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Economic Conditions
291
Among flowers from which perfumes were produced were Vassika, Mallika, lotus and Piyangu,1 Agara, Tagara, and other flowers were also used for perfuming. POTTERY
Literary as well as archaeological sources reveal that pottery was in a flourishing condition. The most important ware of this period is North Black Polished Ware. Smoothness and lustre are the characteristics of this pottery. It originated in the Indo-gangetic plains where much has been found in the excavations.
The Jātakas tell us that there existed potters' villages where various types of bowls, jars, and vessels of all types were made. Like weavers and blacksmiths, the potters also found favour with the Jaina Śramaņas who frequently took shelter in their shops. Saddālaputta is mentioned as a wellknown potter of Polāsapura who owned five hundred shops outside the city, shops where a number of servants were employed. Hālāhalā was another rich potter woman of Śrāvasti in whose shop Gośāla stayed.
The usual way of making wares was this : lumps of clay (mattiya) were kneaded with water and mixed with ashes (chāra) and dung (karisa); the mixture was placed on a wheel (chakka) which was rotated in order to mould the mixture into various vessels. The wet vessels were then dried and baked. Besides these vessels, various types of toys were also produced.5 This is also confirmed from the finds of terracotta figures of various objects from the archacological excavations at several sites. DYEING
From the Jaina and Buddhist sources, it is known that dycing was the profession of Rajaka, both washerman and dyer, wlio dyed clothes after properly washing them. The Vinayapitaka informs us that dyed clothes-blue, light yellow, crimson, brown, black, brownish yellow and dark yellow-were prohibiicd for the monks. This suggests that clothes of shesc 1, Jlajjh. III. ; Sai, III. 156; D!ip, 54; Ja, VI. 336. 2. Ja, III. 368, 376, 385, 508; V. 291.
Uri. Ed. by H. F. Hornxer, p. 119. 1. Bhag, X1, 539, vol. 658. 5. ja 11. 6. 12. 6. Vir, VIII. 29. 1.
