stand the

shock. Victory waved the royal standard, and the infidels fled, leaving two hundred elephants, a thousand

horses, and sixty lacs of OONS,[180] with many jewels and effects, to the conquerors. Heemraaje and the

young roy fled to Beejanuggur, but the latter died on the road of a wound he had received by an arrow in the

action. Heemraaje seized the government of the country; but some of the principal nobility opposing his

usurpation, dissensions broke out, which gave Adil Shaw relief from war for some time from that quarter."

The disputed territory between the two rivers once more passed into the hands of the Muhammadans. Goa

The last historical event in the reign of Yusuf Adil Shah of Bijapur, as narrated by Firishtah, is as follows:

"In the year 915,[181] the Christians surprised the town of Goa, and put to death the governor with many

mussulmauns. Upon intelligence of which, Adil Shaw, with three thousand chosen men, Dekkanees and

foreigners, marched with such expedition, that he came upon the Europeans unawares, retook the fort, and

These Christians were the Portuguese under Albuquerque, and the date of their entry into Goa was March 1,

At this period there was a complete change in the PERSONNEL of the chief actors on our Indian stage.

Ahmad Nizam Shah, who had declared himself independent at Ahmadnagar in A.D. 1490, died in 1508, and

was succeeded by his son, a boy of seven years of age named Burhan, with whom the traveller Garcia da

Orta[182] afterwards became very friendly. Da Orta calls him "my friend."[183] Yusuf Adil Shah died in

A.D. 1510, and his successor on the throne of Bijapur was his son Ismail. Krishna Deva Raya became Raya

of Vijayanagar in 1509. The two lastmentioned monarchs were frequently in contact with one another, and

in the end, according to our chronicles, the Hindu king was completely victorious. Even Firishtah admits that

he dealt Ismail a crushing blow at the great battle of Raichur, a full description of which is given by Nuniz.

But before dealing with the history of the reign of Krishna Deva Raya it is necessary that we should learn

how it came about that these Portuguese Christians who seized Goa came to be living in India, and some of

King John of Portugal had acquired some knowledge of India in A.D. 1484, and after causing inquiries to be

made as to the possibility of discovering the rich and interesting country in the Far East, had begun to fit out

three ships, but he died before they were ready. His successor, Dom Manuel, took up the matter warmly, and

sent these ships out under Vasco da Gama and his brother Paulo, with orders to try and double the Cape of

Good Hope. The full account of the extraordinary voyage made by them is given in the "Three Voyages of

Vasco da Gama," translated and published in the Hakluyt edition; being a translation of certain portions of

Correa's LENDAS DA INDIA. Da Gama sailed on July 8, A.D. 1497, and arrived close to Calicut on August

26, 1498.[184] The Samuri, or king, of Calicut was at first friendly, but there were misunderstandings on the

part of the Portuguese, and they made little or no progress either in trade or in establishing amicable relations

with the Hindus. Da Gama returned shortly after to Portugal. Early in 1500 A.D. Cabral took out another and

larger fleet, and arrived at Calicut on September 13th. He at once quarrelled with the Samuri, and instead of

peaceful commerce we read of attacks and counterattacks conducted in such sort by the Portuguese as

irretrievably to alienate the natives of the country. A few Europeans, however, settled in that tract, and

Da Gama returned to India in 1504, proclaiming the king of Portugal lord of the seas, and wantonly

destroying with all hands a large vessel having several hundred people on board near the Indian coast. He

reached Calicut on October 29th, and immediately bombarded the city, seizing the inoffensive native

fishermen in the port, eight hundred of whom he massacred in cold blood under circumstances of brutal

atrocity. In 1503 he again left for Europe, after establishing a factory at Cochin. In consequence of his

violence a war ensued between Cochin and Calicut. In 1504 Lopo Soares came out with a fleet of fourteen

caravels, and proclaimed a blockade of the port of Cochin, in spite of the fact that the Rajah of that place had

The next year, 1505, Almeida was appointed viceroy of the king of Portugal on the Indian coast, and took out

with him a large fleet and 1500 soldiers. After some preliminary fighting at Honawar, Almeida began for the

first time to perceive that the true interests of the Portuguese lay in peaceful commerce, and not in sanguinary

and costly attacks on the natives; and he also learned from an influential native of the existence of the great

kingdom of Vijayanagar and the power of its king, Narasimha (or Narasa). At Cannanore the viceroy's son,

Lourenco, in 1506, received further information as to the state of the country from the Italian traveller

Varthema, and in consequence of this Almeida asked King Narasa to allow him to erect a fortress at Bhatkal,

Varthema has left behind him a valuable account of his experiences[185] at this period. He speaks of Goa as

being then under the "Savain," which is this writer's form of expressing the ruler known to the Portuguese as

the "Sabayo,"[186] who was the governor of the place under the Adil Shah of Bijapur. The Sabayo was then

He describes Vijayanagar as a great city, "very large and strongly walled. It is situated on the side of a

mountain,[187] and is seven miles in circumference. It has a triple circlet of walls." It was very wealthy and

well supplied, situated on a beautiful site, and enjoying an excellent climate. The king "keeps up constantly

40,000 horsemen" and 400 elephants. The elephants each carry six men, and have long swords fastened to

their trunks in battle a description which agrees with that of Nikitin and Paes. "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.... His horse is worth more than some of our cities on account of the ornaments which it

wears."[188] Calicut, he says, was ruined in consequence of its wars with the Portuguese.

Varthema saw fortyeight Portuguese traders massacred at Calicut by the "Moors," and in consequence of the

dangerous state of things existing there he left the city and pursued his journey southwards round the coast.

In March 1505 a Portuguese fleet destroyed, with immense loss of life, a large flotilla of small boats

belonging to the Rajah of Calicut. In the next year an outrage committed by the Portuguese led to a siege of

their factory at Cannanore, but the timely arrival of Tristan da Cunha with a new fleet from home relieved the

beleaguered garrison. At the end of 1507 Almeida and Da Cunha joined forces and again attacked Calicut,

Afonso d'Albuquerque was now in the Persian seas fighting with all the "Moors" he could meet. At the end of

1509 he became "Governor of India," I.E. of Portuguese India, in succession to Almeida; Diogo Lopes de

Sequeira receiving the governorship under the king of Portugal of the seas east of Cape Comorin.

From the accession of Krishna Deva Raya to the throne of Vijayanagar in A.D. 1509 we once more enter a

period when the history of the country becomes less confused, and we are able to trace the sequence of events

without serious difficulty. This was the period of Vijayanagar's greatest successes, when its armies were

His character and person Bankapur Almeida and Fr. Luis's mission Duarte Barbosa His

description of the city The king's early wars Kondapalle Rajahmundry Kondavid Udayagiri

An inscription in the Pampapati temple at Hampe states that on the occasion of a festival in honour of the

coronation of Krishna Deva Raya, the king built a hall of assembly and a GOPURA or tower there, and the

date is given as the 14th of the first half of the lunar month Magha in the expired Saka year 1430, the year of

the cycle being "Sukla."[189] It so happens that the cyclic year Sukla does not correspond to Saka 1430

expired, but to Saka 1431 expired; and this unfortunate error leaves us in doubt as to the true date of that

important event. If we conceive the mistake as having occurred, not in the NAME of the year, which was

perhaps in constant daily use, but in the number of the Saka year, then the date corresponds to 23rd or 24th

January A.D. 1510; but if the number of the Saka year was correct and the name wrong, then the day must

have been February 4, 1509, the cyclic year being properly "Vibhava." Even then it is not certain whether this

festival took place on the coronation day itself, or on an anniversary of that event; and a considerable interval

may have elapsed between the king's accession and coronation. Probably we shall not be wrong if we

Krishna Raya seems to have possessed a very striking personality, to judge from the glowing description

given us by Paes, who saw him about the year 1520. The account given by him is all the more interesting and

valuable because without it the world would have remained justly in doubt as to whether this king really

reigned at all, in the usual acceptation of the word whether he was not a mere puppet, entirely in the hands

of his minister, perhaps even an actual prisoner. For Firishtah never mentions him by name, and the

inscriptions which relate his conquests prove nothing beyond the fact that they took place during a reign

which, for all we know, might have been a reign only in name, the real power being in the hands of the

nobles. But with the description of Paes in our hands there can be no longer a shadow of doubt. Krishna Deva

was not only monarch DE JURE, but was in very practical fact an absolute sovereign, of extensive power and

strong personal influence. He was the real ruler. He was physically strong in his best days, and kept his

strength up to the highest pitch by hard bodily exercise. He rose early, and developed all his muscles by the

use of Indian clubs and the use of the sword; he was a fine rider, and was blessed with a noble presence

which favourably impressed all who came in contact with him. He commanded his immense armies in

person, was able, brave, and statesmanlike, and was withal a man of much gentleness and generosity of

character. He was beloved by all and respected by all. Paes writes of him that he was "gallant and perfect in

all things." The only blot on his scutcheon is, that after his great success over the Muhammadan king he grew

to be haughty and insolent in his demands. No monarch such as the Adil Shah could brook for a moment such

a humiliation as was implied by a peace the condition of which was that he should kiss his triumphant

enemy's foot; and it was beyond all doubt this and similar contemptuous arrogance on the part of successive

Hindu rulers that finally led, forty years later, to the downfall of the Hindu empire.

All Southern India was under Krishna Deva's sway, and several quasiindependent chiefs were his vassals.

These were, according to Nuniz, the chief of Seringapatam, and those of Bankapur,[191] Garsopa, Calicut,

Bhatkal, and Barkur. The Portuguese treated these lesser chiefs as if they were kings, called them so and sent

The present head of the Brahmanical establishment at the Hampe temple informed me that Krishna Deva

Raya celebrated his accession by erecting the great tower at the entrance of the temple, and the next largest

tower shortly afterwards. Nuniz tells us that immediately on attaining power, the king, making Saluva Timma

his minister, sent his nephew, the son of the last sovereign, and his own three brothers, to the fortress of

Chandragiri, 250 miles to the southeast, for his greater security, and himself remained for some time at the

capital. This accords well with the writings of the other Portuguese, who relate that at least on two occasions,

when missions were sent from Calicut and Goa, viz., those of Fr. Luis and Chanoca, the envoys saw the king

At the beginning of Krishna's reign, Almeida, as stated above, was viceroy of the Portuguese settlements on

the coast, but at the end of the year 1509 Albuquerque succeeded him under the title of governor. The latter

suffered a severe reverse at Calicut, and from thence despatched Fr. Luis, of the Order of St. Francis, as

ambassador to Vijayanagar, begging the Raya to come by land and reduce the Samuri of Calicut, promising

himself to assault simultaneously by sea.[192] The governor declared that he had orders from his master, the

king of Portugal, to war against the Moors, but not against the Hindus; that Calicut had been destroyed by the

governor, and its king had fled into the interior; that he (the governor) offered his fleet to assist the king of

Vijayanagar in his conquest of the place; that as soon as Calicut was captured the Moors would be driven

therefrom, and that afterwards the Portuguese would assist the king of Vijayanagar against his enemies, the

"Moors" of the Dakhan. He promised in future to supply Vijayanagar alone with Arab and Persian horses,

Albuquerque next attacked Goa, then under the Adil Shah, and captured the place, making his triumphal entry

into it on March 1, A.D. 1510. Immediately afterwards he despatched Gaspar Chanoca on a mission to

Vijayanagar, renewing Almeida's request for a fort at Bhatkal for the protection of Portuguese trade.

Barros[193] states that Chanoca reported that, though he was received "solemnly," Krishna Deva Raya only

made a general answer in courteous terms, and did not specifically grant the governor's request; the reason

being that the king had then made peace with the Adil Shah. Presumably this peace was made in order to

Upon this a message was sent from Vijayanagar to Albuquerque congratulating the Portuguese on their

conquest of Goa, and promising to aid them against the Adil Shah. This aid, however, does not appear to have

been given. The Muhammadan troops attacked Goa in May and after a severe struggle were successful,

Albuquerque evacuating the place after decapitating a hundred and fifty of the principal Muhammadans there,

In November of the same year, Ismail Adil's attention being called off by internal dissension at Bijapur,

Albuquerque attacked Rasul Khan, Ismail's deputy at Goa, and the eight thousand men under his command,

defeated them, retook the place on December 1, and slew six thousand men, women, and children of the

Muhammadans. Firishtah states that the young Adil Shah's minister, Kummal Khan, after this made peace

with the Europeans, and left them securely established at Goa. This, however, is not quite correct, for Rasul

Khan made a desperate attempt in 1512 to retake the place, but failed after severe fighting.[196]

As soon as the news reached Vijayanagar of Albuquerque's success in December 1510, Krishna Deva Raya

sent ambassadors to Goa, and by them Fr. Luis sent letters to Albuquerque detailing the result of his mission.

He "had been well received by all except the king," but the king had nevertheless granted permission for the

Portuguese to build a fort at Bhatkal. Poor Fr. Luis never returned from his embassy. History is silent as to

what happened or what led to the tragedy, but he was one day murdered in the city of Vijayanagar.[197]

His despatch is interesting as containing information regarding Vijayanagar and the Sultan of Bijapur, part of

which is certainly accurate, while part tells us of Krishna Deva Raya's proceedings at this period, regarding

which we know nothing from any other source. Fr. Luis wrote to Albuquerque that the Adil Shah had

attacked Bijapur, and had taken it after a siege of two months, while four lords had risen against him "since

the latter had carried off the king of Decan as a prisoner." This king was the Bahmani king, while the Adil

Shah and the "four lords" were the revolting Muhammadan princes. He added that the people of Belgaum had

revolted from the Adil Shah and submitted to the Hindu sovereign. As to Vijayanagar, he said that the king

was getting ready a small expedition of seven thousand men to send against one of his vassals, who had risen

up in rebellion and seized the city of Pergunda (? Pennakonda), saying that it belonged to himself by right;

and that after he had taken the rebel the king would proceed to certain places on the seacoast. Fr. Luis

professed himself unable to understand the drift of this latter design, but warned Albuquerque to be careful.

He advised him to keep up friendly communications with the king, and by no means to place any reliance on

the man on whom, of all others, the Portuguese had pinned their faith one Timoja,[198] a Hindu who had

befriended the newcomers. The priest declared that Timoja was a traitor to them, and had, in conjunction

with the king of Garsopa, promised Krishna Deva Raya that he would deliver Goa to him before the

Portuguese could fortify their possessions therein, if he should send a fully equipped army to seize the place.

After Albuquerque's second capture of Goa the chief of Bankapur also sent messages of congratulation to the

Portuguese, and asked for permission to import three hundred horses a year. The request was granted, as the

place was on the road to Vijayanagar, and it was important that its chief should be on friendly terms with the

Krishna Deva's anxiety was to secure horses. He must have thought little of this foreign settlement on the

coast as a political power, but what he wanted was horses, and again horses, for his perpetual wars against the

Adil Shah; and Albuquerque, after toying a little with the Muhammadan, gratified the Hindu by sending him

a message in which he declared that he would prefer to send cavalry mounts to him rather than to supply

About the year 1512 Krishna Deva Raya, who had, taken advantage of the times to invade the Sultan's

dominions, attacked the fortress of Raichur, which at last was given up to him by the garrison; Ismail Adil

being too much employed in attending to the internal affairs of his government to afford it timely relief. So

says Firishtah.[200] This event is not noticed by Nuniz, who writes as if the Raya's first campaign against the

Adil Shah took place in 1520, when he advanced to attack Raichur, it being then in the Shah's possession; and

here we see a difference between the story of Nuniz and the story of Firishtah, for the latter, writing of the

same event, viz., the campaign of 1520, states that "Ismail Adil Shaw made preparations for marching to

recover Mudkal and Roijore from the Roy of Beejanuggar," he having taken these cities about 1512, as

It appears[201] that in 1514 A.D. Krishna Deva offered Albuquerque [pound sterling] 20,000 for the

exclusive right to trade in horses, but the Portuguese governor, with a keen eye to business, refused. A little

later the Hindu king renewed his proposal, declaring his intention of making war against the Adil Shah; and

the Adil Shah, hearing of this message, himself sent an embassy to Goa. Albuquerque was now placed in a

position of some political importance, and he wrote first to Vijayanagar saying that he would give the Raya

the refusal of all his horses if he would pay him 30,000 cruzados per annum for the supply, and send his own

servants to Goa to fetch away the animals, and also that he would aid the king in his war if he was paid the

expense of the troops; and he wrote afterwards to Bijapur promising the Sultan the refusal of all horses that

came to Goa if he would surrender to the king of Portugal a certain portion of the mainland opposite the

We learn from this narrative the Krishna Deva Raya was meditating a grand attack on the Muhammadans at

least five years before his advance to Raichur a year even before his expedition against Udayagiri and the

We have an account of what Vijayanagar was like in A.D. 1504 14 in the narrative of Duarte Barbosa, a

Speaking of the "kingdom of Narsinga," by which name the Vijayanagar territories were always known to the

Portuguese, Barbosa writes:[202] "It is very rich, and well supplied with provisions, and is very full of cities

He describes the large trade of the seaport of Bhatkal on its western coast, the exports from which consisted

of iron, spices, drugs, myrabolans, and the imports of horses and pearls; but as regards he last two items he

says, "They now go to Goa, on account of the Portuguese." The governor of Bhatkal was a nephew of King

Krishna Deva. "He lives in great state and calls himself king, but is in obedience to the king, his uncle."

Leaving the seacoast and going inland, Barbosa passed upwards through the ghats.

"Fortyfive leagues from these mountains there is a very large city which is called BIJANAGUER, very

populous, and surrounded on one side by a very good wall, and on another by a river, and on the other by a

mountain. This city is on level ground; the king of Narsinga always resides in it. He is a gentile, and is called

Raheni.[203] He has in this place very large and handsome palaces, with numerous courts.... There are also in

this city many other palaces of great lords, who live there. And all the other houses of the place are covered

with thatch, and the streets and squares are very wide. They are constantly filled with an innumerable crowd

of all nations and creeds.... There is an infinite trade in this city.... In this city there are many jewels which are

brought from Pegu and Celani (Ceylon), and in the country itself many diamonds are found, because there is

a mine of them in the kingdom of Narsinga and another in the kingdom of Decani. There are also many pearls

and seedpearls to be found there, which are brought from Ormuz and Cael ... also silkbrocades, scarlet

"The king constantly resides in the beforementioned palaces, and very seldom goes out of them....

"All the attendance on the king is done by women, who wait upon him within doors; and amongst them are

all the employments of the king's household; and all these women live and find room within these palaces,

"This king has a house[204] in which he meets with the governors and his officers in council upon the affairs

of the realm.... They come in very rich litters on men's shoulders.... Many litters and many horsemen always

stand at the door of this palace, and the king keeps at all times nine hundred elephants and more than twenty

thousand horses, all which elephants and horses are bought with his own money.... This king has more than a

"When the king dies four or five hundred women burn themselves with him.... The king of Narsinga is

frequently at war with the king of Dacani, who has taken from him much of his land; and with another gentile

king of the country of Otira (apparently Orissa), which is the country in the interior."

Barbosa mentions that the lord of Goa, before the Portuguese attack on the place, was "Sabaym Delcani,"

meaning the king of the Dakhan, and he alludes to its first capture by Albuquerque on 25th February 1510,

We learn from other sources that about this time Krishna Deva Raya was engaged with a refractory vassal in

the Maisur country, the Ganga Rajah of Ummatur, and was completely successful. He captured the strong

fortress of Sivasamudra and the fortress of Srirangapattana, or Seringapatam, reducing the whole country to

In 1513 A.D. he marched against Udayagiri, in the present district of Nellore, an exceedingly strong

hillfortress then under the king of Orissa,[205] and after the successful termination of the war he brought

with him from a temple on the hill a statue of the god Krishna, which he set up at Vijayanagar and endowed

with a grant of lands. This is commemorated by a long inscription still in existence at the capital. It was then

that the great temple of Krishnasvami was built, which, though now in ruins, is still one of the most

interesting objects in the city. This is also attested by a long inscription on stone, still in its place. The king

further built the temple of Hazara Ramasvami near, or in, his palace enclosure, at the same time.

Nuniz relates that at Udayagiri Krishna Raya captured an aunt of the king of Orissa and took her prisoner to

Vijayanagar. He next proceeded against Kondavid, another very strong hillfortress also in possession of the

king of Orissa, where he met and defeated the king in person in a pitched battle, and captured the citadel after

a two months' siege. He left Saluva Timma here as a governor of the conquered provinces, and went in

pursuit of his enemy northwards. Nuniz says that Saluva Timma appointed his own brother captain of

Kondavid, but an inscription at that place gives us the name of this man as Nadendla Gopamantri, and calls

him a nephew of Timma. Kondavid seems to have been under the kings of Orissa since A.D. 1454; its capture

by Krishna Deva took place in 1515.[206] To confirm our chronicler's account of the king's northward

journey, I find that there is at the town of Meduru, twentytwo miles southeast of Bezvada on the Krishna,

an inscription which states that in 1516 a battle took place there between Krishna Deva and some enemy

The king, advanced to Kondapalle, took the place after a three months' siege, and captured therein a wife and

son of the king of Orissa. The unhappy fate of the latter is told in the chronicle. Thence he marched to

Rajahmundry and halted six months. Peace was made shortly after, and Krishna Deva married a daughter of

the Orissan king.[207] After this marriage King Krishna made an expedition against a place in the east which

Nuniz calls "Catuir," on the Coromandel side, and took it. I have been unable to locate this place.

By these conquests the whole of his eastern dominions were brought into entire subjection to the sovereign.

Nuniz writes as though the attack on Raichur immediately followed the campaign against Udayagiri,

Kondavid, and "Catuir," but, according to the evidence afforded by inscriptions, these expeditions were at an

end in 1515, and the battle of Raichur did not take place for at least five years later.

A long account of wars in the southeastern Dakhan country between Sultan Quli Qutb Shah of Golkonda

and his neighbours, both Mussulman and Hindu, is given in the third volume of Colonel Briggs'

"Firishtah,"[208] translated from a Muhammadan historian not Firishtah himself; and as this certainly

covers the period of at least a portion of Krishna Deva's reign, it is well to give a summary of it. I cannot,

however, as yet determine the exact dates referred to, and the story differs from that acquired from Hindu and

Sultan Quli proclaimed himself an independent sovereign in 1512. The historian referred to states that shortly

after this Quli attacked and took Razukonda and Devarakonda, fortresses respectively southeast and

southsoutheast of Hyderabad in Telingana. After the second of these places had fallen Krishna Raya of

Vijayanagar marched against the Sultan with an immense army and invaded his dominions. This must, I

think, refer to about the year 1513. The Hindu army encamped at Pangul, in the angle of the Krishna river

almost due east of Raichur, and here a battle took place in which the Qutb Shah was victorious The place was

then besieged; it capitulated, and the Muhammadans proceeded to Ghanpura, twenty miles to the north. This

fort was captured after heavy loss, and the Sultan led his army to Kovilkonda, twenty miles to the

northwest, on the borders of the country of Bidar, the territory of Alauddin Imad Shah. This place also

A war with the Imad Shah followed, in which Sultan Quli was again victorious. Shortly afterwards there were

disturbances on the east of the Golkonda territories. Sitapati, Rajah of Kambampeta, on the Muniyer river,

who possessed extensive territories including Warangal and Bellamkonda, a fortress south of the Krishna

rose against the Muhammadans, and the Sultan marched against Bellamkonda, which, after a long siege,

he captured. Sitapati then fought a pitched battle, was defeated, and fled, Quli returning to Golkonda. The

Rajah then stirred up a number of neighbouring chiefs and assembled large forces at Kambampeta. Hearing

of this, the Golkonda forces marched to attack them, and met with complete success, Sitapati flying to the

protection of "Ramchunder Dew, the son of Gujputty, who held his court at Condapilly," and was king of

Orissa. The Sultan advanced and attacked Kambampeta, where, after his capture of the place, he slew every

man, woman, and child in the city, seizing the females of Sitapati's household for his own seraglio.

Meanwhile an immense Hindu host from all the countries about, under command of the king of Orissa,

prepared to do battle for their country, and a decisive action took place near the river at Palinchinur, in which

the Hindus were completely defeated. Quli then seized Kondapalle, Ellore, and Rajahmundry, and a treaty

was made between him and Orissa fixing the Godavari river as the eastern boundary of Golkonda. By this the

Krishna Raya then advanced to the rescue and the Sultan marched to Kondavid. He invested the place, but

was forced to retreat owing to attacks made on him from Bellamkonda and Vinukonda, the first of which

fortresses he succeeded in reducing after heavy loss. After this he retired towards Kondapalle. Krishna Raya

now arrived and attacked the Muhammadan garrison in Bellamkonda, upon which the Sultan

countermarched, and suddenly appeared in rear of the Hindu army. In the battle which ensued he was

victorious and the siege was raised, after which he returned to Kondavid and took it. On learning of the fall of

Kondavid, Krishna Raya detached "his general and soninlaw Seeva Ray"[209] with 100,000 foot and 8000

horse to march against the Muhammadans. The Sultan retreated and encamped on the banks of the Krishna,

leaving Kondavid to the Hindus.[210] After settling the place the Vijayanagar forces proceeded in pursuit of

the Sultan, were attacked by him, defeated, and retired to Kondavid, which was a second time invested by the

On his return towards his capital the Sultan learned that Ismail Adil Shah of Bijapur was besieging

Kovilkonda, "at the instance of the Raja of Beejanuggur."[211] He marched against him, and a series of

actions ensued, the campaign lasting eleven months, at the end of which Ismail died of a fever, and was

succeeded by his son Malu. In one of the fights Sultan Quli was wounded severely by a sabre in the face, and

I have given the whole of this story in this place because it runs as a consecutive series of events in the

original Muhammadan account. But it really covers a period of at least twentyone years; for the narrative

begins shortly after the beginning of Quli's reign (1512), and ends with Ismail's death (1534). We are left,

therefore, entirely in the dark as to the exact years referred to. But there are some points of agreement

between our authorities. It is certain that Krishna Deva took Kondavid in A.D. 1515, and fought battles in the

neighbourhood in the following year; and though Nuniz asserts that he took Kondavid from the king of

Orissa, he also alludes to the presence of armed bodies of Muhammadans in that tract opposed to the Hindus.

From 1516 to 1520 we have no records from Hindu sources to guide us as to events at the capital.

The Portuguese traded on the coast, and there were some fights with the neighbouring Hindu chiefs, but they

seem to have affected the capital but little; the foreigners were generally on friendly terms with the suzerain

at Vijayanagar, and so far as he was concerned were welcome to consolidate their commerce, since he

benefited largely by the import of horses and other requisites. The rest of his dominions were tranquil and the

The whole country was divided out so Nuniz tells us, and his account is confirmed by other evidence

into governorships. Each chief was allowed entire independence in the territory allotted to him so long as he

maintained the quota of horse, foot, and elephants, the maintenance of which was the price of his possession,

in perfect readiness for immediate action, and paid his annual tribute to the sovereign. Failing these he was

liable to instant ejection, as the king was lord of all and the nobles held only by his goodwill.

But during this period of peace the king made extensive preparations for a grand attack on the territory

between the rivers, the everdebatable land which for nearly two centuries had been the subject of dispute

between his predecessors and their northern neighbours. His objective was the city of Raichur, then under the

Muhammadans,[213] and when all was ready he marched to the attack with an immense force.

The date of the siege Evidence of Castanheda, Correa, Barros, Faria y Souza, Osorio, Lafitau, Firishtah

Ruy de Mello and the mainlands of Goa Immense numbers engaged Firishtah's story of the fight

Portuguese present Christovao de Figueiredo Political effects of the Hindu victory, and the events

CHAPTER 11. The Siege and Battle of Raichur, and Close of Krishna's Reign (A.D. 1520 to 1530) 58

I shall ask my readers to turn for an account of the great battle and siege of Raichur to the narrative of

Nuniz,[214] whose description is so full and so vivid that it may well be allowed to stand by itself. It is only

Krishna Deva Raya, having determine to attack the Adil Shah and once for all to capture the disputed fortress

of Raichur, collected all his forces, and marched with an immense host from Vijayanagar in a northeasterly

direction. It was the dry season, and he probably set out in February or March. The weather must have been

intensely hot during his advance, and still more so during the campaign; but the cotton plains that lay on his

route out and home were then in the best condition for the passage of his troops, guns, and baggage. His

enormous army consisted of about a million of men, if the campfollowers be included; for the fighting men

alone, according to Nuniz, numbered about 736,000, with 550 elephants. The troops advanced in eleven great

He pitched his camp on the eastern side of that citadel, invested the place, and began a regular siege. After an

interval he received intelligence of the arrival of the Adil Shah from Bijapur, on the north side of the Krishna,

Having for a few days rested his troops, the Sultan crossed the river, advanced (according to Nuniz) to within

nine miles of Raichur, and there entrenched himself, leaving the river about five miles in his rear.[215]

Firishtah, however, differs, and says that the Muhammadan forces crossed directly in face of the Hindu army

On Saturday morning, May 19, in the year A.D. 1520, according to my deductions, the forces became

engaged, and a decisive pitched battle was fought. Krishna Deva, making no attempt to outflank his

adversary, ordered an advance to his immediate front of his two forward divisions. Their attack was so far

successful that they drove the Muhammadans back to their trenches. The Sultan had apparently deployed his

force over too wide an area, expecting that the Raya would do the same; but finding himself weak in the

centre he opened fire from the guns that he had previously held in reserve, and by this means caused great

loss in the close ranks of the Hindus. The Raya's troops fell back in face of this formidable bombardment, and

at once their enemies charged them. The retreat was changed to a rout, and for a mile and a half to their direct

front the Mussulman cavalry chased the flying forces belonging to Krishna Deva's first line. The king

himself, who commanded the second line, began to despair of victory, but rallied his troops, collected about

him a number of his nobles, and determined to face death with the bravery that had always characterised him.

Mounting his horse, he ordered a forward movement of the whole of his remaining divisions, and charged the

now disordered ranks of the Mussulmans. This resulted in complete success, for the enemy, scattered and

unable to form, fled before his impetuous onslaught. He drove them the whole way back to, and into, the

river, where terrific slaughter took place, and their entire army was put to flight.

The Raya then crossed the river and seized the Shah's camp, while the Shah himself, by the counsel and help

of Asada Khan, a man who afterwards became very famous, escaped only with his life, and fled from the

While being driven back towards the river, Salabat Khan, the Shah's general, made a valiant attempt to

retrieve the fortunes of the day. He had for his bodyguard 500 Portuguese "renegades," and with him these

men threw themselves into the advancing ranks of the Hindus, where they "did such wonderful deeds" that

ever after they were remembered. They penetrated the king's host, and cut their way forwards till they almost

reached his person. Here Salabat Khan lost his horse, but at once mounted another and pressed on. The little

CHAPTER 11. The Siege and Battle of Raichur, and Close of Krishna's Reign (A.D. 1520 to 1530) 59

force was, however, surrounded and annihilated, and the general, being a second time overthrown, horse and

The spoil was great and the result decisive. For years afterwards the "Moors" cherished a wholesome dread of

Krishna Raya and his valiant troops, and the Sultan, panicstricken, never again during his enemy's lifetime

ventured to attack the dominions of Vijayanagar. Krishna Deva, flushed with victory, returned at once to the

Its fall was due in great measure to the assistance rendered by some Portuguese, headed by Christovao de

Figueiredo, who with their arquebusses picked off the defenders from the walls, and thus enabled the

besiegers to approach close to the lines of fortification and pull down the stones of which they were formed.

Driven to desperation, and their governor being slain, the garrison surrendered.

I am bold enough to believe, and defend my belief, that when Nuniz fixed the day of the great fight as the

new moon day of the month of May, A.D. 1522, he made a mistake in the year, and should have written

The chronicler states that Krishna Deva was prepared to give battle on a Friday, but was persuaded by his

councillors to postpone his attack till the following day, Friday being unlucky. The battle accordingly took

Before proceeding to examine the month and day, let us consider the year A.D. of the battle.

Paes describes two grand festivals at the capital of which he was an eyewitness, and at which Christovao de

Figueiredo was present. He fixes definitely the days on which these occurred. The first was the ninedays

MAHANAVAMI festival, and the second was the festival of the New Year's Day. Paes states that on the

occasion when he was present the MAHANAVAMI began on September 12 ("ESTAS FESTAS SE

COMECAO A DOSE D�AS DE SETEBRO E DURAO NOVE DIAS"[216]), and the latter began on

NOVA, E ELLES NAO CONTAO O MES SE NAO DE LUA A LUA").[217] Previously to this, when

writing about Raichur, Paes has described that place[218] as a city "that formerly belonged to the king of

Narsymga (I.E. Vijayanagar); there has been much war over it, and THIS KING took it from the Ydallcao"

(Adil Shah). The chronicler, therefore, was present at these feasts on an occasion subsequent to the date of

Now the MAHANAVAMI festival begins in these tracts on the 1st of the month of Asvina, and the New

Year's Day in the time of Paes was evidently celebrated on the 1st of the month Karttika, as was often the

case in former years both days being the days following the moment of new moon. In what year, then, during

the reign of Krishna Deva Raya, did the 1st of Asvina and the 1st of Karttika fall respectively on September

12 and on October 12? I have worked these dates out for all the years of the reign, and I find that in no year

except A.D. 1520 did this occur. In 1521 the MAHANAVAMI fell on September 2, and the New Year's Day

on October 1; in 1522 the former fell on September 20, and the latter on October 20. This shows that Paes

assisted at the festivals of A.D. 1520, and that therefore the battle and capture of Raichur must have taken

CHAPTER 11. The Siege and Battle of Raichur, and Close of Krishna's Reign (A.D. 1520 to 1530) 60

This again throws fresh light on the magnificent reception accorded to Christovao de Figueiredo by the king,

and the latter's exceptional kindness to the Portuguese at the time of these feasts.[219] Krishna Raya

cherished an especial fondness for Christovao on account of his invaluable aid at the siege of the city, and for

Let us now turn to the other Portuguese writers, and see whether they confirm our date, 1520, for the fall of

The decision of this question turns mainly on the date when the Portuguese obtained the mainlands opposite

the island of Goa, consisting of the tracts called Salsette, Ponda, and Bardes. It seems certain that this capture

of the mainlands took place by Krishna Deva's connivance shortly after the fall of Raichur, at a time when

Diogo Lopes de Sequeira, the governorgeneral, was away at the Red Sea, and when Ruy de Mello was

governor of Goa. Now Sequeira left Goa for the Red Sea on February 13, A.D. 1520, and arrived again

Castanheda tells us (and he is a good authority, since he was in India in 1529) that while Sequeira was absent

at the Red Sea war broke out between the king of Vijayanagar and the Adil Shah,[220] at the close of which

the latter was defeated and put to flight, while the Hindus took Raichur and other places

"so that many of the TANADARIS[221] near Goa on the mainland were left undefended. And since the king

of Narsinga was very rich, and had no need of these lands, and wanted that all the horses that came to Goa

should come to him and none to the HIDALCAO, he sent to say to Ruy de Mello, captain of Goa, that he had

taken Belgaum by force of arms from the Hidalcao, with all the land appertaining to it as far as the sea, in

which were TANADARIS yielding more than 500,000 gold pardaos, of which he desired to make a present to

the king of Portugal ... and that he wanted all the horses that came to Goa. He therefore said that the captain

This was immediately done, and Ruy de Mello took possession of the mainland of Goa, including Salsette, in

Correa, who was in India at the time, having gone thither in 1512 or 1514, mentions[222] that de Sequeira

left Goa for the Red Sea in January 1520, and that "at that time" (NESTE TEMPO the expression is

unfortunately vague) war broke out between Vijayanagar and Bijapur. After its close the Hindu king sent a

message to "Ruy de Mello, captain of Goa," in the absence of the governorgeneral, regarding the mainlands

of Goa. Correa does not mention distinctly the year in which this occurred, but the edition of 1860 at the head

of the page has the date "1521." This, however, must be an error on the part of the editor, for in May 1521

Sequeira was not absent, and therefore the year referred to cannot be 1521; while in May 1522 Dom Duarte

de Menezes, and not Sequeira, was governorgeneral.[223] Sequeira sailed for Portugal January 22, A.D.

Barros relates the departure of de Sequeira from India for the Red Sea on February 13, 1520, and states that

in his absence Ruy de Mello was governor of Goa, under Sequeira's lieutenant, Aleixo de Menezes. Ruy de

Mello seized the mainland of Goa after the battle of Raichur,[224] and at that time de Sequeira was absent at

the Red Sea. His description of the siege of Raichur and the great battle in the vicinity clearly seems to have

been taken from the chronicle of Nuniz. It follows the latter blindly, even in the misspelling of names, and

therefore is really of no greater value. When, however, Barros comes to deal with the acquisition of the

mainlands of Goa,[225] he is dependent on other information, and gives a much more detailed account. The

time is clearly fixed. After the battle and flight of the Adil Shah the feeling between the two adversaries was

naturally highly strained, and this "enabled Ruy de Mello, captain of Goa, to take the mainlands of Goa."

Sequeira was at the Red Sea and Menezes at Cochin. A very important passage for my present purpose occurs

CHAPTER 11. The Siege and Battle of Raichur, and Close of Krishna's Reign (A.D. 1520 to 1530) 61

"Diogo Lopes de Sequeira, AS soon as he arrived at Goa (from the Red Sea), all necessary arrangements

having been made for the government of the city, AND PRINCIPALLY OF THE MAINLANDS, WHICH

and thence to Diu, where he arrived on February 9, 1521.[227] Another passage farther on in the narrative of

Barros also establishes the fact that Ruy de Mello took the lands during Sequeira's absence at the Red

Faria y Souza, a Spanish writer, whose work was first published a century after these events, confirms the

period, February 1520 to February 1521, as that of Sequeira's absence at the Red Sea, and he writes:

"While the governor[229] was in the Red Sea, the King Crisnao Rao of Bisnaga covered the plains and hills

and stopped the flow of the rivers[230] with an army of thirtyfive thousand horse, seven hundred and

thirtythree thousand foot, and five hundred and eightysix elephants carrying castles with four men in each,

and twelve thousand watermen ... and baggage in such quantities that the courtesans alone numbered more

Souza also states, as does Nuniz, that after the defeat of the Adil Shah, Krishna Deva Raya demanded that, as

the price of peace, the former should visit him and kiss his foot; and that, taking advantage of the Adil Shah's

difficulties, Ruy de Mello seized the mainlands of Goa.[232] It is clear, therefore, that both authors are

Osorio, a later writer, confirms the story in most of its details, stating that after the defeat of the Adil Shah,

Krishna Raya sent to Ruy de Mello ("Roderigo Melos"), captain of Goa, offering the mainlands, and

promising after the return of Sequeira to send a regular embassy to conclude a solemn treaty. De Mello

Lafitau[233] also states that the war took place during Sequeira's absence at the Red Sea, and that the

Turning to Firishtah, I find a difference. He states that the battle of Raichur took place in Hijra 927

(December 22, 1520, to December 1, 1521, A.D.), which, if it was fought in May, as Nuniz declares, makes

the date May 1521. That he is speaking of the same affair is obvious from the details given. He mentions, for

instance, the vast host constituting the Hindu army, the Shah's force advancing to the river Krishna, the too

hasty crossing of the river, the gallant fight of the Muhammadans, their defeat and rout, the fact of the Adil

Shah's forces being driven to the river and perishing in large numbers while attempting to recross it, the

Shah's narrow escape, and his dependence on Asada Khan. All this leaves no room for doubt. The only

difference is that, whereas we learn from the other authorities that the fortress of Raichur was in the hands of

the Muhammadans, Firishtah states that the war arose because the Adil Shah "made preparations for

marching to recover Mudkul and Roijore from the Roy of Beejanuggur," as if the latter were then in

possession of those places. As to Firishtah's date, I believe it to be wrong by one year, for the reasons given

Having thus, I hope satisfactorily, established the fact that the date given by Nuniz for the battle of Raichur is

wrong by two years, and should be 1520, I turn to examine the day and month. It was the new moon day of

May, according to Nuniz, and a Saturday. Krishna Deva Raya was ready for battle on the Friday, but

postponed his attack to the next day since Friday was considered an unlucky day.

The moment of the occurrence of new moon in May 120 was 2.27 A.M. on the morning of Thursday, May

17. We do not know whether Nuniz ascertained his facts from native almanacks or the calculations of the

astrologers, or whether he spoke from observations made by himself or by some one who was present; but

CHAPTER 11. The Siege and Battle of Raichur, and Close of Krishna's Reign (A.D. 1520 to 1530) 62

Nuniz was an ordinary person, not a skilled astronomer, so far as we can tell, and he may well have called the

day on which the crescent of the new moon first made its appearance just after sunset the "new moon day."

This first appearance actually took place on the Saturday following. The first day of the Muhammadan month

Jamada' l akhir, corresponding to the heliacal rising of the moon on that occasion, was Saturday, May 19.

I therefore believe that this great battle took place on Saturday, May 19, A.D. 1520,[235] a date almost

When we total up the list given by Nuniz of the columns that marched from Vijayanagar for the campaign,

the amount is so huge that we pause in natural doubt as to whether the story could by any possibility be true:

703,000 foot, 32,600 horse, and 551 elephants, BESIDES the camp followers, merchants, and "an infinitude

of people" who joined him at a place close to Raichur! It certainly demands a large strain on our credulity.

Let every one form his own opinion. I can only call attention to the fact that large armies seem to have always

been the rule in India, and that certainly Krishna Raya had the power to raise immense numbers of

troops,[236] though whether so many as is stated is another question. His power to do so lay in his mode of

government. Allusion has already been made to this, and Nuniz gives us interesting details. The whole empire

was divided into provinces and estates, held by chiefs bound to keep up masses of troops fit for immediate

service. It is, of course, natural to suppose that in this great war the king would have put forth all his strength.

To prove that immense armies were often employed by Indian kings, we have only to refer to a succession of

writers. Barros notes the great power of the sovereign of Vijayanagar and his almost incredible richness, and

is at pains to give an account of how these enormous forces were raised, "lest his tale should not be believed."

In the second volume of Scott's "History of the Dekhan," a translation is given of a journal kept by a Bondela

officer in the reign of Aurangzib, an officer who served under "Dulput Roy" in A.D. 1690. Writing about

Vijayanagar in former days, at the height of its grandeur and importance, he says, "They kept an army of

Conti, who was in India about a century earlier than the war in question, told Bracciolini that the Vijayanagar

Abdur Razzak (1442 A.D.) tells the same story, putting the number at 1,100,000 with 1000 elephants.

Twenty years later Nikitin states that the Kulbarga forces marching to attack the Hindus amounted to 900,000

The Sultan himself, independently of his nobles, took the field with 300,000 men, and even when he only

went out on a hunting expedition he took with him a train of 10,000 horse, 500,000 foot, and 200 elephants.

He states that the Malik ul Tujar alone had an army of 200,000 employed in the siege of one city. The Hindus

Even so far back as the time of Alexander the Great (about B.C. 320) the army of Magadha was computed by

the Greeks as consisting of 600,000 foot. 30,000 cavalry, and 9000 elephants, though Quintus Curtius makes

Lord Egerton of Tatton states[237] that an army of Hindu confederated states, mustered for the defence of

Northern indict against the Muhammadan invasion in 1192 A.D., amounted, "according to the most moderate

CHAPTER 11. The Siege and Battle of Raichur, and Close of Krishna's Reign (A.D. 1520 to 1530) 63

In A.D. 1259 a Mogul embassy was received at Delhi by an escort of 50,000 horse, and was led past lines of

It will be remembered how Muhammad Taghlaq of Delhi[238] raised, according to Firishtah, an army of

370,000 men for the conquest of Persia, and when he wanted to destroy the inhabitants of a certain tract of

country, he "ordered out his army as if he were going hunting," surrounded the tract, and then, pressing

inwards towards the centre, slaughtered all the inhabitants therein. This implies that he took, when merely

hunting, immense numbers of men with him. ShahabudDin, indeed, declared that Muhammad Taghlaq had

an army of 900,000 horse;[239] and Nuniz, on the opening page of his chronicle, says that this Sultan invaded

the Balaghat with 800,000 horse.[240] This estimate was, of course, only according to the tradition extant in

Faria y Souza, writing in the seventeenth century, estimated the forces of Bahadur, king of Cambay, in 1534,

Nuniz[241] gives details of the provincial forces of Vijayanagar, compulsorily maintained by eleven out of a

total of two hundred nobles amongst whom the empire was divided, and the total of the forces of these eleven

Castanheda confirms other writers in this matter, stating that the infantry of Vijayanagar were countless, the

country being of large extent and thickly populated, so that the king could call upon a million, or even two

millions, of men at will.[242] This writer visited India just at the close of the reign of Krishna Deva Raya. He

states that the king kept up at his own cost an establishment of 100,000 horses and 4000 elephants.

As to all this, I repeat that every one is at liberty to form his own opinion; but at least it seems certain that all

the chroniclers believed that the king of Vijayanagar could, if he so desired, put into the field immense

masses of armed men. They were probably not all well armed, or well trained, or well disciplined, but as to

large numbers there can be little reasonable doubt. A relic of this may be seen every year at modern

Haidarabad, the capital city of H.H. the Nizam, where, at the annual festival known as the "Langar," armed

irregulars in very large numbers file through the principal streets. They are for the most part a mere mob of

men with weapons, and are not maintained as State troops, but they are brought up by the various nobles in

separate bodies, each chief mustering for the occasion all his hereditary retainers and forming them into

As to the description given by Nuniz of the offensive armour of the elephants, which are stated to have gone

into battle with long swords like scythes attached to their trunks, the story is confirmed by many other

Firishtah's account of the battle of Raichur is interesting, as it gives a description of the affair from the

"to recover Mudkul and Roijore from the roy of Beejanugger, who, gaining early intelligence of his designs,

moved with a great force, and stationed his camp on the bank of the Kistnah, where he was joined by many of

his tributaries; so that the army amounted at least to 50,000 horse, besides a vast host of foot. The sultan

would now have delayed his expedition, as the enemy possessed all the ferries of the Kistnah, but that his

tents were pitched, and it would have been disgraceful to retract from his declarations He therefore marched

with 7000 horse, all foreign, and encamped on the bank of the river opposite to the enemy, waiting to prepare

CHAPTER 11. The Siege and Battle of Raichur, and Close of Krishna's Reign (A.D. 1520 to 1530) 64

"Some days after his arrival, as he was reposing in his tent, he heard one of the courtiers without the skreens

reciting this verse: 'Rise and fill the golden goblet with the wine of mirth before the cup itself shall be laid

in dust.' The sultan, inspired by the verse, called his favourites before him, and spreading the carpet of

pleasure, amused himself with music and wine. When the banquet had lasted longer than was reasonable, and

the fumes of the wine had exercised their power, a fancy seized the sultan to pass the river and attack the

enemy.... Warm with wine he resolved to cross immediately, and mounting his elephant, without making his

intentions known, proceeded to the river, as if to reconnoitre, but suddenly gave orders for as many of his

troops as could to go upon the rafts, and others to follow him on elephants through the river. The officers

represented the folly and danger of precipitation; but the sultan, without reply, plunged his own elephant into

the stream, and was followed involuntarily by the amras and their followers; on about 250 elephants.

"By great good fortune, all reached the opposite shore in safety, and as many troops as could cross on the

floats at two embarkations had time to arrive, when the enemy advanced to battle in so great force as

excluded every probable hope of escape to the sultan, who had not more than 2000 men ready to oppose

30,000. The heroes of Islaam, animated with one soul, made so gallant a resistance that about a thousand of

the infidels fell, among whom was Sunjeet Roy, the chief general of Beejanuggur; but at last, harassed

beyond all power of opposition by cannonshot, musquetry, and rockets, which destroyed near half their

numbers, the survivors threw themselves into the river in hopes of escaping, and Nursoo Bahadur and

Ibrahim Bey, who rode on the same elephant with Ismaeel Adil Shaw, drove the animal across the stream, but

so great was the current, that except the royal elephant and seven soldiers, all the rest were drowned. The

sultan's rashness was heavily punished by so great a loss. He took a solemn vow never to indulge in wine till

he had revenged his defeat; and then, throwing away despair, busied his mind in repairing this unfortunate

"As Mirza Jehangeer had fallen in the action, the sultan consulted with Assud Khan on what measures would

be best to take in the present crisis of his affairs. Assud Khan replied, that as his loss was great and the troops

dispirited, it would be better for the present to retreat to Beejapore. The sultan approving the advice, marched

from the Kistnah to Beejapore, and conferring the dignity of Sippeh Sallar[243] on Assud Khan, added

several districts to his jaghire, and made him his principal adviser in all important affairs."

Comparing this account with that given by Nuniz, there can, I think, be little doubt that both stories refer to

the same event, though there are of course several discrepancies. The origin of the war is related differently.

Firishtah states that on the arrival of the Sultan at the riverbank he found the Hindu army encamped on the

opposite side; he crossed, after a few days' delay, with a small force, and was driven into the river. Nuniz says

that Krishna Deva Raya heard of Ismail Adil's arrival on the riverbank while he himself was in camp at

Raichur, fifteen miles away; and that he advanced and gave battle nine miles from the river, in the end

driving the enemy across. But taking the two narratives as a whole, there are too many points of coincidence

to leave any doubt in the mind that each chronicler is writing of the same event.

As to which of the two is more accurate it is impossible now to decide. But considering that Nuniz wrote only

fifteen years afterwards, and that there were Portuguese present at the battle, some of whom Nuniz may have

personally consulted as to what took place, it would seem more reasonable to trust in him rather than in a

Muhammadan historian who did not compile his work till after an interval of sixty years. Moreover, there are

It is worthy of notice, too, that throughout the story of Nuniz at this part of his chronicle there is much that

impels the belief that either himself or his informant was present at the Hindu camp while these events were

CHAPTER 11. The Siege and Battle of Raichur, and Close of Krishna's Reign (A.D. 1520 to 1530) 65

taking place. The narrative of the campaign, in complete contrast to that of the remainder of the history, reads

like the account of an eyewitness; especially in the passages describing the fortress of Raichur[244] and the

camp where the supplies were so great that "you could find everything that you wanted,"[245] where "you

saw"[246] the goldsmiths and artisans at work as if in a city, where "you will find"[247] all kinds of precious

stones offered for sale, and where "no one who did not understand the meaning of what he saw would ever

dream that a war was going on, but would think that he was in a prosperous city." Note also the description

given of the extraordinary noise made by the drums, trumpets, and shouts of the men; so that even the birds

fell down into the soldiers' hands stricken with terror and "it seemed as if the sky would fall to the earth," and

"if you asked anything, you could not hear yourself speak, and you had to ask by signs." Many such instances

might be given, but not to be tedious I will invite attention to only three more, viz., the account given by

Nuniz of how; when receiving the men of the city after its surrender, the king, "casting his eye on Christovao

de Figueiredo, nodded his head, and turned to the people telling them to observe what great things could be

effected by one good man;"[248] his description of the behaviour of the defeated citizens when Krishna Deva

made his triumphant entry into the city; and his narrative of the ambassador's reception at Vijayanagar by the

king after the conclusion of the campaign.[249] It may be remembered that our other chronicler Domingo

Paes, was at Vijayanagar with Christovao de Figueiredo some months after the battle, even if he were not

The great interest of Nuniz's narrative lies in the fact that it is the only detailed account extant. Barros related

the events in historical fashion, taking his facts from this very chronicle; but he was never in India, and his

brief summary is altogether wanting in the power and force contained in the graphic story of Nuniz. The other

Portuguese writers pass over the war very lightly. It appears as if it hardly concerned then;, further than that

And yet it had farreaching effects. The Hindu victory so weakened the power and prestige of the Adil Shah

that he ceased altogether to dream of any present conquest in the south, and turned his attention to cementing

alliances with the other Muhammadan sovereigns, his neighbours. The victory also caused all the other

Muhammadan Powers in the Dakhan seriously to consider the political condition of the country; and this

eventually led to a combination without which nothing was possible, but by the aid of which the Vijayanagar

Empire was finally overthrown and the way to the south opened. It furthermore greatly affected the Hindus

by raising in them a spirit of pride and arrogance, which added fuel to the fire, caused them to become

It equally affected the fortunes of the Portuguese on the coast. Goa rose and fell simultaneously with the rise

and fall of the second Vijayanagar dynasty; and necessarily so, considering that its entire trade depended on

Hindu support; for the king of Portugal was never well disposed towards his hereditary enemies, the "Moors."

This is a point frequently left unnoticed by writers, on Portuguese colonial history. The two most recent

authors of works on the subject, Mr. Danvers ("The Portuguese in India") and Mr. Whiteway ("The Rise of

Portuguese Power in India"), pay very little attention to the internal politics of the great country on the fringe

alone of which the Portuguese settled, and on the coast of which their vessels came and went. Mr. Danvers

devotes one short paragraph to the battle of Raichur,[250] and another[251] to the destruction of Vijayanagar.

Mr. Whiteway does not even allude to the former event, and concludes his history before arriving at the date

of the latter. Yet surely it is easy to see that the success or failure of maritime trade on any given coast must

depend on the conditions prevailing in the empire for the supply of which that trade was established. When

Vijayanagar, with its grandeur, luxury, and love of display, its great wealth and its enormous armies, was at

the height of its power, the foreign traders were eminently successful: when Vijayanagar fell, and the city

became desolate and depopulated, the foreign traders had no market for their goods, and trade decayed. So

that this great Hindu victory at Raichur deserved a better fate than to be passed over by the historians as if it

CHAPTER 11. The Siege and Battle of Raichur, and Close of Krishna's Reign (A.D. 1520 to 1530) 66

Nuniz gives us in detail an account of the events that followed the victory of Krishna Deva Raya, and

considering that he wrote only about fifteen years after their occurrence, we should do well to receive his

account as probably true in the main. Firishtah, perhaps naturally, preserves a complete silence on the subject.

