The Cambridge History of India, Vol. I: Ancient India v1.c17.27

v1.c17.27

Of the stage of civilisation attained by the aborigines we learn little or nothing. They had, it is certain, large herds of cattle, and they could when attacked take refuge in fortifications called in the Rigveda by the name *pur*, which later denotes ‘town,’ but which may well have then meant no more than an earthwork strengthened by a pallisade or possibly occasionally by stone. Stockades of this kind are often made by primitive peoples, and are so easily constructed that we can understand the repeated references in the Rigveda to the large numbers of such fortifications which were captured and destroyed by the Āryan hosts. Some Dāsas, it seems, were able to establish friendly relations with the Āryans, for a singer celebrates the generosity of Balbūtha, apparently a Dāsa; nor is it impossible, as we have seen, that the five tribes of the Punjab were not above accepting the cooperation of aboriginal tribes in their great attack on Sudās. We must therefore recognise that in the age of the Rigveda there was going on a steady process of amalgamation of the invaders and the aborigines, whether through the influence of intermarriage with slaves or through friendly and peaceful relations with powerful Dāsa tribes.