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MEDIEVAL JAINISM : CULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT
merchants to south-east Asian countries. Rich merchants did not confine their activities to India only, they did exports and imports trade with foreign countries like Persia, China, Dvipantra (South-east Asia) and Simhaldvipa by the land and sea route.26 We have found many references of trade with Indonesia in Jain story books of the period. These books also indicate the knowledge of the geography of. the area.27 Brahatkathashlok-Sangraha,28 Kathakosh29 and Brahatkathakosh of Harishen30 has references to merchants proceeding to Suvarandvipa and Ratandvipa. Indian merchants also seem to be familiar with prosperous and glorious markets of an Arabian country in 8th century A.D.31
China silk has been mentioned as main item in Tilakmanjri which imports from China to India32. According to Dr. Lallanji Gopal India also received gold and silver from China.33 It is presumed that Indian merchants used to buy camphor, Sandalwood, Silver, Gold and Gems from the south Asian countries.34 Pearls were imported from Ceylon
Upmitibhavprapanchkatha3 mentions the preparation being made before the ship set sail. We have definite references that war preparations, obviously for protecting the ship from the pirates, were made. In Kuvalayamåta we have found many such references. In Prabandhchintamani we have a reference to merchants hiding gold slabs in sacks of mangistha? out of fear from the pirates.
In some of Jain stories of period we find enterprising young merchants being discouraged from restoring to see trade.38 It appears that gradually the Indian merchants were leaving the major part of actual shipping to the foreigners and confining themselves to disbursing.39 In prabandhchintamani we read of a
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