ANCIENT INDIA. 



31 



abounding with fodder and fuel, not trespassing upon burial- 

 grounds, temples, places of pilgrimage or hermitages of holy- 

 men ; the site to be commodious, agreeable and well watered. 

 The ground was measured for the camp, carrying it on one 

 side along the sacred river Kurukshetra which was flowing 

 "with pure and salubrious waters undefiled by mud and 

 sand;" this done, Kesava directed a deep ditch to be dug on 

 the other sides for the greater security of the camp. The 

 army then marched into the enclosed space and "were 

 arranged agreeably to the precepts which regulate the prac- 

 tice of encampment.' ' Whatever was proper to do on such 

 occasions Kesava commanded to be executed ; stores of fire- 

 wood and of all necessaries for eating and drinking were 

 provided ; large and handsome tents were erected severally for 

 the chiefs; artificers dexterous in various handicrafts were 

 there in numbers, and skilful surgeons were in attendance 

 well provided with the means for healing wounds ; quantities 

 of honey and of ghee, and resin and fuel, and piles of bows 

 and arrows were heaped up like mountains, and Yudishthira 

 took care that, in every tent, fodder (food), fuel and water were 

 abundantly provided. Great " engines of war," iron shafts, 

 spears, axes, bows, arrows, drivers and elephants like moun- 

 tains, armed with spikes and covered with harnessings of iron 

 mail, were beheld in the camp by hundreds and thousands. 

 When the Pandavas knew that their friends had taken up 

 their respective quarters, they removed with their own 

 divisions to their several stations, and the kings, their allies, 

 in order to secure their triumph, " observed in their encamp- 

 ment the strict rules of self-denial, liberality and religion." 

 From these particulars it is evident that a considerable degree 

 of system and regularity was observed in the armies of those 

 far-away-days ; details do not however appear to be handed 

 down with regard to arrangements now deemed essential in 

 connection with military encampments. 



