Pre-Buddhist India: A Political, Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey of Ancient India Based Mainly on the Jataka Stories c5.t4.110

c5.t4.110

The maritime transport appears to have been greatly developed, though not devoid of its own dangers. As already noticed, sea-navigation was common. Voyages were mostly undertaken for purposes of trade by companies of merchants,¹³ though passengers were also taken up.¹⁴ The ships were built of wooden-planks (dāruphalakāni)¹⁵ and were dependent on wind (erakavātayuttā) for their onward journey.¹⁶ Shipbuilding was fairly advanced, the outer frame work, there used to be 3 masts (kūpā, mod. Kuvāthambha), cordage (yottam), sails (sitam), planks (padarāni) the oars and the rudders (phiyāritāni) and anchors (laṅkhāro).¹ The pilot on board (niyāmaka) had the charge of the rudder and guided the ship.²