DDK HistoryF.p65 - CSIR

10:1 ] FINE CLOTH AND NAKED PEOPLE 357
especially of the lower castes who were obviously being punished for
sins in a former birth, made it unnecessary to protect the ordinary
foot-soldier. It was not lack of technique but of purchasing power
that kept the people unclothed, unshod, unhoused, as it continues
to do even now.
“ In this kingdom (Andhra) are made the best and most delicate buckrams, and those of
highest price ; in sooth they look like tissues of spider’s web... (Malabar) manufactures
very delicate and beautiful buckrams... There is a great export (from Thana) of leather of
various kinds, and also of good buckram and cotton... A quantity of cotton is exported (from
Cambay) to many quarters ; and there is a great trade in hides, which are very well dressed ;
with many other kinds of merchandise too tedious to mentton... So many (skins of all kinds)
are dressed (in Guzerat) every year as to load a number of ships for Arabia and other quarters.
They also work here beautiful mats in red and blue leather... skilfully embroidered with
gold and silver wire... some of these mats are worth ten marks.”
Thus reported the Venetian in his third book ; without
exaggeration, for parts of Andhra still produce extraordinarily fine
cloth of cotton spun and woven by hand.
Good horses may be bred even in the Indian climate, but not if
fed on boiled rice mixed with meat. Says the Arthasastra (2.30) in an
age and place that was decidedly better as to horses than the FSndyan
kingdom :
“For the best horse (feed), two dronas (measure) of any one of the grains, rice, barley,
panic seeds soaked or cooked, cooked munga (Phaseo-lus mungo), or masa (Phaseolus
Radiatus) beans; one prastha (measure) of oil, 5 palas (weight) of salt, 50 palas of flesh,
one adhaka of broth, or two adhakas of milk-curds, five palas of sugar mixed with one
prostha of beer (sura), wine, or two prasthas of milk.”
Marco Polo’s observations were exact, and show that the king
must have been advised by learned brahmins versed in the
Arthasastra. Sundara-Pandya’s learned theologians might have been
able to explain to him the subtle difference between the systems of
Samkara and Ramanuja; the priest could have performed the ancient
vedic horse-sacrifice for him accurately in all detail. What he could not
do was to produce decent horses, or for that matter any other livestock.
Northern cattle, not being bred for the special conditions, tended to
degenerate just like the imported’ horses. The cow was sacred enough
to worship, but feeding it properly and selecting the calves was left