Nuniz tells us that when the city of Raichur surrendered, the Hindu king made a triumphal entry into it, and

treated the garrison with kindness and consideration; while the other Muhammadan kings sent envoys to

Krishna Deva Raya on hearing of his success, and received a haughty and irritating reply. Krishna Deva then

returned to Vijayanagar and held high festival. Shortly afterwards an ambassador arrived from the defeated

Shah, and was treated with scant courtesy for more than a month, after which he was received in audience;

when the king sent answer by him to his enemy, that if the Adil Shah would come to him, do obeisance, and

kiss his foot, his lands and fortresses should be restored to him. No attention being paid to this, the Raya set

out to search for the Shah, hoping, that he would be induced to do homage in the manner demanded and

appearing to ignore altogether the effect which would necessarily be produced on the minds of the other kings

of the Dakhan by this contemplated supreme humiliation of one of their number. The submission never took

place. Krishna led his army as far north as Bijapur, the Adil Shah's capital, which for a time he occupied and

left sadly injured. Then Asada Khan, the Shah's wily courtier, successfully brought about the death of his

personal enemy, Salabat Khan, by inducing the Raya to order his execution; an act to, which the king was led

by the machinations of the archintriguer, who subordinated his chief's interests to his own selfish ends.

King Krishna had, in the city of Bijapur, taken prisoner three sons of a former king of the Bahmani dynasty,

who had been held captive by the Adil Shahs, and he proclaimed the eldest as king of the Dakhan.[252] This

abortive attempt to subvert the rule of the five kings who had established themselves on the ruins of the

single Dakhan sovereignty naturally fell flat, and only resulted in stiffening the hostility which these

A little later Krishna Raya's son, a young prince on whom he desired to confer his crown, and in whose

favour he had even gone so far as openly to abdicate, died suddenly of poison, and the king, then himself in a

dying condition, arrested and imprisoned his own minister, Saluva Timma, and his family. In this he was

aided by some Portuguese who happened to be present at the Durbar. On Saluva Timma's son escaping to a

"mountain range" perhaps Sandur, on the south of the capital, where there are still to be seen the remains

of a strong fortress built of cyclopean masonry on the summit of the highest hill, now known as Ramandrug

About this time the Adil Shah advanced again to retrieve his broken fortunes, but fled incontinently on

hearing the news that Krishna Deva was advancing in person to meet him. That the king, though sorely ill,

did indeed move in the manner stated, seems to be confirmed by the statement of Nuniz that on the way he

bought six hundred horses from the Portuguese. Krishna began to make preparations for an attack on

Belgaum, then in the Adil Shah's possession, and sent an envoy to invite the assistance in this enterprise of

the Portuguese at Goa; but he fell too seriously ill to carry out his project, and died shortly afterwards at the

So far Nuniz. We learn something more from other writers. Barros states that about the year 1523 Saluva

Timma, the king's minister, invaded the mainlands near Goa, which had been recently acquired by the

Portuguese under Ruy de Mello; that he advanced towards Ponda with a small force, but that he was attacked

and driven back.[253] Shortly after this, viz., in April 1524, the Muhammadans of Bijapur attacked these

same mainlands with success, during the viceroyalty of Dom Duarte de Menezes. On October 31 of that year

the Chamber of Goa wrote a report to the king of Portugal in which occurs the following passage:

CHAPTER 11. The Siege and Battle of Raichur, and Close of Krishna's Reign (A.D. 1520 to 1530) 67

"The mainland which Ruy de Mello, who was captain of this city, conquered, was entered by the Moors, who

used to possess it, in the month of April of five hundred and twentyfour, and they hold it as theirs, and the

first Thanadar's district which they took was that of Perna, which is by the seaside. There they captured two

Portuguese, and one of them was the Thanadar; these are prisoners in the fortress of Bylgan (Belgaum), of

It is evident, therefore, that "the Moors" were successful, and yet it is curious that very little mention is made

of this circumstance by other historians. Firishtah does not mention it; and it may therefore be reasonably

inferred that the "Moors" in question were not the royal troops acting under the orders of the Sultan, but

According to Firishtah, the defeat at Raichur was followed by Ismail Adil Shah's marrying his sister to

Burhan Nizam Shah of Ahmadnagar; quarrelling and fighting with him (A.D. 1523); again fighting with him

(1528); marrying another sister to AlaudDin Ummad of Birar; and fighting with and entirely defeating

Sultan Amir Barid of Bidar, then an old man, whom he captured. On the death of Krishna Deva, Ismail took

advantage of the confusion of the Hindus to retake possession of Mudkal and Raichur.

Firishtah gives no dates for the two last of the event above noted, but the submission of Amir Barid to the

Adil Shah apparently did not take place till 1529, for Barros[255] implies that it occurred after an event

which cannot have happened earlier than 1529 namely, an attack on Ponda by three Hindu chiefs, which

led to the inhabitants appealing for help to the then governor of Goa, Nuno da Cunha. Da Cunha was not

governor till 1529. "AT THIS TIME," writes the historian, "Melique Verido[256] submitted to the Hidalchan,

by advice of Madre Maluco and Cota Maluco, and came to his camp in poor clothes, and flung himself at his

feet." This evidently refers to what occurred after the Barid's capture by the Adil Shah, if Firishtah's story is

Let it be remembered, though the fact has no bearing on the history of Vijayanagar at this date, that in 1526

the Emperor Babar captured Delhi, and established himself as the first monarch of the great Moghul dynasty.

He was succeeded in 1530 by Humayun, and on the latter's death in 1556 the great Akbar attained the throne.

Were it not that the description given us by Nuniz and Paes of the condition of the great city of Vijayanagar

at this period is so graphic, so picturesque, and so detailed as positively to require no addition, I should have

deemed it my duty to attempt to supply the want; but with their narrative before us in all its original

freshness, it would be useless to attempt anything further. Both of these writers were on the spot at the time

of the city's greatest grandeur and prosperity, though in the time of Nuniz the period of its political decay had

I cannot, however, pass on to the reign of Achyuta without calling attention to some of the works carried out

at the capital by Krishna Deva, and to a few of the inscribed records of his reign.

At the beginning of his reign Krishna built a GOPURA or tower, and repaired another, at the Hampe temple,

which had been built by the first kings in honour of Madhavacharya, the founder of the fortunes of

Vijayanagar. The great KRISHNASVAMI temple was built by him in 1513, after his return from the

successful campaign in the east. In the same year he commenced the temple of HAZARA RAMASVAMI at

the palace, the architecture of which leads Mr. Rea[258] to think that it was not finished till a later period.

Later in his reign the king busied himself in improving the irrigation of the dry lands about Vijayanagar. He

constructed in 1521 the great dam and channel at Korragal, and the Basavanna channel, both of which are

Another great work of his was the construction of an enormous tank or dammedup lake at the capital, which

he carried out with the aid of Joao de la Ponte, a Portuguese engineer, whose services were lent to him by the

governorgeneral of Goa. Both Paes and Nuniz mention this lake, and as the former actually saw it under

construction it may have been begun in A.D. 1520. I think that this is the large lake, now dry, to be seen at

the northwestern mouth of the valley entering into the Sandur hills southwest of Hospett, the huge bank of

which has been utilised for the conveyance of the highroad from Hospett to the southern taluqs. If so, the fact

of its original failure is interesting to us, because for many years past this vast work has been entirely useless.

The description given by Nuniz accords with the position of this tank, which was doubtless intended partly

for irrigation purposes, and partly for the supply of water to the "new city," Nagalapura, the king's favourite

residence, now known as Hospett. The chronicler mentions the existence of lofty ridges on each side, strong

gates and towers guarding the entrance, and states that this was the principal approach to the capital from the

south; all which data coincide with the position of the tank and road in question. It is through these gates that

the Portuguese travellers entered Vijayanagar. This view is supported by the account given by Paes. 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, Nagalapur, 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.

Prior to 1520, Krishna Deva built the outlying town of Nagalapur, to which allusion has just been made. It

was constructed in honour of his favourite wife, the quondam courtesan, Nagala Devi, and the king made it

He also appears to have begun the construction of the temple of Vitthalasvami on the riverbank, the most

ornate of an the religious edifices of the kingdom. "It shows," writes Mr. Rea in the article already referred to,

"the extreme limit in florid magnificence to which the style advanced." The work was continued during the

reign of Krishna Deva's successors, Achyuta and Sadasiva, and was probably stopped only by the destruction

In 1528 was constructed one of the most curious and interesting monuments to be seen in the city. This is an

enormous statue of the god Vishnu in his AVATARA as Narasimha, the manlion. It was hewn out of a

single boulder of granite, which lay near the southwestern angle of the Krishnasvami temple, and the king

bestowed a grant of lands for its maintenance. Though it has been grievously injured, probably by the

iconoclastic Muhammadans in or after the year 1565, it is still a most striking object.

I have already alluded to the grants made by Krishna Deva to the great Virupaksha temple at Hampe, on the

occasion of the festival of his coronation. There is an inscription of his reign on the base of the inner side of

the front tower (GOPURA) of the temple at Virinchipuram, dated in the year A.D. 1513 14; and one dated

Tuesday, September 20, 1513, at Sankalapura, close to the capital, recording a grant of the lands of that

village to the temple of Ganapati in the palace enclosure.[260] Mr. Fleet[261] mentions others of his reign in

The last inscription of the reign at present known is one which bears a date corresponding to Friday, April 23,

A.D. 1529.[262] It stands in front of the great statue of Ugra Narasimha, described above.

Achyuta Raya Fall of Raichur and Mudkal Asada Khan and Goa Disturbances at Bijapur

Ibrahim Shah at the Hindu capital Firishtah on Vijayanagar affairs Rise of Rama Raya and his brothers

"Hoje" Tirumala Varying legends Venkatadri defeated by Asada Khan near Adoni Asada

Khan's career Belgaum and Goa Asada's duplicity Portuguese aggressions Religious grants by,

Achyuta, according to Nuniz and some other authorities, was a brother of the late king,[263] and, in company

with two other brothers and a nephew, had been confined by Krishna Deva in the fortress of Chandragiri, in

order to prevent dissensions in the kingdom. The new monarch is said by Nuniz to have been specially

selected by Krishna Deva. If so, the choice was singularly unfortunate, for Achyuta was a craven and under

His minister was one of the powerful Saluva family, to which also had belonged Timma, the minister of King

Krishna. Nuniz calls him "Salvanay." The earliest known date of Achyuta's reign is gathered from an

The beginning of his reign was ominously signalised by the loss of the frontier fortresses Mudkal and

Raichur. Firishtah[265] states that the Adil Shah had, some time before the death of Krishna Deva, made

"The Sultan ... put his army in motion, attended by Ummad Shaw and Ameer Bereed with their forces; and

the affairs of Beejanuggur being in confusion owing to the death of Heemraaje, who was newly succeeded by

his son Ramraaje,[266] against whom rebellions had arisen by several roles, met with no interruptions to his

arms. Roijore and Mudkul were taken, after a siege of three months, by capitulation, after they had been in

The relief and delight of the Adil Shah at these successes, and at the death of his mortal enemy Krishna, must

have been great; and Firishtah relates that the Sultan, "who had vowed to refrain from wine till the reduction

of these fortresses, at the request of his nobility now made a splendid festival, at which he drank wine and

gave a full loose to mirth and pleasure." Raichur and Mudkal were never again subject to Hindu princes.

Those who desire to obtain an insight into the character of the new king of Vijayanagar should turn to the

chronicle of Nuniz. It will suffice here to say that he alienated his best friends by his violent despotism, and at

the same time proved to the whole empire that he was a coward. His conduct and mode of government ruined

the Hindu cause in Southern India and opened the whole country to the invader, though he himself did not

After the fall of Raichur and the Doab, Ismail Adil had another fight (1531) with his rival at Ahmadnagar and

defeated him; after which the two brothersinlaw consolidated a strong alliance. Three years later Ismail

died, having contracted a fever while besieging a fortress belonging to the Qutb Shah of Golkonda. His death

occurred on Thursday, August 13, 1534,[268] and he was succeeded by his son Malu. Asada Khan was

appointed regent of Bijapur, but immediately on his accession the new sovereign so offended his powerful

subject that he retired to Belgaum, and Sultan Malu, giving himself up to all kinds of excesses, was deposed

after a reign of only six months. Malu was blinded by the orders of his own grandmother, and Ibrahim Adil,

Da Cunha, the Portuguese governor of Goa, took advantage of these events to erect a fortress at Diu, and

early in 1536 to seize again the mainlands of Goa, which had been for ten years in the possession of Asada

Khan. The Khan sent a force to recapture these lands, and in February an engagement took place in which the

Portuguese were victorious. A second attack by the Moslems was similarly repulsed. A third fight took place

in July, and again the Muhammadans were beaten; but Asada Khan then assembled a larger army, and the

About this time[269] Quli Qutb Shah is said to have attacked Kondavid on account of its withholding

payment of tribute, to have taken it, and built a tower in the middle of the fort in commemoration of its

Two inscriptions at Conjeeveram, dated respectively in 1532 and 1533,[270] imply that at that period King

Achyuta reduced the country about Tinnevelly; but apparently he was not present in person, and nothing

We now enter upon a period very difficult to deal with satisfactorily, owing to the conflict of evidence in the

"A year after his accession," writes Firishtah,[271] "Ibrahim, Adil led his army to Beejanuggur on the

requisition of the roy." This would be the year 1536 A.D. But what led to such an extraordinary complication

of affairs? Can it be true that King Achyuta was so humiliated and hard pressed as to be compelled to

Nuniz is silent as to the cause, though he admits the fact. It is quite possible that Firishtah is correct, that the

public were not taken into confidence by their despotic rulers, and that the troops of Bijapur marched to the

Hindu capital at the request of King Achyuta. That they actually came there seems quite certain, and it is

probable that Nuniz was in Vijayanagar at the time; but there is a LACUNA in his story which can only be

filled up by reference to Firishtah. Accepting Firishtah, we can readily understand why King Achyuta

received the Sultan and his army without open opposition, as Nuniz declares that he did, and why the

Muhammadan king received splendid presents before he retired. To Nuniz, however, this conduct was

inexplicable except on the basis of Achyuta's craven spirit and utter unworthiness.[272] As to the assertion of

Nuniz that the Sultan entered Nagalapur or Hospett and "razed it to the ground," we may remember the

treatment of the city of Bijapur by Krishna Deva Raya,[273] and surmise that the houses of the Vijayanagar

suburbs may have been pulled to pieces by the Mussalman soldiery in search for firewood. However all this

may be, my readers have before them the story as given by Nuniz in Chapter XX. of his chronicle, and the

"Heem" Rajah, or, as Briggs renders the name, "Tim" Rajah representing "Timma," and referring

doubtless to Saluva Timma, the great minister of Krishna Deva had, forty years earlier, become DE

FACTO ruler of Vijayanagar on the death of the two sons of a former king, "Seo" Raya. He had poisoned the

infant son of the younger of these sons, and had thus succeeded in becoming head of the state. During these

forty years he had been obeyed by all. On his death his son Rama Rajah became ruler. Rama's marriage to "a

daughter of the son of Seo" Raya[275] had greatly added to his dignity and power, and he now tried to secure

the throne for himself and his family. He was, however, compelled by the nobles to recognise as king an

"infant of the female line," whose person he committed to the care of the child's uncle, "Hoje" Tirumala

Raya,[276] a man of weak intellect if not absolutely insane. In five or six years Rama cut off by treachery

most of the chiefs who opposed him.[277] He then marched on an expedition into Malabar, and afterwards

moved against a powerful zamindar to the south of Vijayanagar, who held out for six months and in the end

beat off the troops of Rama Raya. Vijayanagar was at that time governed by a slave whom Rama had raised

to high rank, and this man, on being applied to by the minister to send supplies from the capital, was so

amazed at the wealth which he saw in the royal treasury that he resolved to attempt to gain possession of it.

He therefore released the childking, obtained the cooperation of Hoje Tirumala, assumed the office of

minister, and began to raise troops. "Several tributary roies, who were disgusted with Ramraaje, flew with

speed to Beejanuggur to obey their lawful king; and in a short time thirty thousand horse and vast hosts of

foot were assembled under his standard at the city." Tirumala then had the slavegovernor assassinated.

Rama Rajah at once returned to the capital, but was unable at that juncture to assert his authority. Finding

himself deserted by many of the nobles he concluded a treaty with his lawful sovereign, and retired to his

own province, which by agreement he was allowed to retain as his own independent state. Tirumala shortly

afterwards strangled the king and seized the throne. The nobles submitted, since he was of royal blood, and

better, in their opinion, than Rama Rajah; but when afterwards they found themselves unable to endure his

Tirumala then found himself in great straits, and sent ambassadors with large presents to Ibrahim Adil Shah,

begging him to march to his assistance and promising that the Vijayanagar kingdom should be declared

tributary to Bijapur. Ibrahim, delighted beyond measure, after consulting Asada Khan accepted the terms,

moved from his capital, and arrived before Vijayanagar "in the year 942," which corresponds to the period

from July 2, A.D. 1535, to June 20, 1536.[278] He was conducted into the city by Hoje Termul Roy, who

seated him on the musnud of the raaje and made rejoicings for seven days." This conduct led to a change of

front on the part of Rama Rajah and his supporters. They entreated Tirumala for the sake of the country to

procure the retreat of the Sultan to his own dominions, promising submission and obedience if this should be

done; and Tirumala, thinking that now he had no further use for his allies, requested the Sultan to return

home. He paid over the subsidy agreed upon, which was assessed at something approaching two millions

"Ibrahim Adil Shaw had not yet recrossed the Kistnah, when Ramraaje and the confederates, who had bribed

many of the troops in the city, broke their newly made vows, and hastened towards Beejanuggur, resolved to

put the roy to death, on pretence of revenging the murder of his predecessor. Hoje Termul Roy, seeing he was

betrayed, shut himself up in the palace, and, becoming mad from despair, blinded all the royal elephants and

horses, also cutting off their tails, that they might be of no use to his enemy. All the diamonds, rubies,

emeralds, other precious stones, and pearls, which had been collected in a course of many ages, he crushed to

powder between heavy millstones, and scattered them on the ground. He then fixed a swordblade into a

pillar of his apartment, and ran his breast upon it with such force that it pierced through and came out at the

back, thus putting an end to his existence, just as the gates of the palace were opened to his enemies.

After this point in Firishtah's narrative we hear of no more "young Roies" or imprisoned sovereigns of the

Second Dynasty. "Ramraaje" alone is spoken of as king, and Kings Achyuta and Sadasiva the latter of

whom was undoubtedly recognised as king for some years though he was kept in custody are not so much

Thus Firishtah and Nuniz both agree that Ibrahim Adil advanced as far as the city of Vijayanagar, and retired

after payment of immense sums of money and the gift of many valuable presents. The date was A.D. 1535

We continue the narrative of events in Achyuta's reign as gathered from Firishtah.[280] As soon as he heard

of the death of Hoje Tirumala and the seizure of the throne by "Ramraaje," Ibrahim Adil Shah sent Asada

Khan to reduce the important fortress of Adoni, which was undisputedly in Vijayanagar territory. Rama

Rajah despatched his younger brother, Venkatadri, to its relief, and the latter hastened thither with a large

"Assud Khan, upon his approach, raised the siege and moved towards him. A sharp engagement ensued, and

Assud Khan, finding that he was likely to have the worst of the action, from the vast superiority in numbers

of the enemy, retreated in good order, but was followed fourteen miles by the victors, when he encamped;

and Venkatadry,[281] in order to be ready to harass the retreat the next day, halted in full security at a

distance of only two miles from him. Assud Khan, who had ardently wished for such an event; towards the

dawn of day, with four thousand chosen horse, surprized the camp of Venkatadry, whose selfconfidence had

left him wholly off his guard against such a manoeuvre. Assud Khan penetrated to his tents before he

received the alarm, and he had scarce time to make his escape, leaving his treasures, family, and elephants to

the mercy of the victors. When the day had fully cleared up, Venkatadry collected his scattered troops, and

drew up as if to engage; but seeing Assud Khan resolute to maintain his advantage, and fearing for the

personal safety of his wife and children, he declined hazarding a battle, and, retiring some miles off, fixed his

camp: from whence he wrote Ramraaje an account of his disaster, and requested reinforcements to enable

him to repair it. Ramraaje immediately sent supplies of men and money, openly declaring his intentions of

carrying on the war, but privately informed his brother that he had reason to imagine that Ibrahim Adil Shaw

had not been led merely of his own will to besiege Oodnee; that he suspected the zemindars of that quarter

had invited him to make war, and that many of the nobility with him were secretly in his interest; therefore,

he thought he would act prudently by making peace with the mussulmauns at present, and procuring the

release of his wife and family from Assud Khan. Venkatadry, in consequence of the desires of his brother,

having procured the mediation and influence of Assud Khan, addressed the sultan for peace, which being

granted, and all affairs settled to the satisfaction of both states, Ibrahim Adil Shaw returned to Beejapore with

Asada Khan after this was greatly honoured by the Sultan, in spite of the intrigues which were fomented

against him. Quarrels and disturbances, however, arose in the Bijapur dominions which lasted during the

whole of the year 1542; in the course of which year King Achyuta died, and was succeeded nominally by

Sadasiva, during whose reign Vijayanagar was practically in the hands of Rama Rajah and of his two

Firishtah was a great admirer of Asada Khan and supported him in all that he did.[282] Asada was a Turk,

who, beginning life under the simple name of Khusru in the service of Ismail Adil Shah, distinguished

himself in his sovereign's defence during the attack on Bijapur in 1511, a defence celebrated on account of

the heroic conduct of the Sultan's aunt, Dilshad Agha. Khusru was rewarded by Ismail with the title of

"Asada Khan," a name which he bore for the rest of his life, and a grant of the jaghir of Belgaum. He rose to

be chief minister and commanderinchief of the army of his master, and died full of years and honours in

The Portuguese at Goa had a very low opinion of Asada's character. They held him to be an inveterate

intriguer, ready at every moment to betray his best friends, even his sovereign, if only by so doing he could

advance his own personal and selfish interests; and in this, owing to his consummate skill and tortuous ways,

he invariably succeeded. If space permitted, many interesting stories could be narrated of him, culled from

Barros calls him "Sufo Larij,"[284] a name which some writers have derived from "Yusuf of Lar."

Asada Khan is entitled to a chapter to himself, but, to avoid prolixity, I will only give one extract from the

"Asia" of Barros.[285] Allusion has been made above to an attack on the mainlands of Goa by three Hindu

chiefs, when Ponda was besieged. The inhabitants appealed to Nuno da Cunha, the governorgeneral, who

hesitated to interfere for fear of bringing on a war with the Adil Shah. The principal danger was the lord of

"Acadachan, like one who in a safe and lofty place watches some great fire spreading over the plains below,

watched from his city of Belgaum the events that were passing;" but did nothing till the Adil Shah wrote

desiring him to return to Bijapur, which he had temporarily left owing to a disagreement, and to assist him in

the government of the kingdom. Asada Khan replied craftily that he had done with the affairs of this life, and

proposed to go and die at Mecca. At this Ismail flew into a passion and vowed revenge against his powerful

subject, who, to save himself, wrote to Da Cunha, professing his unalloyed friendship for the Portuguese, and

inviting them to take possession of certain tracts on the mainland; declaring that his master, the Sultan, was

powerless to defend himself against the armies of Vijayanagar. This was, it must be borne in mind, long after

the Hindu victory at Raichur. Da Cunha sent Christovao de Figueiredo, Krishna Deva's valiant friend, to bear

his reply, since the latter was on friendly terms with the lord of Belgaum. A conversation took place, in which

Asada Khan said that he was afraid of his master, who was of variable and inconstant character, and that he

desired of all things to preserve friendship with the Portuguese. He therefore begged to be allowed to visit

Goa and cement an alliance with the governorgeneral, to whom he faithfully promised that the lands in

question should become for ever the property of the king of Portugal. Accordingly the lands were seized by

Immediately afterwards Asada began to intrigue with the king of Vijayanagar, and being invited to visit that

city on the occasion of one of the great MAHANAVAMI festivals, left Belgaum with 13,000 men and 200

elephants. Before starting he wrote to Da Cunha, asking that Figueiredo might be sent to accompany him, and

promising to obtain for the Portuguese a definite cession of the lands from the Raya, since these had formerly

been the latter's possession. Accordingly Figueiredo left for Vijayanagar, but learned that the Khan had

already arrived there and had joined the king. The Raya received Asada favourably, and, as a present, gave

him two towns, "Tunge and Turugel,"[286]since he hoped for his aid against the Sultan.

When the Sultan heard of Asada Khan's defection he gave himself up for lost, but assembled an army and

advanced to within twelve leagues of the king's camp, where Asada Khan had pitched his tents at some

distance from those of the Hindu lords. The Sultan thence wrote to the Raya demanding the delivery to him

of his recalcitrant "slave," and the Raya sent on the letter to Asada Khan, who told the king that he would

never join the Muhammadans, but would remain faithful to Vijayanagar. A short pause ensued, during which

the Raya learned that constant messages were passing between the camps of the Sultan and Asada Khan.

Both armies then marched towards Raichur, the Raya to retake the place from the Sultan, the Sultan watching

On the third day Asada Khan started with his forces two hours in advance of the royal troops, crossed the

river first, and hastened to join the Sultan. Adil Shah received him with great apparent cordiality, and at

length freely forgave him on the Khan's protestations that his intrigues with Vijayanagar and the Portuguese

were only so many moves in a game undertaken for the advancement of the Sultan's interests. Previous to this

move the Khan had held a conversation with Figueiredo, in which he succeeded in totally deceiving him as to

his intentions, and reiterated his promises to obtain the cession of the mainlands from the Raya, for whom he

In the end, says Barros, the Adil Shah, secretly fearful of Asada Khan's duplicity, made a treaty of peace with

the Raya, by which the Muhammadans retained Raichur but gave up some other territory.

Though this story differs from Firishtah at almost every point, it is permissible to think that it may refer to the

events of 1535, when the Sultan visited Vijayanagar; for in continuing his narrative, Barros a little later

mentions the year 1536. It seems hopeless to try and reconcile the conflicting stories of Nuniz, Barros, and

Firishtah, but enough has been said to afford insight into the character of Asada Khan. Nuniz echoes the

general sentiment when he writes of the Khan's rescue of the Adil Shah, after his defeat at Raichur in 1520

A.D., as being effected "by cunning," for his own purposes; and when he describes how, by a series of lies,

During this reign the Portuguese were busy establishing themselves at various places on the coast, and they

built several forts there for the protection of their trade. They had been constantly at war with the Samuri of

Calicut and other feudatories of Vijayanagar; but with the Raya himself they were on terms of friendship, and

in 1540 they ratified a treaty of peace with the sovereigns of Bijapur and Ahmadnagar as well as with the

Throughout the whole of their dealings with the Portuguese I find not a single instance where the Hindu kings

broke faith with the intruders,[287] but as much cannot, I fear, be said on the other side. The Europeans

seemed to think that they had a divine right to the pillage, robbery, and massacre of the natives of India. Not

to mince matters, their whole record is one of a series of atrocities. It is sad to turn from the description given

us by Paes of the friendship felt for the Portuguese, and especially for Christovao de Figueiredo, by the

"gallant and perfect" King Krishna Deva, and then to read of the treachery of the Viceroy towards the great

Hindu Government; with which the Portuguese had made alliances and treaties, and for which they openly

professed friendship. Thus, to take one instance only, in 1545 the governor of Goa made ready a large fleet

and a force of 3000 men, but kept all his preparations secret, for very good reason. His object was to sail

round the coast to San Thome, near Madras, land his troops, march inland, and sack the great temple of

Tirumala or Tirupati, purely for lust of gain. Luckily a severe storm prevented him from setting said, but he

plundered and destroyed some rich temples on the western coast, and enriched himself with the spoil This

was a mere wanton attack on property belonging to feudatories of the Vijayanagar empire, for there has never

been any pretence that the peaceloving Brahmans attached to these temples had in any way offended or

In the time of Achyuta a large number of grants were made by the nobles to temples throughout Southern

India, and numerous inscriptions on stone and copperplates are extant relating to these charitable and

religious donations. One of the most important has been published by Professor Kielhorn.[288] It relates that

the king, being on the banks of the Tungabhadra on the 12th October A.D. 1540, at the temple of

Vitthalasvami or Vitthalesvara the splendidly sculptured pavilions of which remain to this day, even in

their ruin and decay, an object of astonishment and admiration to all beholders gave a grant of a village

The last date of Achyuta known to epigraphists at present is found in an inscription[289] bearing a date

corresponding to January 25, A.D. 1541; and the earliest date similarly available of his successor, Sadasiva, is

Reign of Sadasiva The king a prisoner but acknowledged Rama Raya The Adil Shah again at

Vijayanagar Bijapur in danger Saved by Asada Khan Rebellion of Prince Abdullah Royal

gratitude Death of Asada at Belgaum The Portuguese support Abdullah Treaties AinulMulkh

Fights near Goa Rama Raya's threatened expedition to Mailapur He joins the Adil Shah and wastes

the territories of Ahmadnagar Portuguese violence on the Malabar coast The Inquisition at Goa.

Sadasiva, then, began to reign in 1541 or 1542 A.D., but was only nominally king, the whole power of the

state being in the hands of Rama Raya and his two brothers, Tirumala and Venkatadri. That Sadasiva was

recognised by every one as the real sovereign is shown by a large number of inscriptions, ranging from 1542

to 1568;[290] most of which, however, have not yet been properly examined. A careful study has been made

by Dr. Hultzsch[291] of one of these, dated in A.D. 1566 67, a year or so after the great defeat of the

Hindus at Talikota and the destruction of the capital; and this is especially interesting as it bears out my

assertion that even the three brothers themselves recognised Sadasiva as king, though he had no power and

was kept under constraint. In this document Rama Rajah's brother, Tirumala, is the important personage, but

he submits to the minor title, MAHAMANDALESVARA, while Sadasiva is mentioned as sovereign. The

inscription states that a certain person presented a petition to the "Mahamandalesvara Rama Raja Tirumala

granted a village to the great temple at Vellore. Rama Rajah and Venkatadri were both at that time dead, and

Tirumala was king DE FACTO. Couto[292] even goes so far as to say that the three brothers "went on one

day every year and prostrated themselves before their lawful sovereign in token of his rights over them." But

as to the read relationship of Achyuta to Krishna, and Sadasiva to both, we are still completely in doubt.

We saw that, according to Nuniz, Krishna Deva, immediately on his accession to the throne, imprisoned his

three brothers and a nephew, then eight years old, son of the late king, "Busbalrao." This was in the year 1509

A.D., and Krishna was then over twenty years old. We hear of no king of the name of "Busbalrao," or

anything like it, from other sources; nor are the names of Krishna's three brothers as given by Nuniz[293] at

Here we have two halfbrothers of Krishna Deva named Ranga and Achyuta, the latter being chosen king;

Two inscriptions noted in my "Sketch of the Dynasties of Southern India"[294] state that Achyuta was the

son of Krishna Deva; while a Telugu work, the MANUCHARITRAM, makes him son of the second

As to Sadasiva, some authorities make him, as stated above, nephew of Krishna Deva and son of Ranga,

An inscription at Conjeeveram[296] states that Achyuta had a wife named Varada Devi who bore him a son,

Venkata. Venkata was actually raised to the throne, but lived only a short time, and then young Sadasiva was

If it is necessary to make any choice amid all this confusion, I recommend my readers to accept provisionally

the pedigree given in the above table, leaving it for future research to finally settle the question.

As to Rama Raya, several inscriptions state that he and his two brothers were sons of one Ranga Raya, whose

pedigree is given; and Professor Kielhorn considers it established that Rama married Krishna Deva's

daughter.[297] She was probably a child at her marriage. She had a brother eighteen months old at the time of

Krishna Deva's death so Nuniz says but we hear nothing more about him, or what became of him.

Another daughter of Krishna Deva Raya's is said to have been married to Rama Raya's brother, Tirumala.

That there were disturbances at the capital on the death of Achyuta in 1542 seems clear; and indeed it could

hardly be otherwise, for he appears to have dislocated the whole empire, alienated the nobles, upon whom the

defence of the country rested, and aroused in them a spirit of rebellion to the crown.

Gaspar Correa has left us an account of what took place at Vijayanagar at that time, and I repeat his story for

what it is worth; though it certainly seems as if he had made a mistake and brought down to this year the

affairs of 1535 36, the story of which has already been told. For he alludes to a visit of the Adil Shah to

Vijayanagar, and unless there were two such visits, Correa would seem to be in error, since Firishtah's date is

Correa[299] states that in 1542 Achyuta, king of Vijayanagar, died, leaving a young son in the power of his

uncle, brother of the dead king, who had been king contrary to right.[300] The nobles wished to keep the boy

at liberty, nominating two ministers to carry on the government; but the uncle disagreed, since in this way he

would lose all power, and he contrived to gain over some partisans to his side. The nobles in disgust

separated, returned to their estates, and, in despair of good government, began to assume independence each

in his own province. The queen, mother of the boy, begged the Adil Shah to come to her aid and secure the

kingdom for her son, promising him, in return for this favour, immense riches. The Sultan set out for this

purpose, intending to visit Vijayanagar, but on the road he was met by emissaries from the minister, and

bought off with lavish gifts. The king by real right (probably the uncle, Ranga), who had been detained in a

fortress, was then liberated, and he also sought aid from the Sultan of Bijapur. The Sultan took advantage of

the opportunity to set out afresh, nominally to aid the true king, but really to acquire the kingdom for himself.

The Hindus, in fear for their safety, placed on the throne the brother of the dead king, and succeeded in

defeating the Adil Shah close to Vijayanagar. The new king, in order to strengthen his position for the future,

caused the boy, his rival, to be assassinated, as also two of the latter's uncles and a nephew of the dead king

(Achyuta).[301] Then, in dread of the power of the principal nobles, he summoned them to court, and put out

the eyes of those who arrived first; so that the rest returned in great anger to their homes and began to intrigue

with the Sultan. They urged him to depose the tyrant, promising their aid, and offering him the kingdom for

himself if only the country could be freed from this monster. The Adil Shah therefore advanced, entered the

kingdom of Vijayanagar, and was received as sovereign by many; but he also assumed such intolerant and

haughty airs that he aroused the hatred of all around him, and in the end was obliged, in fear for his own

safety, to retire to Bijapur. "Meanwhile a new king had seized the throne of Vijayanagar, a great lord from

Paleacate, married to a sister of the king that preceded the dead king,[302] and in the end he secured the

It seems impossible, as Senhor Lopes justly observes, to get at the truth of all this at present, and I think it

best to abandon the subject and pass on to consider the events of the reign of Sadasiva, which lasted from

1542 to 1567. It is pretty evident that each chronicler acquired his knowledge "from stories transmitted from

In 1543 Burhan Nizam Shah made an alliance with Rama Rajah and Jamshid Qutb Shah, Sultan of Golkonda,

and attacked the Adil Shah, whereupon Rama Rajah, taking advantage of the latter's troubles, sent Venkatadri

to reduce Raichur and the Doab, "so that Beejapore, attacked at the same time by three powerful princes in

three separate quarters, was full of danger and disorder."[305] True to the traditions of his predecessors, the

new Sultan of Bijapur "called Assud Khan from Balgoan to his presence and demanded his advice on the

alarming state of affairs," with the result that he patched up a peace with Burhan, making over to him the rich

districts surrounding Sholapur, and sent ambassadors to arrange terms with Vijayanagar. This done, and the

allies having retired, Asada Khan marched against the Qutb Shah of Golkonda, defeated him under the walls

of his capital, and in a personal encounter grievously wounded him in the face with his sabre.[306]

The Portuguese at this period had been very active, and amongst other more or less successful enterprises the

Governor, Affonso de Sousa, attacked the territory of the Rani of Bhatkal on the pretext that she had withheld

tribute due to the king of Portugal, and wasted her country with fire and sword. Her city was burnt, the

About the year 1544 the date is somewhat uncertain Sultan Burhan again attacked Ibrahim Adil at the

"The sultan (Ibrahim) after this victory growing haughty and imperious, treated the ambassadors of Nizam

Shah in a contemptuous manner, and behaved tyrannically to his own subjects, putting to death many and

severely punishing others of his principal nobility for slight offences, which occasioned disaffection to his

On Burhan again invading Bijapur territories, a party was formed to depose Ibrahim and raise to the throne

his brother Abdullah. This prince, finding that the conspiracy had been discovered, fled for safety to Goa,

where he was well received. But when Ibrahim promised certain provinces to the Portuguese if they would

send Abdullah away to a place where he could no longer disturb the peace of the Bijapur territories, De Sousa

accepted the conditions; receiving the gift of Salsette and Bardes for the crown of Portugal, and the whole of

the vast treasures accumulated by Asada Khan at Belgaum as a personal present for himself. Having pocketed

as much as he could of the bribe, however, he only took Abdullah as far as Cannanore and then brought him

back to Goa; and when, at the end of the next year, De Castro succeeded De Sousa as Governor, the former

refused to surrender the rebel prince. This duplicity placed the Sultan in great difficulty, and in February 1546

he executed a treaty of peace, one of the terms of which was that no person belonging either to the Dakhan, or

to the territories of the Nizam Shah, or to those of the king of Vijayanagar, with certain others specially

mentioned, should be permitted to have any communication with Abdullah or his family until the reply of the

king of Portugal was received to an embassy which the Adil Shah proposed to send to him. There were other

terms also, and these not being acted up to by the Portuguese, the Sultan in 1547 sent some troops into the

provinces of Salsette and Bardes, which were driven out by the Viceroy after a stubborn fight.

De Castro then concluded treaties with Vijayanagar on the 19th September 1547, and with Ahmadnagar on

the 6th October of the same year, by the former of which the Hindu king was secured in the monopoly of the

Goa horse trade,[307] and by the latter a defensive alliance was cemented between the Portuguese and the

Shortly afterwards a still more determined attack was made by the Bijapur troops against the mainlands of

Goa, and in the battle which ensued one of the Adil Shah's principal generals was slain.

In 1548 the Viceroy concluded a more favourable arrangement with Bijapur and also with the Rani of

The Portuguese historians say that De Sousa and Asada Khan both joined the ranks of the supporters of

Abdullah, and that Asada Khan promised to give the king of Portugal all the territories of the Konkan on the

downfall of Ibrahim, but the Viceroy changed his mind and withdrew, while Asada Khans death put a stop to

Firishtah's account, however, of the conduct of Asada at this period totally differs, as do his dates. He states

that, although the Khan was much distressed at his master's neglect, his coldness towards him, and his

attitude of suspicion, yet he himself was consistently loyal in his actions, and did his utmost to crush the

conspiracy. As to the Portuguese, this historian avers that, so far from abjuring the cause of Abdullah, they

actually marched with that prince from Goa towards Bijapur, supported by the Nizam Shah, and even reached

the neighbourhood of Belgaum; but when it became evident that Asada could not be corrupted, the nobles of

Bijapur returned to their allegiance to their sovereign, and the alliance broke up. Sultan Ibrahim advanced to

Firishtah's account of the Bijapur Sultan's conduct when he arrived at Belgaum is too suggestive to be

HE TOOK FOR HIS OWN USE" though these treasures were the accumulated property of a man whom

the historian declares to have been, during the whole of his long life, the most faithful, courageous, and

devoted adherent of his royal master, whom on many occasions he had personally rescued from difficulties

which appeared almost insurmountable! The Portuguese account as to the fate of the treasures accumulated

by Asada Khan is given by Mr. Danvers, who, treating the Khan as an unprincipled rebel, writes:

"In addition to making over Salsette and Bardes to the Crown of Portugal, the Adil Khan had also given

Martim Affonso (De Sousa, the viceroy) the vast treasure which Acede Khan had collected for the purpose of

carrying out his rebellion, and which is said to have amounted to ten millions of ducats, OF WHICH,

state that he sent about half of this amount to Portugal for his own use, but others aver that he employed a

great part of it in the public service in India, besides sending some home for the king's use in Portugal." [309]

At this time Ibrahim Qutb Shah, younger brother of Jamshid and heir presumptive to the throne of Golkonda,

was at Vijayanagar, whither he had fled in fear of Jamshid's despotic and violent temper. Firishtah[310]

relates a story of him which is worth repeating here, partly because the event occurred in the Hindu capital,

partly because it illustrates the practice of duelling which, as Nuniz tells us, largely obtained at that

time.[311] and partly because it confirms the assertions of Nuniz that the king of Vijayanagar was in the habit

Rama Raya had despotically turned out of his estate an Abyssinian officer in his employ named Ambur Khan,

"Ambur Khan, enraged at the alienation of his estate, and meeting Ibrahim Kootb Shah in the streets of

Beejanuggur, accused him of depriving him of it. The latter replied that monarchs were at liberty to dispose

of their own property, and that the king of Beejanuggur had chosen to give him the estate. Ibrahim Kootb

Shah proceeded on his way; but the Abyssinian called him coward in refusing to dispute his title with the

sword. Ibrahim warned him of his imprudence; but the Prince's mildness only added fury to the Abyssinian's

anger, who proceeded to abuse him in grosser language. On this the Prince dismounted and drew. The

Abyssinian rushed upon him, but the Prince's temper giving him the advantage, he killed his antagonist,

whose brother, standing by, insisted on taking up the cause, and he also fell a victim to his temerity."

Prince Ibrahim succeeded to the throne of Golkonda In A.D. 1550. In the previous year, says Firishtah, an

alliance was cemented between Sultan Ibrahim of Bijapur and the new sovereign of Bidar, Ali Barid, son of

Rama Rajah having at this period accepted the presents and professions of regard sent to him by the Nizam

Shah with an embassy, Sultan Ibrahim, roused to indignation, treated the Vijayanagar ambassadors at Bijapur

with such indignity that they fled in fear of their lives, and Rama Rajah, offended in his turn, induced Burhan

Nizam to attack Ibrahim. He did so successfully, and captured the fortress of Kallian; and on Ibrahim's

retaliating by seizing one of the Ahmadnagar forts, an open alliance was entered into between Burhan and

Rama. The two kings met near Raichur in 1551, laid siege to the place and took it. Mudkul also capitulated,

About this time,[312] so we are told by a Muhammadan historian, Rama Raya's two brothers rebelled against

his authority during his absence from the capital, and seized the fortress of Adoni; upon which Rama begged

aid from the Qutb Shah Ibrahim, and this being granted, Rama besieged Adoni for six months. The place

In 1553 Burhan died, and once more the two leading Muhammadan states became friendly for a short time;

but the air was too full of intrigue and jealousy for this to last long. Sultan Ibrahim negotiated an

understanding with Vijayanagar, and this led to a renewal of the war, in the course of which a battle took

But the most serious reverse which he suffered was at the hands of a chief named AinulMulkh, whom by

ingratitude and illtreatment he had driven into open rebellion. At the end of a short campaign against this

person the royal troops were completely beaten, and the Sultan was driven to take refuge at Bijapur. In a state

of desperation he called on the Raya of Vijayanagar for aid, and Rama, as usual representing the puppet

sovereign, sent his brother, Venkatadri, with a large force to expel the enemy from the Sultan's

dominions.[313] The story of the rebel "EinalMoolk's" discomfiture at the hands of Venkatadri is thus told

"Syef Ein al Moolkh, imitating Assud Khan, resolved to surprize the infidels; but Venkatadry, having

intelligence of his designs, ordered his troops to be on their guard; and having procured long faggots, with

cloth steeped in oil bound round one end of each, commanded his followers upon the alarm being given to

light them, and holding them up as high as possible, give the troops a full sight of the enemy. Ein al Moolk,

agreeably to his intentions, having one night chosen two thousand men for the purpose, marched with

Sullabut Khan to the enemy's camp, which he was allowed to enter unmolested; but upon a signal given, all

the brands were instantly lighted up, and Venkatadry, who was prepared with his troops, rushed upon the

surprizers, who expected no resistance, with such success that above five hundred of them were killed before

the detachment could clear the camp. Ein al Moolk and Sullabut with the greatest difficulty made their

escape; but, losing, the road through the darkness of the night, a report spread in his camp on the return of

some of the fugitives, that he was killed; and his troops being immediately struck with a panic, separated and

fled to different quarters. Ein al Moolkh and Sullabut Khan, with two hundred horse, about daylight arriving

at their ground, and seeing it deserted, fled in confusion by the route of Maan to the dominions of Nizam

Shaw, where they sought protection, but were basely assassinated by his treachery."

In 1555 an attempt was made by the Portuguese under their new Viceroy, Pedro de Mascarenhas, to place

Prince Abdullah on the throne of Bijapur, the foreigners being dazzled by the magnificent offers made to

them, should the joint efforts of the conspirators be crowned with success. Abdullah was established at

Ponda, and proclamation made of his accession to the throne. On the death of De Mascarenhas in 1555,

Francisco Barreto succeeded him with the title of governor, and having installed the prince at Ponda he

proceeded to collect the revenues of the country. He was, however, opposed by an officer of Ibrahim Adil

Meanwhile Ibrahim himself had not been idle, and aided by fifteen thousand of Sadasiva's troops from

Vijayanagar he dethroned and captured the ambitious prince, following this up by several attacks on the

Portuguese forces. The war lasted during the whole winter of 1556, but with no very decisive results. Next

year a fresh relay of troops from Bijapur attacked Salsette and Bardes, but were beaten by a small force of

Shortly after this, viz., in 1557, Sultan Ibrahim died. "During his illness he put to death several physicians

who had failed in cure, beheading some, and causing others to be trodden to death by elephants, so that all the

surviving medical practitioners, alarmed, fled from his dominions." He was succeeded by his eldest son, Ali

The new Sultan, immediately on his accession, cemented his father's alliance with Sadasiva and Rama Rajah

by the execution of a new treaty, and sent ambassadors on a similar errand to Husain Nizam Shah, the

successor of Burhan at Ahmadnagar. These, however, were badly received, and Sultan Ali, whose envoys at

the Hindu capital had been warmly welcomed and hospitably treated, determined to establish, if possible, a

real and lasting friendship with Vijayanagar. To this end he adopted a most unusual course, the account of

"Ali Adil Shaw, who was intent on extricating his dominions from the losses of his father by alliance with

Ramraaje, on the death of a son of that monarch,[315] with uncommon prudence and resolution went,

attended by one hundred horse, to Beejanuggur, to offer his condolence on the melancholy occasion.

Ramraaje received him with the greatest respect,[316] and the sultan with the kindest persuasions prevailed

upon him to lay aside his mourning. The wife of Ramraaje adopted the sultan as her son, and at the end of

three days, which were spent in interchanges of friendly professions, he took his leave; but as Ramraaje did

not attend him out of the city, he was disgusted, and treasured up the affront in his mind, though too prudent

The incident thus entirely failed in its intended effect. It produced a lasting irritation in the mind of the

Sultan, and a haughty arrogance on the part of Rama Raya, who conceived that the fortunes of his hereditary

enemy must be at a very low ebb when he could condescend so far to humble himself.

In the next year, 1558, according to Couto,[318] Rama Raya made an expedition to "Meliapor," or Mailapur,

near Madras, where was an important establishment of Roman Catholic monks and the Church of St.

Thomas. I quote the passage from the summary given by Senhor Lopes in his introduction to the

CHRONICA DOS REIS DE BISNAGA (p. lxvi.). "The poor fathers of the glorious Order of St. Francis

having seized all the coast from Negapatam to San Thome, they being the first who had begun to preach there

the light of the Holy Gospel, and having throughout that tract thrown down many temples and destroyed

many pagodas, a thing which grieved excessively all the Brahmans, these latter reported the facts to Rama

Raya, king of Bisnaga, whose vassals they were, and begged him that he would hasten to their assistance for

They succeeded in persuading him that the newcomers were possessed of enormous riches, and he proceeded

against the place, but afterwards finding that this was not true, and that the inhabitants were loyal to him, he

On his return to Bijapur, Ali Adil peremptorily demanded from Hussain Nizam Shah the restoration of the

fortresses of Kallian and Sholapur; and on the latter's contemptuous refusal (he "sent back a reply so indecent

"In the year 966 (October 14, A.D. 1558 to October 3, 1559), Ali Adil Shaw having called Ramraaje to his

assistance, they in concert divided the dominions of Houssein Nizam Shaw, and laid them waste in such a

manner that from Porundeh to Khiber, and from Ahmednuggur to Dowlutabad, not a mark of population was

to be seen. The infidels of Beejanuggur, who for many years had been wishing for such an event, left no

cruelty unpractised. They insulted the honour of the mussulmaun women, destroyed the mosques, and did not

This behaviour on the part of the Hindus so incensed the followers of Islam, not only the hostile subjects of

Golkonda but even the allied troops and inhabitants of the Bijapur territories, that it laid the foundation for

In 1558 Dom Constantine de Braganza became Viceroy of Goa, and his period of government was signalised

by every kind of violence and aggression. In 1559 Luiz de Mello carried fire and sword into the towns along

the Malabar coast. He attacked Mangalore, set fire to the town, and put all the inhabitants to death. Later in

the year he destroyed in similar manner a number of towns and villages on the same coast, and desolated the

In 1560 the See of Goa was elevated into an archbishopric, and the Inquisition, the horrors of which even

excelled that of Spain, was established. The inhabitants of Goa and its dependencies were now forced to

embrace Christianity, and on refusal or contumacy were imprisoned and tortured. In this year also, and those

following, the predatory excursions of the Portuguese were continued. In 1564 the Viceroy sent Mesquita

with three ships to destroy a number of ships belonging to the Malabarese. Mesquita captured twentyfour of

these, by twos and threes at a time, sunk them, beheaded a large number of the sailors, and in the case of

hundreds of others, sewed them up in sails and threw them overboard. In these ways he massacred 2000 men.

This resulted in a serious war in Malabar, as the wretched inhabitants of the country; driven to desperation,

determined at all hazards to destroy the ruthless invaders of their land. The Portuguese were attacked at

Cannanore, and a series of desperate struggles took place, in the course of which Noronha, the commandant,

desolated the country and ruined many people by cutting down forty thousand palm trees. At last, however,

Arrogance of Rama Raya Ahmadnagar attacked Muhammadans combine against Vijayanagar The

league of the five kings Their advance to Talikota Decisive battle, 1565, and total defeat of the Hindus

Death of Rama Raya Panic at Vijayanagar Flight of the royal family Sack of the great city

Its total destruction Evidence of Federici, 1567 Downfall of Portuguese trade, and decay of prosperity

Meanwhile affairs were advancing rapidly in the interior. After the Nizam Shah's dominions had been

wasted, as already described, by the Adil Shah and Rama Raya, peace was made by the restoration of Kallian

to Bijapur;[320] but as soon as the allies had retired, Hussain entered into an alliance with Ibrahim Qutb Shah

and again marched to attack Ali Adil. Again Ali called in the aid of Vijayanagar, and again Rama Raya

marched to his aid, this time with 50,000 horse and an immense force of infantry. The opposing forces met at

Kallian, when the Qutb Shah deserted to Ali Adil, and Hussain was compelled to withdraw to Ahmadnagar.

"The three sovereigns laid siege to Ahmednuggur, and despatched detachments various ways to lay waste the

country round. The Hindoos of Beejanuggur committed the most outrageous devastations, burning and razing

the buildings, putting up their horses in the mosques, and performing their idolatrous worship in the holy

places; but, notwithstanding, the siege was pushed with the greatest vigour, the garrison held out with

resolution, hoping that at the approach of the rainy season, the enemy would be necessitated to raise the siege.

"when the rains had set in, from the floods, damp, and want of provisions, distress began to prevail in the

camp of the allies, and Kootub Shaw also secretly corresponded with the besieged, to whom he privately sent

The siege was raised, therefore, and before long the allies separated, and the Hindu army returned home.

"In the first expedition on which Ali Adil Shaw, pressed by the behaviour of Houssein Nizam Shaw, had

called Ramraaje to his assistance, the Hindoos at Ahmednuggur committed great outrages, and omitted no

mark of disrespect to the holy religion of the faithful, singing and performing their superstitious worship in

the mosques. The sultan was much hurt at this insult to the faith, but, as he had not the ability to prevent it, he

did not seem to observe it. Ramraaje also, at the conclusion of this expedition, looking on the Islaam sultans

as of little consequence, refused proper honours to their ambassadors. When he admitted them to his

presence, he did not suffer them to sit, and treated them with the most contemptuous reserve and haughtiness.

He made them attend when in publick in his train on foot, not allowing them to mount till he gave orders. On

the return from the last expedition to Nuldirruk, the officers and soldiers of his army in general, treated the

mussulmauns with insolence, scoffing, and contemptuous language; and Ramraaje, after taking leave, casting

an eye of avidity on the countries of Koottub Shaw and Adil Shaw, dispatched armies to the frontiers of

Both the great Shahs, therefore, abandoned certain territories to the Hindus, and from Golkonda Rama

"Ramraaje daily continuing to encroach on the dominions of the mussulmauns, Adil Shaw at length resolved,

if possible, to punish his insolence and curtail his power by a general league of the faithful against him; for

which purpose he convened an assembly of his friends and confidential advisers."

Some of these urged that the Raya was too wealthy and powerful, by reason of his immense revenues, which

were collected from no less than sixty seaports in addition to very large territories and dependencies, and the

number of his forces was too vast, for any single Muhammadan monarch to cope with him. They therefore

pressed the Sultan to form a federation of all the kings of the Dakhan and wage a joint war. Ali Adil heartily

concurred in their opinion, and began by despatching a secret embassy to Ibrahim Qutb Shah.

Ibrahim eagerly accepted, and offered his services as mediator between Ali Adil and his great rival at

Ahmadnagar. An envoy was sent to the latter capital, and the sovereign, Hussain Shah, warned beforehand of

the important proposals to be made, received him in private audience. The ambassador then laid before the

"He represented to him that during the times of the Bhamenee princes, when the whole strength of the

mussulmaun power was in one hand, the balance between it and the force of the roles of Beejanuggur was

nearly equal; that now the mussulmaun authority was divided, policy demanded that all the faithful princes

should unite as one, and observe the strictest friendship, that they might continue secure from the attacks of

their powerful common enemy, and the authority of the roles of Beejanuggur, who had reduced all the rajas

of Carnatic to their yoke, be diminished, and removed far from the countries of Islaam; that the people of

their several dominions, who ought to be considered the charge of the Almighty committed to their care,

might repose free from the oppressions of the unbelievers, and their mosques and holy places be made no

These arguments had their full weight, and it was arranged that Hussain Nizam Shah should give his daughter

Chand Bibi in marriage to Ali Adil with the fortress of Sholapur as her DOT, and that his eldest son, Murtiza,

should espouse Ali's sister the two kingdoms coalescing for the conquest and destruction of Vijayanagar.

The marriages were celebrated in due course, and the Sultans began their preparations for the holy war.

"Ali Adil Shaw, preparatory to the war, and to afford himself a pretence for breaking with his ally, dispatched

an ambassador to Ramraaje, demanding restitution of some districts that had been wrested from him. As he

expected, Ramraaje expelled the ambassador in a very disgraceful manner from his court; and the united

sultans now hastened the preparations to crush the common enemy of the Islaam faith."

