Tribes in Ancient India c31.111

c31.111

Kāśī was evidently a great centre of trade and industry, and a most populous and prosperous country. Frequent mention is made of caravans leaving Kāśī to travel for trade. One highway went through Kāśī to Rājagṛha,¹ and another to Śrāvastī²; and there was also direct trade between Kāśī and Takṣaśilā.³ We read of a trader of Benares who went with 500 carts to a frontier country and bought sandal wood⁴; and of another trader who was going to Śrāvastī with five hundred carts full of red cloth, but could not cross the river as it was in flood, and had to stay on the near side to sell his goods.⁵ The merchants of Benares used to go about hawking goods, which were carried by donkeys.⁶ Horse dealers from northern districts used to bring horses to Benares for sale.⁷ Sindh horses were available in Benares, and were used as the royal horses of ceremony.⁸ In Benares, too, there were skilled elephant trainers,⁹ and corn merchants.¹⁰