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 when Vijayanagar needs to be spelt "Beejanuggur,"
or Kondavidu "Condbeer."

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 "a" in "organ."

"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 again all three "a's" are short.)