The History of Bengal (Vol. I: Hindu Period; Vol. II: Muslim Period 1200–1757) v1.c19.s8.t2.8

v1.c19.s8.t2.8

⁵ The fame of Tāmralipti as an emporium of trade spread all over India and even far outside its boundaries. Hiuen Tsang notes that “wonderful articles of value and gems are collected here in abundance, and therefore the people of the country are in general very rich” (*Beal-Records*, II. 200-201). According to the *Kathā-sarit-sāgara*, Tāmralipti was pre-eminently the home of rich merchants, who carried on overseas trade with such distant countries as Laṅkā (Tawney’s tr. VI. 211) and Suvarṇadvipa (ibid. III. 175), and used to propitiate the sea with jewels and other valuable articles to ensure safe voyages across (ibid. II. 72).