Central Library, University Of Rajasthan
How Did They Live
Front matter
No text on this page.
India
beter het
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A POTTER De Mohen jopa lang at huse whakea Beside bric, drying, "When tired, the
fully-shaped pots waiting to be baked in his brick oven. When fired, the
finished vessels-deep red or ochre in colour, and mainly destined for household
use—will be decorated by his womenfolk with attractive patterns painted in black.
Special reconstruction by Alan J. Philpott,
Frontispiece]
How Did They Live?
INDIA
Filted by
R.HMOND PICTT
P. R. GAWTHORN LIMITED
55, Russell Square, London, Y.Ç.1
S. svit has been the development of civilization o swiſt has been the development of civilization in the past half century, so spectacular the manifold successes of science, that it is very easy lo become obsessed with our own marvellous achievements and regard with indifference, if not actual disdain, the mighty cultures of the long-distanl past. Yet who dare say with absolute certainly that the Ancients knew so much less of the things in life that matter than do we? Is it not often bul bare truth that where they led, we have only followed, even if we have improvedl? Before we become lov sell-satisfied with the way we live, should we not first be sure of the answer to the question "How did they live?" With picture and story, cach of the six books in this series sets oul to present a true impression of everyday life in one of the outstanding civilizations of long ago. The periods selected vary widely, for whereas one ancient people had its finest hour many hundreds of years before the Birth of Christ, another reached the peak of its power cenluries after that landmark in recorded history, THE text has been in the scholarly hands of Mr. Cyril G. E. Bunl who has drawn his inspiration largely from the results of the most recent archacological research. The photographic illustrations, which include some of the finest known examples of early art and architecture chosen with the greatest care from both hemispheres, are supplemented by fascinating and authoritalive reconstructions, most of them prepared expressly for the purpose. Here you may make the long sea voyage from 4,000- year-old Sumer to the contemporary civilization of the INDUS VALLEY people. \Vilhin the orderly confines of their capital at Mohenjo Daro-in many ways the most remarkable city of the ancient world-you will find the value of town-planning fully realized, an efficient drainage syslem already in operation and a social code not without its echoes in modern times. RF THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT The Editor acknowledges with thanks the valuable help with certain illustrations kindly given by Dr. R. E. Mortimer Wheeler, Archaeological Adviser to the Pakistan Government and by the Archaeological Dept. of the Indian Government. Produced by Universal Text Books Ltd., and Printed by Purnell and Sons, Ltd. Paulton (Somerset) and London BBS promptly do so (it you had it with you') SKCD bi sonconc in nuthority to produce Our identity card, you would-no doubt- Vai 52 Ashed hou long such thungs lid been in existence, you would - with cqual lich of hesitation-probably lanicirs or so In fact, the idcr of an individual having on his person some small objcct wluch will alszys prosc huis identits besond dispute is very far from being indeed thc pcoplc of Indir ucrc carrying identiti cirds (or something icri similar) about with them ucllos Cr 4,000 scars ago Iler personal seals for that is uit thcs rcalli crc-arrer 10 wsc been much more auractic than ours, as sou will surch agree when you look at thic one shou ni aborc But what is far more significani, thics hold Пси HOW DID THEY LIVE? INDIA the key to a secret which even the most learned scholars in the world have so far failed to unlock. Although we cannot solve this mystery, we can at least discover what it is and meet these men and women of a long-past civilization who bequeathed it to us in the first place—and a remarkable race we shall find them to be. During our visit to their country, we were shown several of the little, finely-engraved cylinders with which the Sumerians sealed their personal documents and business contracts. Among them was a square, flat seal, altogether different from the others, which we were told had been imported to special order from a far distant land about which nobody seemed to have any but the vaguest information. Then and there, our curiosity aroused, we made up our mind to go and find out for ourselves, despite many vigorous warnings against the formidable difficulties of such a lengthy and hazardous journey. it is that we now find ourselves boarding a long, narrow ship which is about to put out from the mouth of the River Euphrates into the Sea of the Rising Sun on the first stage of its return voyage to this little known land of India. We are already on good terms with the Master who, after showing us how his stoutly built craft with its up-turned bows and stern is constructed of reeds lashed together with cords, conducts us to his roomy“ cabin amidships which he has courteously agreed to share Si. 1 See SUMER in the “How Did They Live ?” books. 