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Opposite the DIVAN…KHANEH； he continues； is the house of the elephants。
〃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 gems and fine raiment。〃
The author took up his abode in a lofty house which had been allotted to him； on the 1st Muharram （May 1； 1443）
〃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 pleasing。＇144＇ 。。。
〃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 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 to a slip of the pen。
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 face： at each moment a new chamber or a new hall presented itself to the view。
〃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 palace and the pavilions 。。。 were musicians and storytellers。〃
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 to the king。
〃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 of very great size。〃
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。
CHAPTER 8
Close of the First Dynasty （A。D。 1449 to 1490）
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 Chaos at Vijayanagar Narasimha seizes the throne。
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 out by Nuniz in his chronicle。
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 the last of Rajasekhara。
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 copper…plate 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 sovereign 〃Praudha Deva Raya of Vijayanagar。〃
Rajasekhara's second inscription must have been engraved very shortly before the final fall of the old royal house； for the first certain date of the usurper Narasimha is A。D。 1450。
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； 〃Padea Rao；〃 and this prince lost the kingdom to the usurper Narasimha。
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； s