Ibrahim Qutb Shah had also joined the coalition, and the four princes met on the plains of Bijapur, with their

respective armies. Their march towards the south began on Monday, December 25, A.D. 1564.[322]

Traversing the now dry plains of the Dakhan country, where the cavalry, numbering many thousands, could

graze their horses on the young crops, the allied armies reached the neighbourhood of the Krishna near the

small fortress and town of Talikota, a name destined to be for ever celebrated in the annals of South

It is situated on the river Don, about sixteen miles above its junction with the Krishna, and sixtyfive miles

west of the point where the present railway between Bombay and Madras crosses the great river. The country

at that time of the year was admirably adapted for the passage of large bodies of troops, and the season was

Here Ali Adil, as lord of that country, entertained his allies in royal fashion, and they halted for several days,

attending to the transport and commissariat arrangements of the armies, and sending out scouts to report on

At Vijayanagar there was the utmost confidence. Remembering how often the Moslems had vainly attempted

to injure the great capital, and how for over two centuries they had never succeeded in penetrating to the

south, the inhabitants pursued their daily avocations with no shadow of dread or sense of danger; the strings

of packbullocks laden with all kinds of merchandise wended their dusty way to and from the several

seaports as if no sword of Damocles was hanging over the doomed city; Sadasiva, the king, lived his

profitless life in inglorious seclusion, and Rama Raya, king de facto, never for a moment relaxed his attitude

of haughty indifference to the movements of his enemies. "He treated their ambassadors," says Firishtah,

Nevertheless he did not neglect common precautions. His first action was to send his youngest brother,

Tirumala, the "Yeltumraj" or "Eeltumraaje" of Firishtah, to the front with 20,000 horse, 100,000 foot, and

500 elephants, to block the passage of the Krishna at all points. Next he despatched his second brother,

Venkatadri, with another large army; and finally marched in person towards the point of attack with the

whole power of the Vijayanagar empire. The forces were made up of large drafts from all the provinces

Canarese and Telugus of the frontier, Mysoreans and Malabarese from the west and centre, mixed with the

Tamils from the remoter districts to the south; each detachment under its own local leaders, and forming part

of the levies of the temporary provincial chieftain appointed by the crown. According to Couto, they

numbered 600,000 foot and 100,000 horse. His adversaries had about half that number. As to their

appearance and armament, we may turn for information to the description given us by Paes of the great

review of which he was an eyewitness fortyfive years earlier at Vijayanagar,[325] remembering always

that the splendid troops between whose lines he then passed in the king's procession were probably the

ELITE of the army, and that the common soldiers were clad in the lightest of working clothes, many perhaps

The allies had perhaps halted too long. At any rate, their scouts returned to their sovereigns with the news that

all the passages of the river were defended, and that their only course was to force the ford immediately in

their front. This was in possession of the Hindus, who had fortified the banks on the south side, had thrown

The defenders of the ford anxiously awaited intelligence of their enemy's movements, and learning that he

had struck his camp and marched along the course of the river, they quitted their post and followed, keeping

always to the south bank in readiness to repel any attempt to cross directly in their front. This manoeuvre, a

ruse on the part of the Mussulmans, was repeated on three successive days. On the third night the Sultans

hastily left their camp, returned to the ford, and, finding it deserted, crossed with a large force. This

movement covered the transit of the whole of their army, and enabled them to march southwards to the attack

Rama Raya, though surprised, was not alarmed, and took all possible measures for defence. In the morning

the enemy was within ten miles of his camp, and Venkatadri and Tirumala succeeded in effecting a junction

On the following day, Tuesday, January 23; 1565,[327] both sides having made their dispositions, a pitched

battle took place[328] in which all the available forces of both sides were engaged. In one of his descriptions

Firishtah estimates the Vijayanagar army alone as amounting to 900,000 infantry, 45,000 cavalry, and 2000

elephants, besides 15,000 auxiliaries; but he himself varies so greatly in the numbers he gives in different

parts of his narrative that there is no necessity to accept these figures as accurate. There can be little doubt,

however, that the numbers were very large. The Hindu left, on the west, was entrusted to the command of

Tirumala; Rama Raya in person was in the centre, and the right was composed of the troops of Venkatadri.

Opposed to Tirumala were the forces of Bijapur under their Sultan Ali Adil; the Mussalman centre was under

the command of Hussain Nizam Shah; and the left of the allied army, in Venkatadri's front, consisted of the

forces brought from Ahmadabad and Golkonda by the two Sultans, Ali Barid and Ibrahim Qutb. The allied

forces drew up in a long line with their artillery in the centre, and awaited the enemy's attack, each division

with the standards of the twelve Imams waving in the van. The Nizam Shah's front was covered by six

hundred pieces of ordnance disposed in three lines, in the first of which were heavy guns, then the smaller

ones, with light swivel guns in the rear. In order to mask this disposition two thousand foreign archers were

thrown out in front, who kept up a heavy discharge as the enemy's line came on. The archers fell back as the

Hindus of Rama's division approached, and the batteries opened with such murderous effect that the

Rama Rajah was now a very old man Couto says "he was ninetysix years old, but as brave as a man of

thirty" and, against the entreaties of his officers, he preferred to superintend operations from a litter rather

than remain for a long time mounted a dangerous proceeding, since in case of a reverse a rapid retreat was

rendered impossible. But he could not be induced to change his mind, remarking that in spite of their brave

show the enemy were children and would soon be put to flight. So confident was he of victory that it is said

he had ordered his men to bring him the head of Hussain Nizam, but to capture the Adil Shah and Ibrahim of

The battle becoming more general, the Hindus opened a desolating fire from a number of fieldpieces and

rocketbatteries. The left and right of the Muhammadan line were pressed back after destructive

handtohand fighting, many falling on both sides. At this juncture Rama Raya, thinking to encourage his

men, descended from his litter and seated himself on a "rich throne set with jewels, under a canopy of

crimson velvet, embroidered with gold and adorned with fringes of pearls," ordering his treasurer to place

heaps of money all round him, so that he might confer rewards on such of his followers as deserved his

attention. "There were also ornaments of gold and jewels placed for the same purpose." A second attack by

the Hindus on the guns in the centre seemed likely to complete the overthrow of the whole Muhammadan

line, when the front rank of pieces was fired at close quarters, charged with bags of copper money; and this

proved so destructive that 5000 Hindus were left dead on the field in front of the batteries. This vigorous

policy threw the Hindu centre into confusion, upon which 5000 Muhammadan cavalry charged through the

intervals of the guns and cut their way into the midst of the disorganised masses, towards the spot where the

Raya had taken post. He had again changed his position and ascended his litter; but hardly had he done so

when an elephant belonging to the Nizam Shah, wild with the excitement of the battle, dashed forward

towards him, and the litterbearers let fall their precious burden in terror at the animal's approach. Before he

had time to recover himself and mount a horse, a body of the allies was upon him, and he was seized and

This event threw the Hindus into a panic, and they began to give way. Rama Raya was conducted by the

officer who commanded the artillery of Hussain Nizam to his Sultan, who immediately ordered his captive to

be decapitated, and the head to be elevated on a long spear, so that it might be visible to the Hindu troops.

On seeing that their chief was dead, the Vijayanagar forces broke and fled "They were pursued by the allies

with such successful slaughter that the river which ran near the field was dyed red with their blood. It is

computed on the best authorities that above one hundred thousand infidels were slain in fight and during the

The Mussulmans were thus completely victorious, and the Hindus fled towards the capital; but so great was

the confusion that there was not the slightest attempt made to take up a new and defensive position amongst

the hills surrounding the city, or even to defend the walls or the approaches. The rout was complete.

"The plunder was so great that every private man in the allied army became rich in gold, jewels, effects, tents,

arms, horses, and slaves, as the sultans left every person in possession of what he had acquired, only taking

De Couto, describing the death of Rama Raya, states[329] that Hussain Nizam Shah cut off his enemy's head

with his own hand, exclaiming, "Now I am avenged of thee! Let God do what he will to me!" The Adil Shah,

The story of this terrible disaster travelled apace to the city of Vijayanagar. The inhabitants, unconscious of

danger, were living in utter ignorance that any serious reverse had taken place; for their leaders had marched

out with countless numbers in their train, and had been full of confidence as to the result. Suddenly, however,

came the bad news. The army was defeated; the chiefs slain; the troops in retreat. But still they did not grasp

the magnitude of the reverse; on all previous occasions the enemy had been either driven back, or bought off

with presents from the overstocked treasury of the kings. There was little fear, therefore, for the city itself.

That surely was safe! But now came the dejected soldiers hurrying back from the fight, and amongst the

foremost the panicstricken princes of the royal house. Within a few hours these craven chiefs hastily left the

palace, carrying with them all the treasures on which they could lay their hands. Five hundred and fifty

elephants, laden with treasure in gold, diamonds, and precious stones valued at more than a hundred millions

sterling, and carrying the state insignia and the celebrated jewelled throne of the kings, left the city under

convoy of bodies of soldiers who remained true to the crown. King Sadasiva was carried off by his jailor,

Tirumala, now sole regent since the death of his brothers; and in long line the royal family and their followers

Then a panic seized the city. The truth became at last apparent. This was not a defeat merely, it was a

cataclysm. All hope was gone. The myriad dwellers in the city were left defenceless. No retreat, no flight was

possible except to a few, for the packoxen and carts had almost all followed the forces to the war, and they

had not returned. Nothing could be done but to bury all treasures, to arm the younger men, and to wait. Next

day the place became a prey to the robber tribes and jungle people of the neighbourhood. Hordes of Brinjaris,

Lambadis, Kurubas, and the like,[331] pounced down on the hapless city and looted the stores and shops,

carrying off great quantities of riches. Couto states that there were six concerted attacks by these people

The third day[332] saw the beginning of the end. The victorious Mussulmans had halted on the field of battle

for rest and refreshment, but now they had reached the capital, and from that time forward for a space of five

months Vijayanagar knew no rest. The enemy had come to destroy, and they carried out their object

relentlessly. They slaughtered the people without mercy, broke down the temples and palaces; and wreaked

such savage vengeance on the abode of the kings, that, with the exception of a few great stonebuilt temples

and walls, nothing now remains but a heap of ruins to mark the spot where once the stately buildings stood.

They demolished the statues, and even succeeded in breaking the limbs of the huge Narasimha monolith.

Nothing seemed to escape them. They broke up the pavilions standing on the huge platform from which the

kings used to watch the festivals, and overthrew all the carved work. They lit huge fires in the magnificently

decorated buildings forming the temple of Vitthalasvami near the river, and smashed its exquisite stone

sculptures. With fire and sword, with crowbars and axes, they carried on day after day their work of

destruction. Never perhaps in the history of the world has such havoc been wrought, and wrought so

suddenly, on so splendid a city; teeming with a wealthy and industrious population in the full plenitude of

prosperity one day, and on the next seized, pillaged, and reduced to ruins, amid scenes of savage massacre

Caesaro Federici, an Italian traveller or "Caesar Frederick," as he is often called by the English visited

the place two years later, in 1567. He relates that, after the sack, when the allied Muhammadans returned to

their own country, Tirumala Raya tried to repopulate the city, but failed, though some few people were

"The Citie of BEZENEGER is not altogether destroyed, yet the houses stand still, but emptie, and there is

dwelling in them nothing, as is reported, but Tygres and other wild beasts."[333]

The loot must have been enormous. Couto states that amongst other treasures was found a diamond as large

Such was the fate of this great and magnificent city. It never recovered, but remained for ever a scene of

desolation and ruin. At the present day the remains of the larger and more durable structures rear themselves

from amongst the scanty cultivation carried on by petty farmers, dwellers in tiny villages scattered over the

area once so populous. The mud huts which constituted the dwellingplaces of by far the greater portion of

the inhabitants have disappeared, and their materials overlie the rocky plain and form the support of a scanty

and sparse vegetation. But the old waterchannels remain, and by their aid the hollows and low ground have

been converted into rich gardens and fields, bearing full crops of waving rice and sugarcane. Vijayanagar

has disappeared as a city, and a congeries of small hamlets with an industrious and contented population has

Here my sketch of Vijayanagar history might well end, but I have thought it advisable to add a few notes on

Tirumala took up his abode at Penukonda, and shortly afterwards sent word to the Portuguese traders at Goa

that he was in need of horses. A large number were accordingly delivered, when the despotic ruler dismissed

the men to return to Goa as best they could without payment. "He licensed the Merchants to depart," writes

Federici, "without giving them anything for their Horses, which when the poore Men saw, they were

desperate, and, as it were, mad with sorrow and griefe." There was no authority left in the land, and the

traveller had to stay in Vijayanagar seven months, "for it was necessarie to rest there until the wayes were

clear of Theeves, which at that time ranged up and downe." He had the greatest difficulty in making his way

to Goa at all, for he and his companions were constantly seized by sets of marauders and made to pay heavy

ransom for their liberty, and on one occasion they were attacked by dacoits and robbed.

Tirumala being now with King Sadasiva in Penukonda, the nobles of the empire began to throw off their

allegiance, and one after another to proclaim their independence. The country was in a state of anarchy. The

empire, just now so solid and compact, became disintegrated, and from this time forward it fell rapidly to

To the Portuguese the change was of vital importance. Federici has left us the following note on their trade

"The Merchandize that went every yeere from Goa to Bezeneger were Arabian Horses, Velvets, Damaskes,

and Sattens, Armesine[335] of Portugall, and pieces of China, Saffron, and Scarletts; and from Bezeneger

they had in Turkie for their commodities, Jewels and Pagodas,[336] which be Ducats of Gold; the Apparell

that they use in Bezeneger is Velvet, Satten, Damaske, Scarlet, or white Bumbast cloth, according to the

Sassetti, who was in India from 1578 to 1588, confirms the others as to Portuguese loss of trade on the ruin of

"The traffic was so large that it is impossible to imagine it; the place was immensely large; and it was

inhabited by people rich, not with richness like ours, but with richness like that of the Crassi and the others of

those old days.... And such merchandise! Diamonds, rubies, pearls ... and besides all that, the horse trade.

That alone produced a revenue in the city (Goa) of 120 to 150 thousand ducats, which now reaches only 6

"By this destruction of the kingdom of Bisnaga, India and our State were much shaken; for the bulk of the

trade undertaken by all was for this kingdom, to which they carried horses, velvets, satins and other sorts of

merchandize, by which they made great profits; and the Custom House of Goa suffered much in its Revenue,

so that from that day till now the inhabitants of Goa began to live less well; for paizes and fine cloths were a

trade of great importance for Persia and Portugal, and it then languished, and the gold pagodas, of which

every year more than 500,000 were laden in the ships of the kingdom, were then worth 7 1/2 Tangas, and to

Sassetti gives another reason, however, for the decay of Portuguese trade and influence at Goa, which cannot

be passed over without notice. This was the terrible Inquisition. The fathers of the Church forbade the Hindus

under terrible penalties the use of their own sacred books, and prevented them from all exercise of their

religion. They destroyed their temples and mosques, and so harassed and interfered with the people that they

abandoned the city in large numbers, refusing to remain any longer in a place where they had no liberty, and

were liable to imprisonment, torture, and death if they worshipped after their own fashion the gods of their

About this period, therefore (1567), the political condition of Southern India may be thus summed up: The

Muhammadans of the Dakhan were triumphant though still divided in interest, and their country was broken

up into states each bitterly hostile to the other. The great empire of the south was sorely stricken, and its

capital was for ever destroyed; the royal family were refugees at Pennakonda; King Sadasiva was still a

prisoner; and Tirumala, the only survivor of the "three brethren which were tyrants,"[340] was governing the

kingdom as well as he could. The nobles were angry and despondent, each one seeking to be free; and the

Portuguese on the coast were languishing, with their trade irretrievably injured.

Firishtah summarises the events immediately succeeding the great battle in the following words:

"The sultans, a few days after the battle, marched onwards into the country of Ramraaje as far as

Anicondeh,[341] and the advanced troops penetrated to Beejanuggur, which they plundered, razed the chief

buildings, and committed all manner of excess. When the depredations of the allies had destroyed all the

country round, Venkatadri,[342] who had escaped from the battle to a distant fortress, sent humble entreaties

of peace to the sultans, to whom he gave up all the places which his brothers had wrested from them; and the

victors being satisfied, took leave of each other at Roijore (Raichur), and returned to their several dominions.

The raaje of Beejanuggur since this battle has never recovered its ancient splendour; and the city itself has

been so destroyed that it is now totally in ruins and uninhabited,[343] while the country has been seized by

the zemindars (petty chiefs), each of whom hath assumed an independent power in his own district."

In 1568 (so it is said) Tirumala murdered his sovereign, Sadasiva, and seized the throne for himself; but up to

that time he seems to have recognised the unfortunate prince as his liege lord, as we know from four

inscriptions at Vellore bearing a date corresponding to 5th February 1567 A.D.[344]

Genealogy The Muhammadan States Fall of Bankapur, Kondavid, Bellamkonda and Vinukonda

The following is the genealogy of this third family.[345] They came apparently of the old royal stock, but

their exact relationship to it has never been conclusively settled. The dates appended are the dates of

The present Rajah of Anegundi, whose family name is Pampapati, and who resides on the old family estate as

a zamindar under H.H. the Nizam of Haidarabad, has favoured me with a continuation of the family tree to

Ranga VI., or, as he is generally styled, Sri Ranga, is said to have been the youngest of three brothers, sons of

Chinna Venkata III., Vira Venkatapati Raya being the eldest. Gopala, a junior member of the family,

succeeded to the throne and adopted Ranga VI., who was thus a junior member of the eldest branch. The

I have no means of knowing whether this information is correct, but the succession of the eldest is given on

Pampapati Rajah is recognised by his Government as head of the family for two reasons: first and foremost,

because the elder line is extinct and he was adopted by his sister Kuppamma, wife of Krishna Deva of the

elder line; secondly, because his two elder brothers are said to have resigned their claims in his favour. The

title of the present chief is "Sri Ranga Deva Raya." Whether or no he has better title than his nephew, Kumara

Raghava, need not here be discussed. The interest to the readers of this history lies in the fact that these two

To revert to the history, which need only be shortly summarised since we have seen Vijayanagar destroyed

I omit altogether the alternate political combinations and dissolutions, the treacheries, quarrels, and fights of

the various Muhammadan states after 1565, as unnecessary for our purpose and in order to avoid prolixity,

summarising only a few matters which more particularly concern the territories formerly under the great

According to Golkonda accounts, a year after the great battle which resulted in the destruction of

Vijayanagar, a general of the Qutb Shah, Raffat Khan Lari, ALIAS Malik Naib, marched against

Rajahmundry, which was finally captured from the Hindus in A.D. 1571 72 (A.H. 979).

Shortly after his return to Bijapur (so says Firishtah), Ali Adil Shah moved again with an army towards

Vijayanagar, but retired on the Ahmadnagar Sultan advancing to oppose him; and not long afterwards he

made an ineffectual attempt to reduce Goa. Retiring from the coast, he marched to attack Adoni, then under

one of the vassal chiefs of Vijayanagar, who had made himself independent in that tract. The place was taken,

and the Nizam Shah agreed with the king of Bijapur that he would not interfere with the latter's attempts to

annex the territories south of the Krishna, if he on his part were left free to conquer Berar.

In 1573, therefore, Ali Adil moved against Dharwar and Bankapur. The siege of the latter place under its

chief, Velappa Naik, now independent, lasted for a year and six months, when the garrison, reduced to great

straits, surrendered. Firishtah[346] states that the Adil Shah destroyed a "superb temple" there, and himself

laid the first stone of a mosque which was built on its foundation. More successes followed in the Konkan.

Three years later Bellamkonda was similarly attacked, and the Raya in terror retired from Penukonda to

Chandragiri. This campaign, however, resulted in failure, apparently owing to the Shah of Golkonda assisting

the Hindus. In 1579 the king of Golkonda, in breach of his contract, attacked and reduced the fortresses of

Vinukonda and Kondavid as well as Kacharlakota and Kammam,[347] thus occupying large tracts south of

In 1580 Ali Adil was murdered. Firishtah in his history of the Qutb Shahs gives the date as Thursday, 23rd

Safar, A.H. 987, but the true day appears to have been Monday, 24th Safar, A.H. 988, corresponding to

Monday, April 11, A.D. 1580. This at least is the date given by an eyewitness, one RafiudDin Shirazi,

who held an important position at the court at the time. (The question is discussed by Major King in the

INDIAN ANTIQUARY, vol. xvii. p. 221.) Ibrahim Qutb Shah of Golkonda also died in 1580 and was

succeeded by Muhammad Quli, his third son, who in 1589 founded the city of Haidarabad, originally carted

Bhagnagar. He carried on successful wars in the present Kurnool and Cuddapah districts, capturing Kurnool,

Nandial, Dole, and Gandikota, following up these successes by inroads into the eastern districts of Nellore.

King Tirumala of Vijayanagar was in 1575 followed apparently by his second son, Ranga II., whose

successor was his brother Venkata I.[348] (1586). The latter reigned for at least twentyeight years, and died

an old man in 1614. At his death there were widespread revolts, disturbances, and civil warfare, as we shall

presently see from the account of Barradas given in the next chapter. An important inscription of his reign,

dated in A.D. 1601 2, and recorded on copperplates, has been published by Dr. Hultzsch.[349]

In 1593 the Bijapur Sultan, Ibrahim Adil, invaded Mysore, which then belonged to the Raya, and reduced the

place after a three months' siege. In the same year this Sultan's brother, Ismail, who had been kept prisoner at

Belgaum, rose against his sovereign and declared himself independent king of the place. He was besieged

there by the royal troops' but owing to treachery in the camp they failed to take the place, and the territories in

the neighbourhood were for some time a prey to insurrections and disturbances. Eventually they were

reduced to submission and the rebel was killed. Contemporaneously with these events, the Hindus again tried

to obtain possession of Adoni, but without success;[350] and a war broke out between the rival kingdoms of

With this period ends abruptly the narrative of Firishtah relating to the Sultans of Bijapur. The Golkonda

history[351] appears to differ widely from it, but I have not thought it necessary here to compare the two

The history of the seventeenth century in Southern India is one of confusion and disturbance. The different

governors became independent. The kings of the decadent empire wasted their wealth and lost their

territories, so that at length they held a mere nominal sovereignty, and nothing remained but the shadow of

the once great name the prestige of family. And yet, even so late as the years 1792 and 1793, I find a loyal

Reddi in the south, in recording on copperplates some grants of land to temples, declaring that he did so by

permission of "Venkatapati Maharaya of Vijayanagar;"[352] while I know of eight other grants similarly

recognising the old Hindu royal family, which were engraved in the eighteenth century.[353]

The Ikkeri or Bednur chiefs styled themselves underlords of Vijayanagar till 1650.[354] A Vijayanagar

viceroy ruled over Mysore till 1610, after which the descendants of the former viceroys became Rajahs in

All the Muhammadan dynasties in the Dakhan fell under the power of the Mogul emperors of Delhi towards

the close of the seventeenth century, and the whole of the south of India soon became practically theirs. But

meanwhile another great power had arisen, and at one time threatened to conquer all India. This was the

sovereignty of the Mahrattas. Sivaji conquered all the Konkan country by 1673, and four years later he had

overthrown the last shreds of Vijayanagar authority in Kurnool, Gingi, and Vellore; while his brother Ekoji

had already, in 1674, captured Tanjore, and established a dynasty there which lasted for a century. But with

this exception the Mahrattas established no real domination in the extreme south.

Mysore remained independent under its line of Hindu kings till the throne was usurped by Haidar Ali and his

son and successor, "Tippoo," who together ruled for about forty years. After the latter's defeat and death at

Seringapatam in 1799, the country was restored by the English to the Hindu line.

The site on which stands Fort St. George at Madras was granted to Mr. Francis Day, chief factor of the

English there, by Sri Ranga Raya VI. in March 1639, the king being then resident in Chandragiri.

Chandragiri in 1614 Death of King Venkata Rebellion of Jaga Raya and murder of the royal family

Loyalty of Echama Naik The Portuguese independent at San Thome Actors in the drama The affair

The following note of occurrences which took place at Chandragiri in 1614 on the death of King Venkata I.

will be found of singular interest, as it relates to events of which we in England have hitherto, I think, been in

complete ignorance. In consists of an extract from a letter written at Cochin on December 12, A.D. 1616, by

Manuel Barradas, and recently found by Senhor Lopes amongst a quantity of letters preserved in the National

Archives at Lisbon.[355] He copied it from the original, and kindly sent it to me. The translation is my own.

"I will now tell you ... about the death of the old King of Bisnaga, called Vencattapatti Rayalu,[356] and of

his selection as his successor of a nephew by name Chica Rayalu; setting aside another who was commonly

held to be his son, but who in reality was not so. The true fact was this. The King was married to a daughter

of Jaga Raya by name Bayama, and though she eagerly longed for a son she had none in spite of the means,

legitimate or illegitimate, that she employed for that purpose. A Brahman woman of the household of the

Queen's father, knowing how strong was the Queen's desire to have a son, and seeing that God had not

granted her one, told her that she herself was pregnant for a month; and she advised her to tell the King, and

to publish it abroad, that she (the Queen) had been pregnant for a month, and to feign to be in that state, and

said that after she (the Brahman woman) had been delivered she would secretly send the child to the palace

by some confidant, upon which the Queen could announce that this boy was her own son. The advice seemed

good to the Queen, and she pretended that she was pregnant, and no sooner was the Brahman woman

delivered of a son than she sent it to the palace, and the news was spread abroad that Queen Bayama had

brought forth a son. The King, knowing all this, yet for the love he bore the Queen, and so that the matter

should not come to light, dissembled and made feasts, giving the name 'Chica Raya' to the boy, which is the

name always given to the heir to the throne.[357] Yet he never treated him as a son, but on the contrary kept

him always shut up in the palace of Chandigri,[358] nor ever allowed him to go out of it without his especial

permission, which indeed he never granted except when in company of the Queen. Withal, the boy arriving at

the age of fourteen years, he married him to a niece of his, doing him much honour so as to satisfy Obo Raya,

"Three days before his death, the King, leaving aside, as I say, this putative son, called for his nephew Chica

Raya, in presence of several of the nobles of the kingdom, and extended towards him his right hand on which

was the ring of state, and put it close to him, so that he should take it and should become his successor in the

kingdom. With this the nephew, bursting into tears, begged the King to give it to whom he would, and that

for himself he did not desire to be king, and he bent low, weeping at the feet of the old man. The King made a

sign to those around him that they should raise the prince up, and they did so; and they then placed him on

the King's right hand, and the King extended his own hand so that he might take the ring. But the prince lifted

his hands above his head, as if he already had divined how much ill fortune the ring would bring him, and

begged the King to pardon him if he wished not to take it. The old man then took the ring and held it on the

point of his finger offering it the second time to Chica Raya, who by the advice of the captains present took it,

and placed it on his head and then on his finger, shedding many tears. Then the King sent for his robe, valued

at 200,000 cruzados, the great diamond which was in his ear, which was worth more than 500,000 cruzados,

his earrings, valued at more than 200,000, and his great pearls, which are of the highest price. All these royal

insignia he gave to his nephew Chica Raya as being his successor, and as such he was at once proclaimed.

"Three days later the King died at the age of sixtyseven years. His body was burned in his own garden with

sweetscented woods, sandal, aloes, and such like; and immediately afterwards three queens burned

themselves, one of whom was of the same age as the King, and the other two aged thirtyfive years. They

showed great courage. They went forth richly dressed with many jewels and gold ornaments and precious

stones, and arriving at the funeral pyre they divided these, giving some to their relatives; some to the

Brahmans to offer prayers for them, and throwing some to be scrambled for by the people. Then they took

leave of all, mounted on to a lofty place, and threw themselves into the middle of the fire, which was very

"Then the new King began to rule, compelling some of the captains to leave the fortress, but keeping others

by his side; and all came to him to offer their allegiance except three. These were Jaga Raya, who has six

hundred thousand cruzados of revenue and puts twenty thousand men into the field; Tima Naique, who has

four hundred thousand cruzados of revenue and keeps up an army of twelve thousand men; and Maca Raya,

who has a revenue of two hundred thousand cruzados and musters six thousand men. They swore never to do

homage to the new King, but, on the contrary, to raise in his place the putative son of the dead King, the

nephew of Jaga Raya,[360] who was the chief of this conspiracy. In a few days there occurred the following

"The new King displeased three of his nobles; the first, the Dalavay, who is the commander of the army and

pays a tribute of five hundred thousand cruzados, because he desired him to give up three fortresses which the

King wished to confer on two of his own sons; the second, his minister, whom he asked to pay a hundred

thousand cruzados, alleging that he had stolen them from the old King his uncle; the third, Narpa Raya, since

he demanded the jewels which his sister, the wife of the old King, had given to Marpa. All these three

answered the King that they would obey his commands within two days; but they secretly plotted with Jaga

Raya to raise up the latter's nephew to be King. And this they did in manner following:

"Jaga Raya sent to tell the King that he wished to do homage to him, and so also did Tima Maique and Maca

Raya. The poor King allowed them to enter. Jaga Raya selected five thousand men, and leaving the rest

outside the city he entered the fortress with these chosen followers. The two other conspirators did the same,

each of them bringing with them two thousand selected men. The fortress has two walls. Arrived at these,

Jaga Raya left at the first gate a thousand men, and at the second a thousand. The Dalavay seized two other

gates of the fortress, on the other side. There being some tumult, and a cry of treason being raised, the King

ordered the palace gates to be closed, but the conspirators as soon as they reached them began to break them

down. Maca Raya was the first to succeed, crying out that he would deliver up the King to them; and he did

so, seeding the King a message that if he surrendered he would pledge his word to do him no ill, but that the

"The poor surrounded King, seeing himself without followers and without any remedy, accepted the promise,

and with his wife and sons left the tower in which he was staying. He passed through the midst of the soldiers

with a face grave and severe, and with eyes downcast. There was none to do him reverence with hands (as is

"The King having left, Jaga Raya called his nephew and crowned him, causing all the nobles present to do

him homage; and he, finding himself now crowned King, entered the palace and took possession of it and of

all the riches and precious stones that he found there. If report says truly, he found in diamonds alone three

large chests full of fine stones. After this (Jaga Raya) placed the deposed King under the strictest guard, and

he was deserted by all save by one captain alone whose name was Echama Naique, who stopped outside the

fortress with eight thousand men and refused to join Jaga Raya. Indeed, hearing of the treason, he struck his

"Jaga Raya sent a message to this man bidding him come and do homage to his nephew, and saying that if he

refused he would destroy him. Echama Naique made answer that he was not the man to do reverence to a boy

who was the son of no one knew whom, nor even what his caste was; and, so far as destroying him went,

would Jaga Raya come out and meet him? If so, he would wait for him with such troops as he possessed!

"When this reply was received Jaga Raya made use of a thousand gentle expressions, and promised honours

and revenues, but nothing could turn him. Nay, Echama took the field with his forces and offered battle to

Jaga Raya; saying that, since the latter had all the captains on his side, let him come and fight and beat him if

he could, and then the nephew would become King unopposed. In the end Jaga Raya despaired of securing

Echama Naique's allegiance, but he won over many other nobles by gifts and promises.

"While Jaga Raya was so engaged, Echama Naique was attempting to obtain access to the imprisoned King

by some way or other; but finding this not possible, he sought for a means of at least getting possession of

one of his sons. And he did so in this manner. He sent and summoned the washerman who washed the

imprisoned King's clothes, and promised him great things if he would bring him the King's middle son. The

washerman gave his word that he would so do if the matter were kept secret. When the day arrived on which

it was the custom for him to take the clean clothes to the King, he carried them (into the prison) and with

them a palmleaf letter from Echama Naique, who earnestly begged the King to send him one at least of the

three sons whom he had with him, assuring him that the washerman could effect his escape. The King did so,

giving up his second son aged twelve years, for the washerman did not dare take the eldest, who was eighteen

years old. He handed over the boy, and put him in amongst the dirty clothes, warning him to have no fear and

not to cry out even if he felt any pain. In order more safely to pass the guards, the washerman placed on top

of all some very foul clothes, such as every one would avoid; and went out crying 'TALLA! TALLA!' which

means 'Keep at a distance! keep at a distance!' All therefore gave place to him, and he went out of the fortress

to his own house. Here he kept the prince in hiding for three days, and at the end of them delivered him up to

Echama Naique, whose camp was a league distant from the city, and the boy was received by that chief and

"The news then spread abroad and came to the ears of Jaga Raya, who commanded the palace to be searched,

and found that it was true. He was so greatly affected that he kept to his house for several days; but he

doubled the guards on the King, his prisoner, closed the gates, and commanded that no one should give aught

"As soon as it was known that Echama Naique had possession of the King's son, there went over to him four

of Jaga Raya's captains with eight thousand men; so that he had in all sixteen thousand, and now had good

hope of defending the rightful King. He took, therefore, measures for effecting the latter's escape. He selected

from amongst all his soldiers twenty men, who promised to attempt to dig an underground passage which

should reach to where the King lay in prison. In pursuance of this resolve they went to the fortress, offered

themselves to the Dalavay as entering into his service, received pay, and after some days began to dig the

passage so as to gain entrance to the King's prison. The King, seeing soldiers enter thus into his apartment,

was amazed, and even more so when he saw them prostrate themselves on the ground and deliver him a

palmleaf letter from Echama Naique, in which he begged the King to trust himself to these men, as they

would escort him out of the fortress. The King consented. He took off his robes hastily and covered himself

with a single cloth; and bidding farewell to his wife, his sons, and his daughters, told them to have no fear,

"But it so happened that at this very moment one of the soldiers who were guarding the palace by night with

torches fell into a hole, and at his cries the rest ran up, and on digging they discovered the underground

passage. They entered it and got as far as the palace, arriving there just when the unhappy King was

descending into it in order to escape. He was seized and the alarm given to Jaga Raya, who sent the King to

another place more confined and narrower, and with more guards, so that the poor prisoner despaired of ever

"Echama Naique, seeing that this stratagem had failed, bribed heavily a captain of five hundred men who

were in the fortress to slay the guards as soon as some good occasion offered, and to rescue the King. This

man, who was called Iteobleza,[362] finding one day that Jaga Raya was leaving the palace with all his men

in order to receive a certain chief who had proffered his submission, and that there only remained in the

fortress about five thousand men, in less than an hour slew the guards, seized three gates, and sent a message

to Echama Naique telling him to come at once and seize the fortress. But Jaga Raya was the more

expeditious; he returned with all his forces, entered by a postern gate, of the existence of which Iteobleza had

"Enraged at this attempt, Jaga Raya, to strengthen the party of his nephew, resolved to slay the King and all

his family. He entrusted this business to a brother of his named Chinaobraya,[363] ordering him to go to the

palace and tell the poor King that he must slay himself, and that if he would not he himself would kill him

"The prisoner attempted to excuse himself, saying that he knew nothing of the attempted revolt. But seeing

the determination of Chinaobraya, who told him that he must necessarily die, either by his own hand or by

that of another a most pitiful case, and one that I relate full of sorrow! the poor King called his wife,

and after he had spoken to her awhile he beheaded her. Then he sent for his youngest son and did the same to

him. He put to death similarly his little daughter. Afterwards he sent for his eldest son, who was already

married, and commanded him to slay his wife, which he did by beheading her. This done, the King took a

long sword of four fingers' breadth, and, throwing himself upon it, breathed his last; and his son, heir to the

throne, did the same to himself in imitation of his father. There remained only a little daughter whom the

King could not bring himself to slay; but Chinaobraya killed her, so that none of the family should remain

"Some of the chiefs were struck with horror at this dreadful deed, and were so enraged at its cruelty that they

went over to Echama Naique, resolved to defend the prince who had been rescued by the washerman, and

who alone remained of all the royal family. Echama Naique, furious at this shameful barbarity and confident

in the justice of his cause, selected ten thousand of his best soldiers, and with them offered battle to Jaga

Raya, who had more than sixty thousand men and a number of elephants and horses. Echama sent him a

message in this form: 'Now that thou hast murdered thy king and all his family, and there alone remains

this boy whom I rescued from thee and have in my keeping, come out and take the field with all thy troops;

"Jaga Raya tried to evade this for some time; but finding that Echama Naique insisted, he decided to fight

him, trusting that with so great a number of men he would easily not only be victorious, but would be able to

capture both Echama Naique and the prince. He took the field, therefore, with all his troops. Echama Naique

entrusted the prince to a force of ten thousand men who remained a league away, and with the other ten

thousand he not only offered battle, but was the first to attack; and that with such fury and violence that Jaga

Raya, with all the people surrounding his nephew, was driven to one side, leaving gaps open to the enemy,

and many met their deaths in the fight. Echama Naique entered in triumph the tents of Jaga Raya, finding in

them all the royal insignia belonging to the old King and these he delivered to the young prince, the Son of

Chica Raya, proclaiming him rightful heir and King of all the empire of Bisnaga.

"The spoil which he took was very large, for in precious stones alone they say that he found two millions

"After this victory many of the nobles joined themselves to Echama Naique. So much so, that in a short time

he had with him fifty thousand fighting men in his camp; while Jaga Raya, with only fifteen thousand, fled to

the jungles. Here, however, he was joined by more people, so that the war has continued these two

years,[364] fortune favouring now one side now the other. But the party of the young prince has always been

gaining strength; the more so because, although the great Naique of Madura[365] a page of the betel to the

King of Bisnaga, who pays a revenue every year of, some say, 600,000 pagodas, and has under him many

kings and nobles as vassals, such as he of Travancor took the side of Jaga Raya, and sustained him against

the Naique of Tanjaor. Yet the latter, though not so powerful, is, with the aid of the young King, gradually

getting the upper hand. Indeed there are now assembled in the field in the large open plains of

Trinchenepali[366] not only the hundred thousand men that each party has, but as many as a million of

"Taking advantage of these civil wars, the city of San Thome[367] which up to now belonged to the King

of Bisnaga, paying him revenues and customs which he used to make over to certain chiefs, by whom the

Portuguese were often greatly troubled determined to liberate itself, and become in everything and for

everything the property of the King of Portugal. To this end she begged the Viceroy to send and take

possession of her in the name of his Majesty, which he did, as I shall afterwards tell you. Meanwhile the

captain who governed the town, by name Manuel de Frias, seeing that there was close to the town a fortress

that commanded it, determined to seize it by force, seeing that its captain declined to surrender it. So he laid

In the end the Portuguese were successful. The fortress was taken, its garrison of 1500 men capitulated, and a

The foregoing story relates to events never before, I think, made known to English readers, and so far is of

the highest interest. Let us, for the moment, grant its accuracy, and read it by the light of the genealogical

King Venkata I. (1586 1614) had a sister who was married to a chief whom Barradas calls "Obo" (perhaps

Obala) Raya. So far as we know, his only nephews were Tirumala II. and Ranga III., sons of his brother,

Rama III. Since Tirumala II. appears to have had no sons, and Ranga III. had a son, Rama IV, who is asserted

in the inscriptions to have been "one of several brothers," it is natural to suppose that the nephew mentioned

by Barradas, who was raised to be king on the death of the old King Venkata I. in 1614, and who had three

sons, was Ranga III., called "Chikka Raya" or "Crownprince" in the text. He, then, succeeded in 1614, but

was afterwards deposed, imprisoned, and compelled to take his own life. His eldest son at the same time

followed his example, and his youngest son was slain by his father. The "middle son" escaped, and was raised

to the throne by a friendly chief named Echama Naik. This second son was probably Ranga IV. Two of King

Venkata's wives were Bayama, daughter of Jaga Raya, and a lady unnamed, sister of Narpa Raya. A niece of

Venkata I. had been given in marriage to a Brahman boy, who had been surreptitiously introduced into the

palace by Bayama and educated in the pretence that he was son of King Venkata. The plot to raise him to the

throne was temporarily successful, and Ranga III. and all the royal family were killed, saving only Ranga IV.,

How much of the story told is true we cannot as yet decide; but it is extremely improbable that the whole is a

pure invention, and we may for the present accept it, fixing the date of these occurrences as certainly between

the years 1614 and 1616 A.D. the date of Barradas's letter being December 12 in the latter year.

It will be observed that the inscriptions upon which the genealogical table given above, from the

EPIGRAPHIA INDICA, is founded do not yield any date between A.D. 1614 and 1634, when Pedda Venkata

II. is named as king. In 1883 I published[369] a list of Vijayanagar names derived from reports of inscriptions

which had then reached me. I am by no means certain of their accuracy, and it is clear that they must all be

In 1633 the Portuguese, encouraged by the Vijayanagar king, still at Chandragiri, attempted to eject the Dutch

from "Paleacate," or Pulicat. An arrangement was made by which the Portuguese were to attack by sea and

the Rajah by land; but while the Viceroy sent his twelve ships as agreed on, the Rajah failed to attack,

alleging in explanation that he was compelled to use his army to put down internal disturbances in the

kingdom. A second expedition met with no better success, the plans of the Portuguese being again upset by

the non fulfilment of the king's part of the bargain. On the departure of the fleet the king did attack the Dutch

settlement, but was bought off by a large payment, and the Hollanders remained subsequently undisturbed.

Senhor Lopes tells me that he has found in the National Archives in the Torre do Tombo, amongst the

"Livros das Moncoes," a number of papers bearing on this subject. The most interesting are those contained

in Volume xxxiv. (fol. 91 99). These were written by the CaptainGeneral of Meliapor (St. Thome), by

Padre Pero Mexia of the Company of Jesus, and by the Bishop; and amongst the other documents are to be

seen translations of two palmleaf letters written by the king of Vijayanagar, then at Vellore. It appears from

these that the king was devoid of energy, and that one Timma Raya had revolted against him.

We know that in 1639 the king of Vijayanagar was named Ranga or SriRanga, and that he was at that time

residing at Chandragiri; because in that year Mr. Day, the head of the English trading station a Madras,

obtained from the king a grant of land at that place, one mile broad by five miles long, on which Fort St.

George was afterwards constructed. The country about Madras was then ruled over by a governor or Naik,

and so little heed did he pay to the wishes or commands of his titular sovereign, that although the Raya had

directed that the name of the new town should be "Srirangarayalapatnam" ("city of Sri Ranga Raya"), the

Naik christened it after the name of his own father, Chenna, and called it "Chennapatnam," by which

appellation it has ever since been known to the Hindus. Such, at least, is the local tradition. This king was

After this date my (doubtful and unexamined) inscriptions yield the following names and dates:

A.D. Ranga 1643, 1647, 1655, 1662, 1663, 1665, 1667, 1678 Venkata 1678, 1680 Ranga 1692 Venkata 1706

Ranga 1716 Mahadeva 1724 Ranga 1729 Venkata 1732 Rama 1739 (?) Venkata 1744 Venkata 1791, 1792,

From Sir Thomas Munro's papers I gather that the territory about the old family estate of Anegundi was early

in the eighteenth century held by the Rayas from the Mogul emperor of Delhi as a tributary state. In 1749 it

was seized by the Mahrattas, and in 1775 it was reduced by Haidar Ali of Mysore, but continued to exist as a

Tipu, who never suffered from an excess of compunction or compassion when his own interests were at

stake, annexed the estate bodily to his dominions in 1786. Thirteen years later he was killed at Seringapatam,

and in the settlement that followed the little territory was made over to the Nizam of Haidarabad, the English

Government retaining all lands on their side of the Tungabhadra. Partly in compensation for this loss of land

the Government has till very recently paid an annual pension to the head of the Anegundi family. This has

(? to the historian Barros) which accompanied the Chronicles when sent from India to Portugal about the year

Since I have lived till now in this city (? Goa), it seemed necessary to do what your Honour desired of me,

namely, to search for men who had formerly been in Bisnaga; for I know that no one goes there without

bringing away his quire of paper written about its affairs. Thus I obtained this summary from one Domingos

Paes, who goes there, and who was at Bisnaga in the time of Crisnarao when Cristovao de Figueiredo was

there. I obtained another from Fernao Nuniz, who was there three years trading in horses (which did not

prove remunerative). Since one man cannot tell everything one relating some things which another does

not I send both the summaries made by them, namely, one in the time of Crisnarao, as I have said, and the

other sent from there six months since. I desire to do this because your honour can gather what is useful to

you from both, and because you will thus give the more credit to some things in the chronicle of the kings of

Bisnaga, since they conform one to the other. The copy of the summary which he began to make[370] when

Of the things which I saw and contrived to learn concerning the kingdom of Narsimga, etc.[371]

On leaving India[372] to travel towards the kingdom of Narsymga from the seacoast, you have (first) to

pass a range of hills (SERRA), the boundary of the said kingdom and of those territories which are by the sea.

This SERRA runs along the whole of the coast of India, and has passes by which people enter the interior; for

all the rest of the range is very rocky and is filled with thick forest. The said kingdom has many places on the

coast of India; they are seaports with which we are at peace, and in some of them we have factories, namely,

Amcola, Mirgeo, Honor, Batecalla, Mamgalor, Bracalor, and Bacanor. And as soon as we are above this

SERRA we have a plain country in which there are no more ranges of hills, but only a few mountains, and

these small ones; for all the rest is like the plains of Ssantarem.[373] Only on the road from Batecala[374] to

a town called ZAMBUJA, there are some ranges with forests; nevertheless the road is very even. From

Batecala to this town of Zambur[375] is forty leagues; the road has many streams of water by its side, and

because of this so much merchandise flows to Batecala that every year there come five or six thousand

Now to tell of the aforesaid kingdom. It is a country sparsely wooded except along this SERRA on the

east,[376] but in places you walk for two or three leagues under groves of trees; and behind cities and towns

and villages they have plantations of mangoes, and jackfruit trees, and tamarinds and other very large trees,

which form restingplaces where merchants halt with their merchandise. I saw in the city of Recalem[377] a

tree under which we lodged three hundred and twenty horses, standing in order as in their stables, and all over

the country you may see many small trees. These dominions are very well cultivated and very fertile, and are

provided with quantities of cattle, such as cows, buffaloes, and sheep; also of birds, both those belonging to

the hills and those reared at home, and this in greater abundance than in our tracts. The land has plenty of rice

and Indiancorn, grains, beans, and other kind of crops which are not sown in our parts; also an infinity of

cotton. Of the grains there is a great quantity, because, besides being used as food for men, it is also used for

horses, since there is no other kind of barley; and this country has also much wheat, and that good. The whole

country is thickly populated with cities and towns and villages; the king allows them to be surrounded only

with earthen walls for fear of their becoming too strong. But if a city is situated at the extremity of his

territory he gives his consent to its having stone walls, but never the towns; so that they may make fortresses

And because this country is all flat, the winds blow here more than in other parts. The oil which it produces

comes from seeds sown and afterwards reaped, and they obtain it by means of machines which they make.

This country wants water because it is very great and has few streams; they make lakes in which water

collects when it rains, and thereby they maintain themselves. They maintain themselves by means of some in

which there are springs better than by others that have only the water from rain; for we find many quite dry,

so that people go about walking in their beds, and dig holes to try and find enough water, even a little, for

their maintenance. The failure of the water is because they have no winter as in our parts and in (Portuguese)

India, but only thunderstorms that are greater in one year than in another. The water in these lakes is for the

most part muddy, especially in those where there are no springs, and the reason why it is so muddy is because

of the strong wind and the dust that is in this country, which never allows the water to be clear, and also

because of the numbers of cattle, buffaloes, cows, oxen, and other small cattle that drink in them. For you

must know that in this land they do not slaughter oxen or cows; the oxen are beasts of burden and are like

sumptermules; these carry all their goods. They worship the cows, and have them in their pagodas made in

stone, and also bulls; they have many bulls that they present to these pagodas, and these bulls go about the

city without any one causing them any harm or loss. Further, there are asses in this country, but they are

small, and they use them only for little things; those that wash clothes lay the cloths on them, and use them

for this more than for anything else. You must know that this kingdom of Narsymga has three hundred

GRAOS of coast, each GRAO being a league, along the hillrange (SERRA) of which I have spoken, until

you arrive at Ballagate and Charamaodel,[378] which belong to this kingdom; and in breadth it is one

hundred and sixtyfour GRAOS; each large GRAO measures two of our leagues, so that it has six hundred

leagues of coast, and across it three hundred and fortyeight leagues... across from Batacalla to the kingdom

And this kingdom marches[380] with all the territory of Bengal, and on the other side with the kingdom of

Orya, which is to the east, and on the other side to the north with the kingdom of Dakhan, belonging to which

are the lands which the Ydallcao[381] has, and Ozemelluco.[382] Goa is at war with this Ydallcao, because

And this kingdom of Orya, of which I have spoken above, is said to be much larger than the kingdom of

Narsymga, since it marches with all Bengal, and is at war with her; and it marches with all the kingdom of

Pegu and with the MALLACA Sea. It reaches to the kingdom of Cambaya, and to the kingdom of Dakhan;

and they told me with positive certainty that it extends as far as Persia. The population thereof is light

coloured, and the men are of good physique. Its king has much treasure and many soldiers and many

elephants, for there are numbers of these in this country. (My informants) know this well, and they say that

Coming back to our subject, I say that I will not mention here the situation of the cities, and towns, and

villages in this kingdom of Narsymga, to avoid prolixity; only I shall speak of the city of Darcha,[383] which

has a monument such as can seldom be seen elsewhere. This city of Darcha is very well fortified by a wall,

though not of stone, for the reason that I have already stated. On the western side, which is towards

(Portuguese) India, it is surrounded by a very beautiful river, and on the other, eastern side the interior of the

country is all one plain, and along the wall is its moat. This Darcha has a pagoda, which is the monument I

speak of, so beautiful that another as good of its kind could not be found within a great distance. You must

know that it is a round temple made of a single stone, the gateway all in the manner of joiners work, with

every art of perspective. There are many figures of the said work, standing out as much as a cubit from the

stone, so that you see on every side of them, so well carved that they could not be better done the faces as

well as all the rest; and each one in its place stands as if embowered in leaves; and above it is in the

Romanesque style, so well made that it could not be better. Besides this, it has a sort of lesser porch upon

pillars, all of stone, and the pillars with their pedestals[384] so well executed that they appear as if made in

Italy; all the cross pieces and beams are of the same stone without any planks or timber being used in it, and

in the same way all the ground is laid with the same stone, outside as well as in. And all this pagoda, as far

round as the temple goes, is enclosed by a trellis made of the same stone, and this again is completely

surrounded by a very strong wall, better even than the city has, since it is all of solid masonry. It has three

entrance gates, which gates are very large and beautiful, and the entrance from one of these sides, being

towards the east and facing the door of the pagoda, has some structures like verandahs, small and low, where

sit some JOGIS;[385] and inside this enclosure, which has other little pagodas of a reddish colour, there is a

stone like the mast of a ship, with its pedestal foursided, and from thence to the top eightsided, standing in

the open air. I was not astonished at it, because I have seen the needle of St. Peters at Rome, which is as high,

These pagodas are buildings in which they pray and have their idols; the idols are of many sorts, namely,

figures of men and women, of bulls, and apes, while others have nothing but a round stone which they

worship. In this temple of Darcha is an idol in the figure of a man as to his body, and the face is that of an

elephant with trunk and tusks,[387] and with three arms on each side and six hands, of which arms they say

that already four are gone, and when all fall then the world will be destroyed they are full of belief that this

will be, and hold it as a prophecy. They feed the idol every day, for they say that he eats; and when he eats

women dance before him who belong to that pagoda, and they give him food and all that is necessary, and all

girls born of these women belong to the temple. These women are of loose character, and live in the best

streets that there are in the city; it is the same in all their cities, their streets have the best rows of houses They

are very much esteemed, and are classed amongst those honoured ones who are the mistresses of the captains;

any respectable man may go to their houses without any blame attaching thereto. These women (are allowed)

even to enter the presence of the wives of the king, and they stay with them and eat betel with them, a thing

which no other person may do, no matter what his rank may be. This betel is a herb which has a leaf like the

leaf of the pepper, or the ivy of our country; they always eat this leaf, and carry it in their mouths with

another fruit called areca. This is something like a medlar, but it is very hard, and it is very good for the

breath and has many other virtues; it is the best provision for those who do not eat as we do. Some of them

eat flesh; they eat all kinds except beef and pork, and yet, nevertheless, they cease not to eat this betel all day.

Afterwards going from this city of Darcha towards the city of Bisnaga,[388] which is eighteen leagues

distant, and is the capital of all the kingdom of Narsymga, where the king always resides, you have many

cities and walled villages; and two leagues before you arrive at the city of Bisnaga you have a very lofty

SERRA which has passes by which you enter the city. These are called "gates" (PORTAS). You must enter

by these, for you will have no means of entrance except by them. This range of hills surrounds the city with a

circle of twentyfour leagues, and within this range there are others that encircle it closely. Wherever these

ranges have any level ground they cross it with a very strong wall, in such a way that the hills remain all

closed, except in the places where the roads come through from the gates in the first range, which are the

entrance ways to the city. In such places there are some small pits (or caves?)[389] which could be defended

by a few people; these SERRAS continue as far as the interior of the city. Between all these enclosures are

plains and valleys where rice is grown, and there are gardens with many orangetrees, limes, citrons, and

radishes (RABAOS), and other kinds of garden produce as in Portugal, only not lettuces or cabbages.

Between these hillranges are many lakes by which they irrigate the crops mentioned, and amongst all these

ranges there are no forests or patches of brushwood, except very small ones, nor anything that is green. For

these hills are the strangest ever seen, they are of a white stone piled one block over another in manner most

singular, so that it seems as if they stood in the air and were not connected one with another; and the city is

The SERRAS reach as far as the kingdom of Daquem,[390] and border upon the territories belonging to the

Ydallcao, and upon a city called Rachol that formerly belonged to the king of Narsymga; there has been

much war over it, and this king took it from the Ydallcao. So that these ranges are in a way the cause (of the

two kingdoms) never uniting and always being at war; and even on the side of Orya also there are ranges, but

they are different from these, since like ours they have scrub and small patches of brushwood; these ranges

are low and between them are great plains. On the extreme east of these two kingdoms you must know that

the country is all covered with scrub, the densest possible to be seen, in which there are great beasts, and

(this) forms so strong a fortress for it that it protects both sides; it has its entrances by which they pass from

one kingdom to the other. In these passes on the frontier the king of Narsymga has a captain with a quantity

of troops, but on the side of (Portuguese) India he has none, except as I have said.

