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ECONOMIC, POLITICAL & RELIGIOUS CONDITIONS
451
Other Professions:- In addition to agriculture and animal husbandry the economic sustenance of the people depended upon trade and commerce, other independent professions and domestic as well as government service.
Various professionals mentioned in the PCV are preceptors, teachers of archery (77.84;39.88; 26.5, 11;14.20;25.19), interpreters of signs, omens and dreams (51.16;7.80), astrologers (17.112), and physicians (110. 27).
Goldsmiths and ironsmiths are not mentioned directly but their existence can be inferred from various references to gold ornaments, iron implements and weapons. The references to Sivika, Yana, Ratha, Karapatra, Vāsīphala' and Phalaka indicate the existence of carpenters. The weaver (Kuvinda 21.1) and the potter (Kumbhāra 5. 207) are specifically referred to.
Then there were masons (Sippi 78.48-49;102.24) who built houses and mansions. The reference to images reveal the existence of sculptors (28.39;40 11). Painter or picture-drawer is mentioned (1.21). Musicians (64.2), dancers (37.59) and coquettish girls (36.39) are referred to be living on the profession of providing amusement to the people. Națas (acrobats) and umbrella-players (2.5) are referred to as entertaining the people. Then there were the garland-makers (6.175), betel-leaf dealers (Tamboliya) wood and grass-gatherers (31.44;103.30), charcoal-makers (14.15), fishermen (14.15;55.42;82.43), hunters (6.139: 39.69), fowlers (49.26) and trappers (14.15).
Services: -Besides these independent professionals some people were engaged in private or government services. In the private service nurses (Dhāis 97. 11), lady messengers (Dūtis 12.53) and maid servants (Cetis 6.11) are worth mentioning. Then there were the Karmakāras, (17.7), Kinkaras (4.60) and door-keepers (28.4). In the government service there were ministers (5.176;31.52), counsellors (77 77,78), ambassadors (14.19), envoys (65.00), officers (14.19), priests (5.31) chamberlains (93.8), Mahattaras (106.7), generals 37.2), policemen (82.48), C. I. D. (26.95) and soldiers (8.41;12.139). Then there were the Gojjas and Cāranas (2.103; 85.19,24), i.e. the bards and the eulogisers who were associated with the service of kings.
Mineral Products:-The PCV refers to various precious products of mine and sea (jalathalaya 2.10). There are references to Ratnadvipa, the island wherefrom gems were available (14.50; 32.61). The follo
1. PCV, 65.38; vāsi-a carpenter's tool for cutting away the surface of wood,
