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Economic Conditions
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daggers, and slaves was disapproved for those who cared for morals. The prices of goods were settled between the producer and merchant by haggling, competition, and custom." There were hawkers3 who earned their livelihood by retail trading. Local products were consumed in the villages and towns and the surplus, if any, was despatched to trade-centres in different parts of the country. TRADE AND INDUSTRIAL CENTRES
Many trade and industrial centres of this period are known. Champā was an important industrial centre in those days. The Nasādhammakahat describes the sea-faring merchants of Champā, who loaded their waggons with various goods and proceeded to deep sea-harbours. Jiņapāliya, Jiņarakkhiya,5 Palita, and Dhana? were famous merchants who dealt both in inland and foreign trade. Rājagļha, Vaisālī, and Banaras were rich, happy and thriving commercial centres where wealthy merchants resided.
Ujjeņi was another great centre of trade. During the reign of king Pradyota, nine great stores or emporiums arc mentioned in Ujjeni, where all sorts of goods, including diamonds, were available.8 Dhanavasu, a merchant of this place who left for Champā with a caravan, was attacked by robbers.' Ayala of this place loaded his boats with goods and journeyed to Pārasaula ; hic earned plenty of wealth there and anchored at Bennāyada.10
lathurā was another business centre. People lived licre on trade, and there was, curiously enough, no cultivation of land in this town.11 Thc merchants from Jathura used to go
1. tigu, III, 208. 2, JäIII, 282 . 3. Ibid, 1, 111 f. 205, 11. 24; III, 21.232 f. 4. Novi, S, p. 97 ff. 6. Ibid, 9, p. 121 f. 6. Ular, 21.1. 7. 7., 15. p. 159. 8. Brik. Bai, 3, 4:20 r. 9. ., Vir, 1270 f. 10. C:07:. Ti, 3, 7.61, 11. Bril. 17, 1. 1239.