Now turning to the gates of the first range, I say that at the entrance of the gate where those pass who come

from Goa, which is the principal entrance on the western side; this king has made within it a very strong

city[391] fortified with walls and towers, and the gates at the entrances very strong, with towers at the gates;

these walls are not like those of other cities, but are made of very strong masonry such as would be found in

few other parts, and inside very beautiful rows of buildings made after their manner with flat roofs. There live

in this many merchants, and it is filled with a large population because the king induces many honourable

merchants to go there from his cities, and there is much water in it. Besides this the king made a tank[392]

there, which, as it seems to me, has the width of a falconshot,[393] and it is at the mouth of two hills, so that

all the water which comes from either one side or the other collects there; and, besides this, water comes to it

from more than three leagues by pipes which run along the lower parts of the range outside. This water is

brought from a lake which itself overflows into a little river. The tank has three large pillars handsomely

carved with figures; these connect above with certain pipes by which they get water when they have to

irrigate their gardens and ricefields. In order to make this tank the said king broke down a hill which

enclosed the ground occupied by the said tank. In the tank I saw so many people at work that there must have

been fifteen or twenty thousand men, looking like ants, so that you could not see the ground on which they

walked, so many there were; this tank the king portioned out amongst his captains, each of whom had the

duty of seeing that the people placed under him did their work, and that the tank was finished and brought to

The tank burst two or three times, and the king asked his Brahmans to consult their idol as to the reason why

it burst so often, and the Brahmans said that the idol was displeased, and desired that they should make a

sacrifice, and should give him the blood of men and horses and buffaloes; and as soon as the king heard this

he forthwith commanded that at the gate of the pagoda the heads of sixty men should be cut off, and of

These Brahmans are like friars with us, and they count them as holy men I speak of the Brahman priests

and the lettered men of the pagodas because although the king has many Brahmans, they are officers of

the towns and cities and belong to the government of them; others are merchants, and others live by their own

property and cultivation, and the fruits which grow in their inherited grounds. Those who have charge of the

temples are learned men, and eat nothing which suffers death, neither flesh nor fish, nor anything which

makes broth red, for they say that it is blood. Some of the other Brahmans whom I mentioned, who seek to

serve God, and to do penance, and to live a life like that of the priests, do not eat flesh or fish or any other

thing that suffers death, but only vegetables[394] and butter and other things which they make of fruit,[395]

with their rice. They are all married, and have very beautiful wives; the wives are very retiring, and very

seldom leave the house. The women are of light colour, and in the caste of these Brahmans are the fairest

men and women that there are in the land; for though there are men in other castes commonly of light

complexion, yet these are few. There are many in this country who call themselves Brahmans, but they lead a

life very different from those of whom I have spoken, for these last are men to whom the king pays much

This new city that the king made bears the name of his wife for love of whom he made it,[396] and the said

city stands in a plain, and round it the inhabitants make their gardens as the ground suits, each one being

separate. In this city the king made a temple with many images. It is a thing very well made, and it has some

wells very well made after their fashion; its houses are not built with stories like ours, but are of only one

floor, with flat, roofs and towers,[397] different from ours, for theirs go from storey to storey. They have

pillars, and are all open, with verandahs inside and out, where they can easily put people if they desire, so that

they seem like houses belonging to a king. These palaces have an enclosing wall which surrounds them all,

and inside are many rows of houses. Before you enter the place where the king is there are two gates with

many guards, who prevent any one from entering except the captains and men who have business there; and

between these two gates is a very large court with its verandahs round it, where these captains and other

This king is of medium height, and of fair complexion and good figure, rather fat than thin, he has on his face

signs of smallpox. He is the most feared and perfect king that could possibly be, cheerful of disposition and

very merry; he is one that seeks to honour foreigners, and receives them kindly, asking about all their affairs

whatever their condition may be He is a great ruler and a man of much justice, but subject to sudden fits of

rage,[398] and this is his title "Crisnarao Macacao,[399] king of kings, lord of the greater lords of India,

lord of the three seas and of the land." He has this title[400] because he is by rank a greater lord than any, by

reason of what he possesses in (?) armies and territories, but it seems that he has (in fact) nothing compared

to what a man like him ought to have, so gallant and perfect is he in all things. This king was constantly at

war with the king of Orya, and entered his kingdom, taking and destroying many cities and towns; he put to

rout numbers of his soldiers and elephants, and took captive his son, whom he kept for a long time in this city

of Bisnaga, where he died; and in order to make a treaty and (preserve) peace, the king of Orya gave him a

This king has twelve lawful wives, of whom there are three principal ones, the sons of each of these three

being heirs of the kingdom, but not these of the others; this is (the case) when there are sons to all of them,

but when there is only one son, whosesoever he may be, he is heir. One of these principal wives is the

daughter of the king of Orya, and others daughters of a king his vassal who is king of Serimgapatao; another

wife is a courtezan whom in his youth he had for mistress before he became king, and she made him promise

that if he came to be king he would take her to wife, and thus it came to pass that this courtezan became his

wife. For love of her he built this new city, and its name was ... (SIC IN ORIG.) ... Each one of these wives

has her house to herself, with her maidens and women of the chamber, and women guards and all other

women servants necessary; all these are women, and no man enters where they are, save only the eunuchs,

who guard them. These women are never seen by any man, except perhaps by some old man of high rank by

favour of the king. When they wish to go out they are carried in litters shut up and closed,[401] so that they

cannot be seen, and all the eunuchs with them fully three or four hundred; and all other people keep a long

distance from them. They told us that each of these queens has a very large sum of money and treasure and

personal ornaments, namely armlets, bracelets, seedpearls,[402] pearls and diamonds, and that in great

quantity: and they also say that each of them has sixty maidens adorned as richly as could possibly be with

many jewels, and rubies and diamonds and pearls and seedpearls. These we afterwards saw, and stood

astonished; we saw them at certain festivals which I will afterwards speak of, and of the manner in which

they came. Within, with these maidens, they say that there are twelve thousand women; for you must know

that there are women who handle sword and shield, and others who wrestle, and others who blow trumpets,

and others pipes, and others instruments which are different from ours; and in the same way they have

women as bearers (BOOIS) and washingfolk, and for other offices inside their gates, just as the king has the

officers of his household. These three principal wives have each the same, one as much as the other, so that

there may never be any discord or ill feeling between them; all of them are great friends, and each one lives

by herself. It may be gathered from this what a large enclosure there must be for these houses where so many

The king lives by himself inside the palace, and when he wishes to have with him one of his wives he orders

a eunuch to go and call her. The eunuch does not enter where she is, but tells it to the female guards, who

make known to the queen that there is a message from the king, and then comes one of her maidens or

chamberwomen and learns what is wanted, and then the queen goes where the king is, or the king comes

where she is, and so passes the time as it seems good to him without any of the others knowing. Amongst

these eunuchs the king has some who are great favourites, and who sleep where he sleeps; they receive a

This king is accustomed every day to drink QUARTILHO (threequarter pint) of oil of GINGELLY[403]

before daylight, and anoints himself all over with the said oil; he covers his loins with a small cloth, and takes

in his arms great weights made of earthenware, and then, taking a sword, he exercises himself with it till he

has sweated out all the oil, and then he wrestles with one of his wrestlers. After this labour he mounts a horse

and gallops about the plain in one direction and another till dawn, for he does all this before daybreak. Then

he goes to wash himself, and a Brahman washes him whom he holds sacred, and who is a great favourite of

his and is a man of great wealth; and after he is washed he goes to where his pagoda is inside the palace, and

makes his orisons and ceremonies, according to custom. Thence he goes to a building made in the shape of a

porch without walls, which has many pillars hung with cloths right up to the top, and with the walls

handsomely painted; it has on each side two figures of women very well made. In such a building he

despatches his work with those men who bear office in his kingdom, and govern his cities, and his favourites

talk with them. The greatest favourite is an old man called Temersea;[404] he commands the whole

household, and to him all the great lords act as to the king. After the king has talked with these men on

subjects pleasing to him he bids enter the lords and captains who wait at the gate, and these at once enter to

make their salaam to him. As soon as they appear they make their salaam to him, and place themselves along

the walls far off from him; they do not speak one to another, nor do they chew betel before him, but they

place their hands in the sleeves of their tunics (CABAYAS) and cast their eyes on the ground; and if the king

desires to speak to any one it is done through a second person, and then he to whom the king desires to speak

raises his eyes and replies to him who questions him, and then returns to his former position. So they remain

till the king bids them go, and then they all turn to make the salaam to him and go out. The salaam, which is

the greatest courtesy that exists among them, is that they put their hands joined above their head as high as

When we came to this country the king was in this new town, and there went to see him Christovao de

Figueiredo[405] with all of us Portuguese that came with him, and all very handsomely dressed after our

manner, with much finery; the king received him very well, and was very complacent to him. The king was

as much pleased with him as if he had been one of his own people, so much attention did he evince towards

him; and also towards those amongst us who went with him he showed much kindness. We were so close to

the king that he touched us all and could not have enough of looking at us. Then Christovao de Figueiredo

gave him the letters from the CaptainMajor[406] and the things he had brought for him, with which he was

greatly delighted; principally with certain organs[407] that the said Christovao de Figueiredo brought him,

with many other things (PECAS). The king was clothed in certain white cloths embroidered with many roses

in gold, and with a PATECA[408]of diamonds on his neck of very great value, and on his head he had a cap

of brocade in fashion like a Galician helmet, covered with a piece of fine stuff all of fine silk, and he was

barefooted; for no one ever enters where the king is unless he has bare feet, and the majority of the people, or

almost all, go about the country barefooted. The shoes have pointed ends, in the ancient manner, and there are

other shoes that have nothing but soles, but on top are some straps which help to keep them on the feet. They

are made like those which of old the Romans were wont to wear, as you will find on figures in some papers

or antiquities which come from Italy. The king gave to Christovao de Figueiredo on dismissing him a

CABAYA (tunic) of brocade, with a cap of the same fashion as the king wore,[409] and to each one of the

Portuguese he gave a cloth embroidered with many pretty figures, and this the king gives because it is

When Christovao de Figueiredo had been dismissed by the king we came to the city of Bisnaga, which is a

league from this new city, and here he commanded us to be lodged in some very good houses; and Figueiredo

was visited by many lords and captains, and other persons who came on behalf of the king. And the king sent

him many sheep and fowls, and many vessels (CALOEES) full of butter and honey and many other things to

eat, which he at once distributed amongst all the footsoldiers and people whom he had brought with him.

The king said many kind and pleasant things to him, and asked him concerning the kind of state which the

king of Portugal kept up; and having been told about it all he seemed much pleased.

Returning then to the city of Bisnaga, you must know that from it to the new city goes a street as wide as a

place of tourney, with both sides lined throughout with rows of houses and shops where they sell everything;

and all along this road are many trees that the king commanded to be planted, so as to afford shade to those

that pass along. On this road he commanded to be erected a very beautiful temple of stone,[410] and there are

So that, returning to the city of Bisnaga, you must know that before you arrive at the city gates there is a gate

with a wall that encloses all the other enclosures of the city, and this wall is a very strong one and of massive

stonework; but at the present time it is injured in some places. They do not fail to have citadels[411] in it.

This wall has a moat of water in some places, and in the parts where it was constructed on low ground. And

there is, separate from it, yet another (defence) made in the following manner. Certain pointed stones of great

height are fixed in the ground as high as a man's breast; they are in breadth a lanceshaft and a half, with the

same distance between them and the great wall. This wall rises in all the low ground till it reaches some hill

or rocky land. From this first circuit until you enter the city there is a great distance, in which are fields in

which they sow rice and have many gardens and much water, which water comes from two lakes. The water

passes through this first line of wall, and there is much water in the lakes because of springs; and here there

Returning, then, to the first gate of the city, before you arrive at it you pass a little piece of water and then

you arrive at the wall, which is very strong, all of stonework, and it makes a bend before you arrive at the

gate; and at the entrance of this gate are two towers, one on each side, which makes it very strong. It is large

and beautiful. As soon as you pass inside there are two little temples; one of them has an enclosing wall with

many trees, while the whole of the other consists of buildings; and this wall of the first gate encircles the

whole city. Then going forward you have another gate with another line of wall, and it also encircles the city

inside the first, and from here to the king's palace is all streets and rows of houses, very beautiful, and houses

of captains and other rich and honourable men; you will see rows of houses with many figures and

decorations pleasing to look at. Going along the principal street, you have one of the chief gateways,[412]

which issues from a great open space[413] in front of the king's palace; opposite this is another which passes

along to the other side of the city; and across this open space pass all the carts and conveyances carrying

stores and everything else, and because it is in the middle of the city it cannot but be useful.

This palace of the king is surrounded by a very strong wall like some of the others, and encloses a greater

Still going forward, passing to the other gate you see two temples connected with it, one on each side, and at

the door of one of these they kill every day many sheep, for in all the city they do not kill any sheep for the

use of the heathen (Hindus), or for sale in the markets, except at the gate of this pagoda. Of their blood they

make sacrifices to the idol that is in the temple. They leave the heads to him, and for each sheep they give a

There is present at the slaughter of these beasts a JOGI (priest) who has charge of the temple, and as soon as

they cut off the head of the sheep or goat this JOGI blows a horn as a sign that the idol receives that sacrifice.

Close to these pagodas is a triumphal car covered with carved work and images, and on one day in each year

during a festival they drag this through the city in such streets as it can traverse. It is large and cannot turn

Going forward, you have a broad and beautiful street, full of rows of fine houses and streets of the sort I have

described, and it is to be understood that the houses belong to men rich enough to afford such. In this street

live many merchants, and there you will find all sorts of rubies, and diamonds, and emeralds, and pearls, and

seedpearls, and cloths, and every other sort of thing there is on earth and that you may wish to buy. Then

you have there every evening a fair where they sell many common horses and nags (ROCIS E

SEMDEIROS), and also many citrons, and limes, and oranges, and grapes, and every other kind of garden

stuff, and wood; you have all in this street. At the end of it you have another gate with its wall, which wall

goes to meet the wall of the second gate of which I have spoken in such sort that this city has three fortresses,

with another which is the king's palace. Then when this gate is passed you have another street where there are

many craftsmen, and they sell many things; and in this street there are two small temples. There are temples

in every street, for these appertain to institutions like the confraternities you know of in our parts,[415] of all

the craftsmen and merchants; but the principal and greatest pagodas are outside the city. In this street lodged

Christovao de Figueiredo. On every Friday you have a fair there, with many pigs and fowls and dried fish

from the sea, and other things the produce of the country, of which I do not know the name; and in like

manner a fair is held every day in different parts of the city. At the end of this street is the Moorish quarter,

which is at the very end of the city, and of these Moors there are many who are natives of the country[416]

and who are paid by the king and belong to his guard. In this city you will find men belonging to every nation

and people, because of the great trade which it has, and the many precious stones there, principally diamonds.

The size of this city I do not write here, because it cannot all be seen from any one spot, but I climbed a hill

whence I could see a great part of it; I could not see it all because it lies between several ranges of hills. What

I saw from thence seemed to me as large as Rome, and very beautiful to the sight; there are many groves of

trees within it, in the gardens of the houses, and many conduits of water which flow into the midst of it, and

in places there are lakes (TAMQUES); and the king has close to his palace a palmgrove and other

richbearing fruittrees. Below the Moorish quarter is a little river, and on this side are many orchards and

gardens with many fruittrees, for the most part mangoes and arecapalms and jacktrees, and also many

lime and orange trees, growing so closely one to another that it appears like a thick forest; and there are also

white grapes. All the water which is in the city comes from the two tanks of which I have spoken, outside the

The people in this city are countless in number, so much so that I do not wish to write it down for fear it

should be thought fabulous; but I declare that no troops, horse or foot, could break their way through any

This is the best provided city in the world, and is stocked with provisions such as rice, wheat, grains,

Indiancorn, and a certain amount of barley and beans, MOONG,[417] pulses, horsegram,[418] and many

other seeds which grow in this country which are the food of the people, and there is large store of these and

very cheap; but wheat is not so common as the other grains, since no one eats it except the Moors. But you

will find what I have mentioned. The streets and markets are full of laden oxen without count, so that you

cannot get along for them, and in many streets you come upon so many of them that you have to wait for

them to pass, or else have to go by another way. There is much poultry; they give three fowls in the city for a

coin worth a VINTEM,[419] which coins are called FAVAOS;[420] outside the city they give four fowls for

In this country there are many partridges, but they are not of the same sort or quality as ours: they are like the

There are three sorts of these: one class has only a small spur such as those of Portugal have; another class

has on each foot two very sharp spurs, almost as long and thick as one's finger; the other class is painted, and

of these you will find the markets full; as also of quails, and hares, and all kinds of wild fowl, and other birds

which live in the lakes and which look like geese. All these birds and game animals they sell alive, and they

are very cheap, for they give six or eight partridges for a VINTEM, and of hares they give two and sometimes

one. Of other birds they give more than you can count, for even of the large ones they give so many that you

would hardly pay any attention to the little ones they give you, such as doves and pigeons and the common

birds of the country. The doves are of two kinds; some are like those in Portugal, others are as large as

thrushes; of the doves they give twelve or fourteen for a FAVAO; the pigeons are the same price as the other

birds. Then the sheep that they kill every day are countless, one could not number them, for in every street

there are men who will sell you mutton, so clean and so fat that it looks like pork; and you also have pigs in

some streets of butchers' houses so white and clean that you could never see better in any country; a pig is

worth four or five FANAMS.[422] Then to see the many loads of limes that come each day, such that those

of Povos are of no account,[423] and also loads of sweet and sour oranges, and wild BRINJALS, and other

garden stuff in such abundance as to stupefy one. For the state of this city is not like that of other cities,

which often fail of supplies and provisions, for in this one everything abounds; and also the quantity of butter

and oil and milk sold every day, that is a thing I cannot refrain from mentioning; and as for the rearing of

cows and buffaloes which goes on in the city, there is so much that you will go very far before you find

another like it. There are many pomegranates also; grapes are sold at three bunches a FANAM, and

On the north side of the city is a very great river with much water, in which are many fish, which fish are

very unwholesome, and in this river there is that which passes for ... (SIC. IN ORIG.); other streams flow into

Now as to the places on the bank of this river. There is a city built there which they call

SENAGUMDYM,[424] and they say that of old it was the capital of the kingdom, but there now live in it few

people; it still has good walls and is very strong, and it lies between two hillranges which have only two

entrances. A captain lives in this city for the king. People cross to this place by boats which are round like

baskets;[425] inside they are made of cane, and outside are covered with leather; they are able to carry fifteen

or twenty persons, and even horses and oxen can cross in them if necessary, but for the most part these

animals swim across. Men row them with a sort of paddle, and the boats are always turning round, as they

cannot go straight like others; in all the kingdom where there are streams there are no other boats but

There are also in this city places where they sell live sheep; you will see the fields round the city full of them,

and also of cows and buffaloes it is a very pretty sight to see, and also the many shegoats and kids,

and the hegoats so large that they are bridled and saddled. Many sheep are like that also, and boys ride

Outside the city walls on the north there are three very beautiful pagodas, one of which is called

VITELLA,[427] and it stands over against this city of Nagumdym; the other is called

AOPERADIANAR,[428] and this is the one which they hold in most veneration, and to which they make

In this pagoda, opposite to its principal gate which is to the east, there is a very beautiful street of very

beautiful houses with balconies and arcades, in which are sheltered the pilgrims that come to it, and there are

also houses for the lodging of the upper classes; the king has a palace in the same street, in which he resides

when he visits this pagoda. There is a pomegranate tree [429] above this first gate, the gate has a very lofty

tower all covered with rows of men and women and hunting scenes and many other representations, and as

the tower goes narrowing towards the top so the images diminish in size. Passing this first gate, you come at

once into a large courtyard with another gate of the same sort as the first, except that it is rather smaller

throughout; and passing this second gate, there is a large court with verandahs all round on pillars of stone,

Opposite the principal gate stand four columns, two gilded and the other two copper, from which, owing to

their great age as it seems to me, the gold has worn off; and the other two are also of copper, for all are of

copper. That which stands nearest the gate of the temple was given by this King Crisnarao who now reigns

here, and the others by his predecessors. All the outer side of the gate of the temple up to the roof is covered

with copper and gilded, and on each side of the roof on the top are certain great animals that look like tigers,

all gilt. As soon as you enter this idolshrine, you perceive from pillar to pillar on which it is supported many

little holes in which stand oil lamps, which burn, so they tell me, every night, and they will be in number two

thousand five hundred or three thousand lights. As soon as you pass this shrine you enter another small one

like the crypt (CINZEYRO)[430] of some church; it has two doors at the sides, and thence onward this

building is like a chapel, where stands the idol which they adore. Before you get to it there are three doors;

the shrine is vaulted and dark without any light from the sky; it is always lit with candles. At the first gate are

doorkeepers who never allow any one to enter except the Brahmans that have charge of it, and I, because I

gave something to them, was allowed to enter. Between gate and gate are images of little idols. The principal

idol is a round stone without any shape; they have great devotion for it. This building outside is all covered

with copper gilt. At the back of the temple outside, close to the verandahs of which I have spoken, there is a

small idol of white alabaster with six arms;[431] in one it has a ...[432] and in the other a sword, and in the

others sacred emblems (ARMAS DE CASA), and it has below its feet a buffalo, and a large animal which is

helping to kill that buffalo. In this pagoda there burns continually a lamp of GHEE, and around are other

The other temples aforesaid are made in the same manner, but this one is the principal one and the oldest;

they all have many buildings and gardens with many trees, in which the Brahmans cultivate their

vegetables[433] and the other herbs that they eat. Whenever the festival of any of these temples occurs they

drag along certain triumphal cars which run on wheels, and with it go dancinggirls and other women with

music to the temple, (conducting) the idol along the said street with much pomp. I do not relate the manner in

which these cars are taken, because in all the time that I was in this city none were taken round. There are

many other temples in the city of which I do not here speak, to avoid prolixity.

You should know that among these heathen there are days when they celebrate their feasts as with us; and

they have their days of fasting, when all day they eat nothing, and eat only at midnight. When the time of the

principal festival arrives the king comes from the new city to this city of Bisnaga, since it is the capital of the

kingdom and it is the custom there to make their feasts and to assemble. For these feasts are summoned all

the dancingwomen of the kingdom, in order that they should be present; and also the captains and kings and

great lords with all their retinues, except only those whom the king may have sent to make war, or those

who are in other parts, or at the far end of the kingdom on the side where (an attack) is feared, such as the

kingdom of Oria and the territories of the Ydallcao; and even if such captains are absent in such places, there

These feasts begin on the 12th of September,[434] and they last nine days, and take place at the king's palace.

The palace is on this fashion: it has a gate opening on to the open space[435] of which I have spoken, and

over this gate is a tower of some height, made like the others with its verandahs; outside these gates begins

the wall which I said encircled the palace. At the gate are many doorkeepers[436] with leather scourges in

their hands, and sticks, and they let no one enter but the captains and chief people, and those about whom

they receive orders from the Chief of the Guard. Passing this gate you have an open space, and then you have

another gate like the first, also with its doorkeepers and guards; and as soon as you enter inside this you have

a large open space, and on one side and the other are low verandahs where are seated the captains and chief

people in order to witness the feasts, and on the left side of the north of this open space is a great

onestoreyed building (TERREA); all the rest are like it. This building stands on pillars shaped like elephants

and with other figures, and all open in front, and they go up to it by staircases of stone; around it, underneath,

is a terrace (CORREDOR) paved with very good flagstones, where stand some of the people looking at the

feast. This house is called the House of Victory, as it was made when the king came back from the war

against Orya, as I have already told you. On the right side of the open space were some narrow scaffoldings,

made of wood and so lofty that they could be seen over the top of the wall; they were covered at the top with

crimson and green velvet and other handsome cloths, and adorned from top to bottom. Let no one fancy that

these cloths were of wool, because there are none such in the country, but they are of very fine cotton. These

scaffoldings are not always kept at that place, but they are specially made for these feasts; there are eleven of

them. Against the gates there were two circles in which were the dancingwomen, richly arrayed with many

jewels of gold and diamonds and many pearls. Opposite the gate which is on the east side of the front of the

open space, and in the middle of it, there are two buildings of the same sort as the House of Victory of which

I have spoken; these buildings are served by a kind of staircase of stone beautifully wrought, one is in the

middle and the other at the end. This building was all hung with rich cloths, both the walls and the ceiling, as

well as the supports, and the cloths of the walls were adorned with figures in the manner of embroidery; these

buildings have two platforms one above the other, beautifully sculptured, with their sides well made and

worked, to which platforms the sons of the king's favourites come for the feasts, and sometimes his eunuchs.

On the upper platform, close to the king, was Christovao de Figueiredo, with all of us who came with him,

for the king commanded that he should be put in such a place as best to see the feasts and magnificence. That

I may not forget to tell of the streets that are in the palace I here mention them. You must know that inside the

palace that I have spoken of is the dwelling of the king and of his wives and of the other women who serve

them; as I have already said, who are twelve thousand in number; and they have an entrance to these rows of

houses so that they can go inside. Between this palace and the House of Victory is a gate which serves as

Returning to the feasts, you must know that in this House of Victory the king has a room (CASA) made of

cloth, with its door closed, where the idol has a shrine; and in the other, in the middle (of the building), is

placed a dais opposite the staircase in the middle; on which dais stands a throne of state made thus, it is

foursided, and flat, with a round top, and a hollow in the middle for the seat. As regards the woodwork of it,

you must know that it is all covered with silk cloths (?SOAJES),[437] and has lions all of gold, and in the

spaces between the cloths (SOAJES) it has plates of gold with many rubies and seedpearls, and pearls

underneath; and round the sides it is all full of golden images of personages, and upon these is much work in

gold, with many precious stones. In this chair is placed an idol, also of gold, embowered in roses and flowers.

On one side of this chair, on the dais below, stands a headdress; this also is made in the same manner; it is

upright and as high as a span, the top is rounded, it is all full of pearls and rubies and all other precious

stones, and on the top of it is a pearl as large as a nut, which is not quite round. On the other side is an anklet

for the foot made in the same fashion; it is another state jewel, and is full of large pearls and of many rubies,

emeralds, and diamonds, and other stones of value; it will be of the thickness of a man's arm. In front of all

this, at the edge[438] of the dais, resting on a support were some cushions where the king was seated during

You must know that when it is morning the king comes to this House of Victory, and betakes himself to that

room where the idol is with its Brahmans, and he performs his prayers and ceremonies. Outside the house are

some of his favourites, and on the square are many dancinggirls dancing. In their verandahs round the

square are many captains and chief people who come there in order to see; and on the ground, near the

platform of the house, are eleven horses with handsome and wellarranged trappings, and behind them are

four beautiful elephants with many adornments. After the king has entered inside he comes out, and with him

a Brahman who takes in his hand a basket full of white roses and approaches the king on the platform, and

the king, taking three handfuls of these roses, throws them to the horses,[439] and after he has thrown them

he takes a basket of perfumes and acts towards them as though he would cense them; and when he has

finished doing this he reaches towards the elephants and does the same to them. And when the king has

finished this, the Brahman takes the basket and descends to the platform,[440] and from thence puts those

roses and other flowers on the heads of all the horses, and this done, returns to the king. Then the king goes

again to where the idol is, and as soon as he is inside they lift the curtains[441] of the room, which are made

like the purdahs of a tent, and the king seats himself there where these are, and they lift them all. Thence he

witnesses the slaughter of twentyfour buffaloes and a hundred and fifty sheep, with which a sacrifice is

made to that idol; you must know that they cut off the heads of these buffaloes and sheep at one blow with

certain large sickles which are wielded by a man who has charge of this slaughter; they are so sure of hand

that no blow misses. When they have finished the slaughter of these cattle the king goes out and goes to the

other large buildings, on the platforms of which is a crowd of Brahmans, and as soon as the king ascends to

where they stand they throw to the king ten or twelve roses those (that is) who are nearest to him. Then he

passes all along the top of the buildings, and as soon as he is at the end he takes the cap from his head, and

after placing it on the ground turns back (to the place) where the idol is; here he lies extended on the ground.

When he has arisen he betakes himself to the interior of the building, and enters a garden (or walled enclosure

QUYNTAL) where they say that a little fire has been made, and he throws into the fire a powder made up

of many things, namely, rubies and pearls and all other kinds of precious stones, and aloes and other

sweetscented things. This done, he returns to the pagoda and goes inside and stays a little, at which time

enter by the other door some of his favourites who are in the building, and they make their salaam. Then he

goes back to the place whence he threw the flowers to the horses, and as soon as he is here all the captains

and chief people come and make their salaam to him, and some, if they so desire, present some gifts to him;

then as they came so they retire, and each one betakes himself to his own dwelling. And the king withdraws

to the interior of his palace by that gate which I have already mentioned that which stands between the

two buildings that are in the arena (TERREYRO); the courtesans and bayaderes[442] remain dancing in front

of the temple and idol for a long time. This is what is done during the morning of each day of these nine days,

with the ceremonies I have mentioned, and each day more splendid (than the last).

Now, returning to the feasts. At three o'clock in the afternoon every one comes to the palace. They do not

admit every one at once (they allowed us to go into the open part that is between the gates), but there go

inside only the wrestlers and dancingwomen, and the elephants, which go with their trappings and

decorations, those that sit on them being armed with shields and javelins, and wearing quilted tunics.[443] As

soon as these are inside they range themselves round the arena, each one in his place, and the wrestlers go

close to the staircase which is in the middle of that building, where has been prepared a large space of ground

for the dancingwomen to wrestle. Many other people are then at the entrancegate opposite to the building,

namely Brahmans, and the sons of the King's favourites, and their relations; all these are noble youths who

serve before the king. The officers of the household go about keeping order amongst all the people, and keep

each one in his own place. The different pavilions are separated by doors, so that no one may enter unless he

Salvatinica,[444] who is the principal person that enters the building, supervises the whole, for he brought up

the king and made him king, and so the king looks on him like a father. Whenever the king calls to him he

addresses him as "Lord (SENHOR) Salvatinica," and all the captains and nobles of the realm make salaam to

him. This Salvatinica stands inside the arena where the festivals go on, near one of the doors, and from there

After all this is done and arranged the king goes forth and seats himself on the dais I have mentioned, where

is the throne and the other things, and all those that are inside make their salaam to him. As soon as they have

done this the wrestlers seat themselves on the ground, for these are allowed to remain seated, but no other,

howsoever great a lord he be, except the king so commands; and these also eat betel, though none else may

eat it in his presence except the dancingwomen, who may always eat it before him. As soon as the king is

seated in his place he bids to sit with him three or four men who belong to his race, and who are themselves

kings and the fathers of his wives; the principal of these is the king of Syrimgapatao and of all the territory

bordering on Malabar, and this king is called Cumarvirya,[445] and he seats himself as far in front as the king

There the king sits, dressed in white clothes all covered with (embroidery of) golden roses and wearing his

jewels he wears a quantity of these white garments, and I always saw him so dressed and around him

stand his pages with his betel, and his sword, and the other things which are his insignia of state. Many

Brahmans stand round the throne on which rests the idol, fanning it with horsetail plumes, coloured, the

handles of which are all overlaid with gold; these plumes are tokens of the highest dignity; they also fan the

As[446] soon as the king is seated, the captains who waited without make their entrance, each one by himself,

attended by his chief people, and so on, all in order; they approach and make their salaams to the king, and

then take their places in the pavilions (VERAMDAS) which I have previously described. As soon as these

nobles have finished entering, the captains of the troops approach with shields and spears, and afterwards the

captains of the archers; these officers are all stationed on the ground around the arena in front of the

elephants, and they constitute the king's guard, for into such a place no man may enter bearing arms, nor near

to where the king is. As soon as these soldiers have all taken their places the women begin to dance, while

some of them place themselves in the circular galleries that I have said were (erected) at their gate of

entrance. Who can fitly describe to you the great riches these women carry on their persons? collars of

gold with so many diamonds and rubies and pearls, bracelets also on their arms and on their upper arms,

girdles below, and of necessity anklets on the feet. The marvel should be otherwise, namely that women of

such a profession should obtain such wealth; but there are women among them who have lands that have

been given to them, and litters, and so many maidservants that one cannot number all their things. There is a

woman in this city who is said to have a hundred thousand PARDAOS,[447] and I believe this from what I

Then the wrestlers begin their play. Their wrestling does not seem like ours, but there are blows (given), so

severe as to break teeth, and put out eyes, and disfigure faces, so much so that here and there men are carried

off speechless by their friends; they give one another fine falls too. They have their captains and judges, who

are there to put each one on an equal footing in the field, and also to adjust the honours to him who wins.

In all this portion of the day nothing more is done than this wrestling and the dancing of the women, but as

soon as ever the sun is down many torches are lit and some great flambeaux made of cloth; and these are

placed about the arena in such a way that the whole is as light as day, and even along the top of the walls, for

on all the battlements are lighted lamps, and the place where the king sits is all full of torches. As soon as

these are all lit up there are introduced many very graceful plays and contrivances, but these do not stop long;

they only approach where the king is and then go out. Then there enter others in other fashion, with battles of

people on horseback; these horses are like the hobbyhorses made in Portugal for the feast of the Corpo de

Dios; others come with castingnets, fishing, and capturing the men that are in the arena. When these

amusements are ended, they begin to throw up many rockets and many different sorts of fires, also castles

When these fireworks are finished, there enter many triumphal cars which belong to the captains, some of

them sent by those captains who are waging war in foreign parts; and they enter thus. The first belongs to

Salvatinica, and they come in one after the other. Some of the cars appear covered with many rich cloths,

having on them many devices of dancinggirls and other human figures; there are other cars having tiers one

on top of another, and others all of one kind; and so in their order they pass to where the king is. When the

cars have gone out they are immediately followed by many horses covered with trappings and cloths of very

fine stuff of the king's colours, and with many roses and flowers on their heads and necks, and with their

bridles all gilded; and in front of these horses goes a horse with two stateumbrellas of the king, and with

grander decorations than the others, and one of the lesser equerries leads it by the bridle. In front of this horse

goes another caracoling and prancing, as do all horses here, being trained in that art. You must know that this

horse that is conducted with all this state is a horse that the king keeps, on which they are sworn and received

as kings, and on it must be sworn all those that shall come after them; and in case such a horse dies they put

another in its place. If any king does not wish to be sworn on horseback, they swear him on an elephant,

These horses, then, going in the way I have stated, pass twice round the arena and place themselves in the

middle of the arena in five or six lines, one before the other, and the king's horse in front of them, all facing

the king; they stand in such a way that between them and the men there is an open space all round. As soon as

they are arranged in this way and are all quiet there goes out from the inside of the palace a Brahman, the

highest in rank of those about the king, and two others with him, and this chief Brahman carries in his hands

a bowl with a cocoanut and some rice and flowers, while others carry a pot of water; and they pass round by

the back of the horses, which all stand facing the king; and after performing his ceremonies there, he returns

After this is over you will see issuing from inside twentyfive or thirty female doorkeepers, with canes in

their hands and whips on their shoulders; and then close to these come many eunuchs, and after these eunuchs

come many women playing many trumpets and drums and pipes (but not like ours) and viols, and many other

kinds of music, and behind these women will come some twenty womenporters, with canes in their hands

all covered with silver, and close to them come women clothed in the following manner. They have very rich

and fine silk cloths; on the head they wear high caps which they call COLLAES,[448] and on these caps they

wear flowers made of large pearls; collars on the neck with jewels of gold very richly set with many emeralds

and diamonds and rubies and pearls; and besides this many strings of pearls, and others for shoulderbelts; on

the lower part of the arms many bracelets, with half of the upper arm all bare, having armlets in the same way

all of precious stones; on the waist many girdles of gold and of precious stones, which girdles hang in order

one below the other, almost as far down as half the thigh; besides these belts they have other jewels, and

many strings of pearls round the ankles, for they wear very rich anklets even of greater value than the rest.

They carry in their hands vessels of gold each as large as a small cask of water; inside these are some loops

made of pearls fastened with wax, and inside all this a lighted lamp. They come in regular order one before

the other, in all perhaps sixty women fair and young, from sixteen to twenty years of age. Who is he that

could tell of the costliness and the value of what each of these women carries on her person? So great is the

weight of the bracelets and gold and jewels carried by them that many of them cannot support them, and

women accompany them assisting them by supporting their arms. In this manner and in this array they

proceed three times round the horses, and at the end retire into the palace. These women are maids of honour

to the queens, and so are the others that go with them; on each day of these nine days of the feast one of the

queens sends, each on her own day, her ladies with the others. The officials, in honour of the feast, have the

days divided between them in accordance with their custom as already arranged by the king; and these

women come every day most richly attired, taking pleasure in strewing themselves in such things, and in

When these women retire the horses also go, and then come the elephants, and after making their salaam they

too retire. As soon as they are gone the king retires by a small door which is at the end of the building. Then

the Brahmans go and take an idol, and carry it to the House of Victory, where is the room of cloth that I have

spoken of; and the king at once comes from within, and goes to where the idol is, and offers his prayers and

performs his ceremonies. Then they bring there more buffaloes and sheep, and kill them in the same way as

before, and then come the professional women to dance. As soon as the slaughter of the buffaloes and sheep

is over the king retires, and goes to his supper; for he fasts all these nine days, and (each day) they eat nothing

until all is finished, and their hour for food is midnight. The bayaderes remain dancing before the idol a long

In this way are celebrated these festivals of nine days; on the last day there are slaughtered two hundred and

When these days of festival are past, the king holds a review of all his forces, and the review is thus arranged.

The king commands to pitch his tent of Mecca velvet a full league from the city, at a place already fixed for

that purpose; and in this tent they place the idol in honour of which all these festivals are celebrated. From

this tent to the king's palace the captains range themselves with their troops and array, each one in his place

according to his rank in the king's household. Thus the soldiers stand in line; but it does not appear to you to

be only one line but in some places two or three, one behind the other. Where there was a lake it was

surrounded with troops, and where the road was narrow they were drawn up on the plain; and so on the slope

of the hills and eminences, in such a way that you could see neither plain nor hill that was not entirely

covered with troops. Those on foot stood in front of those on horses, and the elephants behind the horses; in

this array was each captain with his troops. The captains who had their stations inside the city, since the

soldiers could not be drawn up on the flat roofs of the houses, put up scaffoldings across the mouths of the

streets to hold the troops, in such a way that all were full, both outside and in.

Now I should like to describe to you how they were armed, and their decorations. The cavalry were mounted

on horses fully caparisoned, and on their foreheads plates, some of silver but most of them gilded, with

fringes of twisted silk of all colours, and reins of the same;[449] others had trappings of Mecca velvet, which

is velvet of many colours with fringes and ornaments; others had them of other silks, such as satins and

damask, and others of brocade from China and Persia.[450] Some of the men with the gilded plates had them

set with many large precious stones, and on the borders lacework of small stones. Some of these horses had

on their foreheads heads of serpents and of other large animals of various kinds, made in such a strange

manner that they were a sight to see for the perfection of their make. The horsemen were dressed in quilted

tunics,[451] also of brocade and velvet and every kind of silk. These tunics are made of layers of very strong

raw leather, and furnished with other iron (plates) that make them strong; some have these plates gilded both

inside and out, and some are made of silver. Their headpieces are in the manner of helmets with borders

covering the neck, and each has its piece to protect the face; they are of the same fashion as the tunics. They

wear on the neck gorgets (COFOS) all gilded, others made of silk with plates of gold and silver, others of

steel as bright as a mirror. At the waists they have swords and small battleaxes, and in their hands javelins

with the shafts covered with gold and silver. All have their umbrellas of state made of embroidered velvet and

damask, with many coloured silks on the horses. They wave many (standards with) white and coloured tails,

and hold them in much esteem which tails are horses' tails. The elephants in the same way are covered

with caparison of velvet and gold with fringes, and rich cloths of many colours, and with bells so that the

earth resounds; and on their heads are painted faces of giants and other kinds of great beasts. On the back of

each one of them are three or four men, dressed in their quilted tunics, and armed with shields and javelins,

and they are arrayed as if for a foray. Then, turning to the troops on foot, there are so many that they surround

all the valleys and hills in a way with which nothing in the world can compare. You will see amongst them

dresses of such rich cloths that I do not know where they came from, nor could any one tell how many

colours they have; shieldmen with their shields, with many flowers of gold and silver on them, others with

figures of tigers and other great beasts, others all covered with silver leafwork beautifully wrought, others

with painted colours, others black and (so polished that) you can see into them as into a mirror, and their

swords so richly ornamented that they could not possibly be more so. Of the archers, I must tell you that they

have bows plated with gold and silver, and others have them polished, and their arrows very neat, and so

feathered that they could not be better; daggers at their waists and battleaxes, with the shafts and ends of

gold and silver; then you see musqueteers with their musquets and blunderbusses and their thick tunics, all in

their order, with their ...[452] in all their bravery; it was indeed a thing to see. Then the Moors one must

not forget them for they were there also in the review with their shields, javelins, and Turkish bows, with

many bombs and spears and firemissiles; and I was much astonished to find amongst them men who knew

The king leaves his palace riding on the horse of which I have already told you, clothed in the many rich

white cloths I have mentioned, with two umbrellas of state all gilded and covered with crimson velvet, and

with the jewels and adornments which they keep for the purpose of wearing at such times: he who ever wears

such jewels can understand the sort of things so great a lord would wear. Then to see the grandeur of the

nobles and men of rank, I cannot possibly describe it all, nor should I be believed if I tried to do so; then to

see the horses and the armour that they wear, you would see them so covered with metal plates that I have no

words to express what I saw, and some hid from me the sight of others; and to try and tell of all I saw is

hopeless, for I went along with my head so often turned from one side to the other that I was almost falling

backwards off my horse with my senses lost. The cost of it all is not so much to be wondered at, as there is so

There went in front of the king many elephants with their coverings and ornaments, as I have said; the king

had before him some twenty horses fully caparisoned and saddled, with embroideries of gold and precious

stones, that showed off well the grandeur and state of their lord. Close to the king went a cage such as is seen

at Lisbon on the day of the Corpo de Dios festival, and it was gilded and very large; it seemed to me to be

made of copper or silver; it was carried by sixteen men, eight on each side, besides others who took their

turns, and in it is carried the idol of which I have already spoken. Thus accompanied the king passed along

gazing at his soldiers, who gave great shouts and cries and struck their shields; the horses neighed, the

elephants screamed, so that it seemed as it the city would be overturned, the hills and valleys and all the

ground trembled with the discharges of arms and musquets; and to see the bombs and firemissiles over the

plains, this was indeed wonderful. Truly it seemed as if the whole world were collected there.

In this way it went on till the king arrived at the place where the tent was that I have already mentioned, and

he entered his and performed his usual ceremonies and prayers. You must not think that when the king passed

the troops moved from their positions, on the contrary they stood motionless in their places till the king

returned. As soon as the king had finished his ceremonies he again took horse and returned to the city in the

same way as he had come, the troops never wearying of their shouting; as soon as he passed by them they

began to march. Then to see those who were on the hills and slopes, and the descent of them with their shouts

and beating of shields and shaking of arrows and bows that were without count. Truly, I was so carried out

with myself that it seemed as if what I saw was a vision, and that I was in a dream. Then the troops began to

march to their tents and pavilions in the plains, which were in great number; and all the captains accompanied

the king as far as the palace, and thence departed to rest themselves from their labour.

Now I desire you to know that this king has continually a million fighting troops,[453] in which are included

35,000 cavalry in armour; all these are in his pay, and he has these troops always together and ready to be

despatched to any quarter whenever such may be necessary. I saw, being in this city of Bisnaga, the king

despatch a force against a place, one of those which he has by the seacoast; and he sent fifty captains with

150,000 soldiers, amongst whom were many cavalry. He has many elephants, and when the king wishes to

show the strength of his power to any of his adversaries amongst the three kings bordering on his kingdom,

they say that he puts into the field two million soldiers; in consequence of which he is the most feared king of

any in these parts. And although he takes away so many men from his kingdom, it must not be thought that

the kingdom remains devoid of men; it is so full that it would seem to you as if he had never taken away a

man, and this by reason of the many and great merchants that are in it. There are working people and all other

kinds of men who are employed in business, besides those who are obliged to go into the field; there are also

a great number of Brahmans. In all the land of the heathen there are these Brahmans; they are men who do

not eat anything that suffers death; they have little stomach for the use of arms.

Should any one ask what revenues this king possesses, and what his treasure is that enables him to pay so

many troops, since he has so many and such great lords in his kingdom, who, the greater part of them, have

themselves revenues, I answer thus: These captains whom he has over these troops of his are the nobles of his

kingdom; they are lords, and they hold the city, and the towns and villages of the kingdom; there are captains

amongst them who have a revenue of a million and a million a half of PARDAOS, others a hundred thousand

PARDAOS, others two hundred, three hundred or five hundred thousand PARDAOS, and as each one has

revenue so the king fixes for him the number of troops he must maintain, in foot, horse, and elephants.[454]

These troops are always ready for duty, whenever they may be called out and wherever they may have to go;

and in this way he has this million of fighting men always ready. Each of these captains labours to turn out

the best troops he can get because he pays them their salaries; and in this review there were the finest young

men possible to be seen or that ever could be seen, for in all this array I did not see a man that would act the

coward. Besides maintaining these troops, each captain has to make his annual payments to the king, and the

king has his own salaried troops to whom he gives pay. He has eight hundred elephants attached to his

person, and five hundred horses always in his stables, and for the expenses of these horses and elephants he

has devoted the revenues that he receives from this city of Bisnaga. You may well imagine how great these

expenses may be, and besides these that of the servants who have the care of the horses and elephants; and by

This king of Bisnaga has five kings his subjects and vassals,[455] besides other captains and lords having

large territories and great revenues; whenever a son happens to be born to this king, or a daughter, all the

nobles of the kingdom offer him great presents of money and jewels of price, and so they do to him every

You must know that when these feasts of which I have spoken are ended, at the beginning of the month of

October, when eleven of its days are past, they make great feasts, during which every one puts on new, and

rich, and handsome cloths, each one according to his liking, and all the captains give their men handsome

cloths of many colours, each one having his own colour and device. On the same day they give great gifts of

money to the king, it is even said that they give on that day to the king in money a million and five hundred

thousand gold PARDAOS, and each PARDAO is worth three hundred and sixty REIS, and from this you will

be able to know how many REIS there will be. I wish you to know that on this day begins their year; it is

their New Year's Day, and for this they make the feast and give the gifts; and it is not to be wondered at, for

we also do the same on New Year's Day. They begin the year in this month with the new moon, and they

And now I wish you to know that the previous kings of this place for many years past have held it a custom

to maintain a treasury, which treasury, after the death of each, is kept locked and sealed in such a way that it

cannot be seen by any one, nor opened, nor do the kings who succeed to the kingdom open them or know

what is in them. They are not opened except when the kings have great need, and thus the kingdom has great

supplies to meet its needs. This king has made his treasury different from those of the previous kings, and he

puts in it every year ten million PARDAOS, without taking from them one PARDAO more than for the

expenses of his house. The rest remains for him, over and above these expenses and of the expenses in the

houses of his wives, of whom I have already told you that he keeps near him twelve thousand women; from

this you will be able to judge how great is the richness of this kingdom, and how great the treasure that this

And if any one does not know what a PARDAO is, let him know that it is a round gold coin, which coin is

not struck anywhere in India except in this kingdom; it bears impressed on it on one side two images and on

the other the name of the king who commanded it to be struck; those which this king ordered to be struck

have only one image. This coin is current all over India. Each PARDAO, as already said, is worth three

After all these things (feasts) had passed the king betook himself to the new city, of which I have already told

you that he delights in it much because it was made and peopled by him, of which I have already told you. In

two years the king built this city. The king was received by the citizens with great feasts, and the streets were

hung with rich cloths, and with many triumphal arches under which he passed. In this city the king held

another review of the troops of his guard, and he distributed pay to all because it was the beginning of the

year, and it is their custom to pay salaries year by year. An inspection is held by the officers of his house, and

they write down the name of each one, and the marks that he has on his face or body. There are men of the

guard who have a thousand PARDAOS pay, and others eight hundred, others six hundred and more, and a

little more or less; there is a difference, and also a difference in the persons. Some men of them who are of

higher rank than others have two horses or three, and others have no more than one. These troops have their

captains, and each captain goes with his guard to mount guard at the palace according to order and custom;

the king has in his guard five hundred horse, and these watch outside the palace armed with their weapons.

The king, then, being in his new city, as I have said, Christovao de Figueiredo begged him of his kindness

that he would permit him to be shown the palace of the city of Bisnaga, forasmuch as there had come with

him many Portuguese who had never been in Bisnaga, and they would rejoice to see it, in order to have

somewhat to tell of on their return to their own lands, whenever God should take them there. The king at once

commanded that they should be shown certain of his residences, for that of his wives no one ever sees. As

soon as we had returned to the city of Bisnaga, the governor of that place, who is called Gamdarajo, and is

You must know that on entering that gate of which I have spoken, by which the ladies serving the king's

wives make their exit when they come to the feast, opposite to it there is another of the same kind. Here they

bade us stand still, and they counted us how many we were, and as they counted they admitted us one by one

to a small courtyard with a smoothly plastered floor, and with very white walls around it.[458] At the end of

this courtyard, opposite this gate by which we entered, is another close to it on the left hand, and another

which was closed; the door opposite belongs to the king's residence. At the entrance of this door outside are

two images painted like life and drawn in their manner, which are these; the one on the right hand is of the

father of this king, and the one on the left is of this king. The father was dark and a gentleman of fine form,

stouter than the son is; they stand with all their apparel and such raiment as they wear or used to wear when

alive. Afterwards, wishing to pass in at this door, they again counted us, and after they had finished counting

As soon as you are inside, on the left hand, are two chambers one above the other, which are in this manner:

the lower one is below the level of the ground, with two little steps which are covered with copper gilded, and

from there to the top is all lined with gold (I do not say "gilded," but "lined" inside), and outside it is

domeshaped. It has a foursided porch made of canework[459] over which is a work of rubies and

diamonds and all other kinds of precious stones, and pearls, and above the porch are two pendants of gold; all

the precious stonework is in heartshapes, and, interweaved between one and another, is a twist of thick

seedpearl work; on the dome are pendants of the same. In this chamber was a bed which had feet similar to

the porch, the crossbars covered with gold, and there was on it a mattress of black satin; it had all round it a

railing of pearls a span wide; on it were two cushions and no other covering. Of the chamber above it I shall

not say if it held anything because I did not see it, but only the one below on the right side. In this house there

is a room with pillars of carved stone; this room is all of ivory, as well the chamber as the walls, from top to

bottom, and the pillars of the crosstimbers at the top had roses and flowers of lotuses all of ivory, and all

well executed, so that there could not be better, it is so rich and beautiful that you would hardly find

anywhere another such. On this same side is designed in painting all the ways of life of the men who have

been here even down to the Portuguese, from which the king's wives can understand the manner in which

each one lives in his own country, even to the blind and the beggars. In this house are two thrones covered

with gold, and a cot of silver with its curtains. Here I saw a little slab of green jasper, which is held for a great

thing in this house. Close to where this jasper is, I.E. underneath some arches where is the entrance into the

palace, there is a little door closed with some padlocks: they told us that inside it there was a treasury of one

As soon as we left this house we entered a courtyard as large as an arena for beastfights, very well plastered,

and almost in the middle are some pillars of wood, with a cross beam at the top all covered with copper gilt,

and in the middle four chains of silver links with hooks which are caught one into the other; this serves for a

swing for the wives of the king. At the entrance of this courtyard on the right hand we mounted four or five

steps and entered some beautiful houses made in the way I have already told you for their houses are

singlestoreyed houses with flat roofs on top, although on top there may be other houses; the plan is good,

and they are like terraces. There is a building there built on many pillars, which are of stonework, and so

also is all the work of the roof, with all the rest of wood (MANERIA), and all the pillars (with all the other

Then at the entrance of this building in the middle nave, there is, standing on four pillars, a canopy covered

with many figures of dancingwomen, besides other small figures[460] which are placed in the stonework.

All this is also gilded, and has some red colour on the undersides of the leaves which stand out from the

sculpture. You must know that they make no use of this building because it belongs to their idol and to the

temple. At the end of this is a little closed door where the idol is. Whenever they celebrate any festival of this

idol, they carry it on a golden throne and put it underneath that canopy which is made for that purpose; and

then come the Brahmans to perform their ceremonies there, and the dancinggirls come to dance.

Descending from this building, we passed on the left side of the courtyard, and we entered a corridor which

runs the whole length of it, in which we saw some things. On entering the corridor was a cot suspended in the

air by silver chains; the cot had feet made of bars of gold, so well made that they could not be better, and the

crossbars of the cot were covered with gold. In front of this cot was a chamber where was another cot

suspended in the air by chains of gold; this cot had feet of gold with much setting of precious stones, and the

crossbars were covered with gold. Above this chamber was another, smaller, and with nothing in it save

only that it was gilt and painted. Passing this chamber, along the same corridor in front was a chamber which

this king, commanded to be made; on the outside were figures of women with bows and arrows like amazons.

