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INTRODUCTION
tusks and pearls were brought in exchange for clothes. Palāśa flowers could fetch gold in Suvarna-dvīpa.. Buffaloes and cows fetched netra-patta in Cīna and Mahācīna. Neem leaves could buy jewels in Ratnadvīpa. Men were in great demand in the kingdom of women etc. Some of these details cannot be accepted on their face value; they may be just exaggeration ($ 129). In the busy market places, men from different parts of the country came and had conversations in different languages ($ 246) which are interesting spacimens of contemporary spoken idioms as the author could catch them. Their business conversations are quite lively and give some ideas about weights and measures (153.16 f.). Greedy merchants took risks of travelling on land and by sea of the dangers of which they were quite aware (65.15 f., 66.6 f.). Now and then there were ship-wrecks (8 166). Traders went on long journeys, sometime for more than twelve years, leaving their young wives behind (74.12 f.). Various good and bad omens were attended to while going on a journey (for the preparation etc. see § 285), and they are explained in short (289).
The birth of a prince and the subsequent activities and festivities are elaborated in a stylistic manner (S$ 44-46.). Likewise, the wedding is described in all the details: the preliminaries of the marriage, the wedding function along with the rituals and concluding rites, the bed-ceremony, the couple enjoying the sea-sight from the palace-terrace and various pastimes such as prahelikā etc. (88 273-80.). A good description of the coronation of Yuvarāja is available (200.8 f.). There is a scene of the royal āpāna-bhūmī at which various sweet drinks are served ($ 50.).
Very interesting are the gossips of the village ladies bringing water and of the boys in residential schools (149.30 f., 151.18 f.). The parade of conveyances ($ 57) in the royal courtyard and the scene of the Jayavāraṇa running amuck ( 248) reflect events in the contemporary capitals.
Playing on the swing was an important sport of the spring (51 f.) during which was celebrated Madanamahotsava, giving an occasion for youths to meet in the festive garden (77 f., see the reference to madana-trayodasi in line 15). During the autumn, parties of dancers, actors etc. moved from village to village; and how a programme was enacted at a village is graphically described (46.5 f.). There was a festival on the day of the Sarat-paurņimā (103.32). While describing the scenes and activities in the city, lat evening, the author presents a picturesque sketch of the movements of the Kāminī ($$ 156-58.). There may be some exaggeration; still there are available some glimpses of the fashionable and luxury-loving section of the society. Festivities like the Indramaha, Mahānavamī, Dīpavali and Baladevotsava appear ** to follow in succession after the rainy season (148.11 f.)
There is a pretty good number of beliefs reflected in the Kuvalayamāla here and there. Blood and flesh were taken from a living body and used for alchemical purpose (69-24 f.). A robber possessed a miraculous sword and a pill, the latter being always placed by him in his own mouth (251.25, 253.18). More than once, a miraculous movement, jumping up like a flash of lightning (vijjukkhittam karanam) is mentioned (73.24, 87.13).
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