Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c9.s6.7

c9.s6.7

Mathurā was another business centre. People lived here only on trade and there was no cultivation of land in this town¹⁶. The merchants from Mathurā used to go to Dakkhiṇa Mahurā on business.¹⁷ The tankana mlecchas of Uttarāvaha are mentioned as travelling to Dakṣiṇāpatha for trade with valuable merchandise such as gold and ivory.¹⁸ Sopāraya is described as another emporium of trade, which was inhabited by five hundred tradesmen (negama).¹⁹ Then we had Suraṭṭha,²⁰ which was joined with Pāṇḍu Mahurā by sea.²¹ We hear of the horse merchants arriving in Bāravai for trade²². Vasantapura was another emporium whence traders used to journey to Campā.²³ We hear of a merchant going from Khiipatthiya to Vasantapura.²⁴ Then we had Hatthisisa as a commercial centre where a number of merchants resided. From here the merchants journeyed to Kāliyadīva where there were rich mines of gold, jewels and diamonds and which was noted for horses.²⁵ Then we read of Pārasadīva which was visited by the merchants frequently,²⁶ and Sihaladīva which was a halting place for the sea-faring tradesmen.²⁷ From Sihala, Pārasa, Babbara Joniya, Damila, Araba, Pulinda, Bahali and other non-Aryan countries India used to get female slaves as noted already.