They had begun to paint this chamber, and they told us that it had to be finer than the others, and that it was

to be all plated with gold, as well the ground below as all the rest. Passing this corridor and mounting up into

another which is higher, we saw at one end three caldrons of gold, so large that in each one they could cook

half a cow, and with them were others, very large ones, of silver, and also little pots of gold and some large

ones. Thence we went up by a little staircase, and entered by a little door into a building which is in this

manner. This hall is where the king sends his women to be taught to dance. It is a long hall and not very wide,

all of stone sculpture on pillars, which are at a distance of quite an arm's length from the wall; between one

and another is an arm's length and a half, perhaps a little more. These pillars stand in that manner all around

the building; they are halfpillars (?)[461] made with other hollows (?) all gilt.[462] In the supports (or

pedestals) on the top[463] are many great beasts like elephants, and of other shapes; it is open so that the

interior is seen, and there are on the inner side of these beasts other images, each placed according to its

character; there are also figures of men turned back to back, and other beasts of different sorts. In each case

from pillar to pillar is a crossbar (the architrave) which is like a panel, and from pillar to pillar are many

such panels; there are images of old men, too, gilded and of the size of a cubit. Each of the panels has one

placed in this way. These images are over all the building. And on the pillars are other images, smaller, with

other images yet more subordinate, and other figures again, in such a way that I saw this work gradually

diminishing in size on these pillars with their designs, from pillar to pillar, and each time smaller by the size

of a span as it went on, becoming lost; so it went dwindling gradually away till there remained of all the

sculptured work only the dome, the most beautiful I ever saw. Between these images and pillars runs a design

of foliage, like plates (A MANEYRA DE LAMINES), all gilt, with the reverses of the leaves in red and blue,

the images that are on the pillars are stags and other animals, they are painted in colours with the pink on

their faces; but the other images seated on the elephants, as well as those on the panels, are all dancing

The designs of these panels show the positions at the ends of dances in such a way that on each panel there is

a dancer in the proper position at the end of the dance; this is to teach the women, so that if they forget the

position in which they have to remain when the dance is done, they may look at one of the panels where is the

At the end of this house on the left hand is a painted recess where the women cling on with their hands in

order better to stretch and loosen their bodies and legs; there they teach them to make the whole body supple,

in order to make their dancing more graceful. At the other end, on the right, in the place where the king

places himself to watch them dancing, all the floors and walls where he sits are covered with gold, and in the

middle of the wall is a golden image of a woman of the size of a girl of twelve years, with her arms in the

They did not show us more than this. The residence of the women no one may see except the eunuchs, of

whom I have already told you. From here we returned by the way we had entered to the second gate, and

Of the city of Bisnaga they say that there are more than a hundred thousand dwellinghouses in it, all

onestoreyed and flatroofed, to each of which there is a low surrounding wall, and in this city the king lives

most of the time. On the north side are rocky hills; a river runs between them, and the wall runs along the top

of them, and on the farther side is a city called Nagumdym; and it has only three gates, namely one by the

river, which they cross in boats embarking just at this gate;[464] one on the other side which is to the north,

this is a stronger gate; and one on the northwest side, a little gate between two very high ridges; and it is

And on the northwest side (of Bisnaga) is another city called Crisnapor[465] connected with Bisnaga, in

which are all their pagodas, those in which they most worship, and all the revenue of this city is granted to

them, and they say that they have a revenue of a hundred thousand PARDAOS OF gold. The pagodas are

high and have great buildings with many figures of men and women, all in lascivious attitudes.

On the south side is the other city called Nagalapor in a plain; in it the Ydalcao stopped with all his forces

when he besieged Bisnaga, and he razed it to the ground; but already it is again rebuilt, and this is a league

On the east side is another city called Ardegema,[467] which is the name of the principal wife of this king,

In the year twelve hundred and thirty[469] these parts of India were ruled by a greater monarch than had ever

reigned. This was the King of Dili,[470] who by force of arms and soldiers made war on Cambaya for many

years, taking and destroying in that period the land of Guzarate which belongs to Cambaya,[471] and in the

And this taken, not being content with the victory which he had already gained, he made ready a large army

of foot and horse, and determined to make war on the King of Bisnaga, leaving his captains in his lands and

fortresses to defend themselves against his enemies, of whom there were many; for this King[472] was at that

time at war with Bemgalla, and with the Turkomans on the confines of the country of Sheikh Ismael.[473]

These men are fair and large of body; in their lands are many horses with which this King of Delly made war

on Cambaya and laid it waste; and after the country was taken and he lord of it, there still remained to him as

many as eight hundred thousand horsemen with whom he passed on to Bisnaga; of the number of people on

And, determining to make war on the King of Bisnaga and to reduce him under his rule, he passed out of the

lands which he had newly gained, entering into those of the King of Bisnaga, which at that time were many;

and quitting the kingdom of Cambaya, he began to invade and make war on the Ballagate,[474] whose lands

now belong to the Idalcao,[475] taking and destroying many towns and places in such a way that the people

of the country surrendered to him their persons and property, though he left to them their weapons which he

And after he had become lord of all the country of the Ballagate, he passed the river of Duree,[476] which

forms the boundary of the territories of the Ballagate and of those of the King of Bisnaga, which river he

passed in basketboats without finding any one to oppose the passage. Up to that time, in all that was

(afterwards) the kingdom of Bisnaga, no place was populated save only the city of Nagumdym,[477] in

which the King of Bisnaga[478] then was, awaiting his destruction, since it was strong, and because he

And from the river which that King of Delly passed in basketboats,[479] to that city was twentyfive

leagues, all being open country (CAMPOS); and in them it seemed good to him to pitch his camp, so that his

people might drink of the water in the plain (CAMPOS) along the length of the river. At that time there was

great drought by reason of the summer season, and the waters of the few little lakes that were in the plain

would not suffice for ten days for his troops, horses, and elephants, without drying up; and for that reason he

halted some days by the banks of that river, till rain fell in the fields and lakes, enough for such a large army

And when the time came he raised his camp and brought his array to a halt in sight of that city of Nagundy.

And the King of Bisnaga, seeing his great power and how many troops he had brought with him, determined

to abandon the city, which was very difficult to enter; close to which was, and now is, a river which is called

Nagundy, whence the city is called Nagundy, and they say the city had its name because of it. And he fled for

shelter to a fortress called Crynamata,[480] which was by the bank of the river, and which contained much

provision and water; but not enough for the sustenance of so many people as he had with him, as many as

fifty thousand men. Therefore the King chose five thousand men with their property and took refuge in the

fortress; and for the rest he bade them betake themselves to another fortress of his in another part of his

And being sheltered in the fortress, after he had taken order about his provisions, he was beset on all sides by

the King of the people of Dely, who had already up to this time been at war with him[481] for twelve years;

over which siege little time was spent, because the people that were inside the fortress were numerous, and in

Then the King of Bisnaga, seeing the determination of the soldiers of the King of Delly that they would never

leave the place without making an end of those whom he had with him in the fortress, made a speech to them

all, laying before them the destruction that the King of the troops of Dely had caused in his own

kingdoms;[482] and how, not content with that, he had besieged this fortress, so that now there was nothing

for them to look to but death, since already there was no water in the fortress nor anything left to eat. And (he

said) that of the fifty thousand men who had been in the city of Nagundy he had chosen them alone as his

companions and true friends, and he begged of them that they would hold fast in death to the loyalty which

they had borne him in their lives; for he hoped that day to give battle to the King of Delly. Then he said that

already there remained to him of his kingdom and lordship nothing but that fortress and the people that were

in it, and so he asked them to arm themselves and die with him in battle, giving their lives to the enemy who

All of them were very content and glad at this, and in a short space were all armed; and after they were so the

King made them another speech, saying, "Before we join battle we have to wage another war with our sons

and daughters and wives, for it will not be good that we should allow them to be taken for the use of our

enemies." And the King said, "I will be the first to deal with my wife and sons." At this time they were all

standing in a large open space which was before the citadel, and there by the hand of the King were slain over

fifty of his wives and some sons and little daughters; and the same was done with their own hands by all who

When these nuptial feasts, so abhorred of all, were fulfilled, they opened the gates of the fortress, and their

enemies forthwith entered, and slew all of them except six old men who withdrew to a house. These were

made captive and were taken before the King (of Delhi), and the King asked them who they were and how

they had escaped, and they told them who they were; at which the King greatly rejoiced, because one of them

was the minister of the kingdom and another the treasurer, and the others were leading officers in it. They

were questioned by the King concerning the treasures of the King of Bisnaga, and such riches as were buried

in the vaults of the fortress were delivered up to him, they also gave him an account of the revenues of the

kingdom of Bisnaga at that time. When all was known to the King he delivered them to one of his captains,

and commanded to make over the bodies of the dead to another captain, and gave orders that the bodies

should be burned; and the body of the King, at the request of those six men, was conveyed very honourably

to the city of Nagundy. From that time forward that place became a buryingplace of the kings. Amongst

As soon as the King had thus fulfilled all his desires, he bade his captains destroy some villages and towns

which had risen against him, and give security to those who sought it of him. After the death of the (Hindu)

King he stayed in that fortress two years, having already for twelve waged war on the kingdom.[483] He was

far from his home, which WAS more than five hundred leagues distant; and, his forces being all scattered,

news came to him how that all the land which was first gained by him had rebelled. As soon as this was

known to the King he sent to collect his people, leaving in this fortress, which was the strongest in the

kingdom, abundant provisions for its defence in all circumstances; and he left, for captain and governor of the

kingdom, Enybiquymelly,[484] a Moor, and with him he left many troops, showing much kindness to each

one of them separately, giving to each lavish gifts and lands in such a way that all were content, and,

abandoning, forthwith all hope of returning to their own country, made there their homes.

The King having departed to his own kingdom in consequence of the news that had been brought to him,

leaving the kingdom of Bisnaga in the power of Meliquy niby, when it was known throughout the country

how he was out of it, those who had escaped to the mountains, with others who, against their will and through

fear had taken oaths of fealty for their towns and villages, rose against the captain Mileque neby, and came to

besiege him in the fortress, allowing no provisions to go in to him, nor paying him the taxes that had been

forced on them. And Meliquy niby, seeing how little profit he could get in this country, and how badly he

CHAPTER 2. Of what the King (of Delhi) did after he had slain the King of Bisnaga, and entirely overthrown him, and seized his lands for himself, none being left to defend them. 118

was obeyed, and how far off was the succour sent by his lord the King, sent quickly to him to tell him how all

the land was risen against him, and how every one was lord of what he pleased, and no one was on his side;

and that His Highness should decide what he thought best to be done in such case. And when the King heard

this news he took counsel, telling the great people of the realm of the letter and message which he had from

Melinebiquy, his captain and governor of the kingdom of Bisnaga, and how badly the lords of the land

obeyed him; so that each one was king and lord over whomsoever he pleased, as soon as he acquired any

power, there being no justice amongst them, nor any one whom they wished to obey. What was it seemed

best to them (he asked), and what in such case ought they, and could they, do, so that he should not lose so

fair a territory and one so rich, the seizure of which had cost such labour, so much money, and the lives of so

many of their fellows? All the councillors decided that the King should command the presence of the six men

whom he held captive, and that he should learn from them who was at that time the nearest of kin, or in any

way related to the Kings of Bisnaga; and, this questioning done, no one was found to whom by right the

kingdom could come, save to one of the six whom he held captive, and this one he who at the time of the

destruction of Bisnaga had been minister of the kingdom. He was not related by blood to the kings, but only

was the principal judge; but (it seemed) good that His Highness should give the kingdom to that one. And this

At once the six captives were released and set at liberty, and many kindnesses and honours were done them,

and the governor was raised to be King and the treasurer to be governor;[485] and he took from them oaths

and pledges of their fealty as vassals; and they were at once despatched and sent to their lands with a large

following to defend them from any one who should desire to do them an injury. And when these six men had

thus finished their journey to the city of Nagundy, they found only the ruined basements of the houses, and

In a short time the arrival of Deorao[486] (for so he was called) was known in all the country, and now he

had been exalted to be King, with which the people were well content, as men who had felt so deeply their

subjection to a lord not of their own faith; and from this man have descended all those who have reigned up

to now. And they made great feasts for him, and delivered up to him the lands taken by former kings and lost

to them, and he was obeyed as King. And when the captain Meliquy niby became aware of this, he was very

pleased and contented, and delivered up to him the fortress and kingdom as the King his lord had

commanded; and making himself ready with all speed he departed, leaving the land to its proper owner. And

after he had gone, King Deorao, entering on his rule, strove to pacify the people and those who had revolted,

and to make them safe, and he did them many kindnesses so as to secure their goodwill, and travelled about

their fortresses and towns. He abandoned the lost lands since he knew that he could not regain them, having

no army or forces for such a work, nor any cause for which he could make war; and also because he was very

The King going one day ahunting, as was often his wont, to a mountain on the other side of the river of

Nagumdym, where now is the city of Bisnaga, which at that time was a desert place in which much

hunting took place, and which the King had reserved for his own amusement, being in it with his dogs and

appurtenances of the chase, a hare rose up before him, which, instead of fleeing from the dogs, ran towards

them and bit them all, so that none of them dared go near it for the harm that it did them.[487] And seeing

this, the King, astonished at so feeble a thing biting dogs which had already caught for him a tiger and a lion,

judged it to be not really a hare but (more likely) some prodigy; and he at once turned back to the city of

And arriving at the river, he met a hermit who was walking along the bank, a man holy among them, to

whom he told what had happened concerning the hare. And the hermit, wondering at it, said to the King that

he should turn back with him and shew him the place where so marvellous a thing had happened; and being

there, the hermit said that the King ought in that place to erect houses in which he could dwell, and build a

city, for the prodigy meant that this would be the strongest city in the world, and that it would never be

captured by his enemies, and would be the chief city in the kingdom. And so the King did, and on that very

day began work on his houses, and he enclosed the city round about; and that done he left Nagumdym and

soon filled the new city with people. And he gave it the name Vydiajuna, for so the hermit called

himself[488] who had bidden him construct it; but in course of time this name has become corrupted, and it is

now called Bisnaga. And after that hermit was dead the King raised a very grand temple[489] in honour of

him and gave much revenue to it. And ever since, in his memory, the Kings of Bisnaga, on the day when they

are raised to be kings, have, in honour of the hermit, to enter this house before they enter their own, and they

This King Dehorao reigned seven years, and did nothing therein but pacify the kingdom, which he left in

By his death one called Bucarao[490] inherited the kingdom, and he conquered many lands which at the time

of the destruction of that kingdom remained rebellious, and by him they were taken and turned to his power

and lordship; and he took the kingdom of Orya, which is very great; it touches on Bemgalla. He reigned

thirtyseven years, being not less feared than esteemed, and obeyed by all in his kingdom.

On the death of that King Bucarao there came to the throne his son called Pureoyre Deorao,[491] which in

Canara means "powerful lord," and he coined a money of PARDAOS which even now they call "PUROURE

DEORAO;" and from that time forward it has become a custom to call coins by the names of the kings that

made them; and it is because of this that there are so many names of PARDAOS in the kingdom of Bisnaga.

And this King in his time did nothing more than leave at his death as much conquered country as his father

This King had a son who by his death inherited the kingdom, who was called Ajarao;[492] and he reigned

fortythree years, in which time he was always at war with the Moors; and he took Goa, and Chaul, and

Dabull, and Ceillao,[493] and all the country of Charamamdell,[494] which had also rebelled after the first

destruction of this kingdom, and he did many other things which are not recorded here.

This King made in the city of Bisnaga many walls and towers and enclosed it anew. Now the city at that time

was of no use, there being no water in it by which could be raised gardens and orchards, except the water of

the Nagumdym which was far from it, for what water there was in the country was all brackish and allowed

nothing to grow; and the King, desiring to increase that city and make it the best in the kingdom, determined

to bring to it a very large river which was at a distance of five leagues away, believing that it would cause

much profit if brought inside the city. And so he did, damming the river itself with great boulders; and

according to story he threw in a stone so great that it alone made the river follow the King's will. It was

dragged thither by a number of elephants of which there are many in the kingdom; and the water so brought

he carried through such parts of the city as he pleased. This water proved of such use to the city that it

increased his revenue by more than three hundred and fifty thousand PARDAOS. By means of this water

they made round about the city a quantity of gardens and orchards and great groves of trees and vineyards, of

which this country has many, and many plantations of lemons and oranges and roses, and other trees which in

this country bear very good fruit. But on this turning of the river they say the King spent all the treasure that

This King left a son at his death called Visarao,[495] who inherited the kingdom on the death of his father;

At his death he left a son called Deorao, who reigned twentyfive years. He determined to collect great

treasures, but owing to constant warfare he could not gain more than eight hundred and fifty millions of gold,

not counting precious stones. This was no great sum, seeing that in his time the King of Coullao,[496] and

Ceyllao, and Paleacate,[497] and Peguu, and Tanacary[498] and many other countries, paid tribute to him.

At his death this King left a son who inherited the kingdom, who was called Pinarao,[499] he reigned twelve

years, and was a great astrologer; he was given much to letters, and made many books and (promulgated)

ordinances in his land and kingdom. As long as he reigned he had twenty ministers, which is an office that

amongst these (people) is (generally) held only by one person. This King was very wise; he was well versed

in all his duties, and possessed such good talents and qualities that they called him Pinarao, which amongst

them, in the language of Canara, means a very wise man. This King was killed by treason by the hand of a

nephew whom he had brought up in his house like a son, who thus caused the death of the King.[500] The

nephew resolved to marry, and for the feasts at his wedding he prayed the King, his uncle; that he would

command that he should be attended and honoured at his wedding by the King's own son; and the King, for

the love that he bore him and the pleasure that he had in honouring him, bade his son make ready with his

following, and sent him with the ministers and captains of his court to attend and honour the wedding of his

nephew. And he, making all ready, as soon as they were in his house, being at table, they were all slain by

daggers thrust by men kept in readiness for that deed. This was done without any one suspecting it, because

the custom there is to place on the table all that there is to eat and drink, no man being present to serve those

who are seated, nor being kept outside, but only those who are going to eat; and because of their thus being

alone at table, nothing of what passed could be known to the people they had brought with them. And after he

had killed the King's son with all the captains, the minister[501] set out to ride as if he were going to bear a

present to the King, and as soon as he arrived at the gates of the palace he sent a message to the King saying

that he was there, and had brought him a present according to custom. And the King, being at that time at

leisure and amusing himself with his wives, bade him enter; and as soon as he was come to where he stood,

he presented to the King a golden bowl in which he had placed a dagger steeped in poison, with which he

wounded him in many places; but the King, as he was a man who knew how to use both sword and dagger

better than any one in his kingdom, avoided by twists and turns of his body the thrusts aimed at him, freed

himself from him, and slew him with a short sword that he had. And this done he ordered a horse to be

saddled, and mounted it, and rode holding his nephew's head in his hand; and he took the road to the latter's

house, apprehending that treason might have been wrought and fearing that his son might be dead. And as

soon as he arrived he beheld the treason in very deed, and how wicked a deed his nephew had done; seeing

that his son and his principal captains were dead, and that the traitor might have prevailed against himself had

he had the power. In great wrath the King commanded his men to inflict dreadful punishments on all found

guilty of this treason, and indeed many who were not so. He himself remained grievously wounded with the

poisoned wounds and he lasted only six months, and these ended, died of the poison carried on the dagger.

After his death a son remained to him who inherited the kingdom and was called ... [502], and this King, as

soon as he began to reign, sent to call his treasurers and the minister and the scribes of his household, and

inquired of them the revenue of his kingdom, and learned how much revenue came in yearly; and His

Highness had every year thirteen millions of gold. This King granted to the pagodas a fifth part of the

revenue of his kingdom; no law is possible in the country where these pagodas are, save only the law of the

On the death of this King succeeded a son named Verupacarao.[503] As long as he reigned he was given over

to vice, caring for nothing but women, and to fuddle himself with drink and amuse himself, and never showed

himself either to his captains or to his people; so that in a short time he lost that which his forefathers had

won and left to him. And the nobles of the kingdom, seeing the habits and life of this king, rebelled, every

one of them, each holding to what he possessed, so that in his time the King lost Goa, and Chaull, and Dabull,

and the other chief lands of the realm. This King in mere sottishness slew many of his captains. Because he

dreamed one night that one of his captains entered his chamber, on the next day he had him called, telling

him that he had dreamed that night that the captain had entered his room to kill him; and for that alone he had

him put to death. This King had two sons already grown up, who, seeing the wickedness of their father and

how he had lost his kingdom, determined to kill him, as in fact was done by one of them, the elder, who was

his heir; and after he had killed him, when they besought him to be King, he said, "Although this kingdom

may be mine by right, I do not want it because I killed my father, and did therein that which I ought not to

have done, and have committed a mortal sin, and for that reason it is not well that such an unworthy son

should inherit the kingdom. Take my brother and let him govern it since he did not stain his hands with his

father's blood;" which was done, and the younger brother was raised to the throne. And when they had

entrusted the kingdom to him he was advised by his minister and captains that he should slay his brother,

because, as the latter had killed his father so he would kill him if desirous of so doing; and as it appeared to

the King that such a thing might well be, he determined to kill him, and this was at once carried out, and he

slew him with his own hand. So that this man truly met the end that those meet with who do such ill deeds

This King was called Padearao; and after this was done he gave himself up to the habits of his father, and,

abandoning himself to his women, and not seeking to know ought regarding his realm save only the vices in

One of his captains who was called Narsymgua,[504] who was in some manner akin to him, seeing his mode

of life, and knowing how ill it was for the kingdom that he should live and reign, though all was not yet lost,

determined to attack him and seize on his lands; which scheme he at once put into force.

He wrote, therefore, and addressed the captains and chiefs of the kingdom, saying how bad it was for them

not to have a King over them who could govern properly, and how it would be no wonder, seeing the manner

of his life, if the King soon lost by his bad government even more than his father had done.

He made great presents to all of them so as to gain their goodwill, and when he had thus attached many

people to himself he made ready to attack Bisnaga where the King dwelt. When the King was told of the

uprising of this captain Narsymgua, how he was approaching and seizing his lands and how many people

were joining him, he seemed unmindful of the loss he had suffered, he gave no heed to it nor made ready, but,

instead, he only illtreated him who had brought the news. So that a captain of the army of this Narsymgua

arrived at the gates of Bisnaga, and there was not a single man defending the place; and when the King was

told of his arrival he only said that it could not be. Then the captain entered the city, and the King only said

that it could not be. Then he even entered his palace and came as far as the doors of his chamber, slaying

some of the women. At last the King believed, and seeing now how great was the danger, he resolved to flee

When it was known by the captain that the King had fled he did not trouble to go after him, but took

possession of the city and of the treasures which he found there; and he sent to acquaint his lord, Narsymgua.

And after that Narsymgua was raised to be king. And as he had much power and was beloved by the people,

After he was raised to be king and was obeyed he came to Bisnaga, where he did many acts of justice; and he

took the territories from whomsoever had, contrary to right, taken them from the king. This King reigned

fortyfour years, and at his death left all the kingdom in peace, and he regained all the lands which the kings

his predecessors had lost. He caused horses to be brought from Oromuz and Adeem[505] into his kingdom

and thereby gave great profit to the merchants, paying them for the horses just as they asked. He took them

dead or alive at three for a thousand PARDAOS, and of those that died at sea they brought him the tail only,

At the death of that King there remained three fortresses which had revolted from his rule, and which he was

never able to take, which were these Rachol, and Odegary and Conadolgi,[506] which have large and rich

territories and are the principal forts in the kingdom. At his death he left two sons, and the governor of the

kingdom was Nasenaque, who was father of the king that afterwards was king of Bisnaga;[507] and this king

(Narsymgua), before he died, sent to call Narsenaque his minister, and held converse with him, telling him

that at his death he would by testament leave him to govern the kingdom until the princes should be of an age

to rule; also he said that all the royal treasures were his alone, and he reminded him that he had won this

kingdom of Narsymgua at the point of the sword; adding that now there remained only three fortresses to be

taken, but that for him the time for their capture was passed; and the King begged him to keep good guard

over the kingdom and to deliver it up to the princes, to whichever of them should prove himself most fitted

for it. And after the King's death this Narsenaque remained as governor, and soon he raised up the prince to

be king, retaining in his own hands the treasures and revenues and the government of the country.

At that time a captain who wished him ill, determined to kill the prince, with a view afterwards to say that

Narsenaque had bidden him commit the murder, he being the minister to whom the government of the

kingdom had been entrusted, and he thought that for this act of treason Narsenaque would be put to death.

And he soon so arranged it that the prince was killed one night by one of his pages who had been bribed for

that purpose, and who slew the prince with a sword. As soon as Narsenaque heard that he was dead, and

learned that he himself (was supposed to have) sent to kill him, he raised up another brother of the late King's

to be king, not being able further to punish this captain, because he had many relations, until after he had

raised this younger brother to be king, who was called Tamarao. He (Narsenaque) went out one day from the

city of Bisnaga towards Nagumdym, saying that he was going hunting, leaving all his household in the city.

And after he had arrived at this city of Nagumdym he betook himself to another called Penagumdim,[508]

which is fourandtwenty leagues from that place, where he at once made ready large forces and many

horses and elephants, and then sent to tell the King Tamarao of the cause of his going; relating to him the

treason that that captain by name Tymarsaa[509] had carried out slaying his brother the king, and by whose

death he (the prince) had inherited the kingdom. He told him how that the kingdom had been entrusted to him

by his father, as well as the care of himself and his brother, that as this man had killed his brother, so he

would do to him in the same way, for he was a traitor; and he urged that for that reason it was necessary to

punish him. But the king at that time was very fond of that captain, since by reason of him he had become

King, and in place of punishing him he bestowed favour on him and took his part against the minister. And,

seeing this, Narsenaque went against him with large forces, and besieged him, threatening him for four or

five days, until the King, seeing his determination, commanded Timarsaa to be put to death; after which he

(the King) sent the (traitor's) head to be shown to the minister, who greatly rejoiced. Narsenaque sent away

all the troops and entered the city, where he was very well received by all the people, by whom he was much

And after some days and years had passed, Narsenaque, seeing the age of the king how young he was,

determined to keep him in the city of Penagumdy, with large guards to make safe his person, and to give him

20,000 cruzados of gold every year for his food and expenses, and himself to govern the kingdom for it

had been entrusted to him by the king his lord so to do. After this had been done he told the King that he

desired to go to Bisnaga to do certain things that would tend to the benefit of the kingdom, and the King,

pleased at that, told him that so it should be; thinking that now he himself would be more his own master and

not be so liable to be checked by him. And after he had departed and arrived at Bisnaga, Narsenaque sent the

King 20,000 men for his guard, as he had arranged, and he sent as their captain Timapanarque, a man in

whom he much confided; (commanding him) that he should not allow the King to leave the city, and that he

And after this was done Narsenaque began to make war on several places, taking them and demolishing them

because they had revolted. At that time it was proposed by some captains that they should kill the King, as he

was not a man fitted to govern, but to this Narsenaque would answer nothing. After some days had passed,

however, Narsenaque, pondering on the treason about which they had spoken to him, how it would increase

his greatness and more easily make him lord of the kingdom of which he was (only) minister, called one day

those same captains who had often proposed it to him, and asked them by what means the King could be slain

without its being known that he had had a hand in his death. Then one man[510] told him that a very good

way would be that he (the minister) should appear to be annoyed with him and should send to command his

presence, which mandate he would not obey, and on account of this act of disrespect he (the minister) should

ordain that some punishment be inflicted, and at this aggravation he would leave the city and fly to

Penagundy to stir up the King against the minister. He said that after he had gained the goodwill of the King

he would so plot against him that he would render him disobedient; and that to give the King greater

encouragement he would forge letters as if from captains which should contain the same counsel namely,

that he should leave that city where he was more prisoner than free and would point out to him that he

alone was king and lord, and yet that the land was under the power of Narasenaque his vassal, who had made

himself very strong and powerful in the kingdom and held him (the King) prisoner, and had rebelled. He

would urge the King to secretly quit the city and betake himself to a fortress belonging to the captain who had

sent him that letter, and that there he should prepare himself, getting together a large following. And he

would tell him that when the lords and captains came to know of his wish and determination they would act

according to it, and would help him, and would come with him to fall upon Narsenayque, and would bestow

upon him (Narsenaque) the prison in which he (the King) was now kept. So he would be king. (The captain

further said) that after he had persuaded the King to this he would cause him to (leave the city), and while

going out he would kill him, and that in this way Narsenaque should become king.

Narsenayque was well pleased to listen to this treason and to hear of the evil deed which this captain planned,

and he showed him much favour. The captain disappeared after some days from where Narsenayque was,

feigning to have fled; and he came to Penagumdy, where in a few days his arrival was known; and he set

about and put in hand all those things that had been arranged. Every day he showed the King a letter, one day

from a captain of one fortress, the next day another from another captain; and the King, understanding the

plots contained in the letters so shown, replied that the counsel and advice seemed good, and yet how could

he resist the power of Narsenayque, who, besides being minister of the kingdom, had (possession of) all the

horses and elephants and treasure, so that he could at once make war against him? "True it is, Sire, that which

thou sayest," answered the traitor, "and yet he is much misliked by all the captains who raised thee to be king,

and as soon as they shall see thee in Chaodagary"[511] (which was a fortress whither he had advised him to

flee, being one which up to that time was independent), "all will flock to thine aid, since they esteem it a just

cause." Said the King, "Since this is so, how dost thou propose that I should leave this place, so that my

going should not be known to the guards and to the 20,000 men who surround me in this city?" "Sire," he

replied, "I will disclose to thee a very good plan; thou and I will go forth by this thy garden, and from thence

by a postern gate which is in the city (wall), and which I know well; and the guards, seeing thee alone without

any following, will not know that it is thou, the King, and thus we shall pass to the outside of the city, where I

will have horses ready that will take us whithersoever it seemeth good to thee." All this pleased the King

well, and he placed everything in his hands; and, seeing fulfilled all his desire, the captain spoke with those

men who guarded that part of the garden by which he wished that the King should fly, and which was near

the King's own houses, (for into this garden the King often went to amuse himself with his wives, which

garden was at that part guarded by a matter of 300 armed men) and to these men he spoke thus, saying to

them: "If ye shall happen to see me pass by here on such a night and at such an hour, and if ye shall see a

man coming with me, slay him, for he well deserves it of me, and I will reward ye;" and they all said that that

would be a very small service to do for him. When that day had passed the traitor went to the King and said

to him: "Sire, do not put off till tomorrow that which thou hast to do today; for I have the horses ready

for thy escape, and have planned so to escort thee forth that even thy ladies shall not be aware of thy

departure, nor any other person. Come, Sire, to the garden, where I will await thee." The King replied that his

words were good and so he would do, and as soon as night was come and the hour arrived, the King went

carefully out, and still more careful was he who for some time had awaited him; and he gave signal to the

armed men, and as soon as he was come to the garden he passed between two of them who were the guards,

and they threw themselves on the King and slew him, and forthwith buried him at the foot of a tree in the

same garden. And this being accomplished without their knowing whom they had slain, the traitor gave them

his thanks, and returned to his inn to make ready to leave the city, and also so as not to give cause for talk

therein. And the next morning it was found that the King was missing; and though searched for throughout all

the city no news of him could be heard, all the people thinking that he had fled somewhere, whence he would

make war on Narsenayque. And to Narsenayque the news was straightway brought, and he, feigning much

sorrow at it, yet made ready all his horses and elephants in case the kingdom should be plunged into some

revolution by the death of the king; although as yet he knew not for certain how the matter stood, save that

the King had disappeared. And afterwards the man came who had killed the King, and told him how it had

been done and how secretly he had been slain, so that even the very men who had killed him knew not who it

was; and Narsenayque bestowed upon him rich reward. And since there was no news of the King, and he

holding everything now under his hand, he was raised to be king over all the land of Narsymga.

And this king left at his death five sons, one was called Busbalrao, and another Crismarao, and another

And this Busbalrao inherited the kingdom at the death of his father Narsenayque and reigned six years,

during which he was always at war, for as soon as his father was dead the whole land revolted under its

captains; who in a short time were destroyed by that King, and their lands taken and reduced under his rule.

During these six years the King spent, in restoring the country to its former condition, eight million gold

PARDAOS. This King died of his sickness in the city of Bisnaga; and before he died he sent for Salvatimya,

his minister,[513] and commanded to be brought to him his (the King's) son, eight years old, and said to

Sallvatina that as soon as he was dead he must raise up this son to be king (though he was not of an age for

that, and though the kingdom ought perhaps to belong to his brother Crisnarao) and that he must put out the

eyes of the latter and must bring them to show him; in order that after his death there should be no differences

in the kingdom. Salvatina said that he would do so and departed, and sent to call for Crisnarao, and took him

aside to a stable, and told him how his brother had bade him put out his eyes and make his son king. When he

heard this, Crisnarao said that he did not seek to be king, nor to be anything in the kingdom, even though it

should come to him by right; that his desire was to pass through this world as a JOGI (ascetic, recluse), and

that he should not put his eyes out, seeing that he had not deserved that of his brother. Sallvatina, hearing this,

and seeing that Crisnarao was a man of over twenty years and therefore more fit to be king, as you will see

farther on, than the son of Busbalrao who was only eight years old, commanded to bring a shegoat, and he

put out its eyes, and took them to show the King, for already he was at the last hour of his life; and he

presented them to him, and as soon as the King was dead his brother Crisnarao was raised to be king, whose

As soon as Crisnarao was raised to be King and was obeyed throughout all his kingdom, Salvatine being

his minister, who had been the same for his brother Busbalrao,[514] he without delay sent his nephew,

son of Busbalrao his brother, together with his own three brothers, to a fortress called Chaodegary; the

nephew remained there till he died. And after the King had done this for his own safety he stayed in the city

of Bisnaga for a year and a half without going outside of it, learning the affairs of the kingdom and looking at

the testaments of past kings. Amongst these he found one of king Narsymga, whose minister his father

Narsenayque had been, in which that King desired that his sons, or whoever should inherit this kingdom of

Narsymga which he had gained by force of arms, should capture three fortresses that at his death remained in

revolt against him, the which he had not himself taken because time failed him; one of them was called

Crisnarao, seeing this testament and seeing how badly the kings his predecessors had acted in what had been

enjoined on them, determined at once to prepare armies and to go against these places; and one of these

fortresses was called Odigair, and it belonged to the King of Orya. And, determining to go first against this,

CHAPTER 5. Of the things done by King Crisnarao after he was raised to the throne. 125

he collected (an army of) thirtyfour thousand foot and eight hundred elephants, and arrived with this force at

the city of Digary,[517] in which there were ten thousand foot soldiers and four hundred horse; for the

fortress had no necessity for more by reason of its great strength, because it could not be taken except by

And the King laid siege to it for a year and a half, in which time he made many paths across rocky hills,

breaking up many great boulders in order to make a road for his soldiers to approach the towers of the

fortress. The place at this time was so strong that they could not approach it except by one way which was so

narrow that men could only pass along it one at a time; and in this place he made a broad road, and many

And he took it by force of arms, and in it captured an aunt[518] of the King of Orya, who was taken captive

and carried off with all the courtesy that he could show her, having her liberty; and he took her along with

And after this was done he called Salvatinya and bade him see how well he had performed that which king

Narsymga had by his testament enjoined on him, and yet he said he was not content with such a trivial

victory, for[519] he desired to go forward a hundred leagues into the kingdom of Orya; and he ordered him to

And after this fortress was taken he departed and went against Comdovy,[520] which was one of the principal

cities of the kingdom of Orya, and besieged it; and, learning this, the King of Orya came against him to

defend his territories, and brought with him one thousand three hundred elephants, and twenty thousand

horsemen, and he brought five hundred thousand footsoldiers. Crisnarao, being aware of the approach of the

king of Orya, left the city without assaulting it, saying that he preferred to fight the King in person and his

army rather than to attack the city, and that there would be plenty of time afterwards to take it; and he went

forward four leagues from it, leaving a force to prevent the escape of the people from the city if they should

seek to flee to the coast. And he arrived at a large river of salt water crossed by a ford,[521] and on the other

side of the river was the King of Orya with his army. King Crisnarao halted his army on this side of the river,

and sent the King a message that if he desired to fight with him he would retire from the river two leagues, so

that he (the king of Orya) might pass the river unmolested, and as soon as he had passed he would join battle;

to which message the King of Orya gave no reply, but on the contrary made ready to give battle. And King

Crisnarao, seeing his determination, crossed the river with all his forces and elephants, and in the crossing of

the river there were heavy encounters on both sides, and many were slain. Notwithstanding this, King

Crisnarao crossed the river, and on the bank fought so bravely that he defeated the King of Oria and put him

And after the King had done this he told Salvatinea his minister that he purposed to turn back to the fortress,

which had not yet experienced his strength, and he went against it, and stopped there two months besieging it;

And he gave the command of it to Salvatinea, who left in it, from his army, for captain one of his brothers, in

order that he himself might go forward with the King through the kingdom of Orya. And the King, passing

the river once more in pursuit of the King of Orya, and taking and ravaging all the country which had no

reason for expecting him, arrived at a city called Comdepallyr,[522] where were all the chiefs of the

kingdom, it being the chief city in that kingdom. And he laid siege to it, and remained there three months

without being able to capture it, and in the end he took it more by reason of his numbers than by force of

arms; in which fortress he found many people of high rank whom he made captive, amongst whom was a

wife of the King, and one of his sons who was a prince, and seven principal captains of the kingdom, all of

CHAPTER 5. Of the things done by King Crisnarao after he was raised to the throne. 126

And he went forward a hundred leagues into the kingdom, finding no one to bar his progress till he got to

Symamdary,[523] which was a very large city, in which he halted for six months, waiting for the King of

Orya. He sent many messages to say that he was waiting for him in the field, but he never came. And in this

city he did many works, and gave alms to the temples, and erected therein a very grand temple to which he

gave much revenue. And he commanded to engrave on it an inscription which says: "Perhaps when these

letters are decayed, the king of Orya will give battle to the King of Bisnaga. If the King of Orya erases them,

his wife shall be given to the smiths who shoe the horses of the King of Bisnaga."

And after this was done he returned, leaving the greater part of those lands to the temples, and came to

Bisnaga where he rested some days. And he sent to call the son of the king of Orya who was taken captive in

the first fortress, and told him that as people said that he was a very active man and was very dexterous with

The young man said that since His Highness summoned him he would do what he could, and asked that this

might be put off till next day. And when the next day came the King sent to call him, and also sent for one of

his own men who at that time was very expert in the art,[524] that he should fence with him. And when the

son of the King of Orya saw him, being offended with the King for sending a man to fight with him who was

not the son of a King but only a man of humble birth, he cried out to the King: "God forbid that I should

soil my hands by touching a man not of the blood royal," and saying this he slew himself. And his father,

hearing how his son was dead, wrote to Salvatinea (asking) by what means he could ransom his wife who

remained in the power of the King, since his son was dead; to which he made answer that he should arrange

the marriage of his daughter with the King, and that afterwards the King would restore him his wife and lands

(or, would take only his lands).[525] This counsel he accepted, and he sent ambassadors to Bisnaga to

arrange a marriage with his daughter, with which King Crisnarao was well content; and when the King of

Orya knew his will (in the matter) he sent him his daughter; and with the coming of her they were friends.

And Crisnarao restored the lands on the other side of the river, and kept those on the hither side for himself.

After Crisnarao had made peace, and had married the daughter of the King of Oria, and had restored to him

his wife and the lands beyond the river, as has been narrated above, he made ready a large army and prepared

to attack Catuir,[526] which is the land of a lord who had been in revolt for fifty years; this land is on the

Charamaodel side. And he went against it, and laid siege to one of the principal cities where the lord of the

Now at the time when Crisnarao attacked this city it was winter, for which cause the river that surrounded it

was so swollen, and carried down so much water, that the king could do no harm to the place. And King

Crisnarao, seeing this, and seeing that time was passing away without his attaining his desire, commanded his

men to cut many new channels in order to be able to attack that principal (river) which had opposed itself to

the fulfilment of his wishes. And this was done in a short time, since he had many soldiers; and after the

(new) watercourses were finished and brought to where the water should go he opened mouths in the river,

the water of which very soon flowed out so that the bottom could be seen, and it was left so shallow that it

enabled him to reach the walls of the city; and the river was thus diverted into fifty different beds. Inside the

city were one hundred thousand footsoldiers and three thousand cavalry, who defended themselves and

fought very bravely, but this availed little to prevent Crisnarao from entering in a few days and slaughtering

all of them. He found large treasures in this city, amongst others in ready money a million and six hundred

thousand golden PARDAOS, besides jewels, and horses, which were numerous, and elephants. And after he

had finished the capture of this land Crisnarao divided it amongst many of his captains, giving to each one

what was necessary for him; and the chief who lived in the city and who was lord of the land was taken away

CHAPTER 6. How Crisnarao, after he had made peace with the King of Oria, determined to go against the land of Catuir. 127

And after the King had settled the country he came to Bisnaga, whence he sent Salvatinea to the city of

Comdovy, since he was chief of it, by whom his brother was placed in it so as to see directly to the land and

ifs government; for after the King returned from Orya he never went again thither.

And Salvatinea, having departed on his journey to Comdovy, before he arrived there, met, opposing his path,

a Muhammadan named Madarmeluquo, who was a captain of the King on this side,[528] and who was

awaiting him with sixty thousand men. Salvatinea had two hundred thousand men, and had very little fear of

him; and with these he went against him, and took and defeated him, and took prisoners himself and his wife

and son and horses and elephants and much money and store of jewels, and sent them all to King Crisnarao.

The king commanded to put (the captives) in prison, and there they died. And Sallvatinea went to his

territories, and after he had stayed there some months and seen to its government and decided matters in

dispute, he returned to the King at Bisnaga, by whom he was well received as being the principal person in

After Salvatinia had arrived and had been well received by the King, and after the lapse of some days, the

King told him that he desired to fulfil all the wishes expressed in the testament of King Narsynga, one of

which was to capture Rachol, which was a very strong city and amongst the principal ones of the Ydallcao,

who had taken it from the kings his ancestors; and because there was now peace between both parties, and

had been so for forty years, he knew not how he could manage to break it. But Salvatinia said that since the

peace had been made under certain conditions one of which was that if on either one side or the other any

landowners, captains in revolt, or other evildoers should be harboured and their surrender should be

demanded, they should forthwith be given up there was now great reason for breaking the peace, since

many landowners and debtors to His Highness had tied into the kingdom of the Ydallcao. He counselled

therefore that the King should send to demand the surrender of these men, and that on refusal to give them up

there would be good ground for breaking the peace. Many, however, disagreed with this advice. Now it

happened at this time that the King (of Bisnaga) sent Cide Mercar with forty thousand PARDAOS to Goa to

buy horses, which Cide Mercar was a Moor in whom the King of Bisnaga confided on account of various

affairs with which he had already been entrusted; and this man, when he arrived at a place where the Moors

lived which was called, Pomdaa and is two leagues from Goa, fled from that place, Pomdaa, to the Ydallcao,

carrying with him all the treasure. Some say that the Ydallcao wrote to him a letter as soon as he got there. As

soon as they gave to the King this news of the flight of Cide, and how he had carried off all the money, he

said that he would write to the Ydallcao to send the man back to him with all the money, since he was his

friend. Then the King caused a letter to be written, in which he spoke of the friendship that had existed for so

many years so that nothing could shake it, and that he hoped that a traitor would not be the cause of breaking

a peace of such long standing as had been between them; and he begged that he would send Cide back at

As soon as the letter was read to the Ydallcao he sent to summon his kazis and the men of his council, and he

bade them read the letter which had come from the King, as to which letter there were many suggestions

made. At the end of all they agreed that he should not send him (Cide) to him (the King of Bisnaga), for they

said that he (Cide) was one learned in the law and related to Mafumdo.[529] And the Ydallcao, as a cloak to

his action, gave Dabull to that Cide, by way of showing that he was not near his person nor knew he aught of

him; from which town of Dabull Cide fled, nor had they any further news of him. When those who had come

from the King returned bearing the Ydallcao's answer, the King showed great indignation at it, and held that

CHAPTER 7. How Crisnarao, on the arrival of Salvatinia, determined to attack Rachol, a city of the Ydalcao, and to break the peace that had lasted so long; and the reason why. 128

the peace was broken; he at once ordered to appear before him the great lords of his Council, and had the

letter read aloud so that all might hear. As soon as it was read he said that without more ado they should make

ready, since he was determined to take full vengeance. But the councillors advised the King, saying that for

such a small sum of money as this it was not well so to act; that he should think of what would be said and

talked of throughout the world; and that if he was bent on breaking so prolonged a peace for such a trifling

cause, he should call to mind that there never was any honesty in a Moor; that others were to blame in that

which Cide had done; and that if Cide should dare to come to that war which was waged in order to take

vengeance on him,[530] then it would be well that those who accompanied him should die, but that they

The councillors, however, saw that the King remained unmoved from his determination to make war, and

they then counselled him, saying: "Sire, do not go to war by that route (Dabull), but go against Rachol,

which now belongs to the Ydallcao but of old was part of this kingdom; then the Ydallcao will be forced to

come to defend it, and thus thou wilt take vengeance jointly both on one and the other." The King held this

advice to be good and prepared for his departure, sending letters to Madre Maluco, and Demellyno, and

Desturvirido,[532] and other superior lords, giving them an account of what had taken place in the matter of

the Ydallcao, and how he had determined to make war on him; from which lords he received answer that he

was doing rightly, and that they would assist him as far as they were able. As to the Zemelluco, at the time

when the messengers returned this answer he could find no excuse for not sending some troops to the aid of

The King had sent the letters to those lords out of his great craftiness, for he told them of what he was about

to do in order to seduce them to his side, so far at least as concerned their goodwill, seeing that in the

matter of troops he had no need of them because if they had joined the Ydallcao he (the King) would

never have conquered as he did; but because the Ydallcao was hated by them all as being a more powerful

chief than they, (for there is little faith amongst the Moors, and they bite one another like dogs and like to see

one after the other destroyed) he was conquered, as you will see hereafter, in the month of May, on the new

After the King had made his offerings and performed sacrifices to his idols he left the city of Bisnaga with all

his troops; and they marched in the following order. The chief of the guard (O PORTEIRO MOOR)[534] led

the advance with thirty thousand infantry archers, men with shields, and musqueteers, and spearmen

and a thousand horse and his[535] elephants. After him went Trimbicara with fifty thousand foot and two

thousand horse and twenty elephants. After him went Timapanayque; he had with him sixty thousand foot

and three thousand five hundred horse and thirty elephants; and after him went Adapanayque with one

hundred thousand foot and five thousand horse and fifty elephants. After him came Comdamara,[536] and he

had one hundred and twenty thousand foot six thousand horse and sixty elephants; after him went Comara,

and he had eighty thousand foot and of horse two thousand five hundred, and forty elephants; after him the

forces of Ogemdraho,[537] the governor of the city of Bisnaga, with one of his captains, who had one

thousand horse and thirty thousand foot and ten elephants. After him went three eunuchs, favourites of the

King, who had forty thousand foot and one thousand horse and fifteen elephants. The page who served the

King with betel[538] had fifteen thousand foot and two hundred horse, but he had no elephants.

Comarberca[539] had eight thousand foot and four hundred horse and twenty elephants. The people of the

chief of Bengapor[540] went by another route with the people of Domar, who were very numerous; and in the

same way went other captains of ten or twelve thousand men, of whom I make no mention, not knowing their

names. The King took of his guard six thousand horse and forty thousand foot, the pick of all his kingdom,

All were equally well armed, each after his own fashion, the archers and musqueteers with their quilted

tunics,[541] and the shieldmen with their swords and poignards[542] in their girdles; the shields are so large

that there is no need for armour to protect the body, which is completely covered; the horses in full clothing,

CHAPTER 7. How Crisnarao, on the arrival of Salvatinia, determined to attack Rachol, a city of the Ydalcao, and to break the peace that had lasted so long; and the reason why. 129

and the men with doublets,[543] and weapons in their hands, and on their heads headpieces after the manner

of their doublets, quilted with cotton. The warelephants go with their howdahs (CASTELLOS) from which

four men fight on each side of them, and the elephants are completely clothed, and on their tusks they have

knives fastened, much ground and sharpened, with which they do great harm. Several cannon were also

taken. I do not speak here of the washermen, who are numberless here they wash clothes nor of the

public women who accompanied the army; there were twenty thousand of them with the king during his

journey. Any one can imagine the amount of baggage that such a large number of people would take. In the

rear with the king, but always on the road in front of him, some ten or twelve thousand men with waterskins

who go seeking water, and place themselves along the road to give water to those who have no one to bring it

to them; this is done so that none of the people should die of thirst. Three or four leagues in front of all this

multitude go some fifty thousand men who are like scouts; they have to spy out the country in front, and

always keep that distance; and on their flanks there are two thousand horse of the cavalry of that country.

In this order, as I have stated, they left the city of Bisnaga, and with them a great number of merchants,

besides many others who were already in advance with all supplies; so that wherever you may be you will at

once find all you want. Every captain has his merchants who are compelled to give him all supplies requisite

According to the King's custom, when he wishes to lie down and sleep, they make for him a hedge of

brushwood and of thorns behind which his tent is pitched, which was done for him all along this route; on

which route was seen a wonderful thing, namely that on passing a river which, when they reached it, came

halfway up to the knee, before half the people had passed it was totally dry without a drop of water; and

they went about in the sand of it making pits to find some water. In this order the King proceeded till he

arrived at the town of Mollabamdym,[544] which is a league from the city of Rachol, where he pitched his

And the King being in the city of Mollabamdyn, settling all that was necessary for the siege of Rachol, there

came to him people of the King of Bisnaga, and the people of Domaar, and also many other captains with an

infinitude of people. As soon as they had joined and everything was put in order, and after his Brahmans had

finished their ceremonies and sacrifices, they told the King that it was now time, that the pagodas had given

Then he sent the Moors in the royal service to lead the van, and Camanayque, the chief of the guard, pitched

the camp very near the ditches of the city of Rachol, and every captain halted his people according to the

commands given. The people of the City received them with many shots from heavy cannon that they had,

and from many firelocks, and many arrows and musketshots, so that those of the besiegers who arrived

close to the ditches suffered heavily and wanted to retreat. But the King would not permit this, saying that he

would not have sent them there were it not that he would soon effect an entry into the city, and if not, that

they should all die; wherefore his men were compelled to attack the city, and did so in many brave and severe

fights. In these many of them lost their lives, since those of the city were in very strong position and well

acquainted with everything that was necessary for their defence, while the King's troops never ceased their

attacks on the city. The captains, seeing how badly the attack was going in consequence of the number of

soldiers killed, had recourse to lavish gifts and stratagems, as thus: They began to buy (from the soldiers)

the stones which they took from the walls and towers, and they paid them according to the value of the stone;

so that the stones were worth ten, twenty, thirty, forty, and fifty FANAMS.[545] By this device they

contrived to dismantle the wall in many places, and laid the city open; but since the city was in itself so

strong, and the soldiers who were in it were such chosen men and so used to warfare, they killed many of the

King's people. Yet not for that did they cease fighting, but every day and at every attack they became bolder,

in consequence of their greed for what the captains gave them, for the money had the power of taking from

them the terror of death which had inspired them before. They also gave them something for dragging away a

CHAPTER 7. How Crisnarao, on the arrival of Salvatinia, determined to attack Rachol, a city of the Ydalcao, and to break the peace that had lasted so long; and the reason why. 130

dead man from the foot of the wall. So the fight dragged on for a space of three months till the Ydallcao came

Now I wish you to know more of the situation, and of the city, and the people which it held. This city of

Rachol lies between two great rivers, and in the midst of a great plain where there are no trees except very

small ones, and there are great boulders there; from each river to the city is three leagues. One of these rivers

is the northern boundary, and beyond it the country belongs to the Ydallcao, and the other is the boundary to

the south which is the boundary of Narsymga. This plain lies in the middle of these two rivers, and there are

large lakes therein and wells and some little streams where the city is situated, and a hill which looks like a

woman's breast and is of natural formation. The city has three lines of strong walls of heavy masonry made

without lime; the walls are packed with earth inside, and it has on the highest point a fortress like a tower,

very high and strong; at the top where the fortress stands is a spring of water which runs all the year round. It

is held to be a holy and mysterious thing that a spring which is in a lofty situation should in some way never

be without water. Besides this spring there are several tanks of water and wells, so that the citizens had no

fear of being ever taken for lack of water; and there were in the city supplies for five years. There were eight

thousand men as garrison and four hundred horse and twenty elephants, and thirty catapults (TRABUCOS)

which hurled heavy stones and did great damage. The towers which are on the walls are so close together that

one can hear words spoken from one to the other. Between these and all around they posted their artillery,

which consisted of two hundred heavy pieces, not to mention small ones. As soon as the people of the city

knew of the arrival of the King's troops, and after they had received a captain of the Ydallcao who came with

some soldiers to the city, they closed the gates with stone and mortar. The chief fight which takes place is on

the east side, because on the north and south sides it stands on huge rocks which make it very strong; and, the

city being besieged on all sides, the camp of the King was on the east side, and so was the strength of the

The tent of the King was surrounded by a great hedge of thorns with only one entrance, and with a gate at

which stood his guards. Inside this hedge lodged the Brahman who washes him and has charge of the idol

that he always carries about with him, and also other persons who hold offices about the King's person, and

eunuchs who are always to be found in his chamber. And outside this circle all around are his guards, who

watch all night at fixed spots; with this guard are quartered the officers of the household; and from thence to

the front were all the other captains in their appointed posts, according as each one was entrusted and

ordered. Outside of all these people, in a camp by themselves, were the scouts of whom I have already

spoken, whose duty it is to patrol all night through the camp and watch to see if they can catch any spies. On

the other side the washermen, (who are those that wash clothes) were in a camp by themselves, and they were

All the camp was divided into regular streets. Each captain's division has its market, where you found all

kinds of meat, such as sheep, goats, pigs, fowls, hares, partridges and other birds, and this in great abundance;

so much so that it would seem as if you were in the city of Bisnaga. And you found many endless kinds of

rice, grains, Indiancorn, vetches (MINGUO),[546] and other seeds that they eat. Besides these things, which

are necessaries, they had another (market) where you could find in great abundance everything that you

wanted; for in these markets they sell things that in our parts are sold by professional hucksters.[547] There

were craftsmen, also, working in their streets, so that you saw made there golden jewels and gewgaws, and

you will find all kinds of rubies and diamonds and pearls, with every other kind of precious stone for sale.

There also were to be seen sellers of cloths, and these were without number as that is a thing so many want,

they being of cotton. There were also to be seen grass and straw in infinite abundance. I do not know who

could describe it so as to be believed, so barren a country is this Rachol and so sandy. It is a mystery how

there should be an abundance of everything therein. Any one can imagine what grass and straw would be

required each day for the consumption of thirtytwo thousand four hundred horses and five hundred and

fiftyone elephants,[548] to say nothing of the sumptermules and asses, and the great numbers of oxen

which carry all the supplies and many other burdens, such as tents and other things. Indeed no one who did

not understand the meaning of what he saw would ever dream that a war was going on, but would think that

he was in a prosperous city. Then to see the numbers of drums and trumpets, and other musical instruments

that they use. When they strike up their music as sign that they are about to give battle it would seem as if the

heavens must fall; and if it happened that a bird came flying along at the time when they made such a terrific

noise, it used to come down through terror of not being able to get clear of the camp, and so they would catch

But I cease to speak more of this because I should never finish; and so I turn to tell of the battle.

