Duarte Barbosa was Portuguese writer and civil servant posted in Estado da India (Portuguese Colonial State in India) between 1500-1516. He served as a scrivener in Cannanore (now Kannur district, Kerala) and occasionally served as an interpreter of the local language (Malayalam). He recorded his travel in India in a book 'Livro de Duarte Barbosa'. It is one of the earliest examples of Portuguese travel literature.
Barbosa rose to the position of master-clerk under Alfonso de Albuquerque - the second Portuguese Governor in India. After his arrival in Goa with the first Portuguese fleet Barbosa made the journey to the famed Hindu Vijayanagara Empire soon after. In his account he mentions the king 'Narsyngua', who is probably Vira Narashimha Tuluva. His writings give a detailed account of the layout, the inhabitants and the nature of trade conducted in Vijayanagara at the time.
On the city and its King:
Barbosa observed numerous well built beautiful palaces, courts, beautiful orchards, trees and water tanks spread about all over the capital. He wrote: “Vijayanagara is fenced with strong ramparts and by a river as well, on further side of a great chain of mountains. It stands on a very level plain. Here always dwells the King Narsyngua, who is heathen (Hindu) and is called Rayen (Raya), and here he has great and fair palaces, in which he lodges, with many enclosed courts and great houses very well built, and within them are wide open spaces, with water tanks in great numbers, in which reared an abundance of fish. He also has gardens full of trees and sweet-scented herbs. In the city as well there are palaces of the same fashion, wherein dwell the great Lords and Governors. The other houses are thatched, but nonetheless are very well built and arranged according to occupations, in long streets with many open places.”
On people in the city:
Barbosa makes an interesting observation of how equity and justice were observed by the citizens and the ruler. He wrote that people of every creed & faith found shelter in the city and the Vijayanagara Kings were known to have a diverse representation in their court and the military. The king patronised and built Jain, Vaishnava and Shaiva temples throughout his kingdom and capital city.
“The folks here are ever in such numbers that the streets and palaces cannot contain them. There is great traffic and an endless number of merchants and wealthy men, as well among the natives of the city who abide therein as among those who come thither from outside, to whom the King allows such freedom that every man may come and go and live according to his own creed, without suffering any annoyance and without enquiry whether he is Christian, Jew, Moor (Muslim) or Heathen (Hindu). Great equity and justice is observed by all, not only by the rulers, but by the people to one another.”
On markets and items being traded:
Barbosa describes the richness and variety in the markets of the capital city as he saw it. There were several temporary and permanent markets throughout the city. The four main temples in the sacred area each had a sprawling market in front of it.
“There is a diamond mine, whence are obtained many good diamonds; all other precious stones are brought from hither for sale from Pegu (Burma) and Ceilam (Ceylon), and from Ormus they bring pearls. Here also is used the broacades of poorer quality brought from China and Alexandria, also metals both wrought and unwrought, copper in abundance, quick-silver, vermilion, saffron, rosewater, great store of opium, sanders-wood, aloe-wood, camphor, musk and scented materials. Likewise much pepper is used here, which they bring from Malabar (Kerala) on asses and pack-cattle.”
On how men and women dress:
The most interesting part of Barbosa’s work is where he describes in detail how people of Vijayanagara dressed in early 16th century.
“The natives of this land are Heathen (Hindu); they are tawny men, nearly white. Their hair is long, straight and black. The men are of good height; the women go very trimly clad; their men wear certain clothes as a girdle below, wound very tightly in many folds, and short white shorts of cotton or silk or coarse brocade, with are gathered between thighs but open in the front; on their heads they carry small turbans, and wear some wear silk or brocade capes, they wear their rough shoes on their feet.
The substances with which they are always anointed are these: white sanders-wood (sandalwood), aloes, camphor, musk and saffron, all ground fine and kneaded with rosewater. With these they anoint themselves after bathing, and so they are always very highly scented. They wear many rings set with precious stones and many earrings set with fine pearls in their ears. As well as the page armed with a sword, they take also another who holds an umbrella to shade them, and of these some are made of finely worked silk with many golden tassels, and many precious stones and seed-pearls.”
“The Women wear white garments if very thin cotton, or silk of bright colours, five yards long: one part of which is girt around them below, and the other part they throw over the shoulder and across their breasts in such a way that one arm and shoulder remains uncovered, as with a scarf. They wear leather shoes well embroidered in silk; their heads are uncovered and the hair is tightly gathered into a becoming knot at the top on the top of the head, and in their hair they put many scented flowers.
In the side of one of the nostrils they make a small hole, through which they put a fine gold wire with a pearl, sapphire or ruby pendant. They have their ears bored as well, and in them they wear earrings set with many jewels; on their nechs they wear necklaces of gold and jewels and very fine coral beads, and bracelets of gold and precious stones are fitted to their arms. Thus more part of this people is very wealthy.”
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