Chandragupta Maurya and His Times c15.72

c15.72

**Inland Roads.** The inland trade was carried on by carts and caravans. We read of Anāthapiṇḍika’s caravans travelling south-east from Sāvatthī to Rājagaha and back (about 300 miles) [*Jāt.*, i. 92. 348], and also to the "borders", probably towards Gandhāra [*Ib.*, i. 377 f]. To ensure easy fording of rivers, this route must have passed along the foot of the mountains up to Kusinārā between which, and Rājagaha, lay halts at twelve intermediate stations (*gāmas* or *nagaras*) including Vesāli, with a single crossing of Ganges at Patna according to the recorded itinerary of the Buddha’s last ministering journey [*Dīgha*, II, *Suttanta*, XXI. 81. ff.].