4 with us. A SEA-GOING SHIP SETS SAIL "Up on deck” shortly afterwards, the great sail is run up to the single mast, bellying out as it catches the north-west wind, and the light, trim vessel--somewhat to our surprise-takes the blue waters of the Persian Gulf with ease and grace. The crew of three-including the skipper whose name sounds like Naram-are swarthy, dark-skinned For many hundreds of years, trade between Persia and India was handled through Ormuz on the Persian Gulf. In the sixteenth century the city was taken by the Portuguese, the ruins of whose fort there still stand, men very unlike the Sumerians and they talk a quite different language, guttural and yet liltingly musical. They are, in fact, of some Indian race hailing from the valley of the River Indus (in what is now called the Province of Sind in Pakistan). The Master tells us that to the best of his belief this is the only part of India which is civilized. It is India, indeed, and takes its name from the Indus. It seems, therefore, that our voyage is to be one of over a thousand miles and may well be something of an adventure since it occupies Persian Gulf MA WA N Scale of Miles 190 290 300 100 500 A. Chenab Ispahan SUMER AFGHANISTAN Kandahar R. Rave R. Sutlej 000000 R Euphrates E CHARAPPAD GLAGASHE W 1 Quetta PUR R. Indy O 000 PARISTA SEA OF THE RISING SUN PERSIA 0000 o Bushire INDIA histas ܘܘܘܘܘܘ a (MOHENIO DARO FORMUZ 25 sind Straita of Karachi SAUDI- ARABIA Ormus Gulf Citch Fen Emberton. '50 CIUNE Present-day frontiers OOOOOOOOOOOO Ancient names shewn thus: MOHENJO DARO Modern names shewn thus: Karachi 45 Muscat Gulf of Oman Tropic of Cancer 50° East Ara δια η Sea 65 55° GreenwLC ch От ап, 160° 70 a on the THE RED OCHRE OF ORMUZ many weeks and few are hardy enough to make it The rocky, sun scorched shores of the Gulf are kept in view the whole way down its length, for the sea-going folk of this time sail by rule of thumb and seldom pass out of sight of land So hour after hour, day after day and week after week, we skim along the eastern shore, putting in at small settlements way for food and water Then one memorable morning we round the sharp bend in the Gulf where stands the rich mainland port of Ormuz, renowned from the earliest times, and here take on board a consignment of red ochre for which the place is celebrated but whose use we have yet to discover. rot long after leaving Ormuz we sight the only With the westering sun picking out the colour on her huge sail, she makes an impressive picture as she beats up towards us Naram tells us that she belongs to the Pharaoh of Egypt who trades regularly with Ormuz, exchanging corn and other products of the Nile valley for precious spices and fragrant perfumes The day comes when we steer round the shoulder of land at the mouth of the great Gulf and thenceforward the sun rises right over our bows, showing that our course is now running due east Throughout the long voyage we have small opportunity of talking with Naram or his men for they are either constantly busy-or asleep So we have little to do but enjoy the beautiful days skimming over the sunlit, dancing waves and the even more lovely tropic nights under velvet-dark shies pierced by my riads of twinkling sharp pointed stirs At many places along the constline ve notice little settlements, some we 7 vom ST AN Built beside the river Indus, 200 miles to the north-east of Karachi the capital of modern Pakistan, Mohenjo-Daro was favourably placed to carry on trade by water. Reconstruct pass so close in that small boats come paddling out from them to have a look at the big trading ship. They bring us fruit and fish which they readily barter for grain. The first hint we receive that our journey is ncaring its end is when the deep blue of the waves begins to alter colour and becomc cloudy with minute particles of mud and sand carricd down 10 the many mouths of the mighty River Indus. Then, S Here a trading-vessel returns from a sca-going voyage; such hazardous trips cannot have been frequent, but business was done with far-off countries, among them Sumer. Alan Philpott as dawn breaks one morning, we enter the broad channel of the river itself and in our progress upstream are joined by many little boats whose occupants, with cries and gesticulations, seem determined to escort us on our way. To them we are adventurers. To them our ship is a marvel, for is it not returning from a high adventure into the unknown-that far off land in the west which to them is but a legend?
