Age of the Nandas and Mauryas c9.s30.1

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.'