The History of Bengal (Vol. I: Hindu Period; Vol. II: Muslim Period 1200–1757) v1.c19.s8.t1.4

v1.c19.s8.t1.4

We learn from the *Kathā-sarit-sāgara*¹ that Puṇḍravardhana had a great market-place and streets lined with shops. Besides the towns, a certain amount of business was probably done in the villages also. The Dāmodarpur Plate No. 2 mentions a *haṭṭa* or market in connection with the purchase of a plot of land.² The Khālimpur Plate of Dharmapāla records the grant of four villages along with their *haṭṭikā*, which, according to Kielhorn, means “market dues.”³ The Irḍā Plate similarly mentions the grant of a village “along with its market-place” (*sa-haṭṭa*),⁴ while the Bhāṭerā Plate speaks of shops (*haṭṭiya-gṛiha*) and big markets (*haṭṭa-vara*) in some of the donated villages.⁵