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ECONOMIC CONDITIONS
Workers in Metal-The rich mineral wealth of the country provided a great industry for workers in metal. Among the metal-workers the goldsmiths (kalada1, suvaṇṇagara)2 and the blacksmiths (lohakara, kammara) were important. The large variety of ornaments worn by men and women provided a great scope to the art of the goldsmiths. Besides, a number of vessels and ornamental vases were cast in different metals Vessels were like gold, silver, copper, bronze and iron.* sometimes inlaid with diamonds (vaira) or other precious jewels (manimaya)5, and were also embedded with pearlstrings (mauktika).6 Yuan Chwang observed that the gold and silver vessels of the period were outstanding for their exquisite workmanship.7 Besides, images were also cast in different metals like gold (kanagapaḍima)8 or bronze. goldsmiths thus had a very rich and flourishing trade. Yet, in spite of their wealth and prosperity, the goldsmiths were considered as unworthy of being trusted. A goldsmith is mentioned to have deceived a herdsman by giving him the copper ornaments in place of the gold given by the herdsman to make the golden earrings. 10 Sometimes, however, people voluntarily gave a copper-polish to the gold ornaments to save them from being molested by the robbers or thieves.11
The
1. NC. 3, p. 269.
2. NC. 1, p. 50; NC. 3, p. 268; NC. 4, p. 12.
3 NC. 1, p 79.
4. NC. 3. pp. 107, 329.
5. मणिमयं वा NC. 3, p. 329.
6. अयमाद्या: पात्रविशेषाः मौक्तिकलताभिरुपशोभिता : – NC. 3, p. 172.
7. Beal, op cit., 1, p. 77.
8. NC. 3, p. 144.
9. One of the goldsmiths called Anangasena is mentioned to have been so rich to enable him to purchase five hundred ladies by giving a proper amount of money. He also announced to pay a million Rupees to a pilot who could lead him to Pa casaila Island (NC. 3, p. 140). Another goldsmith is mentioned to have enjoyed the company of a famous courtesan by paying the high charges (bhādi) ( NC. 1, p. 50 ) which is indicative of the affluence enjoyed by them.
10. NC. 3, p. 269; Brh. Vr. 5, p. 1389.
11. NC. 1, p. 130.
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