The King, being as I have said at the siege of the city of Rachol, there came to him sure news that the

Ydallcao had arrived at the river on the northern side, and that there he had pitched his camp. The King

therefore sent his spies to keep watch over the foe, to see what he was doing and to send word of his every

movement. With the coming of this news a tumult broke out in the camp, principally among the common

soldiers, in whose minds suspicion was never wanting, and they still suffered under the terror inspired from

old time by the Moors. There the Ydallcao halted some days so as to see what the King was doing and

whether he would march to attack him there in his camp; for it was thought by him and by his people that as

soon as the King should learn of his arrival he would at once march to meet him, and they decided that he

could defend himself from the King in the place where he was better than in any other, by help of the river.

For there was no other ford than the one close at hand; and this they proposed to guard so well that none

should take it, least of all, they thought, men who (in their eyes) were only blacks.

Although the King heard that the enemy was on the opposite bank of the river, he yet made no move, nor did

he do anything; and the Ydallcao, seeing that he made no advance, took counsel with his officers, and at this

council the advice given greatly differed, as each had his own opinion regarding the nonmovement of the

King. Many said that this was because the King held his foe to be of little account, and wished to show his

people how great was his power; and they said that he was only waiting for them to cross the river to at once

fall upon them. The principal person who said this was Amcostam,[549] who was captain of Pomdaa at the

time that Dom Guterre was captain of Goa.[550] Others said no, but that the King was afraid, thinking of

times past and the many conquests that the Moors had gained over the Hindus, and that he had brought with

him some veteran soldiers that had taken part in those wars. The advice of these was to push forward and pass

the river. It was not well (they said) for the Ydallcao to show weakness, and the longer he stayed where he

was the less would he benefit himself and harm the enemy; and although they were not so many in number as

the Hindus, yet they had the advantage in the remembrance of the former battles that had been fought

between them.[551] In the end the Ydallcao ordered that they should muster the forces, and said that after this

was ended he would decide what was best to be done. When the muster was made, he found that he had one

hundred and twenty thousand men on foot, archers and musqueteers and men with shields and spearmen, and

eighteen thousand cavalry, and one hundred and fifty elephants; and when the muster was over and he had

seen his forces for himself, seeing also the great strength of artillery that he had, he said that with his artillery

he would seek to defeat the Rao of Narsymga. He therefore ordered them to make ready, since he desired to

cross the river at once and advance to the attack; for the Ydallcao believed that his best course was to halt on

the farther side and thence send his troops to charge the camp of the King, and that in so doing he would not

In this greedy resolve he passed the ford and advanced to within three leagues of the King's camp, and he

caused his own camp to be strengthened by large trenches, and commanded all his artillery to take post in

front, and he arranged the order of his positions and the manner in which they should behave if they were

attacked by the enemy. His camp extended along the length of the river for the sake of the water, that he

As soon as they brought news to the King that the Ydallcao had passed the river, he commanded all to make

ready, but that no movement should take place in his army till he should see how the enemy acted; and when

they brought him further news that the enemy had pitched his camp and strengthened his position, he ordered

a general advance of all his forces. He divided his army into seven wings. Comarberya[553] begged from him

(the command) of the van, he being the king's fatherinlaw and a great lord; he is King of Serigapatao and

lord of a large state; he brought with him thirty grownup sons. The King bade him pitch his camp a league

from the Ydallcao and ordered all to arm themselves at dawn, as he intended then to give battle to the enemy;

but the men of the Council said that that day was an unlucky day, and begged him not to attack, as it was a

Friday, and they asked him not to attack till Saturday, which they hold for a lucky day.

When the King had left Rachol, those inside opened a gate, and one of the captains who was inside, a eunuch,

made a sally with two hundred horse, certain footsoldiers and elephants; he kept entirely along the

riverbank on the King's flank. The object of this no one could guess, each one having his own opinion. As

soon as the King halted he also did the same, keeping always his spies in the King's camp to see what passed

and (what would be) the end of the battle. Since both armies were so close, each to his foe, they never put

Seeing that the dawn of Saturday was now breaking, the drums and trumpets and other music in the King's

camp began to sound and the men to shout, so that it seemed as if the sky would fall to the earth; then the

neighing and excitement of the horses, and the trumpeting of the elephants, it is impossible for any one to

describe how it was. But even if told in simple truth it would hardly be believed the great fear and terror that

struck those who heard it, so that even those very men that caused the noise were themselves frightened at it.

And the enemy on their part made no less noise, so that if you asked anything you could not hear yourself

speak and you had to ask by signs, since in no other manner could you make yourself understood. When all in

the camp had gone to the front it was already two hours after sunrise, and the King ordered an advance of his

two forward divisions, with command so to strike home that they should leave not one of the enemy alive;

and this was forthwith done. They attacked the enemy so hotly that many of the King's troops found

themselves on the tops of the trenches[554] that the Moors had constructed in the fields. The Moors were

disposed as if they expected that the King would engage them all at once with all his forces, and so it

appeared to the Ydallcao and to his officers; and for that reason he held ready all his artillery, waiting for the

time when, owing to the adventurousness of their main body, his men must of necessity cause much slaughter

in their ranks. Then he intended to bring up his artillery and destroy them. But as soon as he saw the manner

of their attack the Ydallcao had to abandon the plan that had seemed to him best for their safety, and he

commended the whole of the artillery at once to open fire; which discharge, as it was very great, did much

damage to the enemy, killing many of the horse and foot and many elephants, and it compelled the King's

troops to retire. As soon as the Moors saw their enemies beginning to leave the field they charged all amongst

them, so that there did not remain one man in the saddle nor one who kept his face to the foe; but all the

King's troops began to fly, and the Moors after them, slaughtering them for about half a league. When the

King saw the way in which his troops fled he began to cry out that they were traitors, and that he would see

who was his side; and that since they all had to die they should meet their fate boldly according to

custom.[555] "Who ranges himself with me?" he cried. Immediately there thronged about him all those lords

and captains that were ready to side with him, and the King said that the day had arrived in which the

Ydallcao would boast that he had slain in it the greatest lord in the world, but that he should never boast that

he had vanquished him. Then he took a ring from his finger and gave it to one of his pages, so that he might

show it to his queens in token of his death, that they might burn themselves according to custom. Then he

mounted a horse and moved forward with all his remainingdivisions, commanding to slay without mercy

every man of those who had fled. As soon as these last saw what a reception they received at the hand of their

fellows they felt compelled to turn and charge the enemy, and their attack was such that not one amongst the

Moors was found to face them; for the Moors met them as men engaged in a pursuit, all in great disorder. The

confusion was so great amongst the Moors and such havoc was wrought (in their ranks) that they did not even

try to defend the camp they had made so strong and enclosed so well; but like lost men they leaped into the

river to save themselves. Then after them came large numbers of the King's troops and elephants, which latter

worked amongst them mischief without end, for they seized men with their trunks and tore them into small

pieces, whilst those who rode in the castles (howdahs) killed countless numbers.

The troops advanced thus, pursuing the foe, till the King reached the river, where, seeing the death of so

many for here you would see women and boys who had left the camp, there horses and men who through

clinging one to another could not escape as there was so much water in the river and the King's troops

stood on the bank, so that whenever a man appeared he was killed, and the horses that tried to clamber up by

the bank of the river, unable to do so, fell back on the men, so that neither one nor the other escaped, and the

elephants went into the stream, and those that they could seize were cruelly killed by them. Seeing what

passed, I say, the King out of compassion commanded the troops to retire, saying that numbers had died who

did not deserve death nor were at all in fault; which order was at once obeyed by all the captains, so that each

The King then advanced to the camp of the Ydallcao and rested himself in his tent, but many of the captains

spoke against his action in thus taking repose, saying that he ought rather to complete the destruction of all

his enemies, and they would secure this for him; and that if he did not wish himself to do this he should at

least command some of them to do it, and that it was not wise to cease from pursuit so long as daylight

should last. To whom the King answered that many had died who were not to blame; that if the Ydallcao had

done him wrong, he had already suffered enough; and moreover, that it did not seem to him good, since

Rachol remained behind them to be taken, that they should go forward, but rather they should make

themselves ready for its capture; for that the siege had to be conducted henceforth in a new and better

manner. For the King was persuaded throughout that, since the Ydallcao had lost so many men and so much

honour, and had lost indeed all his power, he would not wish to live any longer, and that he must be dead on

the field. Which, however, was not so, seeing that the Ydallcao had not even entered into the fight, but had all

the time remained under guard of Sefallarym[556] he who now calls himself Acadacao and is lord of

Belgaum who, fearing the event, contrived by cunning that the Ydallcao should select him for his guard

with all his troops, among whom he had four hundred cavalry; and when he saw how the soldiers fled, and

how completely they had been defeated, he said to the Ydallcao, "Sire, if thou seekest to live follow me!" and

the Ydallcao took refuge on an elephant and followed him, leaving his camp and all that he possessed. And as

Acadacao wished him to travel by land,[557] he took no care to search for the ford, but skirting the range of

As it may be asked what became of the captain who sallied out of Rachol with the two hundred horsemen and

elephants and footsoldiers, I say that he ever kept himself advised of what passed in the field; and as soon as

he learned that the Ydallcao was defeated he turned back to take refuge again in the citadel. But those within

were not of a mind to receive him, there being a quarrel between him and another captain who was in the

city; and he, seeing that they would not admit him, was forced to think how he could save himself, and he did

so by passing the river by another ford farther down, and so saved himself. The belief of many was that he

who was inside thought that he would now possess the city for his own, and that he would thereby become

CHAPTER 10. Of the spoil taken from the Moors, of how the King burned all the dead, and of what Christovao de Figueiredo did. 134

The King being thus in the camp, he commanded the spoil that remained of the Moors to be collected, and

there were found five captains who were taken prisoners (those of highest rank were found amongst the

dead); the chiefest of them was Salabatacao,[559] who was captaingeneral of all the troops of the Ydallcao

He had taken for his guard in the battle five hundred Portuguese of the renegades who were with the Moors;

and as soon as this Salabatacao saw that his army was defeated, he strove to collect and form a body of men,

but could not do it because there was not one amongst them who thought of aught but to save himself. And

thinking it worse to be conquered than to die, he threw himself amongst the King's troops, slaughtering them,

and doing such wonderful deeds that ever after he and his Portuguese were remembered, so much were their

terrible strokes feared, and the deeds they did; so that they let them pass on, and they penetrated so far

amongst the troops that they found themselves close to the King's bodyguard. There the horse of Salabatacao

was killed. In order to succour him the Portuguese did great deeds and killed so many men that they left a

broad road behind them which no one dared to enter, and they fought so well that they got another horse for

Salabatacao. As soon as he was on its back he seemed like nothing but a furious wolf amongst sheep; but

since already they were all so exhausted, so wounded all over, and so encircled by the enemy (for they were

attacked at every point), Salabatacao was at length overthrown, and his horse with him. And as the

Portuguese who tried to succour him were all killed, not one escaping, and he himself was wounded in many

The spoil was four thousand horses of Ormuz, and a hundred elephants, and four hundred heavy cannon,

besides small ones; the number of guncarriages for them was nine hundred, and there were many tents and

pavilions. I take no account of the sumpterhorses and oxen and other beasts, for they were numberless, nor

of the numbers of men and boys, nor yet of some women, whom the King ordered to be released.

Here the King stayed till all the dead had been burned, and the customary honours had been paid to them; and

here he gave much alms for the souls of those who had been killed in battle on his side. These numbered

sixteen thousand and odd. These things done, he turned again upon Rachol and pitched his camp as he had

During this return of the King there came to meet him Christovao de Figueiredo,[560] who was at that time in

the city of Bisnaga with horses, and he took with him twenty Portuguese musqueteers, he also himself having

his musquet. The King took much pleasure in his company, glad that he should see the war and his great

power; and he ordered some tents to be given to him of those taken from the Ydallcao, and commanded that

he should be lodged close to his own quarters. One day Christovao de Figueiredo told the King that he

wanted to go and see the city, but the King said that he should not set his heart upon that because he did not

want any disaster to befall him. But Christovao de Figueiredo replied that the whole business of the

Portuguese was war, and that this would be the greatest favour that he could do him, namely that His

Highness should permit him to go and see the Moors. So the King gave him leave and sent some people with

him. Christovao de Figueiredo went close to the trench before the walls, keeping himself as much concealed

as possible, and seeing how fearlessly the Moors exposed themselves on the wall, began, with the

musqueteers whom he had brought, to open fire on them in such a way that he slew many, the Moors being

careless and free from fear, as men who up to then had never seen men killed with firearms nor with other

such weapons. So they began to forsake the wall (at this point), and the king's troops found an opportunity of

coming in safety to it, and they began to destroy much of the masonry; and so many people collected on this

side that all the camp was put in commotion, saying that Christovao de Figueiredo had entered the city with

his Portuguese. This was told to the King. Those in the city could not understand what was going on, nor how

these people came to be in the King's service, until they recollected how on the day of the other fight the

Portuguese had come, and then they considered themselves lost. For by the aid of those men the King's

people came without fear to the wall, where already it was damaged in many places, because the city had its

cannon so high up that these could do no injury to the men who were at the foot of the wall. The wall also

was filled up inside with earth, and there were no cannon in the breaches. The people of the city whom up to

that time they had killed had been supplied with stones which they had flung on the besiegers from the top of

CHAPTER 10. Of the spoil taken from the Moors, of how the King burned all the dead, and of what Christovao de Figueiredo did. 135

the wall, and with musquets and arrows, so that even if the King's men were able to reach the wall at all they

were at least wounded; but as Christovao de Figueiredo with the Portuguese prevented the enemy from

appearing at all on the wall, the Hindus were enabled to reach it at their ease.

Here you would have seen how the King's captains begged Christovao de Figueiredo to permit them one day

to attack the Moors in his company, and he, in order to content the more honourable of them, went with them

on those days. One day he divided his musqueteers into three companies and began to kill several amongst

the Moors who showed themselves, insomuch that none durst be seen; and then the King's troops began, in

these three divisions, to attack the wall with many pickaxes and crowbars,[561] and he sent to tell the rest that

they should attack on their own account; and such was the result that the defenders of the city began to

abandon the first line of fortification, and the women and children took refuge in the citadel. The captain of

the city, seeing the dismay that had spread amongst his people, began to turn them back with encouraging

words, and with some of them betook himself to that part of the wall which he saw was most severely

pressed, begging them that they would come back to the wall and not be afraid. He was answered by some

that at that point were those Franks[562] who were helping, and that as soon as any one showed himself he

was a dead man; and he, wishing to see for himself where the Portuguese were, reached over with his body in

front one of the embrasures and was killed with a musquetshot that struck him in the middle of his forehead.

It was said by the Moors that Christovao de Figueyredo had killed him, and they took notice of him (DERAO

SYGNAES D ELLE). As soon as the captain was thus killed there was great lamentation in the city, and soon

the wall was deserted, so that the men from the King's camp were left to do as they pleased with it; and they

noticed the outcry that arose within and saw that there was no one defending the wall. They therefore retired

Next day, which was twenty days since the battle had taken place in which the Ydallcao had been defeated,

the men of the city opened a gate, and with a white flag carried in front of them went the way of the King's

When the King was advised of their coming, he commanded Solestema,[563] his minister, to receive them;

and when they saw that he came out to receive them they began to hope that they should experience kindness

Thus they came to the place where he was, and there they prostrated themselves on the ground with much

The King commanded them to rise, saying that he would save all their persons and property, and that they

need have no fear but should return to the city, and that on the next day he would enter it; and he bade a

Whilst the Moors were thus in presence of the King (the soldiers looking on), they saw Christovao de

Figueiredo, and told the King that the conquest and capture of the city was due to that foreigner, that he had

slain their captain, and with his people had killed many Moors, which caused the city's destruction. The King,

casting his eyes on Christovao de Figueiredo, nodded his head, and turned to the people telling them to

observe what great things could be effected by one good man. He then retired to his tent and the men of the

CHAPTER 11. How those in the city asked for terms, and the king granted them quarter. 136

As soon as the next day dawned, the King, after he had performed both his customary prayers and others

which it is their wont to offer after victories, giving thanks to God (for indeed the principal thing they pray

for is a conquest such as this), rode in company with the other great lords and his captains, and with his guard

took the way to the city. There the citizens were standing awaiting his arrival, with more cheerful

countenances than their real feelings warranted, yet striving to take courage, and they followed him with

much loud shouting; crying, "God be praised who has sent to save us after so many years!" and with these

and other such words they begged him to spare them and have pity on them. So he proceeded till he arrived

close to the citadel, when he sent to call the most honoured men in the city, and to these the King said that he

would spare all their property, that they might freely act as they wished regarding both that and their persons,

and those who wished to stay in the city might remain in their old state as before; and as for those who

wished to depart they might do so at once with all that they possessed. They all raised their hands to Heaven,

and threw themselves on the ground in thankfulness for such gentle treatment. While the King was thus

engaged there came men to tell him that his troops were robbing the city, and he at once tool; measures to

prevent this, and everything was returned to its owner; but as in such cases as these the conquered are content

merely with their own liberty, laying little store by anything they may get back, great robberies took place;

and some of these afterwards came to the ears of the King, and those who had done it were soundly chastised.

In a short time the defeat of the Ydallcao was known all over India, and also in other regions of the interior,

he being a great lord in these parts; and as soon as the news was carried to Zemelluco and Madremalluco and

Destuy and Virido, and also to other lords who were like slaves to the king Daquym,[564] although in some

measure they rejoiced since they wished him ill, yet on the other hand they began to be fearful for their own

safety.[565] So they all took measures to send their envoys, and these found the King still inside the city of

Rachol. Astonished though they were to see that the King had captured so strong a city, they were much more

surprised to see how great was his power and how numerous his troops. Having arrived where he was they

gave him the letters they had brought, and these were forthwith read. In these the chiefs told the King that he

ought to content himself with having defeated the Ydallcao as he had done, and ought not to wage further

war; they begged him of his goodness to return to the Ydallcao that which he had so taken from him, and that

if he did so they would always obey whatever he commanded; but if he was not of a mind to this, then he

must know for certain that they would be compelled to turn against him and forthwith join the Ydallcao, for

whom they would speedily recover that which he had now lost. The King, seeing what was contained in the

letters, answered them in the following manner by one single letter to them all; "Honoured Madremalluco,

and Zemelluco, Descar, and Veride, and all others of the kingdom of Daquym, I have seen your letters, and

thank you much for what you have sent to say. As regards the Ydallcao, what I have done to him and taken

from him he has richly deserved; as regards returning it to him that does not seem to me reasonable, nor am I

going to do it; and as for your further statement that ye will all turn against me in aid of him if I do not do as

ye ask, I pray you do not take the trouble to come hither, for I will myself go to seek ye if ye dare to await me

in your lands; and this I send you for answer." And he commanded to give many gifts to the messengers,

Many people left the city, and to many who had nothing wherewith to depart the king commanded to give all

that was required for their journey. Here the King stayed some days, after having made all the arrangements

that were necessary for the government of the city; and after repairing the walls he left behind him sufficient

troops to guard the place, and took the road to the city of Bisnaga, where he was received with great

triumphs, and great feasts were made and he bestowed bountiful rewards on his troops.

CHAPTER 12. How the King entered the city, and of the feast that was made for him, and of the regulations and arrangements he made there. 137

As soon as the festivals were ended he went to the new city; and, being there, they told him how there was

entered an ambassador of the Ydallcao. Already he knew that an ambassador had come but he pretended that

he did not know, since it is not customary for the King to send out to receive any ambassador (on his arrival).

Since this ambassador was in the city of Bisnaga, knowing that the King was in the new city, which is two

leagues from Bisnaga, he betook himself thither; and close to the city bade the people pitch his tent, which

was the best and most beautiful and rich that up to that time had ever been seen in those parts. This

ambassador was called Matucotam; he brought with him one hundred and fifty horse and much people to

serve him and many pack animals, among which were certain camels. He brought also two of the scribes of

the chamber of the Ydallcao, so that indeed you would believe that he had brought all the power of the

As soon as he had thus settled himself the ambassador sent to inform the King of his arrival, and begged that

His Highness would grant him an audience and despatch him without delay. The King replied that he would

see him,[567] but told him that he should not be impatient since he himself had but now arrived, and that he

would give him leave to depart as soon as the time had arrived. And with this the ambassador stayed there a

month without the King having sought to see him, nor having asked to know why he had come; he went

every day to the palace, and seeing the way in which the King acted towards him he determined to speak no

more but to wait till the King summoned him. Still he never ceased to go every day to the palace and to speak

with the nobles. One day the King sent to tell the ambassador that the following day was an auspicious day,

and that he wished to hear him and learn wherefore he had come, and the ambassador made ready as it

behoved him to present himself before so great a lord. As was fitting, considering his mission and the request

he had to make, he was accompanied by many Moors whom the city contained, and had with him all his

people with their trumpets and drums as was customary; and so he went to the palace, where he was received

very honourably by the nobles and officers of the household. They seated themselves inside the first gate,

awaiting there a message from the King giving permission to enter where he was, and there was no long

delay before the command to admit him was given. His obeisance to the King having been made according to

his mode and custom, the men of the council standing by the King's side, he was bidden to announce the

terms of his embassy, the King being ready graciously to listen; and the ambassador, seeing that the King so

commanded, delivered himself of his message in manner following, with the awed demeanour assumed by

"Sire! the Ydallcao, my master, sends me to thee; and by my mouth he begs thee that thou wouldest be

pleased to do justice. He bids me say that he bears very good will towards thee[568] as towards the most true

and powerful prince in all the world, and one possessed, of most justice and truth; that thou without reason

hast broken the friendship and peace which thou hast had towards him, and not only so but a peace which was

made so many years ago and maintained by all the kings so truthfully; that he does not know why thou hast

left thy kingdom and made such war on him; that he was without suspicion when they brought him the news

how thou hadst besieged the city of Rachol, and hadst robbed and destroyed the country round about, which

news caused him to move and come to its rescue; that then all the members of his court were slain by thee,

and his camp all plundered and destroyed, thou thyself being good witness of what was done, and that he

begs thee to make amends therefor, and to send back to him his artillery and tents, his horses and elephants,

with the rest that was taken from him, and also to restore his city of Rachol; that if thou wilt give him the

satisfaction for which he prays as to this property and all other things thou wilt have him always for a loyal

friend; but if not, thy action will be evil, even though pleasing to thyself." Thus he ended, without saying

more. The King said that he might retire and repose, and that next day he would give him leave to depart, and

CHAPTER 14. How the Captain acquitted himself of his embassy before the King. 138

Next day the King sent to call the ambassador, and after other things had been spoken of between[569] them,

the King said that he would be content to restore everything to the Ydallcao according to his wish, and would

be pleased at once to release Satabetacao, provided the Ydallcao would come and kiss his foot. When the

ambassador heard the King's answer he took leave of him and went to his tent; and he wrote to the Ydallcao

and told him what had passed, sending to him one of the scribes that had come with him. And much time had

not passed when the Ydallcao sent him a reply, saying: How could it be possible for him to meet the King,

seeing that he could not go to Bisnaga? and yet that he was of full mind joyfully to do that which the King

wished. With this answer the ambassador went to the King, and since the King would have set higher value

on the Ydallcao's coming to kiss his feet than on all that he had taken from him, he said to the ambassador,

"Do thou cause the Ydallcao to come to the confines of my kingdom, for I shall be, soon there." Agreeing to

this, the ambassador departed, so as to persuade the Ydallcao to come to the boundary. The King on his part

went forthwith to a city called Mudugal[570] which is close to the boundary, and there he waited until they

told him that the Ydallcao was coming and was already near at hand. Forthwith the King set out to meet him,

and entered the kingdom of Daquem, so desirous was he to meet the Ydallcao; but the Ydallcao, after all,

dared not meet the King. And the King journeyed so far, whilst they kept saying to him, "Lo! he is here close

at hand," that he even went as far as Bizapor,[571] which is the best city in all the kingdom of Daquem. It has

numbers of beautiful houses built according to our own fashion, with many gardens and bowers made of

grapevines, and pomegranates, and oranges and lemons, and all other kinds of garden produce.

Hither went the King, for it seemed well for him to await the coming of the Ydallcao in so goodly a city; and

he formed the determination that if he got him here he would seize him or command him to be put to death,

to avenge the affront that had been put upon him; and seeing that his enemy did not dare to come he remained

in the city several days. Then he turned away because water failed him; for since this city lies in a plain and

has no water save that which it receives from rainfall into two lakes, of which there are two large ones, the

Moors had opened these in order to drain them, so that the King should not be able to stay in their country.

For this reason it behoved the King to depart. But the city was left almost in ruins not that the King had

commanded it to be destroyed, but that his troops, in order to make fires for cooking, had torn down so many

houses that it was a great grief to see and this was occasioned by there being in the country a dearth of

firewood, which comes to them from a great distance. The Ydallcao sent to ask the King what wrong the

houses of his captains had done that he had commanded to destroy them; for there remained no other houses

standing save only the palaces of the Ydallcao, the King himself being therein. The King sent answer that it

When the King went to the town of Modogal the Ydallcao returned to Bigapor, where, seeing the great havoc

that had been wrought in it, he took to himself the blame for such damage having been done,[572] saying that

if he had gone to the King such destruction would not have taken place, and that at least he could do this in

future; he said that he had been badly advised since for his own part he had been prepared to do it. Thus he

took counsel with his advisers, putting before them how secure his position was if he had the friendship of the

King, that if allied to him he might be able to still further increase (the greatness of) his State, and that with

the King's favour he would be able to carry out all his wishes. Concerning these things and others similar to

these he continued constantly speaking with his advisers. Wherefore Acadacao the lord of Bilgao, he who had

fled with him in the battle, and who was a man sagacious and cunning in such matters, addressed the

Ydallcao begging permission to go himself to the King, and saying that he would remedy everything and

would cause everything to take place just as his lord wished; and the Ydallcao listened to him readily.

Now Acadacao did not trouble himself to make this journey because he desired to serve the Ydallcao, for

another would have done it as well, but he did it with a villainous motive and from the illwill he bore to

CHAPTER 15. How the King sent to call the ambassador, and of the answer which he gave to him. 139

Salebatacao whom the King held in prison at Bisnaga; and the reason that he had this wicked motive was

because Salebatacao knew that Acadacao was the man that had caused the Ydallcao to flee, and that the

cowardice of such an act was enough to destroy an army. Salebatacao had spoken angrily about this to all

those who went to see him or who were sent to visit him, and he always said that he did not desire to be

released from his captivity save for one reason only, namely that he might ruin Acadacao and war against him

as against a mortal enemy. These things were all known to Acadacao, and he knew that if they released him it

would come to pass as he had said, and therefore he determined to prevent this by contriving his enemy's

death, as will be mentioned in its place. It was for this reason that Acadacao asked to be sent as ambassador

Acadacao, being despatched by the Ydallcao, accompanied by certain horsemen with some servants took the

road to the city of Mudogal where the King was, and the Ydallcao went with him as far as the river. When

Acadacao had arrived, being allowed inside the city by command of the King, he remained several days

without seeing the King until he was summoned by his order; then he was admitted and spoke with the King,

giving him, with the manner of one who in such negotiations is both wise and bold, an excuse for the mistake

which the Ydallcao had committed. He knew how to speak to the King so well that he removed all the King's

wrath and fury against the Ydallcao, and he told the King that the principal cause why the Ydallcao did not

meet him was the conduct of Salebatacao whom he had captured, and that this man had written to the

Ydallcao telling him not to do so, and giving for reason that the King desired to slay him. By these and other

similar sayings he sought to set the King's mind against Salebatacao, even to the death, and the King, seeing

what Acadacao wanted, and believing that a man of such great fame would not be guilty of saying anything

that was not perfectly true, angrily commanded that Salebatacao, who was then in Bisnaga, should be

As soon as Acadacao had accomplished this business he thought himself unsafe, and at once asked leave of

the King, saying that he wished to go and get the Ydallcao to come to the river, so that when His Highness

arrived he might meet him there. But the King told him not to be impatient but to amuse himself there some

days, and added that he wished to show him some things, and that he had somewhat about which to speak to

him. Acadacao, however, being afraid that his treason would be discovered, did not feel safe, and behaved in

such a manner that what he had done concerning Salebatacao was found out; wherefore the King sent to seize

him, but when they went to look for him he was already gone. For he fled one night and betook himself to the

Ydalcao, telling him that the King had commanded Salebatacao to be put to death, and that he wanted to do

the same to him, and so he had escaped; and it seemed to him that he (the Ydalcao) ought not to trust the

King, who after all was nothing but a black. After he had spoken in this way he went to Bilgao, where he

strengthened his position, and when the Ydallcao sent afterwards to summon him he never obeyed, because

The King did not fail to go to the extremity of his territory, and since he did not find the Ydalcao there, nor

his mother, as Acadacao had told him, he at once perceived that this was due to trickery on the part of

Acadacao, and that he had done it all in order to compass the death of Salebatacao. Full of fury at this he

entered the kingdom of Daquem and marched against the city of Culbergura[573] and destroyed it and razed

CHAPTER 16. How Acadacao went as ambassador for his King and compassed the death of Sallabatecao. 140

Thence he wanted to press forward, but his councillors did not agree to this, saying that water would fail him

by that road and that it did not seem to them that those Moorish lords whom they counted as friends would be

otherwise than afraid that the King would take their lands as he had taken those of the others, since they all

served one sovereign, and that for this reason these lords would probably make friends with the Ydalcao, and

together they would come against the King; and although there was no reason to be afraid of them, yet the

King must needs fear the want of water, of which they had none. And the King agreed that this counsel was

In this city of Calbergara, in the fortress belonging to it, the King took three sons of the King of Daquem. He

made the eldest King of the kingdom of Daquem, his father being dead, though the Ydallcao wanted to make

King one of his brothersinlaw, who was a bastard son of the King of Daquem, and had married one of the

Ydallcao's sisters; for this reason he had kept these three brothers prisoners in that fortress. He whom he thus

made King was received by all the realm as such, and obeyed by all the great lords, and even by the Ydallcao

owing to his fear of the King.[574] The other two brothers he took with him, and gave them each one an

allowance, to each one every year fifty thousand gold PARDAOS; and he holds them and treats them as

princes and great lords, as indeed they are. After the return of the King to Bisnaga, which took place in the

same year in which he had left, nothing more passed between him and the Ydalcao worthy of record, relating

After the King had made an end of this, and had obtained so great a victory over his enemies, perceiving that

he was already advanced in years, desiring to rest in his old age and wishing his son to become King when he

died, he determined to make him King during his lifetime, the boy being six years old and the King not

knowing what would happen after his death. Wherefore he abdicated his throne and all his power and name,

and gave it all to his son, and himself became his minister, and Salvatinica[575] who had held that office

became his counsellor, and he made one of the latter's sons a great lord among them. And so far did King

Crisnarao go that after he had given the kingdom to his son, he himself did obeisance to him. With these

changes the King made great festivals which lasted eight months, during which time the son of the King fell

After his death Crisnarao learned that his son had died by poison given him by the son of Sallvatinica, and in

his anger, being certain that this was so, he sent to call Salvatinica and his son and Guandaja, brother of

Ssallvatinica, and many other captains relatives of Ssallvatinica, and made them a speech at the time of the

salaam, there being present many chiefs and principal persons of the kingdom, and relations of Ssallvatinica;

he addressed him thus: "I held thee always as my great friend, and now for these forty years thou hast

been governor in this kingdom, which thou gavest me; yet I am under no obligation to thee for that, because

in doing so thou didst act in a way contrary to thy duty. Thou wert bound, since thy lord the King my brother

commanded so, to put out mine eyes; yet thou didst not carry out his will nor obey him, but instead thou didst

cheat him and the eyes of a goat were put out, wherefore, since thou didst not fulfil his command, thou wert a

traitor, and thy sons with thee for whom I have done so much. Now I have learnt that my son died of poison

given to him by thee and thy sons, and for that ye are all here made prisoners." With these words he arose and

laid hands on them and seized them, and in doing so called for aid from many Portuguese who were then in

the country with horses, asking them to come to his aid; and after he had seized the men, father and sons, they

remained three years in prison. And he made minister a son of Codemerade, the same who had killed the son

of King Narsymga in the city of Penagundy in the garden by treachery, by command of the King his father, as

CHAPTER 18. How this King, during his own lifetime, raised to be King his son, being of the age of six years. 141

And soon afterwards Danayque, son of Salvatinica, escaped from prison and betook himself to a mountain

range in which dwelt nobody but robbers and highwaymen, and in this there was a fortress where dwelt a

captain, his relative, who received him and helped him in all that he could, and from there he made such war

on the King Crisnarao that he was driven to send against him much people, and as captain of the army he sent

his minister Ajaboissa, who invested the place on all sides and took him therein and brought him prisoner to

the King. After he had so come the King commanded him to be brought before him, with Sallvatinica his

father and another brother of his who was kept in the prison, and he sent them to the place of executions and

there had their eyes put out, for in this country they do not put Brahmans to death but only inflict some

punishment so that they remain alive. So he put them in prison again, and there Timadanayque died, and

At this time the Ydallcao collected his army and formed afresh his forces of cavalry and elephants, and

marched upon Rachol which remained under the king of Bisnaga. Hearing this news, Crisnarao, without even

telling any one, ordered to saddle a horse, and he rode at full speed in the direction of Rachol where already

the Ydallcao was; but as soon as his enemy was aware of the coming of the King he fled. On the road King

Crisnarao bought six hundred horses from the Portuguese at the rate of 4 3/4 for 1000 pardaos.[578] And

from Rachol he sent a message to the Ydallcao saying that he had already twice broken his oath and his word,

and that as he had not fulfilled the promise he had made he would make war on him in such fashion as that by

force he should become his vassal, and that he would not let him alone till he had taken from him

As the winter had now begun the King could not then go forward, and so he went to Bisnaga to make ready

for this war; and he commanded to prepare a large force of artillery, and sent an ambassador to Goa to ask for

the help of the Governor. He promised him that after taking Billgao he would give him the mainland; for this

city of Billgao is fifteen leagues from Goa, and its captain is lord of the mainland of Goa. Goa is the frontier

or boundary of his city of Billgao, and there is one of his captains at a fortress called Pomda which is three

leagues from Goa by the mainland, who also receives the revenues and has command over several villages;

and in like manner these and others have captains appointed by the Ydalcao, who is lord of the whole

While Crisnarao was thus making ready he presently fell sick of the same illness of which all his ancestors

Now this King Crisnarao, when he was young and growing up in this city of Bisnaga, had an intrigue with a

courtezan for whom he had much affection, and who was called Chinadevidy, and for the great love he bore

her he promised many times that if ever he became King he would marry her; and though he said this in jest,

it afterwards became true, so the history records. For when raised to the throne and taken away from the

things he had done when a young man, he still did not forget the affection he felt for this woman, but used

secretly to leave his palace and go to her house. And this was discovered one night by his minister

Sallvatinica, who watched him until he had got into the woman's house, and he rebuked him much for it and

brought him back to the palace. Then the King told him how well he loved her, and that he had promised to

marry this woman and was determined to do so in any case; and the minister, seeing how he was bent on it,

gave way to his wish, saying that he would accomplish it in such a way that His Highness would not be

blamed for it. In order to do this he sought for him a very beautiful woman of the family of the kings of

Narsymga, and after he had married him to her, at the end of the wedding ceremonies, he put this woman and

the other in a house, to which he had added a tower very lofty and large, and in which he lodged her.

Afterwards the King married many other wives, for these kings hold it as a very honourable thing to have

CHAPTER 19. How the Ydallcao came against Rachol, and did not dare to await the King, and fled. 142

many wives; and this King Crisnarao married four, and yet he loved this one better than any of the others.

This King built a city in honour of this woman, for the love he bore her, and called its name Nagallapor and

surrounded it with a new wall which is one of the best works that he has in his kingdom, and he made in it a

street very long and large with houses all of masonry. In order to people this town he ordered all the chiefs of

his kingdom to build themselves palaces therein, and so they did. This town has one principal street, of length

four thousand and seven hundred paces[581] and of breadth forty, which is certainly the most beautiful street

it is possible to see; and he made and finished this town without stinting any expense on it. It now yields

fortytwo thousand PARDAOS of duties for things which enter into it, the duties in this land being very

great; since nothing comes through the gates that does not pay duty, even men and women, as well as

This King also made in his time a lake for water, which lies between two very lofty SERRAS. But since he

had no means in the country for making it, nor any one who could do it, he sent to Goa to ask the Governor to

send some Portuguese masons, and the Governor sent him Joao della Ponte,[582] a great worker in stone, to

whom the King told how he wanted the tank built. Though it seemed to this man (MESTRE, modern

MAISTRY) impossible to be made, nevertheless he told the King he would do it and asked him to have lime

prepared, at which the King laughed much, for in his country when they build a house they do not understand

how to use lime. The King commanded to throw down quantities of stone and cast down many great rocks

into the valley, but everything fell to pieces, so that all the work done in the day was destroyed each night,

and the King, amazed at this, sent to call his wise men and sorcerers and asked them what they thought of this

thing. They told him that his idols were not pleased with this work, it being so great and he giving them

nothing, and that unless he spilled there the blood of men or women or buffaloes that work would never be

finished. So the King sent to bring hither all the men who were his prisoners, and who deserved death, and

ordered them there to be beheaded; and with this the work advanced. He made a bank across the middle of

the valley so lofty and wide that it was a crossbowshot in breadth and length, and had large openings;[583]

and below it he put pipes by which the water escaped, and when they wish so to do they close these. By

means of this water they made many improvements in the city, and many channels by which they irrigated

ricefields and gardens, and in order that they might improve their lands he gave the people the lands which

are irrigated by this water free for nine years,[584] until they had made their improvements, so that the

Above this tank is a very large ridge all enclosed, and in the middle some very strong gates with two towers,

one on one side and one on the other; and within are always posted 1000 men on guard. For through this gate

all things must enter that come into the two cities, since in order to enter the city of Bisnaga there is no other

road but this, all other roads meeting there. This gate is rented out for 12,000 PARDAOS each year, and no

man can enter it without paying just what the renters ask, country folk as well as strangers. In both these

cities there is no provision or merchandise whatever,[585] for all comes from outside on packoxen, since in

this country they always use beasts for burdens;[586] and every day there enter by these gates 2000 oxen, and

every one of these pays three VINTEES,[587] except certain polled oxen without horns, which never pay

Outside these two cities are fields and places richly cultivated with wheat and gram and rice and millet, for

this last is the grain which is most consumed in the land; and next to it betel (BETRE), which is a thing that

Before[588] the death of King Crisnarao from his disease as has been before recounted, being sick and

already despairing of his life, he made a will, saying that of his three brothers whom, at the time when they

CHAPTER 20. How on the death of Crisnarao his brother Achetarao was raised to be king. 143

raised him to be King, he had sent to be confined in the fortress of Chamdegary[589] with his nephew, son of

the King Busbalrao,[590] they should make King his brother Achetarao[591] who now reigns; for the latter

seemed to him to be better fitted for that than any of the others, for the reason that he himself had no son of fit

age for the throne, but only one of the age of eighteen months. After his death Salvanay became minister of

the kingdom, and governed it till the coming of King Achitarao from the fortress of Chamdegary where he

was detained. And he further left in his will that he should take Billgao,[592] and should make war on the

Which King Chytarao, after he ascended the throne, gave himself over to vice and tyranny. He is a man of

very little honesty, and on account of this the people and the captains are much discontented with his evil life

and inclinations; for he has never done anything except those things that are desired by his two

brothersinlaw,[593] who are men very evilly disposed and great Jews. By reason of this the Ydalcao,

learning of how little weight he was, determined to make war on him, believing that he would easily succeed

since the King was not inclined to war; so he made his forces ready, and began to invade the King's territory,

and arrived within a league of the city of Bisnaga. Chetarao was in the city with such great forces and power

that he could easily have captured him if his heart had allowed him to take action, since the Ydallcao had

with him only 12,000 foot and 30,000 horse; yet with this small force the Ydallcao entered Nagallapor a

league from Bisnaga and razed it to the ground. The King never tried to go out against him, nor had he the

stomach for a fight, and there were only small skirmishes by some captains, good horsemen. These spoke to

the King, asking that His Highness would give them leave to attack, and saying that his own presence was

unnecessary for so slight an affair; but the King was terrified, and by the advice of his brothersinlaw (of

which they gave not a little) decided to send and make peace with the Ydallcao. The Ydallcao was very glad

and made a peace with him which was to last for a hundred years, on condition that the King should give him

ten LAKHS of gold PARDAOS, each LAKH being 100,000 PARDAOS, and further should yield up to him

the city of Rachol which the King Crisnarao had taken from him, and which had a revenue with its lands of

150,000 PARDAOS, as well as jewels which could easily be valued at a LAKH. The King accepted these

terms, and the Ydallcao departed well pleased with this money; and after all was done the King sent to him a

diamond stone weighing 130 MANGELLINIS,[594] with fifteen other similar ones worth fully a LAKH.

This money he soon afterwards recovered and put in his treasury, exacting payments from his captains and

people so ruthlessly that they say that in six months he had recovered and put the whole in his treasury.

Wherefore the captains and troops, both because he made this peace and because he exacted this sum of

money contrary to the wishes of them all, have lived greatly discontented, and have held that if this kingdom

should ever be brought to destruction, it must take place in the lifetime of King Chitarao; for he had

destroyed the principal people of his kingdom and killed their sons and taken their goods, all owing to the bad

I will tell you of one who was called Crisnaranarque whom he seized one night, and who, before he

surrendered himself, killed all his wives, in number two hundred, and then killed himself with poison in

presence of the King. This was because the King wanted to kill his son in his presence. By sale of the

captain's arms, namely daggers, swords, spears, battleaxes and other things, which were all ornamented with

gold and silver, the King realised more than 3000 PARDAOS. In this way the kingdom has been deprived of

its principal men and of those who sustain it, wherefore the Ydalcao holds it in so little esteem that he puts

upon it every day a thousand affronts and requisitions. Of this King there is nothing more so far to recount,

save that he is a man that they hold to be of little force of character, and very negligent of the things which

CHAPTER 21. Of the manner of attendance on these kings, which is as follows. 144

All the service of this house, with the things which they make use of, is of silver and gold, that is to say

basins and bowls, stools, ewers, and other vessels of that sort. The bedsteads[595] in which his wives sleep

are covered and adorned with silver plates. Every wife has her bed in which she sleeps, and that of the King is

plated and lined and has all its legs of gold, its mattress of silk, and its round bolster worked round the ends

with large seed pearls. It has four pillows of the same pattern for the feet, and has no other sheet than a silk

cloth on top. He always carries with him a mosquito curtain with a frame of silver,[596] and he has a house

made of pieces of iron in which is contained a very large bed, which is intended for such time as he takes the

He has five hundred wives and as many less or more as he wants, with whom he sleeps; and all of these burn

themselves at his death. When he journeys to any place he takes twentyfive or thirty of his most favourite

wives, who go with him, each one in her palanqueen with poles. The palanqueen of the principal wife is an

covered with scarlet cloth tasselled with large and heavy work in seedpearls and pearls, and the pole itself is

ornamented with gold. The palanqueens of the other wives are ornamented only with silver, but another

palanqueen, which is for his own person, always goes on the right side, and is in the same way decorated with

gold. For a son or a daughter, if such an one goes with him, he takes another bedstead of ivory inlaid with

gold; and when he takes the field, wherever he pitches his camp there they make for him houses of stone and

clay, for he does not stay in a tent, and he always has these decorated with cloths.[597]

In his palace within the gates he is served by women and eunuchs and servants numbering fully five or six

hundred; and these wives of the King all have their own officials for their service, each for herself, just as the

King has within the gates, but these are all women. The palaces of the King are large and with large rooms;

they have cloisters like monasteries, with cells, and in each one is one of his wives, and with each of these

ladies is her maidservant; and when the King retires to rest he passes through these cloisters, and his wives

stand at the doors and call him in; but these are not the principal wives, they are the daughters of captains and

nobles of the country. Inside the gates of the palace they say that there are over two hundred milchcows,

The King has no expense in connection with his food, because the nobles send it to him every day to his

house, namely rice and wheat and meat and fowls with all other necessary things. In the kitchen there are

some two hundred inferior guards, and four over it, and two chief officers of the guard; and those who are

now captains of the guard of this king are called, one Pedanayque and the other Ajanaique, they are also

captains of soldiers; these porters do not go further inside than through four or five doors, because inside of

When the King rides out there go with him usually two hundred horsemen of his guard whom he pays, and a

hundred elephants, and this in addition to the captains, forty or fifty in number, who are always in attendance

with their soldiers. He takes with him two thousand men with shields, all men of good position, ranged in

order on the flanks, and in front goes the chief ALCAID with about thirty horsemen having canes in their

hands like porters; the chief ALCAID bears a different wand; he who is now the chief ALCAID of this King

is called Chinapanaique. Behind with the rearguard goes the Master of the Horse with two hundred horsemen,

and behind the cavalry go a hundred elephants, and on their backs ride men of high estate. He has in front of

him twelve destriers, saddled, and in front of these horses go five elephants, specially for the King's person,

and in front of these elephants go about fiveandtwenty horsemen with banners in their hands, and with

drums and trumpets and other music playing so loudly that you can hear nothing. Before these goes a great

drum carried by men at the sides, and they go now and then striking it; the sound of this is heard a long

distance off; and this drum they call PICHA. After the King has mounted he counts the two hundred

horsemen and the hundred elephants and the shieldbearers of the guard, and whoever is missing is severely

CHAPTER 21. Of the manner of attendance on these kings, which is as follows. 145

The manner of the salaam which the nobles make to the King every day is this: In the morning the nobles

go to the palace at ten or eleven o'clock, at which hour the King comes out from within where his wives are,

and after he has taken his seat they open to the nobles, and each one comes by himself and bows his head and

raises his hands. This is what they call the "salaam" (SALEMA). With the king are about ten or twelve men

who have the duty, on the entrance of each captain, of saying to the King: "See, your Highness, your captain

The Kings of Bisnaga have always liked, for show, to have many horses in their stables, and they always had

eight or nine hundred horses and four or five hundred elephants, on account of which, and on account of the

people that looked after them, they were put to great expense; and this King that now is (Achyuta Raya) has

in his stable seven hundred and odd horses and four hundred elephants. He spends on account of them and for

their attendants, to whom he gives food, two thousand gold PARDAOS per day. And of horsemen whom the

King pays he has six thousand, and all of them are on the stables establishment (?) (COMEM DA

ESTREBARYA); and those who serve them are paid each year, some a thousand PARDAOS, some five

hundred, some three hundred, and those who have less pay receive not less than a hundred. Of these six

The kings of this country are able to assemble as many soldiers as they want, as they have them there in their

kingdom and have much wealth wherewith to pay them. This King Chitarao has footsoldiers paid by his

nobles, and they are obliged to maintain six[598] LAKHS of soldiers, that is six hundred thousand men, and

twentyfour thousand horse, which the same nobles are obliged to have. These nobles are like renters who

hold all the land from the King, and besides keeping all these people they have to pay their cost; they also pay

to him every year sixty LAKHS of rents as royal dues. The lands, they say, yield a hundred and twenty

LAKHS of which they must pay sixty to the King, and the rest they retain for the pay of the soldiers and the

expenses of the elephants which they are obliged to maintain. For this reason the common people suffer much

hardship, those who hold the lands being so tyrannical. Of these sixty LAKHS that the king has of revenue

every year he does not enjoy a larger sum than twentyfive LAKHS, for the rest is spent on his horses, and

During his feasts and the almsgiving to his temples all these captains, who are thus like renters, must always

attend the court, and of those whom this King always has about him and by whom he is accompanied in his

court there are more than two hundred. These are obliged always to be present with the King, and must

always maintain the full number of soldiers according to their obligations, for if he finds that they have a less

number they are severely punished and their estates confiscated. These nobles are never suffered to settle

themselves in cities or towns because they would there be beyond reach of his hand; they only go thither

sometimes. But a concession is granted to the kings that are subject to him, namely they do not go to court

unless they are summoned, and from their own cities they send to him their rents or tributes; yet the King of

Bengapor is obliged to be always in camp, and he goes to court twice in the year.

The kings who are subject are these, besides this King of Bengapor, namely the King of Gasopa and the King

of Bacanor and the King of Calecu and he of Batecala,[599] and these when they come to the Court of

Bisnaga are not held in higher esteem than any other captains, either by the King or by the other nobles.

The captains and lords of this kingdom of Bisnaga, as well those who are at Court as those who are away

from it, have each one his secretary who goes to the palace in order to write to him and let him know what the

King is doing; and they manage so that nothing takes place of which they do not soon know, and day and

night they are always in the palace. And the King also, when he leaves the palace, takes with him on his own

account secretaries, who write what the King says, and the favours he bestows, and with whom he spoke, and

upon what subject, and what his determination was; and to these men is given a credit equal to that of the

Evangelists, because they say that whenever the King speaks there must be something worthy to be recorded,

and also that such a record is necessary for their remembrance. Thus no written orders are ever issued, nor

any charters granted, for the favours he bestows or the commands he gives; but when he confers a favour on

any one it remains written in the registers of these secretaries. The King however gives to the recipient of the

favour a seal impressed in wax from one of his rings, which his minister keeps, and these seals serve for

These Kings of Bisnaga eat all sorts of things, but not the flesh of oxen or cows, which they never kill in all

the country of the heathen because they worship them. They eat mutton, pork, venison, partridges, hares,

doves, quail, and all kinds of birds; even sparrows, and rats, and cats, and lizards, all of which are sold in the

Everything has to be sold alive so that each one may know what he buys this[600] at least so far as

concerns game and there are fish from the rivers in large quantities. The markets are always overflowing

with abundance of fruits, grapes, oranges, limes, pomegranates, jackfruit, and mangoes, and all very cheap.

It is said that in the markets they give twelve live sheep for a PARDAO, and in the hills they give fourteen or

fifteen for A PARDAO. The King drinks water which they bring from a spring, which is kept enclosed under

the hand of a man in whom the King has great confidence; and the vessels in which they draw the water come

covered and sealed. Thus they deliver it to the women who wait on him, and they take it inside to the other

The greatest mark of honour that this King of Bisnaga confers on a noble consists of two fans ornamented

with gold and precious stones, made of the white tails of certain cows;[601] he gives them bracelets also.

Everything which the noble receives is placed on the ground. The King confers very high honour, too, if he

permits a certain one to kiss his feet, for he never gives his hands to be kissed by any one. When he wishes to

please his captains, or persons from whom he has received or wishes to receive good service, he gives them

scarves of honour[602] for their personal use, which is a great honour; and this he does each year to the

captains at the time that they pay him their landrents. This takes place in the month of September[603] when

for nine days they make great feasts. Some say that they do this in honour of the nine months during which

Our Lady bore her Son in the womb; others say that it is only done because at this time the captains come to

pay their rents to the King. Which feasts are conducted in the following manner.

The first day they put nine castles in a piece of ground which is in front of the palace, which castles are made

by the nine principal captains in the kingdom. They are very lofty and are hung with rich cloths, and in them

are many dancinggirls and also many kinds of contrivances. Besides these nine every captain is obliged to

make each one his castle, and they come to show these to the King. Each one has his separate device, and

they all come like this during the nine days of the feast. The officers of the city are bound to come with their

devices each day at night, just as in our festivals, and in these nine days they slaughter animals and make

sacrifice. The first day they kill nine male buffaloes and nine sheep and nine goats, and thenceforward they

kill each day more, always doubling the number; and when they have finished slaying these beasts, there

come nine horses and nine elephants of the King and these come before the king covered with flowers

roses and with rich trappings. Before them goes the chief Master of the Horse with many attendants, and

they make salaam to the King. And when these have finished making their salaam there come from within

priests, and they bring rice and other cooked edibles, and water, and fire, and many kinds of scents, and they

offer prayers and throw the water over the horses and elephants, just (as our priests do with) holy water; and

they put chaplets of roses on them. This is done in the presence of the King, who remains seated on a throne

of gold and precious stones; he never sits on this except only this once in the year. And this King that now

reigns does not sit on it, for they say that whoever sits on it must be a very truthful man, one who speaks the

whole truth, and this King never does so. Whilst this is going on there pass by the King fully a thousand

women, dancing and posturing before him. After all the devices that have been prepared have been witnessed

all the horses of the King pass by, covered with their silken trappings,[604] and with much adornment of gold

and precious stones on their heads, and then all the elephants and yokes of oxen[605] in the middle of the

arena[606] in front of the palace. After these have been seen there come thirtysix of the most beautiful of

the King's wives covered with gold and pearls, and much work of seedpearls, and in the hands of each a

vessel of gold with a lamp of oil burning in it; and with these women come all the female servants and the

other wives of the King, with canes in their hands tipped with gold and with torches burning; and these then

retire inside with the King. These women are so richly bedecked with gold and precious stones that they are

In this way during these nine days they are compelled to search for all things which will give pleasure to the

The King has a thousand wrestlers for these feasts who wrestle before the King, but not in our manner, for

they strike and wound each other with two circlets with points[607] which they carry in their hands to strike

with, and the one most wounded goes and takes his reward in the shape of a silk cloth,[608] such as the King

gives to these wrestlers. They have a captain over them, and they do not perform any other service in the

And after these nine days are finished the Rao[609] rides out and goes to hold a review of the troops of his

captains, and he goes a length of two leagues between the armed men. At the end he dismounts and takes a

bow in his hand and shoots three arrows, namely one for the Ydallcao, and another for the King of

Cotamuloco,[610] and yet another for the Portuguese; it was his custom to make war on the kingdom lying in

the direction where the arrow reached furthest. After this is done the King returns home, and on that day he

fasts and with him all the people of the land; and on the next day he goes to the river to bathe with all his

people. Within these nine days the King is paid all the rents that he receives from his kingdom; for, as already

said, all the land belongs to the King, and from his hand the captains hold it. They make it over to the

husbandmen who pay ninetenths to their lord; and they have no land of their own, for the kingdom belongs

entirely to the King;[611] only the captains are put to charges on account of the troops for whom the King

makes them responsible, and whom they are obliged to provide in the way of service. Every Saturday the

dancinggirls are obliged to go to the palace to dance and posture before the King's idol, which is in the

interior of his palace. The people of this country always fast on Saturdays and do not eat all day nor even at

night, nor do they drink water, only they may chew a few cloves to sweeten the breath. The King always

gives large sums in charity; in the palace there are always two or three thousand Brahmans who are his

priests, and to whom the King commands to give alms. These Brahman priests are very despicable men; they

always have much money, and are so insolent that even by using blows the guards of the door cannot hold

The captains and principal people use[612] at night torches of oil, from four to twelve torches (according to

rank), those of highest rank having twelve at most. The King, however, must have a hundred or a hundred

and fifty torches. There is much wax in the country, but they do not know how to work it. Every merchant

who brings merchandise in horses and other things which he may have brought to sell to the King, if he

desires an audience, has to offer him a present of a piece of goods or a horse of the best that he has brought,

in order that he may obtain an audience and transact his business. And this not only to the King. You must

perforce pay bribes to all the several officers with whom you have to deal. They will do nothing without

When any one suffers wrong and wishes to represent his case to the King he shows how great is his suffering

by lying flat on his face on the ground till they ask him what it is he wants. If, perchance, he wishes to speak

to the King while he is riding, he takes the shaft of a spear and ties a branch to it and thus goes along calling

out. Then they make room for him, and he makes his complaint to the King; and it is there and then settled

without more ado, and the King orders a captain, one of those who go with him, to do at once what the

supplicant asks. If he complains that he was robbed in such and such a province and in such and such a road,

the King sends immediately for the captain of that province, even though he be at court, and the captain may

be seized and his property taken if he does not catch the thief. In the same way the chief bailiff[613] is

obliged to give an account of the robberies in the capital, and in consequence very few thefts take place; and

even if some are committed, you give some little present and a description of the man who stole from you,

and they will soon know by the agency of the wizards whether the thief be in the city or not; for there are

very powerful wizards in this country. Thus there are very few thieves in the land.

