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Social Conditions
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sources of income, must also have charmed the people. The manufacture of clay figurines of both human and animal forms was an object of amusement for children. The performance of jugglers' and snake-charmers (ahigunthika“) gave them special delight. As long as the festivities lasted the youths had the pleasure of enjoying the company of the nagarasobhinis.3
Parks and gardens with diverse flowers and fruits were also the places where people used to visit for recreation. The existence of several beautiful tankst and the nearness of rivers must have facilitated them in cultivating the habit of taking interest in swimming and sailing. There were forests where they took special delight in hunting animals and birds. Chariot-races, archery matches, wrestling, cock-and-peacock fights, and combats of buffaloes, bulls, horses and elephants5 were the noteworthy pastimes of the people,
1. FSOXB. pp. 294, 296 2. Ibid, p. 20G. 3. JASB, XVII, p. 267. 4, Vaisili Excavations, 1950, p. I. 6. Achei, , 11, p 392; Digha, 1. p. .
