Age of the Nandas and Mauryas c9.s30: 18. North-Western India
Age of the Nandas and Mauryas c9.s30
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18. North-Western India
c9.s30.1
To return to the notices of the North-west by Alexander’s contemporaries. Nearchus noted that the laws of Indians differed from those of other nations and were not committed to writing, a statement obviously inspired by the name *smṛiti* (memory) for the law codes, and repeated by Megasthenes also. Among certain tribes, Nearchus observed, a girl was given away as the prize to the victor in a boxing match. Among others land was cultivated in common by a number of families who shared the produce in harvest time according to needs for the ensuing year, and then destroyed the remainder so as to encourage industrious habits and discourage idleness¹. The dress worn by the Indians was made of cotton of a brighter white colour than any cotton found elsewhere, or appeared so in contrast to their dark complexion. They wear an under-garment of cotton which reaches below their knee half-way down to the ankles, and also two upper garments of which they throw one over their shoulders, and twist the other in folds round their head. The Indians wear also ear-rings of ivory, but only the rich ones....Such Indians as are thought anything of use parasols as a screen from the heat. They wear shoes made of white leather, and these are elaborately trimmed, while the soles are variegated, and high healed to make the wearer seem so much the taller¹.'
c9.s30.2
¹ Strabo, XV, 1, 66 (p. 72). *Ib.* 53 (pp. 55-6) for Megasthenes on absence of written laws. Both Nearchus and Megasthenes knew that writing was well known in India and used for other purposes.
c9.s30.3
¹ Arrian, *Indika*, XVI (pp. 219-20). McCrindle's translation modified in the light of Bevan's version in *CHI*, I, p. 412. Curtius, Bk, viii, ch. 9 has the following : 'The character of the people is here, as elsewhere, formed by the position of their country and its climate. They cover their persons down to the feet with fine muslin, are shod with sandals, and coil round their heads cloths of linen (cotton). They hang precious stones as pendants from their ears, and persons of high social rank, or of great wealth, deck their wrist and upper arm with bracelets of gold. They frequently comb, but seldom cut, the hair of their head. The beard of the chin they never cut at all, but they shave off the hair from the rest of the face, so that it looks polished.' Also Strabo, XV, 1, 54 (p. 57)—Meg. Fr. XXVII (p. 70).
Linked texts (1)
- Ἰνδική — Λούκιος Φλάουιος Ἀρριανός, Ancient Greek