This King has continually fifty thousand paid soldiers, amongst whom are six thousand horsemen who belong

to the palace guard, to which six thousand belong the two hundred who are obliged to ride with him. He has

also twenty thousand spearmen and shieldbearers, and three thousand men to look after the elephants in the

stables; he has sixteen hundred grooms[614] who attend to the horses, and has also three hundred horse

trainers[615] and two thousand artificers, namely blacksmiths, masons, and carpenters, and washermen who

wash clothes. These are the people he has and pays every day; he gives them their allowance at the gate of the

palace. To the six thousand horsemen the King gives horses free and gives provision for them every month,

and all these horses are marked with the King's mark; when they die they are obliged to take the piece of skin

containing the mark to Madanarque, the chief master of the horse, so that he may give them another, and

these horses which he gives are mostly countrybreds which the King buys, twelve or fifteen for a thousand

PARDAOS.[616] The King every year buys thirteen thousand horses of Ormuz, and countrybreds, of which

he chooses the best for his own stables, and he gives the rest to his captains, and gains much money by them;

because after taking out the good Persian horses, he sells those which are countrybred, and gives five for a

thousand PARDAOS, and they are obliged to pay him the money for them within the month of September;

and with the money so obtained he pays for the Arabs that he buys of the Portuguese, in such a way that his

This King has also within his gates more than four thousand women, all of whom live in the palace; some are

dancinggirls, and others are bearers[617] who carry the King's wives on their shoulders, and the King also

in the interior of the palace, for the king's houses are large and there are great intervals between one house

and another. He has also women who wrestle, and others who are astrologers and soothsayers; and he has

women who write all the accounts of expenses that are incurred inside the gates, and others whose duty it is

to write all the affairs of the kingdom and compare their books with those of the writers outside; he has

women also for music, who play instruments and sing. Even the wives of the King are well versed in music.

The King has other women besides. He has ten cooks for his personal service, and has others kept for times

when he gives banquets; and these ten prepare the food for no one save for the King alone. He has a eunuch

for guard at the gate of the kitchen, who never allows any one to enter for fear of poison. When the King

wishes to eat, every person withdraws, and then come some of the women whose duty it is and they prepare

the table for him; they place for him a threefooted stool, round, made of gold, and on it put the messes.

These are brought in large vessels of gold, and the smaller messes in basins of gold, some of which are

adorned with precious stones. There is no cloth on the table, but one is brought when the King has finished

eating, and he washes his hands and mouth. Women and eunuchs serve him at table. The wives of the King

remain each in her own chamber and are waited on by maidservants. It is said that he has judges, as well as

bailiffs and watchmen who every night guard the palace, and all these are women.

The King never puts on any garment more than once, and when he takes it off he at once delivers it to certain

officers who have charge of this duty, and they render an account; and these garments are never given to any

one. This is considered to show great state. His clothes are silk cloths (PACHOIIS)[618] of very fine material

and worked with gold, which are worth each one ten PARDAOS; and they wear at times BAJURIS of the

same sort, which are like shirts with a skirt; and on the head they wear caps of brocade which they call

CULAES,[619] and one of these is worth some twenty cruzados. When he lifts it from his head he never

The punishments that they inflict in this kingdom are these: for a thief, whatever theft he commits, howsoever

little it be, they forthwith cut off a foot and a hand, and if his theft be a great one he is hanged with a hook

under his chin. If a man outrages a respectable woman or a virgin he has the same punishment, and if he does

any other such violence his punishment is of a like kind. Nobles who become traitors are sent to be impaled

alive on a wooden stake thrust through the belly, and people of the lower orders, for whatever crime they

commit, he forthwith commands to cut off their heads in the marketplace, and the same for a murder unless

the death was the result of a duel. For great honour is done to those who fight in a duel, and they give the

estate of the dead man to the survivor; but no one fights a duel without first asking leave of the minister, who

forthwith grants it. These are the common kinds of punishments, but they have others more fanciful; for when

the King so desires, he commands a man to be thrown to the elephants, and they tear him in pieces. The

people are so subject to him that if you told a man on the part of the King that he must stand still in a street

The officers of the King who go about the kingdom are these: First the minister (REGEDOR) of the

kingdom, who is the second person in it, then the treasurer, with the scribes of the King's own lands,[620] the

chief treasurer, and the commander of the palace guards (O PORTEIRO MOOR), the treasurer of the jewels,

the chief master of the horse. The King has no controller of the revenues nor other officers, nor officers of his

house, but only the captains of his kingdom; of whom I will here mention some, and the revenues they hold,

Firstly Salvanayque, the present minister; he has a revenue of a million and a hundred thousand gold

PARDAOS. He is lord of Charamaodel and of Nagapatao, and Tamgor, and Bomgarin, and Dapatao, and

Truguel, and Caullim, and all these are cities; their territories are all very large, and they border on

Ceylon.[621] Of this money he is obliged to give a third to the King, and twothirds remain for him for the

expenses of his LASCARIS and horses, which he is obliged to maintain for the King, viz.: thirty thousand

foot and three thousand horse and thirty elephants; so that he only gets the balance after deducting the

expenses of this force. But in this way he acquires much wealth because he never maintains the whole force.

Another captain, Ajaparcatimapa,[622] who was minister of Crisnarao, has a revenue of eight hundred

thousand PARDAOS of gold, and is lord of the city of Hudogary,[623] and of the city of Condovim,[624]

and of the city of Penagundim,[625] and of Codegaral[626] of Cidaota.[627] All these large cities border on

the kingdom of Oria, and some of them with Cape Comorin (CABO DE COMARY). These lands Crisnarao

gave him when he made him minister and put out the eyes of Salvatinica, his minister, who was captain of

them. He is obliged to serve with twentyfive thousand[628] foot, fifteen hundred horse, and forty elephants,

Another captain, who is called Gapanayque, is lord of these lands, namely of Rosyl,[629] and of Tipar, and of

Ticalo, and of Bigolom.[630] These lands march with the territory of the Ydallcao, and in all these there is

much wheat and grains and cattle and goats and gingely and cotton; and very fine cloth made of the last, for

all the cloth that is manufactured is made of it. He has a revenue from these territories of six hundred

thousand PARDAOS, and is obliged to furnish two thousand five hundred horse, and twenty thousand foot,

and twenty elephants, and he pays every year to the King a hundred and fifty thousand PARDAOS.

Another captain called Lepapayque, who is lord of Vimgapor,[631] a land very rich in seedplots and

cattlebreeding farms, has a revenue of three hundred thousand PARDAOS; and is obliged to furnish twelve

hundred horse and twenty thousand foot and twentyeight elephants, and he pays to the King every year

The treasurer of the jewels, who is called Narvara is captain of the new city which is called Ondegema,[632]

and is lord of the city of Diguoty and of Darguem and of Entarem,[633] and of the other lands bordering on

the lands of Bisnaga; they are all fields. They yield him every year four hundred thousand PARDAOS, of

which he gives the King two hundred thousand, and the rest he spends on twelve thousand foot and six

Another captain called Chinapanayque, the King's marshal, is lord of the land of Calaly[634] in the direction

of Cochim in the interior, and of many other lands that yield him three hundred thousand PARDAOS; and he

is obliged to pay the King every year one hundred thousand PARDAOS, and serves with eight hundred horse

Crisnapanayque is lord of Aosel,[635] which is a large city, and of other villages that I do not here mention as

they have very difficult names. These lands yield him every year twenty thousand PARDAOS of gold, and he

pays an annual revenue to the King of seven thousand PARDAOS, and serves with five hundred horse and

Also Bajapanarque, who is captain of the country of Bodial,[636] which borders on Mamgalor[637] by the

seacoast. He is lord too of Guiana.[638] In this country there is much pepper and sugarcane and cloth (of

flax)[639] and much rice; but there is no wheat, nor other cloth, and it is a land of wax. It yields him three

hundred thousand PARDAOS a year, and he serves with eight hundred horsemen and ten thousand foot and

Mallpanarque, who was chief master of the horse to King Crisnarao, is lord of the country of Avaly,[640]

which is in the interior of Calecu.[641] This land has much iron and much cotton, rice, goats, sheep, cows

and buffaloes. He has a revenue of fifteen thousand PARDAOS, and is obliged to serve with four hundred

horse and six thousand foot, and pays the King every year five thousand PARDAOS.

Another captain, called Adapanayque, who is the chief counsellor of the King, is lord of the country of

Gate,[642] whence come the diamonds, and of many other territories which yield him three hundred thousand

gold PARDAOS, excluding the precious stones which form a revenue by themselves. He pays to the King

every year forty thousand PARDAOS, with the condition that all diamonds which exceed twenty

MANGELINS[643] in weight shall be given to the King for his Treasury. He serves with eight thousand foot

and eight hundred horse and thirty elephants, and pays the King every year one hundred thousand

Another Bajapanayque is captain of Mumdoguel,[644] which was a fortress of the Ydalcao, and was taken

from him by Crisnarao when he took Rachol,[645] which was a boundary of it. This fortress of Mumdoguel

with other territories yields him four hundred thousand PARDAOS, and he serves with a thousand cavalry

and ten thousand foot and fifty elephants, and pays the King every year one hundred and fifty thousand

In this way the kingdom of Bisnaga is divided between more than two hundred captains who are all

heathen,[646] 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

These matters concerning (I.E. the power and greatness of) the kingdom of Bisnaga, though it may seem to

you that I have exaggerated, yet the people of this country assert them to have been even more notable[647]

And in this kingdom of Bisnaga there is a class of men, natives of the country, namely Brahmans, who the

most part of them never kill or eat any live thing, and these are the best that there are amongst them. They are

honest men, given to merchandise, very acute and of much talent, very good at accounts, lean men and

wellformed, but little fit for hard work. By these and by the duties they undertake the kingdom is carried on.

They believe that there are Three Persons and only One God, and they call the Persons of the Most Holy

Trinity "TRICEBEMCA." There is another class who are Canarese who have pagodas in which are (images

of?) monkeys, and cows, and buffaloes, and devils, to whom they pay much honour, and these idols and

monkeys which they adore they say that in former times this land belonged all to the monkeys, and that in

those days they could speak. They have books full of fine stories of chivalry, and many foolish tales about

their idols, such as it is out of reason for men to believe. But because of this, neither in the kingdom of

Bisnaga nor in all the land of the heathen are any monkeys killed, and there are so many in this country that

they cover the mountains. There is another class of men called Telumgalle;[648] when these die their wives

The King of Bisnaga is a Brahman;[649] every day he hears the preaching of a learned Brahman, who never

married nor ever touched a woman. He urges in his preaching (obedience to) the commandments of God, that

is to say, that one must not kill any living thing, nor take anything belonging to another, and as with these so

with the rest of the commandments. These people have such devotion to cows that they kiss them every day,

some they say even on the rump a thing I do not assert for their honour and with the droppings of these

cows they absolve themselves from their sins as if with holy water. They have for a commandment to confess

their sins to the Brahman priests, but they do not do it, except only those who are very religious (AMIGUOS

DE DIOS). They give in excuse that they feel a shame to confess themselves to another man, and say that it is

sufficient to confess themselves alone after approaching God, for he who does not do so does not acquire

grace; thus they fulfil the command in one way or another. But they do it so seldom (in reality) that they (may

This kingdom of Bisnaga is all heathen. The women have the custom of burning themselves when their

husbands die, and hold it an honour to do so. When therefore their husbands die they mourn with their

relations and those of their husbands, but they hold that the wife who weeps beyond measure has no desire to

go in search of her husband; and the mourning finished their relations speak to them, advising them to burn

themselves and not to dishonour their generation. After that, it is said, they place the dead man on a bed with

a canopy of branches and covered with flowers, and they put the woman on the back of a worthless horse,

and she goes after them with many jewels on her, and covered with roses; she carries a mirror in her hand and

in the other a branch of flowers, and (she goes accompanied by) many kinds of music, and his relations (go

with her) with much pleasure. A man goes also playing on a small drum, and he sings songs to her telling her

that she is going to join her husband, and she answers also in singing that so she will do. As soon as she

arrives at the place where they are always burned she waits with the musicians till her husband is burned,

whose body they place in a very large pit that has been made ready for it, covered with much firewood.

Before they light the fire his mother or his nearest relative takes a vessel of water on the head and a firebrand

in the hand, and goes three times round the pit, and at each round makes a hole in the pot; and when these

three rounds are done breaks the pot, which is small, and throws the torch into the pit. Then they apply the

fire, and when the body is burned comes the wife with all the feasters and washes her feet, and then a

Brahman performs over her certain ceremonies according to their law; and when he has finished doing this,

she draws off with her own hand all the jewels that she wears, and divides them among her female relatives,

and if she has sons she commends them to her most honoured relatives. When they have taken off all she has

on, even her good clothes, they put on her some common yellow cloths, and her relatives take her hand and

she takes a branch in the other, and goes singing and running to the pit where the fire is, and then mounts on

some steps which are made high up by the pit. Before they do this they go three times round the fire, and then

she mounts the steps and holds in front of her a mat that prevents her from seeing the fire. They throw into

the fire a cloth containing rice, and another in which they carry betel leaves, and her comb and mirror with

which she adorned herself, saying that all these are needed to adorn herself by her husband's side. Finally she

takes leave of all, and puts a pot of oil on her head, and casts herself into the fire with such courage that it is a

thing of wonder; and as soon as she throws herself in, the relatives are ready with firewood and quickly cover

her with it, and after this is done they all raise loud lamentations. When a captain dies, however many wives

he has they all burn themselves, and when the King dies they do the same. This is the custom throughout all

the country of the heathen, except with that caste of people called Telugas, amongst whom the wives are

buried alive with their husbands when they die. These go with much pleasure to the pit, inside of which are

made two seats of earth, one for him and one for her, and they place each one on his own seat and cover them

in little by little till they are covered up; and so the wife dies with the husband.

When a Brahman is sick, before he dies, they send to call the learned Brahmans who are his priests, so that

they should come to pray, and console the sick man; and they talk to him of the affairs of his soul, and what

he must do to save it, bidding him spend money in alms. After this ceremony is over they make the Brahman

priests shave the sick man's head, and after the shaving they bid them wash it, and after the washing it is their

custom to bring into their houses a cow with a calf, there are very few Brahmans, however poor they be,

who do not have one to live in their house, which cow, when they have finished washing the man's head,

they take a turban and tie it to its neck and put the end of the turban into the hand of the sick man, and he

gives it and the calf in alms for his soul to those priests who perform these ceremonies. On that day he gives

alms according to his position, and gives to eat to some Brahmans who are invited and who come there for

the purpose. They believe that when these ceremonies are made for the sick man, if he is to live he is soon

After the death of the sick man they have the ground washed upon which he lay, and after the washing they

take cowdung and spread it over the ground, and place the body on the top of this dung. They hold that a

sick man who dies on a cot, or on anything soever except only on the ground, commits a mortal sin. As soon

as the body is laid on the ground they make for it a bier covered with boughs of the figtree, and before they

place the body on the bier they wash it well with pure water, and anoint it with sandalwood (oil); and they

place by the body branches of sweet basil and cover it with a new cloth, and so place it in the bier. Then one

of his relatives takes the bier on one side, and they call three other Brahmans whosoever they may be to aid

them to lift it; and so they carry it to the place where they are to burn it, accompanied by many Brahmans

who go singing in front of the corpse. In front of all goes his son, if he has one, or next younger brother or

nearest relative, with fire in the hand for the burning. As soon as they arrive at the place where they have to

burn the body, they scatter money according to their ability, and then put the fire to it; and they wait there till

the whole body is consumed, and then all go and wash their bodies in a tank and afterwards return each one

to his house. The son or brother or relation who put the fire is obliged to sleep on the ground where the man

died for nine nights, and after the lapse of nine days from the death come the priests and learned men and

they command to shave the head of this man. During these nine days, they feed the poor and they give them

the dead man's clothes, and they give the cot with its bed in alms to the priests, with some money in addition;

if he is a rich man they give gardens and other things in alms to many Brahmans. When ten days are finished,

and the son has been shaved, he goes to the place where they burned his father or his brother, and they

perform many ceremonies over the ashes and bones that remain unburned; then they put them in a small

vessel and make a pit in the ground and bury them in it, and keep them thus guarded and buried in order

(afterwards) to send the bones to be thrown into a sacred river, which is distant from Goa over one thousand

leagues.[650] There is a very large temple there, the object of many pilgrimages, and they hold that every

pilgrim who dies there is saved, and goes to Paradise, and also every dead man whose bones are thrown into

that river. In spite of this they in reality take very few people there. The heir or the father or son of the dead

man is obliged, from the day of the death, for eleven days to give food to twentyseven Brahmans, and until

twentyone days to three others; until twelve days again he feeds seven Brahmans, and until twentyseven

days gives to eat to the three; on the last day of the month he gives food to three others, and thenceforward,

until one year is finished, he gives meals once a month to three Brahmans. They do this in honour of the

Trinity for the soul of the deceased. When this year is over he gives no more alms, except that each year, on

the day on which the death happened, he feeds six Brahmans, namely, three in honour of the Trinity, and

three for the persons of his father, grandfather, and greatgrandfather; who thus seemingly eat together. Thus

he obtains favour with God, and for these expenses they beg alms of the Brahmans if they are poor. These

give him all help for it. Before they dine they wash the feet of all six, and during the meal some ceremonies

However much it may at first sight appear that our chroniclers have exaggerated in their description of the

wealth of the Hindu sovereign and his nobles, and of the wonderful display of jewels made on days of high

festival by the ladies of their households, an account of which is given us by Paes, I for one see little reason

for doubt. Nuniz distinctly states (p. 389) that the diamond mines, in their day the richest in the world, were

farmed out on condition that all stones above twenty mangellins in weight about twentyfive carats

were sent to the Raya for his personal use, and there must have been many of these. Barradas (p. 226 above)

states that, according to rumour, even after the downfall of the empire the king at Chandragiri in 1614 A.D.

had no less than three large chests full of diamonds in his possession; and every traveller and chronicler has

The principal mines were on the north bank of the Krishna river, and in the Kurnool and Anantapur countries,

notably at Vajra Karur. Generically these are known as "the mines of Golkonda," and the phrase has passed

Linschoten (ii. 136) writes: "They (diamonds) grow in the countrie of Decam behinde Ballagate, by the towne

of Bisnagar, wherein are two or three hilles, from whence they are digged, whereof the King of Bisnagar doth

reape great profitte; for he causeth them to be straightly watched, and hath farmed them out with this

condition, that all diamonds that are above twentyfive Mangellyns in weight are for the King himselfe

"There is yet another hill in the Countrie of Decam, which is called Velha, that is the old Rocke, from whence

come the best diamonds and are sold for the greatest price.... Sometimes they find Diamonds of one hundred

As regards the diamond "as large as a hen's egg," said to have been found at the sack of Vijayanagar and

presented to the Adil Shah (above, p. 208), Couto (Decade VIII. c. xv.) says that it was a jewel which the

Raya had affixed to the base of the plume on his horse's headdress. Garcia da Orta, who was in India in

1534, says that at Vijayanagar a diamond had been seen as large as a small hen's egg, and he even declares

the weights of three others to have been respectively 120, 148, and 250 MANGELIS, equivalent to 150, 175,

Dr. Ball has gone carefully into the question of the diamonds known as "Babar's," "the Mogul's," "Pitt's," "the

KOHINUR," and others, and to his Appendix I. I beg to refer those interested in the subject.

It is clear that this hen's egg diamond could not be the fame as Sultan Babar's, because the former was taken

at Vijayanagar in A.D. 1565, whereas Sultan Babar's was received by his son Humayun at Agra in 1526, and

could not have been, forty years later, in the possession of the Hindu king of the south.[651]

Dr. Ball has shown that probably the KOHINUR is identical with the "Mogul's diamond." Was, then, this

"hen's egg" diamond the same? Probably not. If we had been told that the "hen's egg," when found in the sack

of Vijayanagar, had been cut, the proof CONTRA would be conclusive, since the KOHINUR was

certainly uncut in A.D. 1656 or 1657. But there is no information available on this point.

The "hen's egg" was apparently taken by the Adil Shah to Bijapur in 1565, and it is not likely to have found

The KOHINUR was found at Kollur on the river Krishna, probably in A.D. 1656. Mir Jumla farmed the

mines at that time, and presented it uncut to the emperor, Shah Jahan. It is said to have weighed 756 English

carats (Ball, ii. 444). It was entrusted to a Venetian named Hortensio Borgio, and was so damaged and wasted

in his hands that, when seen by Tavernier in Aurangzib's treasury in 1665, it weighed not more than 268 1/2

English carats. In 1739 Nadir Shah sacked Delhi and carried the stone away with him to Persia, conferring on

it its present immortal name the "Mountain of Light." On his murder in 1747 it passed into the hands of his

grandson, Shah Rukh. Four years later Shah Rukh gave it to Ahmad Shah Durani of Kabul, and by him it was

bequeathed to his son Taimur. In 1793 it passed by descent to his son Shah Zaman, who was blinded and

deposed by his brother Muhammad; but he retained possession of the stone in his prison, and in 1795 it

became the property of his brother Sultan Shuja. In 1809, after Shuja became king of Kabul, Elphinstone saw

the diamond in his bracelet at Peshawur. In 1812, Shuja, being dethroned by Muhammad, fled to Lahore,

where he was detained as a quasiprisoner by Ranjit Singh, the ruler of the Panjab. In 1813 an agreement was

arrived at, and Shuja surrendered the diamond to Ranjit Singh. Ranjit often wore the stone, and it was

constantly seen by European visitors to Lahore. Dying in 1839, the KOHINUR was placed in the

jewelchamber till the infant Dhulip Singh was acknowledged as Ranjit's successor. In 1849 it was handed

over to Sir John Lawrence on the annexation of the Panjab, and by him was sent to England to Her Majesty

the Queen. In 1851 it was exhibited at the first great Exhibition, and in 1852 it was recut by an Amsterdam

cutter, Voorsanger, in the employ of Messrs. Garrards. The weight is now 106 1/16 carats.

It would be interesting to trace the story of the "hen's egg" diamond after its acquisition by the Bijapur sultan,

H. de Montfart, who travelled in India in 1608, saw a very large diamond in the possession of the Mogul

emperor Jahangir at Delhi,[652] but this had been pierced. "I have seene one with the great MOGOR as bigge

as a Hen's egge, and of that very forme, which he caused expressly to bee pierced like a pearle to weare it on

When Malik Kafur, in the year 1310 A.D., during the reign of AlaudDin Khilji of Delhi, carried out his

successful raids into the Dakhan and to the Malabar coast, sacking all the Hindu temples, ravaging the

territory of Maisur, and despoiling the country, he is said to have returned to Delhi with an amount of treasure

that seems almost fabulous. Firishtah writes: "They found in the temples prodigious spoils, such as idols of

gold adorned with precious stones, and other rich effects consecrated to Hindu worship;" and Malik presented

his sovereign with "312 elephants, 20,000 horses, 96,000 MANS of gold, several boxes of jewels and pearls,

When we come to estimate the amount of gold we are met with a difficulty, as there are many varieties of

MANS in India, the variation being as much as from 19 lbs. in Travancore to 163 1/4 lbs. in Ahmadnagar.

The Madras MAN weighs 25 lbs., the Bombay MAN 28 lbs. Hawkins, writing in 1610, gives 55 lbs. to the

MAN,[653] Middleton, in 1611, 33 lbs.[654] Now Firishtah had more to do with Ahmadnagar than any other

part of India, and if his estimate was based on the MAN of that tract. Malik Kafur's 96,000 MANS of gold

would have amounted to the enormous sum of 15,672,000 lbs. weight. It is hardly likely that Firishtah would

have had in his mind the Travancore MAN. Even if he was thinking of the Madras MAN, which is not likely,

Whether we accept these amounts or not, there can be no manner of doubt that the richness of the temples

was very great, and the reason is easy to see. The country had always been subject to Hindu kings, and

treasures had year by year accumulated. The Brahmans exacted gifts and payments from the people on all

occasions. Kings and chiefs, merchants and landowners, vied with one another in presenting rich offerings to

their favourite places of worship; and when it is remembered that this practice had been going on from time

immemorial, it need be no matter for wonder that the man who first violently despoiled the sacred buildings

departed from the country laden with an almost incredible amount of booty. Colonel Dow, in his translation

of the works of Firishtah (i. 307), computes the value of the gold carried off by Malik Kafur at a hundred

[The above List is extracted from Mr. Danvers's work, "The Portuguese in India" (vol. ii. p. 487). The author

[1] Translation of the "Chronica dos reis de Bisnaga", written by Domingos Paes and Fernao Nunes about

1520 and 1535, respectively, with historical introduction. Includes bibliographical references.

[3] Barros was apparently never himself in India, but held an official position in the India Office in

Lisbon. His work was completed in four Decadas. Couto repeats the fourth DECADA of Barros, and

continues the history in eight more DECADAS. The first three DECADAS of Barros were published in A.D.

1552, 1553, and 1563, bringing the history down to 1527, under the title of DOS FEITOS QUE OS

ORIENTE. His fourth DECADA, published by Couto, dealt with the period A.D. 1527 to 1539, and

contained an account of the events that occurred during the governorships of Lopo Vaz de Sampaio and Nuno

da Cunha. Couto's own eight DECADAS covered the subsequent period down to 1600. The combined work

is generally called the DA ASIA. Couto completed his publication in 1614. The fourth DECADA was

published in 1602, the fifth in 1612, the sixth in 1614, the seventh in 1616, the year of his death. Couto spent

[4] CHRONICA DOS REIS DE BISNAGA, by David Lopes, S.S.G.L. Lisbon, 1897: at the National

[5] Firishtah was a Persian of good family, and was born about 1570 A.D. Early in his life he was taken

by his father to India, and resided all his life at the Court of the Nizam Shahs of Ahmadnagar, rejoicing in

royal patronage. He appears to have begun to compile his historical works at an early age, since his account

of the Bijapur kings was finished in 1596. He appears to have died not long after the year 1611, which is the

[6] According to tradition the wealth carried off was something fabulous. See Appendix B.

[7] It is highly probable that amongst the hills and crags about the upper fortress of Anegundi there may

be found remains of a date long prior to the fourteenth century; and it is much to be regretted that up to now

no scientific examination of that tract, which lies in the present territories of Haidarabad, has been carried

out. Want of leisure always prevented my undertaking any exploration north of the river; but from the heights

of Vijayanagar on the south side I often looked wistfully at the long lines of fortification visible on the hills

opposite. It is to be hoped that ere long the Government of Madras may place us in possession of a complete

map of Vijayanagar and its environs, showing the whole area enclosed by the outermost line of fortifications,

and including the outworks and suburbs. Hospett and Anegundi were both part of the great city in its palmy

[8] Nuniz erroneously gives the date as 1230. The error will be commented on hereafter.

[11] The Portuguese historians often mistook "Cambay" for the name of the country, and "Gujarat" for

[13] There is evidently a confusion here between tales of the doings of Muhammad Taghlaq and much

[16] Sheik Ismail's power in Persia dates from early in the sixteenth century. Duarte Barbosa, who was in

India in 1514 and wrote in 1516, mentions him as contemporary. He had subjugated Eastern Persia by that

time and founded the Shiah religion. Barbosa writes: "He is a Moor and a young man," and states that he was

not of royal lineage (Hakluyt edit. p. 38). Nuniz was thus guilty of an anachronism, but he describes Persia as

[22] If we add together the number of years of the reigns of kings of Vijayanagar given by Nuniz prior to

that of Krishna Deva Raya ("Crisnarao"), we find that the total is 180 (Senhor Lopes, Introduction, p. lxx.).

The date of the beginning of the reign of Krishna Deva Raya is known to be 1509 10 A.D.; whence we

obtain 1379 80 A.D. as the foundation of the empire in the person of "Dehorao" according to the

chronicle. This is not quite accurate, but it helps to prove that "1230" is a century too early.

[23] Batuta was a native of Tangiers, his name being Sheik Abu' Abdullah Muhammad. He arrived at the

Indus on the 1 Muharram A.H. 734 (September 12, 1333 A.D.), and he seems to have resided in India till

[24] The narrative is given in the French translation of Ibn Batuta's travels, by Defremery and Sanguinetti

(vol. iii. pp. 318 320). See also Sir Henry Elliot's "History of India" (vol. iii. pp. 615 616).

[25] Firishtah's account is somewhat different, and he gives the date A.H. 739, or July 20, 1338, to July 9,

1339. But I consider the narrative of Ibn Batuta to be far the most reliable, since he wrote from personal

[27] This tale is told of the rise of almost every kingdom, principality, or large zamindari in Southern

[28] I think that there can be little doubt that this derivation, though often given, is erroneous, and that the

name was "City of Victory," not "City of Learning," VIJAYA, not VIDYA. VYDIAJUNA evidently

[29] Buchanan ("Mysore," iii. 110), while on a visit to Beidur in Mysore in 1801, was shown by one

Ramappa Varmika a Sanskrit book in his possession called the VIDYARAYANA SIKKA, which relates that

the founders of Vijayanagar were Hukka and Bukka, guards of the treasury of Pratapa Rudra of Warangal.

These young men came to the Guru, or spiritual teacher, Vidyaranya, who was head of the monastery of

Sringeri, and the latter founded for them the city of Vijayanagar. This was in 1336, and Hukka was made first

king. But this story entirely leaves out of account the most important point. How could two brothers, flying

from a captured capital and a conquered kingdom, suddenly establish in a new country a great city and a

[33] There is an undated inscription, published in Dr. Hultzsch's "South Indian Inscriptions" (vol. i. p.

167), on a rock not far from the summit of the lofty hill on which stands the virgin fortress of Gutti or Gooty

in the Anantapur District, according to which that stronghold belonged to King Bukka. The place is

[35] An inscription of 1368 69 (Saka 1290, year Kilaka) mentions Madhavacharya Vidyaranya,

[36] See my "Antiquities of Madras," ii. 8, No. 58; Hultzsch's EPIG. INDICA, iii. 21.

[38] This is in itself absurd, and carries with it its own refutation. It would be manifestly impossible for

the city to be "built" in so short a time, and, moreover, it would have been sheer waste of time for the Prince

to have employed himself in such a way. The sentence was probably introduced merely to account for that

[39] Firishtah says on 1st Rabiulawwal A.H. 759; A.H. 761 (A.D. 1359 60) according to the

BURHANIMAASIR. But the author of the latter work says that Alauddin reigned thirteen years ten

months and twentyseven days, which would make the date of his death the 22nd of Rabiulawwal A.H.

762, or January 31, A.D. 1361. He does not, therefore, appear to be very accurate. Firishtah gives in words

[40] Certain inscriptions published by Mr. Rice state that the general who commanded Bukka's armies

about this time was Nadegonta Mallinatha, son of Nadegonta Sayyana. These bear date A.D. 1355 1356

[43] There is a confusion of dates here in Firishtah; but he definitely fixes the month and year when

Muhammad set out, and we may accept it for the present. The BURHANIMAASIR implies that the war

against Vijayanagar took place prior to the campaign against Warangal. Firishtah places it certainly after the

[45] Adoni as now called; Adhvani as properly spelt. This is a fine hillfortress with extensive lines of

walls, a few miles south of the River Tungabhadra and on the line of railway between Madras and Bombay.

[46] We must never forget that the narrative of Firishtah is necessarily tinged with bias in favour of the

Musalmans, and that it was not compiled till the end of the sixteenth or beginning of the seventeenth century

A.D. The "infidels" are, of course, the Hindus, the "faithful" the followers of Muhammad the Prophet.

[47] The country in question is a plain composed of a deep alluvial deposit, generally overlying gravel,

and known as "black cotton soil." After heavy rain it is practically impassable for traffic for some days.

[48] The expression of Firishtah last quoted is deserving of note, as it implies that, according to tradition

in his time, the Raya of Vijayanagar had by the year 1366 A.D. become a great and important sovereign.

[49] Briggs (ii. 312, n.) considers it unlikely that the armies could have possessed artillery at so early a

[51] Briggs gives the name as BhojMul. He MAY be the Mallayya or Mallinatha mentioned above (p.

[56] The BURHANI MAASIR calls the Raya "Kapazah." Major King says that even the vowel marks

are given, and there can be no doubt about the name. I venture to hazard a conjecture that if the word had

been written "Pakazah," transposing the first two consonants a mistake occasionally made by writers

dealing with, to them, outlandish names the sound of the word would suggest Bukka Shah. There is no

name that I have met with amongst those borne by the kings of Vijayanagar in the remotest degree

[57] Firishtah relates a story which is hardly sufficient to account for Bukka's faintheartedness. He says

that Mujahid went one day while on the march after a maneating tiger of great ferocity, and shot it with a

single arrow through the heart. "The idolaters, upon hearing of this exploit, were struck with dread." At the

present day, at least, there are no tigers in the country between Adoni and Vijayanagar, though panthers are

[59] A French map of A.D. 1652, published by Mr. Danvers ("Portuguese in India," end of vol. i), shows

at this spot "C. de Rames," but the modern Ordnance Map has no place of that name in the vicinity.

[60] It should be noted that Firishtah has previously described Mujahid, though he was then only about

twenty years old, an a remarkably powerful man. He states that at the age of fourteen he had broken the neck

[62] It will be seen hereafter that the kingdom was divided into provinces, held by nobles an condition of

[64] "Dhunna Sodra" is, I think, a lake or tank in the plain on the eastern edge of the Vijayanagar hills,

close under a lofty hill called, in the Trigonometrical Survey Taluq map, "Dannsundram," for (probably)

Dharma Samudram. On the summit of this hill is a great Trigonometrical Survey pillar. The hill is 500 feet

high, and lies within the limits of the village of Kanvi Timmapuram. Commanding, as it does, the route by

which a force issuing from the capital would attempt, by rounding the hills, to cut off the only line of retreat

open to the invaders towards the north east, the importance of the post to the Muhammadan army could not

[65] Senhor Lopes tells me that he recently found in the archives of the Torre do Tombo in Lisbon

(CORPO CHRONOLOGICO, Part iii. packet 11, No. 107) a copy of a copperplate grant which was

executed by the chief of Goa in A.D. 1391 in the name of "Virahariar," king of Vijayanagar, the suzerain.

This was "Vira" Harihara II. It was copied in A.D. 1532, and translated into Portuguese.

[68] Compare the passage in the Chronicle of Nuniz, p. 302 below, where, writing of a period a few years

later, he says, "The king of Coullao (Quilon) and Ceylon, and Paleacate (Pulicat), and Pegu and Tanacary

[70] Meadows Taylor, in his "History of India," relates (p. 163) that on one occasion Mujahid, during his

attack on Vijayanagar, penetrated into the second line of works, where there was a celebrated image of the

monkeygod, Hanuman. The Sultan dispersed the Brahmans who tried to protect it, and struck the image in

the face, mutilating its features. "A dying Brahman lying at the foot of the image cursed the king. 'For this

act,' he said, 'thou wilt die ere thou reachest thy kingdom.' A prophecy which was literally fulfilled. The

image, hewn out of a large boulder of granite, still remains, and shows the marks of the king's mutilation." I

do not know to which image the historian alludes. There are several statues of Hanuman in the second line of

[72] The name is generally given as Mahmud, and so Firishtah names him but Dr. Codrington

(NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE, 3rd Series, vol. xviii p. 261) points out that the name on all the coins of this

Sultan is "Muhammad," and not "Mahmud;" and this is confirmed by the BURHANI MAASIR and two

other authorities (Major King in IND. ANT., July 1899, p. 183, note 39). I think it best, however, to adhere to

[74] See Rice's "Mysore Inscriptions," p. 55 (A.D. 1379); JOURNAL BOMBAY BRANCH ROYAL

[78] In this the king is called "MAHAMANDALESVARA, son of Vira Bukka Udaiyar, Lord of the four

[85] Rather, I think, basketboats. These are described in the text of Paes (below, p. 259) as being in use

on these rivers in the sixteenth century, just as they are today. They are circular in shape, and are made of

wickerwork of split bamboo covered all over outside with leather. Colonel Briggs, writing of these boats

(Firishtah, ii. 371), in a footnote says, "A detachment of the British army crossed its heavy guns without even

[86] These women always accompanied the Raya's armies. Nuniz says that large numbers of them were at

[89] Assessed at "near [pound sterling]400,000" (Scott, Firishtah, p. 79, note).

[90] "Mysore Inscriptions," Rice, p. 279, No. 150. Professor Kielhorn in IND. ANT., xxiv. p. 204, No.

[92] We must remember that the narrator is a loyal Muhammadan. Mudkal was in the tract always in

[95] Briggs says, "In the beginning of the year 809." This would be the month of June, and the months

following would have been unfavourable for the march of armies. I prefer Scott's rendering.

[96] Firishtah generally calls this place "Beekapore" (Scott, i. 47, 69, 85, 86 but on p. 301 he spells the

name "Binkapore." Bankapur was one of the principal fortresses in the Carnatic. It is the "Bengapor" or

[97] This again points to the Muhammadan camp having been in the neighbourhood of Hospett, south of

[99] This square is the open space mentioned by both Nuniz and Paes. On the left of it, as the cortege

[100] Scott has it "Mankul" (i. 90), but Briggs (ii. 389) corrects this into "Pangul," which is undoubtedly

[101] His grandfather, Deva Raya I., was young enough at the beginning of his reign (A.D. 1406) to

plunge into amorous intrigues and adventures, and he reigned only seven years at most. His son and

successor, Vijaya, reigned only six years. Vijaya's son, Deva Raya II., therefore, was probably a mere boy

[102] PINA = CHINNA (Telugu) or CHIKKA (Kanarese), and means "little" or "young." (See the tale

told by Barradas below, p. 222 ff., of the events of 1614 A.D.) The name is very common in Southern India,

[103] 7th Shawwal A.H. 825. Firishtah, (Scott) p. 95, gives the length of the reign, and his figures yield

[104] The spotwas therefore probably close to one of the old irrigation channels, supplied by dams

[105] It is difficult to reconcile this story with the fact of the Raya's tender age at this date, for I think it is

certain that he was then quite a boy. Is it possible that the Muhammadan chroniclers, from whom Firishtah

obtained the narrative, mistook for the king an adult member of the family who commanded the army? Such

mistakes were certainly made in later years. The chroniclers seem to have taken little pains to ascertain the

actual names of the Hindu kings. It must, however, be noted that a little later on Firishtah speaks of Deva

[106] There is no clue as to where this event took place, except that it was not very close to Vijayanagar.

The Sultan must have been near some hills with a plain below, because he met with open ground difficult for

a horse to cross, in his eagerness to reach a mud enclosure in a plain. The description is applicable to

numberless places in the vicinity, and it is useless to speculate. As he was on horseback, it is possible that he

[107] Before Ahmad's accession, his brother, the late Sultan Firuz, had designed, in order to secure the

throne for his own son Hasan, that Ahmad, should be blinded. Ahmad was warned of this and left Kulbarga

[108] This is the Muhammadan version. Nothing is said regarding this tribute by Firishtah in describing

the terms of the peace of 1399 A.D. It is possible, however, that tribute was really paid. It had apparently

been exacted by Muhammad Shaw Bahmani, and agreed to by Bukka Raya I. who confirmed the

arrangement on the accession of Daud Shah's brother Muhammad (See above, p. 47.)

[109] This looks as if he was really paraded with ignominy as a vanquished inferior, and so displayed to

the Muhammadan troops. If he had desired to do him honour, the Sultan himself would have met the prince

and personally escorted him, as representing his father. Moreover, the prince was only permitted to sit at the

foot of the throne, and was taken, almost as a prisoner, for many days with the army till it reached the

[114] DANAIK, a word which the traveller apparently took for a proper name, is simply "the commander"

[115] As to Deva Raya's age see above, p. 63. He had now been on the throne for twentyfour years.

[117] Saka 1348 current, year Visvavasu ("Asiatic Researches," xx. p. 22; Hultzsch's "South Indian

[118] OP. CIT., p. 160 Saka 1349 current, cyclic year Parabhava, on the full moon day of the month

[119] Hultzsch's "South Indian Inscriptions," i. p. 79. Fifth Karkataka Sukla, Saka 1353 current, year

Sadharana. The donor's name is given as Vira Pratapa Deva Raya Maharaya and he is styled

[123] Hultzsch's "South Indian Inscriptions," ii. 339. The date is Saka 1863 expired, year Kshaya,

Wednesday the fifth day of the bright half of the month, on the day of the Nakshatra Purva Phalguni.

[124] Hultzsch's "South Indian Inscriptions," i. 110. Saka 1371 expired, year Sukla, Saturday 13th Sukla

[125] The termination IA is appended to many Indian names by Bracciolini; thus "Pacamuria" for

Bacanor, the Portuguese way of spelling Barkur, "Cenderghiria" for Chandragiri, "Odeschiria" for Udayagiri,

[127] Text of Paes, below, p. 281. I have discussed in full the dates given by the chronicler in considering

[128] The stone balls, generally made of quartzose granite, which are so often found in the country about

Vijayanagar on the sites of old forts, were probably intended to be projected from these weapons. They are

often called "cannonballs," but could hardly have been fired from guns, as they would have broken up under

[129] About the same time, viz., 1436, Barbaro (Hakluyt Society, "Travels of Barbaro," p. 58), speaking

of his sojourn in Tartary, wrote: "At which time, talking of Cataio, he tolde me howe the chief of that princes

corte knewe well enough what the Franchi were ... We Cataini have twoo eyes, and yow Franchi one,

whereas yow (torneing him towards the Tartares that were wth him) have never a one." The coincidence is

[131] Sir H. Elliot ("History," iv. 103, note) has "BIDRUR" as Abdur Razzak's spelling. The place alluded

[134] I.E. about seven miles. It is actually about eight miles if measured from the extreme south point of

the first line of defence northwards to the river. Razzak evidently did not include the walls of Anegundi, the

[135] The descriptions are rather vague, but, if I am right in supposing that there was a long bazaar called

the Pansupari bazaar, along the road leading from the palace gate to the Anegundi gate on the river, it must

certainly have been crossed by another road, and probably therefore a road lined with shops, leading from the

Kamalapura gate of the inner enclosure northwards to the great Hampi temple. Close to the gate of the palace

proper these roads would intersect at right angles, and would form four separate bazaars or streets. The

galleries and porticoes are now not in existence, but the remains in the street running east from the Hampi

temple will show what the galleries were like in those days. This last street alone is half a mile long.

[136] Remains of these are still to be seen not far from the "Ladies' Bath." There was a long trough that

conveyed the water, and on each side were depressions which may have been hollowed for the reception of

[137] "The DEWAN KHANAH resembles a fortypillared hall" (Sir H. Elliot's translation, "History," iv.

108). I am doubtful as to what building is referred to. The Hakluyt translator's rendering seems to point to the

great enclosure west of the elephant stables, which has been called the "Zenana." I know of no hall exactly

answering to Sir Henry Elliot's description. The lofty walls with watchtowers at the angles WHICH

surround the enclosure referred to would be just such as might be supposed to have been erected for the

protection of the royal archives and offices of the kingdom the "Dewan Khana." If so, the "hall" in front

would be the structure to which has been fancifully given the name of "the concerthall." This hall, or

DAFTARKHANA, would be the usual working office of the Minister and his colleagues the office of

daily work or courthouse, the necessary documents and records being brought to and from the central offices

[138] Roughly, twenty yards by seven. It is difficult to understand the height mentioned.

[139] I give this word as in the India Office copy. The Hakluyt edition has DAIANG, which seems

[141] Abdur Razzak writes as if he was standing at the gate of the palace looking eastwards. Taken so, his

description seems exact. Mr. A. Rea takes this view generally in a paper published in the MADRAS

[143] All this seems to have disappeared, but the buildings may have stood on each side of what is now

[144] The India Office copy adds here: "He was exceedingly young." If so, the personage whom the

ambassador interviewed could hardly have been Deva Raya II., who at this period (1443) had been on the

[145] MAHANADI (Hakluyt), MAHANAWI (Elliot). There can be little doubt as to the meaning.

[146] The actual moment of the new moon corresponding to the beginning of the month of Karttika in

Hindu reckoning was 7.40 A.M. on the morning of October 23, and the first Hindu day (TITHI) of Karttika

began at 5 A.M. on October 24. The Muhammadan month begins with the heliacal rising of the moon, and

this may have taken place on the 24th or 25th evening. At any rate, Razzak could hardly have called a festival

that took place a whole month earlier a festival which took place "during three days in the month Rajab."

Hence I think that he must have been present at the New Year festivities in Karttika, not at the Mahanavami

in Asvina, a month previous. Note Paes' description of the festivals at which he was present. He states that the

nine days' MAHANAVAMI took place on September 12, when he was at Vijayanagar, and the details

correspond to the year A.D. 1520. September 12, 1520, was the first day of the month Asvina. The New

Year's festival that year took place on October 12, which corresponded to the first day of Karttika, each of

[149] Dr. Hultzsch (EPIG. IND., iii. 36, and note; IND. ANT., xxi. 321). The last is on a temple at Little

[150] Saka 1392 expired, year Vikriti, on the same temple (IND. ANT., xxi. 321 322).

[151] Firishtah says that he reigned twentythree years nine months and twenty days, which gives this

date. The BURHANI MAASIR fixes his decease at the end of Junmada'l Awwal A.H. 862, which answers

to April A.D. 1458. Major King states that another authority gives the date as four years later (IND. ANT.,

[159] Scott's translation has "Ghondpore" (i. 166); Briggs (ii. 500) says "Condapilly."

[160] This evidently means Kanchi or Conjeeveram; but the story is exceedingly improbable. The

[166] "Chenudar" and "Binedar" appear to be variations of the name Vijayanagar, called "Bichenegher"

[168] Mahamandalesvara Medinisvara Gandan Kattari Saluva Dharanivaraha Narasimha Raya Udaiyar.

These are not the titles of a sovereign. (Hultzsch, "South Indian Inscriptions," i. 131, No. 116).

[172] Briggs calls him "Timraj" (ii. 538) in all cases whence I conclude that in this passage Scott's

"Ramraaje" is a slip of the pen. It does not occur again. The former translator in the second of the two

[175] This is very similar to the story told by Nuniz of the two sons of Virupaksha.

[176] This again is similar to the tale Nuniz gives us of the minister Narasa and the two young princes.

[178] Firishtah has told us in a previous paragraph that "dissensions prevailed in Beejanuggur."

[180] Scott's note to this is "about one million eight hundred thousand pounds sterling." Briggs (iii. p. 13)

[182] Da Orta was at Vijayanagar in 1534, at the same time as our chronicler Nuniz.

[186] The origin of the name "Sabayo" has often been discussed, and never, I think, quite satisfactorily

explained. Several of the old writers have exercised their ingenuity on the question. Barros (Dec. II. l. v. cap.

CHAMAMOS SABAYO" "When we arrived in India, the lord of this city of Goa was a Moor, by name

Soai, captain of the king of the Dakhan, whom we commonly call Sabayo." But Barros must not always be

depended upon for Indian names. He explains "Sabayo" as derived from SABA or SAVA "Persian," and

says that the Sabayo's son was Adil Shah. Garcia da Orta derives it from SAHIB, Burton (LUSIADS, iii. p.

[188] Compare the account given by Paes as to his horse, which he saw at the Mahanavami festival, and at

[190] Henry VIII. of England succeeded to the throne on April 22nd of the same year. It is interesting,

when reading the description of the splendours of Krishna Raya's court in the narrative of Nuniz, to

remember that in Western Europe magnificence of display and personal adornment seems to have reached its

[191] The chief of Bankapur seems to have been a Mahratta. Nuniz calls him the "Guym de Bengapor."

Albuquerque styles him "King Vengapor" about A.D. 1512 (Hakluyt edit., iii. 187).

Castanheda states that Albuquerque, then GovernorGeneral of Goa, sent two embassies, one to Vijayanagar

and one to "Vengapor," as if the latter were independent; and adds of the chief of Vengapor, "His kingdom is

Barros speaks of the same event, calling the place "Bengapor" and stating explicitly that its king was "vassal

of Narsinga" (or Vijayanagar) (Dec. II. l. v. cap. 3). Subsequently, writing of the chiefs in the same

neighbourhood, Barros speaks of two brothers, "Comogij" and "Appagij" (Dec. III. l. iv. cap. 5), and

describing Krishna Deva Raya's march towards Raichur recapitulating the story and details given by

Nuniz he speaks of "the Gim of the city of Bengapor." In l. v. cap. 3 of the same Decade Barros says that

"Bengapor" was "on the road" to Vijayanagar. "Gim," "Guym" and other names appear to be renderings of

Bankapur was one of the most important fortresses in the Karnataka country, situated forty miles south of

Dharwar on the direct road from Honawar to Vijayanagar. The road from Bhatkal, a favourite landingplace,

first went northwards to Honawar, then inland to Bankapur, and thence to Banavasi, Ranibennur, and over the

plains to Hospett and Vijayanagar. It was known as early as A.D. 848, and remained in possession of Hindu

rulers down to 1573, when it was captured by Ali Adil Shah and its beautiful temple destroyed. Firishtah calls

the place "Beekapore" and "Binkapor" (Scott's edit., i. 47, 69, 85, 86, 119, 301,

[192] "Commentaries of Afonso Dalboquerque" (Hakluyt edit., ii. p. 73). Fr. Luis left Cochin, travelled to

[196] Purchas's summary of the Portuguese conquest of Goa runs as follows: "SABAIUS (I.E. the

"Sabayo") when he died, left his sonne IDALCAN (Adil Khan) very young; whereupon his Subjects rebelled,

and the King of Narsinga warred upon him, to dispossesse him of his Dominion. Albuquerque, taking his

opportunitie, besieged and ... took Goa with the Iland. Which was soon after recovered by Idalcan, comming

with a strong Armie thither, the Portugal flying away by night. But when the King of Narsinga again invaded

Idalcan, He was forced to resist the more dangerous Enemy, leaving a strong Garrison at Goa, which yet

ALBUQUERK overcame, and sacked the Citie." Purchas's work was published (folio) in 1626. He merely

[202] "East Africa and Malabar" (Hakluyt edit., pp. 73, Barbosa was son of Diego Barbosa, who sailed in

the first fleet sent out under Joao de Nova in 1501. He gives no dates in his own writings except that he

finished his work in 1516 (Preface), after "having navigated for a great part of his youth in the East Indies." It

was probably begun about 1514. He was certainly in the Indian Ocean in 1508 9. The heading of the work

is "Description of the East Indies and Countries on the seaboard of the Indian Ocean in 1514." It was

published in Spanish (translated from the Portuguese) in 1524. The copy in the Library at Barcelona is said to

[204] This probably refers to the highly decorated building in the interior of what I believe to have been

the Government offices, surrounded by a lofty wall with watchtowers, and often called "The Zenana" The

elephant stables lie to the east of it. The building in question is "No. 29 Council Room" on the Government

[206] An inscription at Kondavid glorifying Saluva Timma states that he took the fortress on Saturday,

June 23, A.D. 1515 (Ashadha Sukla Harivasara Saurau, Saka 1437). This information was kindly supplied to

[207] There is a long inscription in the temple of Varadarajasvami at Conjeeveram exactly confirming this

whole story, It relates that the king first captured Udayagiri, Bellamkonda, Vinukonda, Kondavid, and other

[209] Krishna Raya in 1515 was only about twentynine years old; but we must not forget the Hindu

[210] If this refers to Krishna Raya's capture of that place in 1515, it is to be noted here that Nuniz asserts

[211] Firishtah's account of this is that Ismail Adil joined with Amir Barid in an attack on Telingana and

laid siege to Kovilkonda. Vijayanagar had no part in the causes of the campaign.

[212] Firishtah tells this story of Jamshid Qutb Shah, Quli's successor (1543 50).

[213] So says Nuniz, but, as before stated, Firishtah differs. In my opinion we must accept the former as

correct, for his account is so graphic and detailed that it is impossible to believe that he could have been

mistaken. Firishtah did not write for many years later and was much more liable to en on Several Portuguese

were present at the siege, and, if I am not mistaken, either Nuniz was there himself, or obtained his

information from those who were so. The story bears all the marks of a personal narrative.

[215] On the Ordnance Map I observe on the riverbank, thirteen miles N.N.E. of Raichur, a plan of what

appears to be a large fortified camp, with its base on the river, the average of its west, south, and east faces

being about a mile each It lies just below the junction of the Bhima and Krishna rivers, and two miles west of

the present railway station on the latter river. What this may be I know not, but it looks like the remains of an

entrenched camp erected in some former year. Perhaps some one will examine the place.

[216] Below, p. 263. "These feasts begin on the twelfth of September, and they last nine days."

[217] Below, p. 281. "At the beginning of the month of October when eleven of its days had passed.... On

this day begins their year; it is their New Year's Day.... They begin the year in this month with the new moon,

[219] "On the upper platform, close to the king, was Christovao de Figueiredo, with all of us who came

with him, for the king commanded that he should be in such a place, so as best to see the feasts and

[221] TANADARIS are small local divisions of the kingdom, each under its own petty official. A

THANAH is a policestation in modern parlance. I can think of no English word exactly suitable, but, as far

[223] Menezes assumed charge of the Viceroyalty on January 22, 1522. A short summary of Sequeira's

career is given in the interesting MS. volume called the LIVRO DAS FORTALEZAS DA INDIA, of which

the text was written by Antonio Bocarro, and the numerous portraits and plans were drawn and coloured by

Pero Barretto de Rezenda. The British Museum copy is in the Sloane Collection and bears the number "197."

