The Social Organisation in North-East India in Buddha's Time c16.27

c16.27

Some trades were followed not inside but outside the town, although mostly in its proximity, and in villages which were occupied by members of one and the same profession. Such tradesmen's villages are often mentioned as being in the neighbourhood of Benares: "Not far from Benares"—so it is said in the Alînacitta Jâtaka (II. 18)—"lay a carpenters' village" (vaḍḍhakigâma). There lived five hundred carpenters. They proceeded by river to a forest, prepared the wood for use as material for the construction of houses, constructed various kinds of one-storeyed, two-storeyed buildings, etc., and made sign-posts with all pieces of wood, beginning with posts. Then they take the wood to the shore, put it on board the ship and go down stream to the city. Here they make houses for everyone who desires it, take the money, and return home and make new materials with it.