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SEPTEMBER, 1026 )
ANCIENT TOWNS AND CITIES IN GUJARAT AND KATHIAWAD
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How rich was this extensive trade may be inferred from the fact recorded by Pliny, that there was no year in which India did not drain the Roman Empire of a hundred million Besteroes. 140
Being such a flourishing port, it is natural that Bhrgupura should have been the capital of a local kingdom. 141 In this connection the epithet Pattana 'attached to it in the Jataka is significant, for Yashodhara observes, as stated already, W r ait feucl. This Bharukachchha kingdom probably comprised the territories between the Narmada and the Mahi; for the Puråņas always refer to it, when enumerating the names of countries, as
T: H T:. Being & capital, it was a well fortified place, for its ramparts are referred to in a grant of Dadda II. When not the capital of an independent kingdom, it was the headquarter of the province. During Rashtrakata rule it was a capital. With the rise to power of the Solanki dynasty, the port passed into its possession. The Salunika Vih Ara at Bharoch was built by Bahada at the desire of his dying father Udayana.
The maritime activity of the place was in full swing in the second century, as is clear from the account of the port given by the Periplus; it continued unabated to the seventh century when Hiuen Tsiang visited it in the course of his Indian tour; for the observant pilgrim has noted that the riches of the town were entirely due to its extensive maritime trade. 149 The trade probably declined considerably during the next two centuries owing to Arab piracy, which became rampant at that period.
84. Bhumillika. The dilapidated fort of Bhumli or Ghumli, situated in the Barada hill, 25 miles north-west of Porbundar, is the site of ancient Bhumillika. Once the capital of a fairly powerful principality, it is now nothing but a heap of ruins. All is now jungle where a multitude of human beings resided....Nothing remains as witness of its former glory save an insignificant temple near its western wall, the arch of a royal palace, and a large bathing reservoir. '143
Bhůmilliks was the capital of the Mers for four centuries. The original home of the Mers was in the northern part of Kathiawad, where they ruled contemporaneously with the Valabhis; but on the fall of Valabhi, they extended their sway over southern Kathiawad and transferred their capital to Bhimillika, which with its natural defences must have appeared very suitable for their purpose.
Only two inscriptions refer to Bhamillika; one of them is fragmentary and the other is spurious. The former is datod 585 C.E., but supplies no information whatever about the place ; the only information we obtain from it is that BhomillikA existed before the end of the ninth century A.D.
The Dhinkini copper-plate 144 is spurious, because there was no solar eclipse on Jyeshtha 30 VIK, BAX. 794, as the plato Alloges: Nevertheless, from the statement in the plate that king Jaikadev was ruling at Bhämillika in Vik. Sam. 794 or 738 A.D., we may conclude that . in the twelfth century (to which the forged grant seems to belong, to judge from its character), there existed a tradition of Bhamillike having been the Mer capital since very early times. We may therefore conclude that by the beginning of the ninth century Bhumillika was a capital.
In the tenth century, however, an Ahir kingdom was founded at Junagad and, as a consequence, the fortunes of Bhamillika began to decline. The Jaitwas seem to have abandoned their capital Bhůmillika and shifted their place of residence to Shrinagara, near 140 Play, Natural History, XII, p. 18.
141 Plolemy, p. 156. 163 Beal, IL. P. 269;. Their solo profit is from the sea." 145 And ., p. 184 ft.
14 Ind. Ant., XXI, 151.