1 Two days' journey up the Indus brings us at long last to our goal a great town, the size and evident prosperity of which overcomes us with surprise. We are going to be still more surprised when we meet its inhabi- * 1 IO
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tants and see something of their mode of life.
Thousands of years after our visit, when the climate
and other physical conditions have altered the face
of this land, when this remarkable city has largely
decayed, it will be known as Mohenjo Daro-the
Hill of the Dead. So that we will call it, although
now, at the height of its fame, it is
very
much alive
and the most up-to-date town in the world.
While we wait for Naram to take us ashore, where
he has most kindly offered us the hospitality of his
D COOL TOTTENTE ******** VALGA Necklaces and bracelets were as much beloved of the ladies of Mohenjo- Daro as of women today. Here---in gold, onyx, felspar and turquoise are some they actually wore. own home, we watch entranced the busy scene on the waterfront. As might be expected at a town with trade upon so big a river, boat-building is in full swing by the waterside not far away while on the quay a small crowd looks on. Others are clearly interested in our own ship which has been away so long trading into unknown parts. Elsewhere men are busy moving merchandise in front of buildings along the river bank which we take to be storehouses. Beyond, the town stretches away in orderly blocks of red brick houses. Here and there on the flat roofs we can see people about their daily tasks. Te are all eagerness to land, and when we do it is to find that this amazing town, in its surrounding of cultivated fields, is laid out according to the most modern plan. Its streets are mainly straight, some running north to south, others crossing them east to west. Obviously there must be some sort of committee or local authority here I2
THE FIRST TOWN PLANNING
which looks after such things, for never have we
seen a tidier, cleaner-looking town, Mohenjo Daro
is certainly the very first city in the world to be
planned upon such sensible lines.
Teaving the river side we make for the centre of
is the town, towards the principal street—the High
Street as we may call it--a fine, broad thoroughfare
about thirty feet wide. As we slowly thread our way
between the many passers-by going about their
business there, we notice that one quarter of the
town appears to be built up upon an artificial hill
some thirty feet high. We observe, too, that both
men and women wear very scanty clothing by our
standards, although we feel from the first that they
lose nothing either in dignity or modesty by this
custom which is dictated to some extent by the
warm, equable climate and the simplicity of their
codes of conduct. Most of the women are content
with a brief cotton skirt, held at the waist by a girdle
of beads or some woven material; a few also wear a
ol
Toilet accessories of the Indus Valley womenfolk included ornamental
hairpins and (right) double-sided combs: the button (top centre) is
shanked in modern fashion.
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HOW DID THEY LIVE?, INDIA kind of short cloak over the shoulders reaching to The Wiss. None wears shoes, Bue if these womentoulli of Mohenjo Daro wear few clothes, they certainly make up for it by a wcalılı of jewellery. Their girelles are secured by ornamentwalbroochies, one or more necklaces of carnclian or other semi-precious stones adorn their necks ind many bungles of gold, silver or bronze decorate both upper arms and wrisis. llc think their hair-styles most becoming it mass of curls worn all the back of the head iud bound with : lillee of gold, or a plait lied with a diminutive bow at the end. Ornamental hairpins :ind combs, finger rings, nosc rings and carrings are :mong other feminine accessories. We are intrigued, 100, 10 n10 that the colour of ihcir dark checks is hcigluencd by cosmetics and that they surely blacken their crcbrow's with some sooty substance! Prhe majority of the men have a waist-cloth and I robe worn over the shoulder of the leti arm ind brought down under the righı so as to leave that arm free; 25 well as this, somo voluminous garment lied in with a cord at the waist. Thuir hair is coiled into a bun, or a ring, on top of the head, and they have short beards. Slow-moving bullock-carts rumble softly by us on the dusty surface of the High Street, heavilyladen asscs are urged along the centre of the roadway by shouts from their hard-working drivers or occasional prods from a short stick. Most of the life of Mohenjo-Daro scems to be concentrated on the main streets, the side turnings being much narrower, some more lancs no more than four feet wide. 14 WC21 : 101C Everywhere the houses appear to be mainly of two stories and are built of well-made baked bricks of a rich, warm, red colour. But walking up the street we find the effect rather monotonous, for we see few windows and the walls are severely plain. ago A bearded priest of Mohenjo- Daro as seen by an Indus Valley sculptor 4,000 years Tull-lipped and with heavy-lıdded eyes, his hair is bound with a woven fillet and he wears an elaborate, trefoil - patterned shawl with corded edge. The statuette is made of greyish-green steatite and is 7 ins, high Even the doors arc, more often than not, situated in the side streets or lancs, (It is truc, of course, that care in the Eart here houses, arc fietely built: C40:12:6:
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NO CHAIRS BUT A BATHROOM At our friend's invitation we enter a good-sized living room, almost square, the mud floor of which 15 covered with finely woven matting. The walls arc plastered and furnished with recesses fitted with wooden shelves on which stand various pottery storage jats; in one corner is a capacious chest of wood, pleasantly ornamented with plaques of shell, This, we suppose, must be used for keeping clothes Just such a cumbersome, solid-wheeled bullock gharry, or cart, as this must have been a familiar sight on the streets of Mohenjo-Daro and along the dusty tracks outside the city. or other household goods. There is no attempt at interior decoration these Indus Valley folk are, it seems, of a severely practical turn of mind with little imagination. Nor are there table or chairs (and again we realize that we are in the East where rich and poor alıke squat upon the floor). From the living room our host takes us along a corndor and into the bathroom so that we may have 1 much-needed wash. We cannot restrain an expression of astonishment at finding such a convenience in this ancient town, although it is scarcely 17 B HOW DID THEY LIVE? INDIA Back good manners on our part. But Naram only smiles and explains with evident pride that nearly every house in the town has its own bathroom with just such a brick floor sloping towards one corner where there is an outlet to the pipes which carry the waste to the drains. Before leaving us, he points out the jars of water standing ready for our use. Clearly the habit of cleanliness is considered a great virtue by these people and, as we are to find, apart from the obvious hygienic desirability of such a practice, their religion enjoins scrupulous and ceremonial ablutions. ack in the living room again, Naram awaits us, as does an appetizing and welcome meal-a rich curry served in little earthenware dishes with a small spoon of pottery shaped like a mussel shell with which to eat it. While we eat this from the floorquite a delightful experience--our host talks to us of his home town, of the Citadel, the Great Bath and the even larger public meeting house (we should call it, perhaps, the Council House), and promises to take us to see them. But he soon comes back to what is obviously his pet subject--the town's drainage system, and what he has to say about it is so interesting that we listen gladly. He tells us that the houses nearly all have efficient drainage whereby all waste water from the bathrooms, whether on the ground floor or upper story, runs away through brick or pottery channels, which are either concealed in the walls or outside, and then into deep sewers which run beneath the centre of the roads. These main drains are built of specially made, close-fitting bricks and are regularly flushed and kept clean, for there is 18
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plenty of water in the public wells apart from the private wells in all the better-class houses. Turning, with a wellconcealed effort, to another subject, Naram informs us that he and his people have no king; instead a Council or body of elected representatives looks after Mobenj>-Daro was obviously designed with great skill and foresight. Laid out on a systematic plan, its long, straight streets (above) are crossed by others running at right angles. These again are interconnected by narrow lanes, or side streets (teſt and below).
Ac
1
An astonishing feature of Mohenjo Daro is its complicated drainage
and sanitary system. In the left-hand wall of this street you can see
the water-chutes from a bathroom,
COMING OF THE INDUS PEOPLE their welfare, makes laws, appoints police or watchmen to keep the peace and punishes wrongdoers. It would seem, indeed, that the ordinary citizen has little opportunity to assert his individuality and that his way of life is ordered for him by the powers that be. Naram admits that he is not very well versed in past history, but says it is believed that at 'the dawn of time" his race came over the mountain passes of the Himalayas and conquered the original inhabitants of the Indus Valley. This is interesting hearing for the ancient books of the Hindus relate how, in the wide plains of the northwest, there are the ruins of the towns of the old Serpent Race (the Nagabandis) who, ages before the light-coloured Aryans set foot on Indian soil some 23
HOW DID THEY LIVE? INDIA
1,500 ycars before the Birth of Christ, had driven
out the Bhils and the Kols and other tribes and built
thcir splendid towns, becoming famous for their
wealth and the bcauty of their women.
