Indian Antiquary Vol 48

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 87

JUNE, 1919)
DEKKAN OF THE STAVÂHANA PERIOD
83
or Junnar, of Nâsik at Bedsa, and so forth. This clearly shows that the communications were perfect all over the Dekkan. But this is not all. We have got gifts of the natives of Bharukach ha or Broach mentioned in caves at Junnar, of Vaijayanti or Banavasi (?) at Kärle, of Dáttämitri in Lower Sind at Nâsik, and of Karahâkada or Karhâd and Nâsik at the Bharaut Stúpa between Jubbulpore and Allahabad. Unless the roads were at least tolerably good and not infested by robbers and thieves, it is not possible that inhabitants of one part of the country could go to distant one and make benefactions.
Foreign commerce and trade were flourishing, and Dekkan took no insignificant part in the commercial relations of India with the West. An account of it is contained in the Periplus of the Erythrean Sea, which describes the Egyptian trade with East Africa and India. Ships from the Western countries sailed down the Red Sea and followed the Arabian Coast as far as Kane, from where the route to India diverted, some ships sailing to the Indus and on to Barygaza (Broach) and others direct to the ports of Limyrike (Malabar Coast). In these voyages, the ships made use of the monsoon, starting from Egypt in July. From Barygaza the coast immediately adjoining stretched from the north directly to the south, and the country is, therefore, called Dakhinabades (Dakshinapatha). Among the marts in the inland part of this South Country, there were two of particular importance-Paithana, which lay south from Barygaza, a distance of twenty days, and Tagara, ten days east of Paithana, the greatest city in the country.10 Paithana is, of course, the modern Paithan, and Tagara has been identified with Ter in the Naldrug District, Nizam's Dominions, 11 From Paithan was carried down to Barygaza a great quantity of onyx-stone, and from Tagara ordinary cottons in abundance, many sorts of muslins, mollow-coloured cottons, and other articles of local production brought into it from the east coast. The harbours along the coast south of Barygaza were Souppara (Sopârâ) and Kalliena (Kalyan near Bombay). In regard to the last port we are informed that it was raised to the rank of a regular mart in the time of the elder Sarganes, but after Sandanes became its master its trado was put under the severest restrictions ; for if Greek Vessels, even by accident, entered its port, a guard was put on board and they were taken to Barug iza. The elder Sarganes is most likely Satakarni, the third king of the Satavahana dynasty, and he seems to have made Kalyan a commercial centre connected with the inland emporia Paitha" and Tayara. When the Sakas, however, seized 'he north part of the Dekkan, every endeavour was made to divert the trade through their dominions from Broach direct to Paithan and Tagara, with the result that Kalyan speedily lost all its importance and is not mentioned at all by Ptolemy who wrote only six decades after the author of the Periplus. As the cominunication from Broach to Paithan and Tagara was of recent origin, it is no wonder that the commodities were carried "along roads of extreme difficulty” as we no doubt learn from the Periplus. . Who Sandanes was is not clear, but it is not unlikely that he was the officer of the Sopara District under Nahapana. The other sea-ports of commercial importance farther gonth were Semulla, Mandagora, Palaipat moi, Melizeigara and Buzantion. Semulla has rightly been recognised to be Chaıl of the Kolaba distriot and 23 miles south of Bombay. Mandagora is taken to bo Mandangad to the south of the Bâykot Creek and Palaipatmai with Palnear Mah. Personally I think Palaipatmai corresponds to Va(Ba)lipattana mentioned as a sea-port in the Silâhira inscriptions." Melizeigara, according to some, is Jaygad, and, according to others, Janjirâ. Buzantion no doubt corresponds to Vaijayanti,, but with what plase the latter is to be identified is far from clear. Some place it near Chiplun, and some near Banavåsi. The last identification is less probable, because it is far too south. Banavasi, again, is in the interior and not on the 888-00ast.
(To be continued.)
10 Above, VIII, 143 & ff.
11 JRAS., 1901, 657 & ff.
19 Above. IX, 38 & n., 47.