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ECONOMIC, POLITICAL & RELIGIOUS CONDITIONS 453 flywhisk (68.39) indicates that the hair of Yak were utilised for it. The lac (23.22) was certainly a forest-produce of fig trees. Then there were the fruits and spices which largely constituted the produce of the foresttrees.
Trade and Commerce :-There are several references to merchants (Vania 2.10;103.9;48.21) and trade (Vāņijja 33.96;3.116). The market is denoted by Avana (80.61;35.29). The dealers in liquids, poison (Rasa 14.26, Visa 14.20) and gems (5.33) are mentioned. Bhanda (63.64) denotes perhaps the manufactured articles of merchandise in general or the vessels of metal. Besides them, no other article of trade is mentioned. The VGA (p. 329) informs us that different varieties of cloth, food-grain, spices, salt, bullion and precious stones were most probably the main articles of internal trade.
The capital cities were generally the centres of great business. Rājagļha (2.10) used to be visited by merchants from various parts of the country. A merchant (Setthi) of Gajapura is referred to have gone to Sāketpura loading his merchandise on he-buffaloes (63.63). Then there is mentioned another merchant of Kundanagara who (33.66) went to Ujjaina on trade-tour.
Trade was carried by two routes viz. land and water. As far as the latter is concerned no specific route is mentioned. There are allusions to water-route in the references to ship (Poa 2.44;3.129) which is called the only saviour of a merchant in the sea. The falling of gems in the sea is also mentioned (94.67;14.106;45.34). Traders travelling by ship are mentioned (5.83;48.21). References to Cīņaṁsuka (102.121), Turukka (2.11)and Dināra(68.32) indicate that India had trade relations with China, Turkey and Rome by sea-routes. Two merchants of Kosambi (55.31) are stated to have gone on trade to the ‘parakūla' by Jāņavatta (ship). They had sold their Bhanda (merchandise) and brought gems in exchange. Here 'parakūla”) should mean the other side of the river Jamunā. It indicates that river were used as an effective water-route.
There are refrerences to Sarthavāhās (Satthāha) who used to go from place to place for trade and sometimes they had to traverse dreadful forests (adavimajjha bihaņayam 14.33).
As regards the land routes there are two specific references, viz. Gajapura to Saketa (63.64) and Kundanagara to Ujjaina (33.66).
Trading Accessories:-Weighing and measurement of quantity are referred to as Tula (2.90;14.26) respectively.
1. The other bank of the Ganges where Sitā was abandoned is referred to as
'parakūla' (94.53).