Thus we realize that we are now actually among
I the remote ancestors of the very Naga race from
which, in later
ages, is to spring the famous
Chandragupta, king of Pataliputra, and his even
more renowned grandson, Asoka, whose name and
fame are to be the grandest in India's subsequent
history; for Asoka was the first king to rule the whole
land and he carved his laws upon stone pillars that
can be seen and read in parts of India to this day.
Vremente
2
-
.
TurTFITS
24
Seserely practical to the point of bleakness, the livng-room of a house in Mohenjo Daro (left) showed small sign of interior decoration and had not a little in common with its counterpart in India today (above) Qur meal ends with a dish of mangoes and other luscious fruits-- custard-apples, figs and lichis—followed by another visit to the bathroom (most necessary after eating mangoes), and then Naram leads us once more into the courtyard and up a brick-built flight of steps to the flat roof of his house. Here we 25
pour
7
5
.
:-
Compared with their orthand treatment of the human figure, the representation of
animals is the Indus Valley artists is startling in its precision. The upper of these
(crracottal bulls (t! ins, in length} is notable for its bold and effective niodelling.
are introduced to his wife and children. There is
no scclusion of women in Mohenjo-Daro and, as
far as we can see, there is almost complete equality
between the sexcs.
We find the wiſe of our host a pleasant, homely
woman, whose dark complexion only adds to the
attractiveness of her features, especially when she
gives us a smile of welcome. She speaks in gentle,
well-modulated, musical tones and we are very soon
talking about the children—a subject entirely after
her own heart. We are glad of the opportunity of
making friends with them because to make friends
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NURSERY GAMES AND TOYS with the young folk is to go a long way towards understanding the grown-ups. First of all we ask them about their toys and games. Shyly one of the younger girls confesses that they were playing “Mothers and Fathers with miniature pottery articles which-to our surprise—she tells us that they make themselves out of clay, getting the cook to bake them in his bread-oven. The girls have dolls of wood or rag, the boys pottery whistles and toy carts similar to those in daily use in the town. They also play marbles. Babies have rattles of brightly painted pottery, some of which In striking co to the careful handling of the bulls opposite, this bronze figurine of a dancing girl from Mohenjo-Daro (+ins. in height) seems crudely conceived. 27
HOW DID THEY LIVE?a
THEY LIVE? INDIA
are in the form of familiar animals. One of the older
children shows us a tiny bird-cage complete with a
bird “like the one mother has in the house." We
listen, and hear the real bird singing in one of the
rooms below. Presently a model bull is produced,
who nods his head; and then, in final triumph, an
amusing figure with arms extended between two
strings which, as is vigorously demonstrated, can be
made to climb up or down the cords by working
them with the fingers.
Naram's wife describes for us some of the games
And when we
SOX
Household pottery from Mohenjo Daro including a perforated jar which was filled
with charcoal and used as a heater (top centre), a leaf-pattern ewer (top right) and
a candlestick (bottom right).
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PE
Roughly turned on a wheel, much of the pottery was decorated in
black on red with such attractive designs as these, the leaf motif
being very popular.
that she and her husband (and other adults) play.
