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A CULTURAL STUDY OF THE NISITHA CURNI
shops, while the wine-shops or taverns were known as majjāvana, rasāvana, or pāṇabhūmi. The prices of the goods in the market were fixed in terms of money as the customers are seen paying the stvagas for buying pots and clothesand for commodities in the gamdhiyāvaņa. 3
Means of Communication—A flourishing trade dernanded rapid means of communication. Different types of conveyances (jana, vahana )* were used for land communication, while the boats and ships served the water-ways. The merchants employed the carts and waggons ( bhandi, sagala, anuram ga and gaddi )5 for carrying their goods, while the chariots (raha ) and litters or palanquins ( siviga ) were used for more sophisticated purposes. The jāņasālās were the coachhouses where the conveyances were kept.
The animals like horses, camels and elephants were employed for carrying the loads as well as for riding purposes. Yuan Chwang also noted that the elephants of Kong-u-to (near about Ganjam ) were used as a means of transportation for undertaking long journeys. The caravans proceeding on long journey had these animals for the purpose of carrying the loads, or to carry children, sick or old people, especially when required to move very fast through insecure places. 10
Water-Trade_Besides the land-trade, a regular water-trade was carried by means of rivers and sea. Gujarat during these
1. Tarqui TTH H531201_NC. 2, p. 136. 2. NC. 2, p. 95; BỊh. VỊ. 4, p. 1064. 3. ho fa sifauor igrao TTTT faral-NC. 3, p. 110; Bịh. Vt. 2, p. 572. 4. NO. 4, p. 111. 5. BTUP-TT OTA Sf31_NC. 4, p. 111; also 3TUENTI TETT-NC. 3, p. 99. 6. TETET Ho truT unfa i fafestiferi Gui-—NC. 3, p. 99. 7. ETTFITT3 fa, fi fafatila 5774 PoftCTI–NC. 3, p. 344. 8. TT&TT FUNC. 3, p. 99; NC. 4, p. 111; NC. 2, p. 9. 9. Beal, op. cit., II, p. 207. 10. NC. 4, p. 111.
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