216 



ON THE ANCIENT 



made of fruit. The Sudra, a border people near the desert 

 of Sindh, showed their submission by coming to Yudhish- 

 thira with skins of goat and Bum stags and with Kabul 

 horses. The eastern kings brought precious seats, beds and 

 armour adorned with jewels, gold and ivory, as well as varie- 

 gated elephant covers, tiger and elephant skins, iron arrows 

 and excellent arms. The nations living near the Brahma- 

 putra and the mouth of the Granges arrived with gold, 

 perfumes, with precious woods, with rare birds, animals, and 

 skins. The Cola and Pandya carried fragrants, sandal-oil in 

 golden tankards, sandalwood, gold, jewels, and fine textures. 

 From Ceylon came precious pearls, and dyed cloths. This 

 extract yields only scanty information, the products of large 

 countries are omitted, yet we are able to ascertain those of a 

 few. 



In enumerating the different articles of trade, the Indian 

 export articles will be given first, and followed by the 

 foreign import articles. The principal sources of information 

 respecting the ancient export trade are the account written by 

 an Alexandrian merchant and perused by Plinius the Elder 

 and the Digesta or orders issued between the years of 176 

 and 1 80 by the Koman Emperors for the purpose of fixing 

 the duties, which were to be levied from those articles. 



Though elephants, tigers, leopards, panthers and other 

 large beasts were occasionally exported from India, one can 

 hardly include them in the list of merchandise. Rome 

 especially was the place where they found a good market, as 

 they were wanted in the amphitheatres for the Circensian 

 plays. King Solomon received from India apes and peacocks, 

 as we have seen before ; the Dravidian name of the peacock 

 in the Bible intimating the presence of Dravidian traders. 

 Herodotos praises the good qualities of Indian dogs, which 

 were highly esteemed by King Darius, and which most 

 probably would not claim any relationship with the ill 



