peacocks, golden decorations, exquisite perfumes, pungent peppers, ivory, pearls, gems, etc., and consequently caravans were in continued requisition to carry down these and innumerable other matters between the north and the south, and the west and the east of their vast and varied country. These caravans, it is conjectured, were met at border stations and about ports by western caravans or ships bound to or from Tyre and Egypt, or to or from the Persian Gulf and Red Sea." Professor Heeren remarks: "The internal trade of India could not have been inconsiderable, as it was in a certain degree prescribed by nature herself."" Royal roads were constructed all over the country from east to west and from north to south, in addition to the numberless rivers, along the banks of which considerable commerce was carried on. Strabo, Plutarch, and Apollodoras agree in their statements that India had considerable trade roads in all directions, with mile stones, and was provided with inns for travellers. (See Strabo, Chap. XV, pp. 474 and 487). And these "roads," says Heeren, were planted with trees and flowers."3 Active internal commerce was carried on in northern India along the course of the Ganges. Here was the royal highway extending from Taxila on the Indus through Lahore to Palibhotra (in Behar), and which was 10,000 stadia in length. 4 Ramayana, too, mentions another road leading from Ayodhya (Oudh) by Hastinapur on the Jamna, through Lahore, to the city of Giniberaja, in the Punjab. Periplus, too, after saying that "the Ganges and its tributary streams were the grand commercial routes 1 See Ancient and Medieval India, Vol. II, p. 348. 2 Historical Researches, Vol. II, p. 267. 3 Historical Researches, Vol. II, p. 279. 4 Strabo, p. 1010. Pliny also speaks of it in his Natural History Vol. VI, p. 21. of northern India," adds that the "rivers of the Southern Peninsula also were navigated."1 According to Arrian, the commercial intercourse between the eastern and western coasts was carried on in country-built ships. Periplus again says that "in Dachhanabades (Dakshina Patha of Sanskrit, or the Deccan) there are two very distinguished and celebrated marts, named Tagara and Pluthama, whence merchandise was brought down to Barygaza (Baraunch). Ozene' (Ujjain) was one of the chief marts for internal traffic, and supplied the neighbouring country with all kinds of merchandise. It also became the em porium of foreign commerce. It transported Indian products to Barygaza, and was a celebrated depôt of the produce of more distant and northern countries. Fairs were an important vehicle of trade, and were introduced in every part of the country. A large concourse of people assemble at these fairs in different seasons for the purpose of exchanging merchandise as well as discussing religious and national topics. Even now lakhs of people assemble at Hardwar, Benares, Allahabad, on the banks of Nerbudda and other places.4 1 Periplus, p. 39. 2 For the indentification of these two places, see Elphinstone's "India," p. 223, footnote. "Tagara remained for 2,000 years the great emporium of the Mediterranean commerce."-Heeren. 3 Historical Researches, Vol. II, p. 280. 4 64 The almost innumerable crowds that yearly flock to Benares, Jagan Nath and elsewhere, amounting to many hundred thousands of souls. would obviously give rise to a species of commerce."--Historical Researches, Vol. II, p. 279.. [For an account of fairs at Hardwar, see Hardwicke's accounts of it in the Asiatic Researches, Vol. II, p. 312; where he says that two-and-a-half lakhs of souls assemble every year, while on the occasion of Kumbh the number is many time larger. ] Regarding these Hindu fairs, Mr. Elphinstone says: "Indian fairs have strong resemblance to those of England. But no assemblage in England can give a notion of the lively effect produced by the prodigious concourse of people in white dresses and bright-coloured scarfs and turbans, so unlike the black head-dresses and dusky habits of the North." Mrs. Manning says thas the Hindus traded even in the Vedic period, "and the activity in trade thus early noted has continued to be the characteristic of the country."2 The Encyclopædia Britannica says: "It (India) exported its most valuable produce, its diamonds, its aromatics, its silks, and its costly manufactures. The country, which abounded in those expensive luxuries, was naturally reputed to be the seat of immense riches, and every romantic tale of its felicity and glory was readily believed. In the Middle Ages, an extensive commerce with India was still maintained through the ports of Egypt and the Red Sea; and its precious produce, imported into Europe by the merchants of Venice, confirmed the popular opinion of its high refinement and its vast wealth."3. Elphinstone's History of India, p. 179. He also remarks that "many such places are also amongst the celebrated marts for the transfer of merchandise." 2 Ancient and Medieval India, Vol. II. p. 347. 3 Encyclopædia Britannica, Vol. XI, p. 446. Foreign commerce on such a gigantic scale as described above was one of the principal causes of the immense riches of ancient India, 427 II.-WEALTH. Rich in the gems of India's gaudy zone. CAMPBELL: Pleasures of Hope. The IF HISTORY proves anything, it proves that in ancient times, India was the richest country in the world. fact that she has always been the cynosure of all eyes, Asiatic or European, that people of less favoured climes have always cast longing looks on her glittering treasures, and that the ambition of all conquerors has been to possess India, prove that she has been reputed to be the richest country in the world. Her sunny climate, unrivalled fertility, matchless mineral resources and world-wide-exports in ancient times helped to accumulate in her bosom the wealth which made her the happy hunting ground of adventurers and conquerors. Professor Heeren says: "India has been celebrated even in the earliest times for its riches." Dr. Wise says that the wealth, splendour and prosperity of India had made a strong impression on the mind of Alexander the Great, and that when he left Persia for India, he told his army that they were starting for that "Golden India " where there was endless wealth, and that what they had seen in Persia was as nothing compared to the riches of India. Chamber's Encyclopædia says: "India has been celebrated during many ages for its wealth," The writer of the article "Hindustan" in the Encyclopædia Heeren's Historical Researches, Vol. II, p. 268. 2Chamber's Encyclopædia, Vol. V, Art. "India," p. 536. Britannica remarks that India "was naturally reputed to be the seat of immense riches."1 Milton voiced the popular belief when he sang of the wealth of India : "High on a throne of royal state which far Showers on her kings barbaric, pearl and gold." An idea of the immense wealth of India could be gathered from the fact that when Sultan Mahmûd Ghaznavi destroyed the far-famed temple of Somnath he found such immense riches and astonishing diamonds cooped up in the single "Idol of Siva" that it was found quite impossible to calculate the value of that booty. After a stay at Mathura for 26 days, in which he collected large idols of gold and silver in thousands, many set in with priceless jewels, Mahmud went to Kanauj, which so astonished the tyrant and his followers, though long familiar with wealthy cities like Mathura, that they declared that Kanauj was only rivalled in splendour and magnificence by the high heavens. Gold, the emblem of wealth, was first found in India. India was the home of diamonds and other precious stones in ancient times. Periplus says that "the Greeks used to purchase pieces of gold from the Indians." Nelkynda or Neliceram, a port near Calicut on the Malabar Coast, is said to have been the only market for pearls in the world in ancient times. Chamber's Encyclopædia says that the minerals of India are rich and varied. Diamonds, emeralds, plumbago, beryle, topazes, are among its products. Gold Eucyclopædia Britannica, Vol. XI, p. 446. 2See Lethbridge's "History of India." |