[229] "Asia Portugueza" of Faria y Souza, I. Pt. iii. cap. 4 (Stevens' translation).

[232] "Asia Portugueza," I. Pt. iii. cap. 4, sec. 5. "Ruy de Mello, que estava a Goa, viendo al Hidalchan

divertido con sus ruinas o esperancas, o todo junto, y a muchos en perciales remolinos robando la tierra firme

de aquel contorno, ganola facilmente con dozientos y sincuenta cavallos, y ochocientos peones Canaries"

[234] Danvers, "The Portuguese in India," i. 347, gives us the same dates for Sequeira's absence, and

[235] The corresponding actual new moon day in May 1521 was Monday, May 6, and the new moon was

first visible on Wednesday. In 1522 the actual new moon day was Sunday, May 25, and it was first visible on

[252] We hear nothing of this from Firishtah. But we know that the Bahmani Sultan Mahmud II., who

died in 1518, had three sons, Ahmad AlaudDin, and WaliUllah, the first of whom became Sultan in

December 1517, the second in 1521, the third in the same year; in all cases only nominally.

[254] Correa, Stanley's translation (Hakluyt edition, p. 387, note; Danvers, "Portuguese in India," i. 363.

Mr. BadenPowell has published, in the JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY for April 1900,

an interesting paper on the king of Portugal's regulations for, and record of customs in, the newly acquired

[256] Mallik Barid. The Hidalchan is the Adil Khan or the Adil Shah; Madre Maluco is the Imad Shah,

[257] Perhaps this matter ought to find place under the reign of Achyuta Raya, but I mention it here as it

[258] Article "Vijayanagar" in the MADRAS CHRISTIAN COLLEGE MAGAZINE for December 1886.

[260] "South Indian Inscriptions" (Hultzsch), p. 132; and EPIGRAPHIA INDICA, BY the same author,

[263] I have broadly declared this relationship, but, as a matter of fact, almost every inscription and

literary work in the country differs as to the genealogy of the sovereigns who reigned from this time forward.

Nuniz, however, as a contemporary writer residing at the capital, is an excellent authority.

[270] "Lists of Antiquities, Madras," vol. i. p. 181 (No. 86), and p. 182 (No. 115).

[275] Briggs has it "a daughter of Shew Ray." Rama married a daughter of Krishna Deva, who was son of

[276] Inscriptions do not give us the name of any prince of the female line at this period. Briggs calls the

uncle "Bhoj" Tirumala. Couto (Dec. VI. l. v. cap. 5) renders the name as "Uche Timma," and states that

[277] Here we probably find an allusion to the reign of Achyuta. Rama was the elder of three brothers

afterwards to become very famous. He and his brother Tirumala both married daughters of Krishna Deva

Raya. Achyuta being, in Nuniz's belief, brother of the latter monarch, that chronicler calls these two brothers

"brothersinlaw" of King Achyuta. (Below, p. 367.) Nuniz says that King Achyuta "destroyed the principal

[279] If the Sultan's march towards Vijayanagar began in 1535 36, we shall perhaps not be far wrong

in assigning Nuniz's chronicle to the year 1536 37, seeing that the author alludes to the dissatisfaction and

disgust felt by the nobles and others for their rulers, which presupposes a certain interval to have passed since

[281] Scott spells the name "Negtaderee," but I have substituted the rendering given by Briggs,

[282] Firishtah writes glowingly (Scott, i. 277) of the grandeur of Asada Khan. He "was famed for his

judgment and wisdom.... For nearly forty years he was the patron and protector of the nobles and

distinguished of the Dekhan. He lived in the highest respect and esteem, with a magnificence and grandeur

surpassing all his contemporary nobility. The sovereigns of Beejanuggur and every country observing a

respect to his great abilities, frequently honoured him with letters and valuable presents. His household

servants ... amounted to 250. He had sixty of the largest elephants and 150 of a smaller size. In his stables he

had 400 horses of Arabia and Persia, exclusive of thoseof mixed breed foaled in India. His treasures and

[283] Firishtah's story of Asada Khan's life is contained in Scott's edition. i. pp. 236 278; Briggs, iii.

[287] Couto tells us (Dec. VII. l. vii. c. 1) that Rama Raya in 1555 made an expedition against the

Christian inhabitants of San Thome, near Madras, but retired without doing great harm; and it is quite

[290] I have published a rough list of eightyeight of these, eightyfour of which are dated, in my "Lists

[297] Firishtah (Scott, i. 252) states that Rama Raya "married a daughter of the son of Seoroy, by that

alliance greatly adding to his influence and power." If so, "Seoroy" must be the first Narasa The historian

says that "Seoroy dying was succeeded by his son, a minor, who did not live long after him, and left the

throne to a younger brother." These brothers, then, were the second Narasa, called also Vira Narasimha, and

Krishna Deva. The rest of Firishtah's account does not tally with our other sources of information. As being

soninlaw of Krishna Deva, Rama was called "Aliya," which means "soninlaw," and by this name he is

[300] See the pedigree above. The young son would be Venkata, and the uncle, Ranga.

[301] Who all these were we do not know. The boy Venkata's uncles would be either brothers of Ranga or

brothers of the queenmother, widow of Achyuta. Achyuta's nephew referred to could not be Sadasiva,

because he survived. He may have been nephew of the Rani. The assassination of the boyking recalls to our

minds the story of Firishtah of the murder of the infant prince by "Hoje" Tirumala.

[302] Sister, that is, of Krishna Deva. As above stated, Rama Raya, for undoubtedly he is here referred to,

[303] Caesar Frederick states that Rama and his two brothers, of whom Tirumala was minister and

Venkatadri commanderinchief, kept the rightful kings prisoners for thirty years prior to their downfall in

1565. If so, this would include the reign of Achyuta, and the story would differ from that of Nuniz, who

represents King Achyuta as free but subject to the malign influence of his "two brothersinlaw." These two

may, perhaps, represent Rama and Tirumala, who are said to have married two daughters of Krishna Deva.

[306] So Firishtah. The Muhammadan historian of the Qutb Shahi dynasty of Golkonda, translated by

Briggs, tells this story of Quli Qutb Shah, Jamshid's predecessor (Firishtah, Briggs, iii. 371).

[307] The terms of this treaty are interesting, as they throw much light on the political and commercial

relations of the Portuguese at this period with the two great states their neighbours.

The contracting parties are stated to be the king of Portugal by his deputy, the captaingeneral and governor

of Goa, Dom Joao de Castro, and the great and powerful King Sadasiva, king of Bisnaga.

(A) Each party to be friends of the friends, and enemy of the enemies, of the other; and, when called on, to

help the other with all their forces against all kings and lords in India, the Nizam Shah always excepted.

(B) The governor of Goa will allow all Arab and Persian horses landed at Goa to be purchased by the king of

Vijayanagar on due notice and proper payment, none being permitted to be sent to Bijapur.

goods through ports where the Portuguese have factors, permitting none to proceed to Bijapur ports.

(D) The king of Vijayanagar will forbid the importation of saltpetre and iron into his kingdom from any

(F) The king of Vijayanagar will allow no Moorish ship or fleet to stop in his ports, and if any should come

he will capture them and send them to Goa. Both parties agree, to wage war on the Adil Shah, and all

territory taken from the latter shall belong to Vijayanagar, except lands on the west of the Ghats from Banda

on the north to Cintacora on the south, which lands shall belong to the king of Portugal.

[308] Muharram, A.H. 956. But the Portuguese records state that Asada Khan died in 1545 (Danvers, i.

[313] Senhor Lopes has recently found amongst the archives in the Torre do Tombo in Lisbon a paper,

dated 1555 A.D., which states that the king of Vijayanagar had consented to aid Ibrahim Adil Shah against

AinulMulkh and "the Meale" (I.E. Prince Abdullah, called "Meale Khan" by the Portuguese), in return for

[315] The Muhammadans seem to have always treated Rama Rajah as king. Sadasiva was perhaps too

young at that period to have had a son, and the allusion is probably to a son of Rama.

[317] That Ali Adil actually made this visit is confirmed by the narrative of a Golkonda historian, whose

work has been translated and published by Briggs (Firishtah, iii. 402). The story may be compared with that

told above of the visit of Firuz Shah Bahmani to King Deva Raya in A.D. 1406, which had a similar ending.

[320] Firishtah relates an interesting anecdote about this in his history of the Ahmadnagar Sultans.

Hussain Nizam Shah desired to make peace with Vijayanagar, and Rama Raja offered to grant it on certain

conditions, one of which was that Kallian should he restored to Bijapur, and another that the Nizam Shah

should submit to pay him a visit and receive betel from him. Hussain was in such straits that he accepted

these severe terms and went to Rama Raja's camp, "who rose on his entering his tent (he did not go out to

meet him) and kissed his hand. The Sultan, from foolish pride, called for a basin and ewer, and washed his

hands, as if they had been polluted by the touch of Ramraaje, who, enraged at the affront, said in his own

language, 'If he were not my guest he should repent this insult;' then calling for water, he also washed."

[322] 20th Jamada 'l awwal, Hijra 972. Firishtah (Scott), i. 295; Briggs, iii. 413.

[323] Though, in fact, the battle did not take place there, but many miles to the south of the river. Talikota

is twentyfive miles north of the Krishna. The battle took place ten miles from Rama Raya's camp south of

the river, wherever that may have been. There is no available information on this point, but it was probably at

Mudkal, the celebrated fortress. The ford crossed by the allies would appear to be that at the bend of the river

at Ingaligi, and the decisive battle seems to have been fought in the plains about the little village of Bayapur

[324] Couto (Dec. VIII. c. 15) tells an incredible story that Rama Raya was utterly ignorant of any

impending attack, and never even heard that the enemy had entered his territories till the news was brought

[326] I have seen on several occasions bodies of men collected together at Vijayanagar and the

neighbourhood, dressed and armed in a manner which they assured me was traditional. They wore rough

tunics and short drawers of cotton, stained to a rather dark redbrown colour, admirably adapted for forest

work, but of a deeper hue than our English khaki. They grimly assured me that the colour concealed to a great

extent the stains of blood from wounds. Their weapons were for the most part spears. Some had old country

[327] Firishtah gives the date as "Friday the 20th of JumadoosSany," A.H. 972 (Briggs, iii. 414), but

[328] What follows is taken entirely from Firishtah (Scott, i. 296 ff.; Briggs, iii 128, 247).

[330] An interesting note by Colonel Briggs is appended to his translation of these passages of Firishtah

(iii. 130). "It affords a striking example at once of the malignity of the Mahomedans towards this Hindoo

prince, and of the depraved taste of the times, when we see a sculptured representation of Ramraj's head, at

the present day, serving as the opening of one of the sewers of the citadel of Beejapoor, and we know that the

real head, annually covered with oil and red pigment, has been exhibited to the pious Mahomedans of

Ahmudnuggur, on the anniversary of the battle, for the last two hundred and fifty years, by the descendants of

the executioner, in whose hands it has remained till the present period." This was written in 1829.

[331] Couto calls them "Bedues," probably for "Beduinos," "Bedouins" or wandering tribes.

[332] In this I follow Couto; but the Golkonda historian quoted by Briggs (Firishtah, iii. 414) states that

the "allied armies halted for ten days on the field of action, and then proceeded to the capital of

Beejanuggur." It is, however, quite possible that both accounts are correct. The advanced Muhammadan

troops are almost certain to have been pushed on to the capital. The main body, after the sovereigns had

received information that no opposition was offered, may have struck their camp on the tenth day.

[334] Couto states that this diamond was one which the king had affixed to the base of the plume on his

[338] Dec. VIII. c. 15. I have taken this and the next paragraph from Lopes's CHRONICA DOS REYS

[339] Writing in 1675, the travelled Fryer relates what he saw of the Inquisition at Goa. I take the

following from his Letter iv., chapter ii. "Going the next Morning to the PalaceStairs, we saw their

SessionsHouse, the bloody Prison of the Inquisition; and in a principal Marketplace was raised an Engine a

great height, at top like a Gibbet, with a Pulley, with steppings to go upon, as on a Flagstaff, for the

STRAPADO, which unhinges a Man's joints; a cruel Torture. Over against these Stairs is an Island where

they burn ... all those condemned by the Inquisitor, which are brought from the SANCTO OFFICIO dress'd

up in most horrid Shapes of Imps and Devils, and so delivered to the executioner.... St. JAGO, or St. James's

Day, is the Day for the AUCTO DE FIE." And in chapter v. of the same Letter he states that, when he was at

Goa, "all Butcher's Meat was forbidden, except Pork" a regulation irksome enough even to the European

residents, but worse for those Hindus allowed by their caste rules to eat meat, but to whom pork is always

especially distasteful. Linschoten, who was in India from 1583 to 1589, mentions the imprisonments and

[341] I.E., they advanced by way of Mudkal, Tavurugiri, and Kanakagiri, a distance of about fiftyfive

[342] Other accounts say that Venkatadri was killed in the battle, and that Tirumala alone of the three

brothers survived. Firishtah only wrote from hearsay, and was perhaps misinformed. Probably for

[345] The pedigree is taken from the EPIGRAPHIA INDICA, iii. 238. I am not responsible for the

numbers attached so the names. Thus I should prefer to call Rama Raya II. "Rama I.," since his ancestors do

not appear to have reigned even in name. But I take the table as Dr. Hultzsch has given it. See the Kondyata

grant of 1636 (IND. ANT., xiii. 125), the Vilapaka grant of 1601 (ID. ii. 371), and the Kallakursi grant of

1644 (ID. xiii. 153), also my "Lists of Antiquities, Madras," i. 35 an inscription of 1623 (No. 30) at Ellore.

[348] According to the Kuniyur plates (EPIG. IND, iii. 236), Rama III., Tirumala's third son, was not

[350] Traditionary history at Adoni relates that the governor of the fortress appointed by Sultan Ali Adil

about A.D. 1566 was Malik Rahiman Khan, who resided there for nearly thirtynine years. His tomb is still

kept up by a grant annually made by the Government in continuation of the old custom, and is in good

preservation, having an establishment with a priest and servants. Navab Siddi Masud Khan was governor

when the great mosque, called the Jumma Musjid, was completed (A.D. 1662). The Bijapur Sultan, the last of

his line, sent to him a marble slab with an inscription and a grant of a thousand bold pieces. The slab is still to

be seen on one of the arches in the interior, and the money was spent in gilding and decorating the building.

Aurangzib of Delhi annexed Bijapur in 1686, and appointed Navab GhaziudDin Khan governor of Adoni,

who had to take the place from the Bijapur governor, Siddi Masud Khan. This was done after a fight, in

consequence of the Delhi troops firing (blank) on the great mosque from their guns; which so terrified the

governor, who held the Jumma Musjid dearer than his life, that he surrendered. The new governor's family

ruled till 1752, when the country was given to Bassalat Jung of Haidarabad. He died and was buried here in

1777, and his tomb is still maintained. The place was ceded to the English by the Nizam in 1802 with the

[354] The Italian traveller Pietro della Valle was at Ikkeri at the close of the year 1623, and gives an

interesting account of all that he saw, and what befell him there. He went with an embassy from Goa to that

place. "This Prince VENKTAPA NAIEKA was sometime Vassal and one of the ministers of the great King

of VIDIA NAGAR ... but after the downfall of the king ... Venktapa Naieka ... remain'd absolute Prince of the

State of which he was Governour, which also, being a good souldier, he hath much enlarged."

[355] CARTARIO DOS JESUITOS (Bundle 36, packet 95, No. 22, in the National Archives at Lisbon,

ARCHIVO DA TORRE DO TOMBO). Compare Antonio Bocarro, DECADA xiii. p. 296. Mr. Lopes also

refers me to an as yet inedited MS., DOCUMENTOS REMETTIDOS DA INDIA, or LIVROS DAS

[356] See the genealogical table on p. 214. Venkata I. was son of Tirumala, the first real king of the fourth

dynasty. The nephew, "Chikka Raya," may have been Ranga III., "Chikka" (young) being, as Barradas tells

us, a name usually given to the heir to the throne. In that case Ranga's son, Rama IV., "one of several

brothers," would be the boy who survived the wholesale massacre related in the letter.

[360] This youth was only a greatnephew of Jaga Raya's by a double marriage. His wife was niece of

King Venkata, and therefore by marriage niece of Queen Bayama, who was Jaga Raya's daughter.

[365] This was Muttu Virappa, Nayakka (or Naik) of Madura from 1609 to 1623. Mr. Nelson ("The

Madura Country") mentions that in his reign there was a war with Tanjore. Nuniz, writing in 1535, does not

mention Madura as amongst the great divisions of the Vijayanagar kingdom; and this coincides with the

history as derived from other sources. But by 1614 the Naik of Madura had become very powerful, though

the people still occasionally recognised their old sovereigns, the Pandiyans, one of whom is mentioned as late

[367] Close to Madras, often called "Melliapor" by the Portuguese, its native name being Mailapur.

Linschoten, writing at the end of the sixteenth century, a few years earlier than the date of the events

described, says, "This towne ... is now the chiefe cittie of Narsinga and of the coast of Choromandel."

[371] The "kingdom of Narsinga" is the name often given by the Portuguese and others to Vijayanagar.

[372] The term here is limited to the small territory of Portuguese India immediately round the city of

Goa. Thus Linschoten (A.D. 1583) wrote, "At the end of Cambaya beginneth India, AND the lands of Decam

and Cuncam," meaning that immediately south of the territories of Cambay began those of Portuguese India,

[374] This was apparently the usual route for travellers from the coast to Vijayanagar. Fr. Luis used it for

[375] Probably Sandur, about 120 miles from the coast at Bhatkal. Sandur is a small Mahratta state 25

[376] That is, on the east of Portuguese India, west of the territory of Vijayanagar.

[378] Coromandel. This name was applied by the Portuguese to the Eastern Tamil and Southern Telugu

countries. It had no welldefined limits, and often was held to extend even as far north as to the Krishna

river, or even to Orissa. Yule and Burnell adhere to the now generally received definition of the name from

[380] COMQUISTA COM is evidently an error for CONFINA COM. The same word is used three times

[381] The Adil Khan, Sultan of Bijapur. The name is sometimes written by the Portuguese IDALXA (XA

for Shah). We have numberless spellings in the old chronicles, thus, HIDALCAN, ADELHAM,

[382] For NizamulMulkh, or the Nizam Shah, the Sultan of Ahmadnagar. Similarly the Qutb Shah of

Golkonda is called in these chronicles "Cotamaluco." The Imad Shah of Birar is called the "Imademaluco," or

even "Madremaluco," by the Dutch (Linschoten) and Portuguese. The Barid Shah of Bidar is styled "Melique

[383] The spelling of the name in the original is very doubtful. First it reads ARCHA, on the next

occasion it is undoubtedly DARCHA. The third mention of the place calls it LARCHA. But in each case the

R is not very clear, and might be an I undotted. Moreover, the C may possibly be an E, and the name may be

ARCHA or DAREHA. If we should accept the latter, we may identify it with Dharwar, and believe it to be

[388] "Bisnaga," the Portuguese rendering of VIJAYANAGAR, the "city of victory." The spellings

adopted by different writers have been endless. We have Beejanugger and Beejnugger in the translations of

Firishtah; Bisnagar, Bidjanagar, Bijanagher, amongst the Portuguese; Bicheneger In the writings of the

[389] BUQUEYROIS. The word implies something dug out, as opposed so redoubts, which would be

[394] BREDOS, "blites," an insipid kitchen vegetable. But as the word is not common, and as Brahmans

[396] It was generally called Nagalapur, but Nuniz says that the lady's name was Chinnadevi (below, p.

[402] ALJOFAR. This word is constantly used in the chronicles. Garcia da Orta (COLLOQ. xxxv.)

derives it from Cape Julfar in Arabia, near Ormuz. Cobarruvias says it is from Arabic jauhar, "jewel" (Yule

and Burnell Dict.). Da Orta writes: "CHAMASE perla EM CASTELHANO E perola EM PORTUGUEZ, E

EM LATIM unio, E ISTO NO aljofar GRANDE; PORQUE O MIUDO CHAMASE EM LATIM margarita,

E EM ARABIO lulu, E EM PERSIO E NEST' OUTRAS GERACOES DA INDIA moti, E EM MALAVAR

mutu, E EM PORTUGUEZ E CASTELHANO aljofar;" I.E. a large pearl is called PERLA in Spanish,

PEROLA in Portuguese, UNIO in Latin; a small pearl is called in Latin MARGARITA, in Arabic LULU, in

Persian and many Indian languages MOTI, in Malayalam MUTU, and in Portuguese and Spanish ALJOFAR.

[404] This was the great Saluva Timma, Krishna Deva's minister. The termination RSEA probably

represents ARASA, the Kanarese form for Rajah. TEMERSEA = TIMMARASA = TIMMA RAJAH.

[405] According to Correa, Christovao de Figueiredo had been sent by the governor, Lopo Soares, in 1517

to Vijayanagar as factor, with horses and elephants (LENDAS DA INDIA, ii. 509 510); but Senhor Lopes

points out (Introduction to his CHRONICA, lxxxii. note) that we do not know how far this assertion is true.

He certainly lived at Goa, and not long after this battle was made chief TANEDAR of the mainlands of Goa,

with residence at the temple of Mardor. He was several times in peril at the hands of the Mussalmans, and in

1536 was present at the battles which took place between the Portuguese and Asada Khan of Belgaum, with

whom he was on terms of friendship. Mr. Danvers (ii. 507) states that he was also at one time attorney of the

[406] This apparently refers to Ruy de Mello (see above, p. 142 ff.). If De Sequeira were meant he would

[407] HORGAOS. Mr. Ferguson points out that these were undoubtedly musical instruments. Castanheda

(v. xxviii.), describing the embassy to "Prester John" under Dom Roderigo de Lima in 1520 (the same year),

states that among the presents sent to that potentate were "some organs and a clavichord, and a player for

them." These organs are also mentioned in Father Alvares's account of their embassy (Hakluyt Society

[408] PATECA, something worn round the neck. There appears to be some mistake here, as PATECA

[409] Varthema says, "The king wears a cap of gold brocade two spans long." This was Krishna Deva's

[410] This may refer to the handsome temple of Anantasayana, a mile or so from Hospett on the road to

[411] FORTALEZAS. Probably the writer refers either to bastions or towers, or to strongly fortified

[412] Four words, TEMDES HUA PORTA PRIMCIPAL, have been accidentally omitted in the printed

[413] TERREIRO. The gateway here spoken of is most probably the great entrance to the palace

[417] MUNGUO. "Moong ... green gram ... a kind of vetch" (Yule and Burnell, Dict.).

[426] The stone bridge, built on rows of rough monolithic uprights, the remains of which are still to be

seen near the temple of Vitthalasvami, appears, from the absence of allusion to it, to have been constructed at

[427] This clearly alludes to the beautifully sculptured temple of Vitthalasvami, which is in the situation

[428] This word is a puzzle. If the temple be, as seems most probable from the description, the principal

temple at Hampe, still in use, I suggest that AOPE represents "Hampi" or "Hampe." RADI may be "rajah," or

RADIAN may be "rajyam." The name was perhaps given to Paes by some one who described it as "the royal

Hampe temple" and this would accurately describe it. It was dedicated to Virupaksha, and was the cathedral

[429] The word used is ROMEYRA, which may mean either a pomegranate tree or a female pilgrim. The

allusion is to the plaster figures and designs on the tower (CORUCHEO) above the gate.

[430] CINZEYRO apparently means a place for ashes (CINZA). CINZAS are "ashes of the dead." The

reference may be to a place in a church where incenseburners are kept, or, as I think, equally well to the

[436] PORTEYROS, PORTEYRO MOOR. These men are often mentioned in the chronicle. Their chief

was one of the king's most important officers, and I give him the title "Chief of the Guard."

[437] I am doubtful about this translation. The word used has probably some technical meaning. Yule's

Dictionary has SOOSIE from Persian susi. "Some kind of silk cloth, but we know not what kind." The

original passage runs: "Quoanto ao pao, sabereis que he toda chea de sues soajes, e de liois todos d ouro, e

[438] CABO. I think this must mean the edge, the front, not the extreme end of the king's balcony.

[439] This is given in the singular number, probably by mistake, as the plural is used immediately

[441] PAREDES, probably for "purdahs" (Persian, PARDA), curtains or screens. The Portuguese word

[442] MOLHERES SOLTEIRAS E BAYLHADEIRAS, I.E. the dancing girls of the temple and palace.

[444] Saluva Timma, the minister. The name is spelt in various ways in the chronicles of both Paes and

[445] The king of Seringapatam at this period was Bettada Chama Raya, who ruled the Mysore country

from 1513 to 1552. He had three sons. The two eldest received at his death portions of his estate, but both

died without issue. The third son was called "Hire" or "Vira" Chama. He was apparently the most powerful,

and the best beloved of his father, since he received as his portion on the latter's death the principal tract of

Mysore, the town itself, and the neighbouring province. After the fall of Vijayanagar in 1565 he became

practically independent, and ruled till the principal power was seized by his relative, Raja Udaiyar, in 1578.

The word KUMARA (= "son") is often applied in royal families in India to one of the reigning king's

offspring, and I venture to think that CUMARVIRYA represents KUMARA VIRAYYA, the king of

Seringapatam being himself not present at these feasts, and the personage seen by Paes being his son Vira.

[446] The writer begins again, "But returning to the feasts." I have omitted the phrase here, as it has

[447] A small gold coin, of which it is very difficult to assess the exact value. Abdur Razzak (1443)

apparently makes it equal to the half pagoda; Varthema (1503 7) to the pagoda itself; and this latter is the

sense in which we must take it. Varthema calls it a "gold ducat." Purchas says it was in his day about the

value of a Flemish dollar. The general value assigned in more recent days to the pagoda is 3 1/2 rupees, or

seven shillings when the rupee stands at par value. (See Yule and Burnell's Dictionary, "HobsonJobson,"

S.V. "pagoda" and "pardao." Yule apparently values it, at the period treated of, as about 4s. 6d.) Barros and

Castanheda both agree with Paes that the pardao was worth 360 reis. (Below, p. 282.)

[448] Kullayi in Telugu. See pp. 210, 252, note 2, and p. 383. These women appear to have worn men's

[450] I read the word in the MS. XISMAEL, and Mr. Lopes suggests that this stands for Sheik (XEQUE)

[451] LAUDEIS. This word, variously spelt, is constantly used. It appears to refer to the thick quilted

tunics, strengthened by leather or metal pieces, which were so often worn in India in old days. They were in

many cases richly ornamented, and formed a good defence against swordcuts. The pillars of the elaborately

ornamented KALYANA MANDAPA of the temple in the fort at Vellore in North Arcot, which was built

during the Vijayanagar period, are carved with rearing horses, whose riders wear jerkins, apparently of

leather, fastened with buttons and loops. It is possible that this was the bodyclothing referred to by the

chronicler. I can give no clue to the origin of the word, unless it be connected with the Kanarese LODU, "a

stuffed cloth or cushion." Barros, describing the dress of the Hindu cavalry in the Raichur campaign of 1520,

says that they wore LAUDEES of cotton (EMBUTIDOS, whatever that may mean in this context lit.

"inlaid"), or body, head, and arms, strong enough to protect them against lancethrusts or swordcuts; the

horses and elephants were similarly protected. Footsoldiers carried no defensive armour "but only the

[455] According to the quite independent testimony of Nuniz (below, p. 374) these were the "kings" of

[458] All these buildings are utterly destroyed, but there is no doubt that careful and systematic

excavations would disclose the whole plan of the palace, and that in the ruins and debris would be found the

remains of the beautiful sculptures described. Close behind the great decorated pavilion, from which the king

and his court witnessed the feasts described by Paes, and therefore close to the gate just alluded to, are to be

seen, halfburied in earth and debris, two large stone doors, each made of a single slab. The stone has been

cut in panels to imitate woodwork, and teas large staples carved from the same block.

[459] FEYTO DE HUAS MEYAS CANAS. I am doubtful as to the meaning of this. Examination of the

mass of ruins now remaining would settle all these points. Stone sculptures were broken up and left. They

[460] Mr. Ferguson has ingeniously emendated Senhor Lopes's reading from YINAGEES POR QUE

NAS QUE ESTAO METIDAS TO YMAGEES PEQUENAS QUE, c... The MS., however, which is itself a

[461] SAO DE MEAS CANES (see above, p. 285). Meaning not understood, unless it be as rendered.

[462] This description deserves special notice. The writer is evidently describing a MANDAPA richly

sculptured, of which so many examples are still to be seen in temples, and he states that the whole of the

stone carving was richly coloured and gilded. This probably was always the case. Traces of colour still

[463] PRANHUS (see above, p. 241). Probably the sculptures were like many still to be seen in the

temples of that date in Southern India, where the base of the pillar is elaborately carved with grotesque

[466] It seems clear that this sentence must be interpolated, and perhaps also the whole of the last four

paragraphs. For the penultimate sentence could not have formed part of the original chronicle of Paes, written

perhaps in 1522, or thereabouts, as it refers to an event that took place in 1535 36.

[467] Elsewhere called "Ondegema." Its other name was Nagalapur. It is the modern Hospett. (See below,

[468] This "general destruction" evidently refers to the conquest of Anegundi by Muhammad Taghlaq.

[469] (See above, p. 8.) The date should be about 1330. Nuniz was here about a century wrong.

[471] A common error with the foreigners. Properly speaking it was Cambaya which belonged to Gujarat.

[474] I.E. the Balaghat, or country above the ghats. "The high land on the top is very flatte and good to

build upon, called Ballagatte and Decan, and is inhabited and divided among divers kings and governors"

(Linschoten, i. 65). Correa divides this part of India into "Bisnega, Balagate, and Cambay."

[475] This is the Portuguese rendering of the Adil Khan, or Adil Shah of Bijapur. "Idalxa" represents the

[476] The description applies best to the Malprabha River, and perhaps "Duree" represents Dharwar.

[478] He was at that time only chief or king of Anegundi, Vijayanagar not having been yet founded.

[480] I have not been able to identify this name. It is possible that the first syllable represents the word

SRI, and that the whole may have been a special appellation of the upper fortress or citadel, on the rocky

[481] There had been no special war with Anegundi that we know of; but the Rajah of that place had very

possibly been directly affected by, if not actually engaged in, the wars between the Hindu Hoysala Ballalas

and the rulers of Warangal and Gujarat on the one hand, and the Muhammadan invaders from Delhi on the

[482] See Introduction, p. 13. "His kingdoms" (SEUS REYNOS) refers to the territories of Muhammad

Taghlaq, whose barbarities had resulted in the wasting and depopulation of large tracts.

[484] Spelt below "Meliquy niby" and "Mileque neby;" evidently for MALLIK NAIB, the king's deputy.

[486] Deva Raya. This was the general title of the Vijayanagar kings; thus, Harihara Deva Raya, Bukka

Deva Raya, Krishna Deva Raya, This first king is given no personal name by Nuniz. There were afterwards

two kings who are known to history by the names Deva Raya I. and Deva Raya II., with no personal name

[487] This same tale is told of many kings and chiefs in Southern India. The "TazkaratulMuluk" (IND.

ANT., May 1899, p. 129) also relates it of the Bahmani Sultan Ahmad Shah (1422 35), alleging that it

[488] This was the great Sringeri Guru, Madhavacharya, surnamed VIDYARANYA, or "Forest of

Learning." This derivation of the name of the city is very common, but is believed to be erroneous.

[491] PUREOYRE probably represents "Harihara." This king was not the first to coin PARDAOS or

[492] See above, p. 51. There is no name amongst those of this dynasty with which this can be at present

[497] Pulicat, near Madras. This was an important province of Vijayanagar in later years.

[499] PINA = CHINNA in Telugu, CHIKKA in Kanarese, and means "little." Pina Raya or Chikka Raya

was the title applied to the Crown Prince (above, p. 223). The derivation given by Nuniz is plainly wrong.

[500] Abdur Razzak relates the same story, and fixes the event as having taken place between November

[501] This seems so imply that the nephew of the king had been one of the twenty ministers

[504] NARASHIMHA. He had apparently large tracts of country under his charge to the east of the

capital towards the east coast. His relationship to the sovereign has always been a matter of doubt.

[506] "Rachol" is Raichur; "Odegary" represents Udayagiri; "Conadolgi" probably is Kondavid, AOLGI

[507] This account of the second Narasa and the family relationship differs altogether from the results

obtained from epigraphical study, according to which the second Narasa was elder son of the first Narasa or

[509] CF. "Temersea," p. 250, and note. This, however, was not the man there alluded to, though he bore

[512] Inscriptions do not give us the names of any sons having names like these. "Crismarao" probably

represents Krishna Deva Raya, son of the first Narasa or Narasimha, and brother of the second Narasa, often

[513] Saluva Timma. This man belonged apparently to the new royal family, whose family name was

Saluva. He was the powerful minister of Krishna Deva Raya, hut died disgraced, imprisoned, and blinded. He

[514] Perhaps "Basava Raya," but as yet no brother of Krishna Deva is known bearing that name.

[521] I cannot identify this river. There is none such, to my knowledge, twelve miles or thereabouts from

[523] Rajahmundry. The first syllable has been accidentally dropped, perhaps by the copyist.

[524] Senhor Lopes's "Chronica" has "HU HOME SEU QUE AQUELLE TEMPO D AQUELLE TEMPO

MUITO SABIA." Mr. Ferguson suggests, and with good reason, that for the second TEMPO we should read

[525] The original MS. has TOMARIA SUAS TERRAS "would take his lands." Possibly the first of

these words should have been TORNARIA, in which case the sentence would mean that the King "would

[526] I am unable to identify this country. The description of the town answers to Vellore in North Arcot,

the fine old fort at which place is surrounded with a deep moat. According to tradition, this place was

[528] ELREY DAQUEM.. This may be "the king on this side" or "the king of the Dakhan." The former

seems most probable, and I think that the reference is to the forces of Sultan Quli Qutb Shah of Golkonda

[531] The following is Barros's account of this affair of "Cide Mercar." After mentioning the terms of the

treaty between Vijayanagar and Bijapur, one of which provided for the reciprocal extradition of criminals and

"Crisnarao, knowing that he could catch the Hidalcao in this trap, called a Moor by name Cide Mercar, who

had been in his service for many years, and bade him take forty thousand pardaos and go to Goa to buy

horses of those that had come from Persia. Crisnaro wrote letters to our Captain ... on purpose so that the

affair might become widely known to all. Cide Mercar, either tempted by the large sum of money in his

charge, or swayed by a letter which they say was sent to him by the Hidalcao, when he arrived at a

TANADARIA called Ponda, three leagues from Goa, fled to the Hidalcao from there. The Hidalcao as soon

as he arrived sent him to Chaul, saying hat he bestowed on him this TANADARIA as he was an honourable

man of the family of Mahamed ...; but in a few days he disappeared from there, and they say that the king

[532] "Madre" stands for Imad, the Birar Sultan; "Virido" for the Barid Sultan of Bidar. I cannot explain

Demellyno or DESTUR, unless the former be an error of the copyist for "Zemelluco" as written below, which

certainly refers to the Nizam Shah. Several Portuguese writers omit the first syllable of "Nizam" In their

chronicles. On p. 348 below, these names are given as Madremalluco, Zemelluco, "Destuy" and "Virido;" and

therefore "Destur" and "Destuy" must mean the Qutb Shah of Golkonda, at that period Sultan Quli. On p. 349

[535] SEUS ALLYFANTES. Perhaps SEUS is a clerical error for SEIS, "six." Barros, in describing the

[537] Probably Ganda Rajah, brother of Saluva Timma, the minister. (See p. 284, and note to p. 361.) The

[538] The great vassal lords of Madura, who after the fall of the kingdom established themselves as a

dynasty of independent sovereigns, descended, so Barradas tells us, from the "Page of the betel" (above, p.

[539] I think that the second C in this name is an error for E, and that "Comarberea" represents Kumara

Virayya of Mysore (above, p. 269). Later on Nuniz spells the name "Comarberya" (below, p. 336).

[541] LADES, for LAUDEIS, quilted tunics, doublets. The word is spelt in other places LAYDES,

[542] GOMEDARES, probably the modern AGOMIA or GOMIA, "a poignard." Senhor Lopes refers me

to Barros, Mendes, Pinto, where the form used is GUMIA; the word being derived from the Arabic

[544] Malliabad, as now called, close to Raichur. The name given by Nuniz I take to represent "Mallia (or

Malliya) Banda," probably the Hindu name. BANDA = "rock." "Malliabad" is the name given by the

[546] MINGUO, probably MOONG or green grain ("HobsonJobson"). Ibn Batuta calls it MUNJ, others

[548] The total cavalry and elephants of the different columns enumerated above comes to 32,600 and 551

[549] Barros has ANCOSTAO, and Correa ANCOSCAO. The latter termination seems the most natural

CAO for KHAN. The name appears to be "Ankus Khan." "Pomdaa" is Pomda or Ponda, close to Goa.

[550] Dom Guterre de Monroy sailed from Portugal to India in 1515 in command of a fleet (Albuquerque,

Hakluyt edition, iv. 194). In 1516 he was in command at Goa during the absence of Governor Lopo Soares at

the Red Sea, between the months of February and September, and during that period attacked the Bijapur

troops at Ponda, which were commanded by Ankus Khan, with some success (Barros, Dec III. l. i. c. 8).

Osorio (Gibbs' translation, ii. 235) represents De Monroy as a man of a very cruel and licentious disposition.

[551] They believed, that is, that their prestige would give them great moral superiority over the Hindus.

[554] The original has CAVAS E BAUDES. The meaning of the last word is not clear.

"boldness;" and the passage would then mean that since death appeared inevitable they should meet it

halfway, and not lazily await it; they should die like soldiers in a charge, not stupidly standing still to be

[556] "Sufo Larij," Barros, Dec. III. l. iv. cap. 5. Asada Khan's love of intrigue was proverbial amongst

[558] TOMAMDO A FALLDRA DA SERRA DA BAMDA DO SUL. It would be interesting to learn

[561] LLAVAOCAS, for ALAVANCA, a Portuguese word for crowbar still everywhere in Ceylon.

[564] Rey Daquym, I.E. King of the Dakhan. This evidently refers to the Bahmani king, who was still

recognised as titular sovereign, though the whole country had revolted and broken up into five independent

[565] COMECARAO DEITAR AS BARBES EM REMOLHO. This refers to the Portuguese proverb

"Quando vires arder as barbas do teu vizinho, poe (or deita) as tuas em remolho" "When you see your

neighbour's beard on fire, steep your own in water;" or guard against like treatment. D. F.

[566] This passage appears to be corrupt, and I have been unable to guess at its meaning. Senhor Lopes,

[568] QUE ELLE TE AMA A TY DIANTE DE TY. The latter words may be an emphatic expression,

akin to DIANTE DE DEUS E DE TODO O MUNDO, "In the face of God and all the world."

[572] TODO A CULLPA DE TALL SER FEYTO POR ASY. Lit. "all on account of his having acted

[574] This passage does not seem very exact from an historical standpoint (see above, p. 157, and note).

[576] (Above, p. 310 f.) The original text has "E FEZ REGEDOR HUU FILHO CODEMERADE," but I

cannot identify the name with any ordinary Hindu name or title; and if "son of Codemerade" be meant, as I

suppose, the DE has been omitted accidentally. If, however, there has been a confusion of syllables and the

original reading was "FILHO DE CODEMERA," then I would point to the list given above of powerful

nobles (p. 327) who commanded the forces of the king in the great Rachol campaign, one of whom was

called COMDAMARA. In the concluding paragraph of this chapter we have this new minister's name given

as "Ajaboissa," and in the list of provincial lords (p. 385 below) as "Ajaparcatimapa." The latter name sounds

more probable than the former. The first half would be the family name, the last, "Timmappa," his own

[577] In the passage earlier in this chapter Saluva Timma is said to have had a brother "Guandaja."

Putting the two together, it would seem that his brother and son both bore the same name, probably Ganda

Rajah. Paes refers to the brother as being in his day governor of the capital (above, p. 284. He calls him

[578] CYMCO MENOS HUU QUOARTO POR MIL PARDAOS, or nineteen for four thousand pardaos.

The chronicler was a trader in horses at Vijayanagar. Later on he mentions the usual price as twelve or fifteen

[581] About a mile and a quarter. Nagalapur is the modern Hospett. If the measurement is accurate, this

[582] The Della Pontes are more than once mentioned in the history of the sixteenth century. They were

probably an Italian family or Italien in origin, and engineers by profession, the Rialto at Venice having been

constructed by Antonio della Ponte in 1588. This, however, may be a fanciful connection. It is possible that

both in Portugal and in Italy families may have received that surname in consequence of their skill in

bridgebuilding, or of one of the family having in former days distinguished himself by the construction of a

particular bridge. The engineer mentioned in the text is probably the individual who at the end of April 1520

was sent by the king of Portugal to examine into the possibility of building a fortress at Tetuan in Morocco.

Dom Pedro de Mascarenhas (afterwards, in 1554, Viceroy at Goa) sailed on this mission from Ceuta, and

"Joao Nunes del Pont" is mentioned as accompanying him. The king and the Emperor Charles V. were both

at this time anxious to prevent the Moorish corsairs from using Tetuan in future, as they had done in the past,

as a base for their piratical attacks on Spain and Portugal. (Damiao de Goes, CHRONICA DE DOM

MANUEL, edit. of Coimbra, 1790, vol. i. Part IV. p. 532; ALGUNS DOCUMENTOS DO ARCHIVO

In 1521, some time after the month of March, when Dom Diogo Lopes de Sequeira, the governor of Goa, had

returned from his expedition to the Red Sea, he was urged by his counsellors to build a fortress at Madrefaba

near Goa, as the place contained an anchorage sufficient for an entire fleet. (Correct, LENDAS DA INDIA,

ii. p. 622.) Correa continues: "The governor, however, thought better to send in a COTIA Antonio Correa and

Pero de Coimbra, his chief pilot, to inspect the river of Madrefaba and measure the water on the bar, and

Manuel da Ponte, Overseer of Works, and Joao de la Ponte, his brother, who understood it well, to view the

land, and if there were stone, and if lime could be made for the work, and to bring him certitude of all."

If this man were the same as he who went with Mascarenhas to Tetuan, he had, in all probability, not been

long in India when he went to Madrefaba. This seems to show that the great tank of Krishna Deva Raya, seen

in process of construction by the chronicler Paes (see p. 244), and mentioned in the text by Nunez, was not

begun till at least the autumn of 1521. If so, Paes did not WRITE his description of Vijayanagar till after that

[586] The original (itself a copy) has "NESTA TERRO NAO SE SERVEM DE BESTAS PERA

CARREGUAS." I think that the words SE NAO must have been accidentally omitted before DE BESTAS,

[588] I have given the meaning here, not a literal translation. The writer begins: "After the death of King

Crisnarao from his disease, as has been already recounted." Then he inserts a long parenthesis which might

he read: "While he was sick ... he had made a will ... down to ... "but only one of the age of eighteen months."

[593] These two may perhaps be two of the three powerful brothers Rama, Tirunnala, and Venkatadri, of

whom the two first married two daughters of Krishna Deva. In such case, however, they would not have been

[594] A mangelin is roughly equivalent to a carat, hut actually the difference is onefifth; 4 mangelins = 5

carats. So that 130 mangelins = 162 carats, The KOHINUR, when brought to England, weighed 186 carats

[595] The word used is CATRE, a light bedstead, probably the origin of the modern South Indian word

[596] ARQUELHA DE PRATA. ARQUELHA is a mosquitonet. Since manifestly the net itself could

not be made of silver, the allusion is probably to its supports. Senhor Lopes, in a letter to me, suggests that it

means the upper portion of the canopy, "LE CIEL DU LIT," or the framework that holds the curtains,

ARQUELHA being a diminutive of ARCO, a "bow" or "arch." In this case it might mean the domed ceiling

of a canopy made in Muhammadan fashion, and the curtains may have been of silk or brocade, and not of

[597] The word used is ARMADAS. It may mean "furnished" or "hung round with cloths," or possibly

[600] E YSTO HE COANTO A CACA. At the present day in Southern India gamebirds are sold alive,

[601] This evidently refers to the yaktail whisks used in the service of idols in the temples and in the

palaces of nobles. On occasions of ceremony at the present day any chief or noble who has a pretension to

sovereignty, or who claims descent from a line of independent lords, proclaims his dignity by the use of

certain insignia, and amongst these the yaktail fan finds place. It is one of the most graceful of ornaments.

The soft white hair is set in a metal handle of brass or silver and waved slowly by an attendant. Its material

[604] "Silken trappings." The original word is PATOLLAS. Later on (see p. 383), in describing the king's

dress, Nuniz writes, "OS SEUS VESTIDOS SAO PACHOIIS," Both these words probably refer to the same

Canarese word, PATTUDA, "a silk cloth." Barbosa and Pinto use it in the form PATOLA, Correa as

PATOLO, and Peyton (in Purchas) as PATOLLA. (Yule and Burnell's Glossary, S.V. PATOLA) In Telugu,

[605] JUNTAS. The meaning is doubtful, but in all probability yokes of oxen are referred to. In the

Canarese country these are often handsomely decorated and clothed when attached to travelling vehicles.

[607] RODAS DE BICOS. These may perhaps have been weapons such as in England were known as

[608] A free translation. The original runs, "DE MANEIRA QUE O QUE FICA DE BAIXO D OUTRO

vanquished should be rewarded. LEVA A FOGACA is literally "takes the cake." For PACHARIM see above,

[609] This is he only occasion on which the chronicler gives the king his hereditary title of Raya, usually

[611] Whether true or not, this statement, coming as it does from a totally external source, strongly

supports the view often held that the ryots of South India were grievously oppressed by the nobles when

subject to Hindu government. Other passages in both these chronicles, each of which was written quite

independently of the other, confirm the assertion here made as to the mass of the people being ground down

[617] BOIS. Hindu women of the Boyi caste. The Boyis are Telugus, and are employed as bearers of

palanqueens and other domestic service in Southern India. Hence the AngloIndian term "Boy" for a servant.

[620] DE FAZEMDA. I think that the meaning is as given. It will be observed below that the kingdom

was divided into provinces or estates, each one entrusted to a noble who farmed the revenue to his own

advantage, paying a fixed sum every year to the king. In the case of Narvara, the treasurer of the jewels, his

estate is described as "bordering on the country of Bisnaga," and as this expression cannot refer to the entire

country ruled by the king, it must be taken in a limited sense as applying to the king's own personal lands

his home farm, so to speak. The system is well known in India, where a prince holds what are called KHAS

lands, I.E. lands held privately for his own personal use and benefit, as distinct from the lands held under him

[621] Note that Madura is not mentioned in these lists. And yet it would appear that a Nayakka, or

subordinate chief of Vijayanagar, had been ruling at that place since 1499. Mr. Nelson, in his work, "The

A.D. Narasa Nayakka 1499 1500 Tenna Nayakka 1500 1515 Narasa Pillai (a Tamulian) 1515 1519

Kuru Kuru Timmappa Nayakka 1519 1524 Kattiyama Kamayya Nayakka 1524 1526 Chinnappa

Nayakka 1526 1530 Ayyakarai Veyyappa Nayakka 1530 1535 Visvanatha Nayakka Ayyar 1535

Four others are mentioned before we come to the great Visvanatha Nayakka, who founded an hereditary

dynasty, though himself only a deputy of the crown. He ruled Madura from 1559 to 1563. Muttu Krishnappa

(1602 1609) seems to have been the first to assume royal titles at Madura. His son, Muttu Virappa (1609

1623), is stated, in the narrative of the Portuguese writer Barradas (above, p. 230), to have paid a tribute in

A.D. 1616 to the Vijayanagar king at Chandragiri of 600,000 pagodas; he had several vassal kings under him,

and must have already obtained great power. It is possible that, in the time of Nuniz, Madura was not one of

The names Choromandel, Negapatam, and Tanjore are easy to distinguish in this list. "Bomgarin" I cannot

identify, though the termination, GARIM, may represent GIRI, "mountain." "Dapatao" may be Devipatnam.

"Truguel" seems to have some affinity with Tirukovil. It cannot be the "Truguel" mentioned by Barros and

others as one of the fortresses given to Asada Khan by the king of Vijayanagar (above, p. 175), because those

were close to Belgaum, while this "Truguel" was in the extreme south "Caullim" may be Kayal.

[626] (?) Kanigiri, Nellore district. Codegaral MAY represent Gandikota, the termination GIRI, "hill,"

[628] The passage is incomplete, and I have rendered it as seems reasonable. It runs, "VINTE E CIMCO

MILL E QUINHENTOS DE CAVALLO E," Looking at the other lists of troops, it cannot be supposed that

this chief had to provide 25,000 horse. It seems more probable that such a word as PIAES was accidentally

[632] See the last sentence of the chronicle of Paes (above, p. 290), where a town "on the east" is called

the new city which Krishna Deva built in honour of his favourite wife. The writer has evidently been

confused in that statement, for it seems clear that the town so founded was Nagalapur, the old name for

Hospett, with which it is distinctly identified in other places. This town "on the east" is said, in the sentence

referred to, to bear the name "Ardegema," and the locality is hard to determine. "East" of what? If east of

Nagalapur be meant, then Ardegema or Ondegema (GEMA probably represents GRAMA, "village") might

have been a suburb of that town. If east of the capital be intended, I cannot identify the place. But these

places evidently were close to the capital, bordering on the crown lands. This, I take it, is the meaning of

[633] These three places I cannot identify. "Diguoty" may perhaps be Duggavatti, in the Harpanhalli

division of the Bellary district. "Darguem" suggests "Droog" or "Durgam." The word is applied to a hillfort,

of which there are many in the neighbourhood. One of the most important was Rayadrug, south of Bellary.

One of the ghat roads leading eastwards from Goa is called the "gate de Digui" in old maps.

[634] Possibly Kalale in Mysore, a place fifteen miles south of that capital. It is said to have been founded

in 1504 by a noble who was connected with the Vijayanagar royal family (Rice's gazetteer, ii. 255).

[636] Perhaps Budehal in Mysore, which like Kalale was founded by a Vijayanagar officer, and contains

several sixteenthcentury inscriptions. It is in the Chittaldrug division, forty miles south of that place.

[639] ROUPA. Linen cloth. The word is not used of cotton, and the next sentence shows that cotton did

[640] I hazard the suggestion that this may be a mistake of the copyist for "Avati." This place, now a

village in the Kolar district of Mysore, was in the fifteenth century an important place, a ruling family having

been founded here by the "Morasu Wokkalu" or "Seven Farmers" (Rice, "Mysore and Coorg," ii. 20). The

[642] Either "the ghats," or perhaps Gutti (Goofy). The rich Vajra Karur diamond mines are about twenty

[651] Its history is known from A.D. 1304, when it was acquired by AlaudDin Khilji from the Rajah of

[652] De Montfart's "Survey of all the East Indies." Translation, edition of 1615, p. 34.

2. A Forgotten Empire: Vijayanagar; A Contribution to the History of India, page = 5

12. CHAPTER 7. The City of Vijayanagar in the Reign of Deva Raya II. (A.D. 1420(?), 1443), page = 40

14. CHAPTER 9. The First Kings of the Second Dynasty (A.D. 1490 to 1509), page = 51

16. CHAPTER 11. The Siege and Battle of Raichur, and Close of Krishna's Reign (A.D. 1520 to 1530), page = 62

17. CHAPTER 12. The Buildings, Works, and Inscriptions of Krishna Deva, page = 72

24. CHAPTER 1. Copy and Summary of a Chronicle of the Kings of Bisnaga, who reigned (ORIG. were) from the era one thousand two hundred and thirty, which was after the general destruction of the kingdom of Bisnaga.[468], page = 120

25. CHAPTER 2. Of what the King (of Delhi) did after he had slain the King of Bisnaga, and entirely overthrown him, and seized his lands for himself, none being left to defend them., page = 122

26. CHAPTER 3. How the King of Dily departed with his troops, and took to his kingdom the six captives that he had taken in the fortress, , page = 122

27. CHAPTER 4. How the City of Bisnaga was built by that King Dehorao., page = 123

28. CHAPTER 5. Of the things done by King Crisnarao after he was raised to the throne., page = 129

29. CHAPTER 6. How Crisnarao, after he had made peace with the King of Oria, determined to go against the land of Catuir., page = 131

30. CHAPTER 7. How Crisnarao, on the arrival of Salvatinia, determined to attack Rachol, a city of the Ydalcao, and to break the peace that had lasted so long; and the reason why., page = 132

33. CHAPTER 10. Of the spoil taken from the Moors, of how the King burned all the dead, and of what Christovao de Figueiredo did., page = 138

34. CHAPTER 11. How those in the city asked for terms, and the king granted them quarter., page = 140

35. CHAPTER 12. How the King entered the city, and of the feast that was made for him, and of the regulations and arrangements he made there., page = 141

36. CHAPTER 13. How a number of people left the city, and the King did much kindness to them., page = 141

37. CHAPTER 14. How the Captain acquitted himself of his embassy before the King., page = 142

38. CHAPTER 15. How the King sent to call the ambassador, and of the answer which he gave to him., page = 143

39. CHAPTER 16. How Acadacao went as ambassador for his King and compassed the death of Sallabatecao., page = 144

40. CHAPTER 17. How the King went to the extremity of his territory to meet the Ydalcao, and what he did on not finding him., page = 144

41. CHAPTER 18. How this King, during his own lifetime, raised to be King his son, being of the age of six years., page = 145

42. CHAPTER 19. How the Ydallcao came against Rachol, and did not dare to await the King, and fled., page = 146

43. CHAPTER 20. How on the death of Crisnarao his brother Achetarao was raised to be king., page = 147

44. CHAPTER 21. Of the manner of attendance on these kings, which is as follows., page = 148

45. CHAPTER 22. Of the manner in which obeisance is done to the King, , page = 150

46. CHAPTER 23. Of the ceremonies practised at the death of Brahmans., page = 157

48. CHAPTER B. The Wealth of the Dakhan in the Fourteenth Century A.D., page = 159