Geographical and Economic Studies in the Mahabharata: Upayana Parva c6.157

c6.157

In the above description of the presents of King Bhagadatta of Prāgjyotiṣa we are given a glimpse of the products of that part of the country about whose history our knowledge remained obscure till comparatively recent times. As we have pointed out, probably the Assamese were acquainted with jadeite, which, though its sources did not exist within the natural boundaries of Assam, must have been brought from Burma either in natural state or in worked form. If the jadeite came in the shape of vessels, then their manufacture should be attributed to the Chinese as we are not yet aware whether the Burmese at such a remote period were adept in the art of cutting hard-stone. There is, however, every reason to believe that hard-stone objects were cut locally as India since time immemorial has been famous for its hard-stone cutting industry. Ivory handles of the sword probably show that the ivory-carver’s art was highly developed in Assam at least two thousand years back.