ted south…west 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 north…easterly 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 watch…towers； 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 the direct approach from the old city of Anegundi to the king's palace。
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 couched in very curious and interesting terms； I give the translation in full
〃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） Deva Raya； alas！ met with death。〃
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 Praudha…Immadi…Deva Raya； to whom full royal titles are given。
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 〃Dhannayaka；〃 implying command of the army。
CHAPTER 7
The City of Vijayanagar in the Reign of Deva Raya II。 （A。D。 1420 （？）； 1443）
Description given by Nicolo to Bracciolini The capital Festivals Immense population Abdur Razzak's description His journey The walls Palaces The Mint Bazaars The great Mahahnavami festival。
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 half…century。 About the year 1420 or 1421 A。D。 there visited Vijayanagar one Nicolo； an Italian； commonly called Nicolo Conti or Nicolo dei Conti； and 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 re…translated 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 VARIETATE FORTUNAE； LIBER QUATUOR。
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 〃Bizenegalia。〃＇125＇ He begins his description thus：
〃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 boulder…covered heights were filled with habitations； poor and squalid doubtless； in most instances； but interspersed with the stone…built dwellings of the nobles； merchants； and upper classes of the vast community； except where the elaborately constructed water…channels of the Rayas enabled the land to be irrigated； and in these parts rich gardens and woods； and luxurious crops of rice and sugar…cane； 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 distinguished South…Indian geologist； Lieutenant Newbold：＇126＇
〃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 flat…bottomed valleys are irrigated by aqueducts from the river。。。。 The peaks； tors； and logging…stones 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 nicely…poised logging stones and columnar piles； and in the walls of prodigious cuboidal blocks of granite which often crest and top her massive domes and ridges in natural cyclopean masonry。〃
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 empire…city。 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 ground…level。 But the channels are still in working order； and wherever they exist will be found 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 monkeys and birds。
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 another in its original position。
To return to Nicolo。 He continues：
〃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 with him； which is considered to be a great honour for them。。。。
〃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 peopl