The Rashtrakutas and their Times c22.31

c22.31

Among the articles of imports at the port of Bharoch, the Periplus mentions inferior pearls from the Persian Gulf, dates, gold, slaves, Italian wine, but in small quantity, copper, tin, lead, topaz, storax, sweet clover, flint glass, antimony, gold and silver coins, and singing boys and girls for kings. (27) With some exceptions these must have continued to be imported even in our period, as they were not procurable in India and were required by her people. From Marco Polo we learn that Thana used to import gold, silver, and copper in the 13th century. (28) Import trade in horses was extensive. Marco Polo says that every vessel visiting the Deccan and Gujarat ports invariably carried horses in addition to other cargo. This trade must have been even brisker in our period; for, the needs of the mounting department of the Rāṣṭrakūṭas and their feudatories must have been very great.