One, something like halma or draughts, is played
upon a board of twelve or more divisions with
little, round, pointed men of different colours which
are moved on the red or black squares. Sometimes
this game is played on squares roughly scratched
in the brick or mud of the floor. Dice arc much used
for games of chance and some of the people reckon
game-cock and partridge fighting among the sports,
Music and dancing, apparently, are confined to
rcligious ceremonies, the music being little more
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TWOTE Rhinoceros (Teſt) and tigers (centre and right) are among the animals depicted on the seals at the top of each of the impressions is seen that forceful, sharply defined writing", the meaning of which has remained an impenetrable secret for 4,000 years silver. In such vessels the women keep their precious necklaces, rings and other jewellery which comprise their wealth, these they wrap in cotton cloths and, in times of peril, bury them beneath the floor. s there are still about two hours to sundown and As darkness--there is little or no twilight in this part of the world-our host suggests that we might like to visit the Citadel and the great Bath-House about which he has told us. So under his friendly guidance we are soon back in the High Street, with the afternoon sun throwing long, slanting shadows across our path. A few minutes walk brings us to the Market Square, a large walled space with permanent stalls in rows down its aisles. Here a busy scene and a picturesque one greets us as we make our way among the crowd. The seller of grain is serving his customers with their daily requirements from his bowls of wheat, barley and spices, and from piled baskets of rice and all the ingredients which are used in the making of curry. These and other produce of the surrounding countryside are being doled out in small quantities. Farther along, the fruiterer's shop presents a feast of colour with its pyramids of juicy melons, mangoes, jack-fruit and plantains. 31 HOW DID THEY LIVE? a INDIA In one corner, in front of a china shop” as we might call it, we come upon a potter industriously turning his pots. His wheel is a heavy board of wood, pivoted in the centre, which he deftly spins with one hand, at the same time controlling the wet clay with the other. We stand and watch as he throws a shapeless lump upon the wheel and presses it together. Then, with a spin of the wheel, the clay seems to waken to life and rise up beneath his sensitive touch. Up it comes and then down he squeezes it once more, to raise it again in a slightly different shape. Presently his practised thumb thrusts its way into the top, long thin fingers go inside, while his hands cling round the whole mass—and immediately the shape of the piece becomes apparent. With the side of his hand he shapes the base and with the ball of his thumb produces the incurved neck. Finally, stopping the wheel, he gently removes the vessel and one more is added to the row of pots ready to be fired which stands beside him to dry in the afternoon sun. Later he will bake them in his brick oven and his wife and family will add the decoration. The noise of beaten metal next draws our attention to the shop of the coppersmith. The strong sunlight gleams upon trays, lotahs and cups of various shapes and sizes making their decorated surfaces shine like red gold. The smith works squatting behind his wares, hammering away the whole day long, and also makes bangles, needles, pins and many other articles of daily use. We do not see the weavers at work. Simple as their looms are they require more space than the 32 Thie Frequent representations of a Mother- Goddess in terracotta figurines such as these indicate that she was a household deity held in high esteem. market place affords. But we do see the cloth they have made, in rolls ready for purchasc -- mostly coloured cottons and the fine muslins for which the land of India is famed. The gossamer-like threads from which these muslins are woven can only be spun in the cool of the morning or evening and then only by the young women, for they require a steady, cool band. The butcher's shop is not I particularly inviting but as we pass it quickly by we have time to notice that buffalo meat, pork, goat and fowls are all there for those who desire them. Of more interest to us are those shops whose keepers practise their crafts and sell their own products, such as the toy shop where, either carved in wood or modelled in clay, 33 C HOW DID THEY LIVE? INDIA tiny replicas of things in everyday use are cunningly madc for the children. Household utensils, models of bullock-carts, of dogs, oxen, birds in cages, dice, rattles, marbles and scales (like the shopmen use) - all are here, with many another that children the ages through have loved to play with. Of course, this shop is a great attraction to the little, all but naked youngsters, but even more are clustering about the sweetmcat stall farther down the same row. Here, in a pan hcated over a low fire, puffed corn and parched wlicat are made-delicacies which the older citizens like as well as the younger ones. We try some ourselves (so, incidentally, docs Naram!)—and they are good. Several kinds of sweets are made from crushed sugar cane, and remarkably sticky candy and toffee are other delights of the children in little cups fashioned from the large lcaves of some tree. prequently during our long voyage to Mohenjo- Daro, and cspecially throughout this fascinating day that is now drawing to its close, we have thought of that strange little object which first sent us forth on our travels. Despite the countless wonderful things that, one after another, have claimed our interest, we have contrived to keep a look-out from the corner of our eye for any companions of that enigmatic seal reputed to have come from this land, so far in vain. Now we ask Naram outright. He listens attentively, as is his way, then smiles broadly and motions us to follow him to yet another booth. Displayed here are a large assortment of beads for necklaces, bangles, brooches and nose-rings andyes, there they are! -a collection of the little seals. 34 who carry them away
Represented in this seal.
impression (right) is a
homed, 3 faced god
whose peculiar seated
posture and attendant
elephant, tiger, Thino.
ceros and buffalo suggest
a forerunner of the great
Hindu god Sita, Prince
of Yogis and Lord of
Beasts (below)
Another
link betreen
these deities
is their common
symbol among the Indus Valley people, the sacred
snake-among the Hindus, the hooded cobra, still
seen on stone tablets at may side shrines in India
II
35
Vine sen Abi 2 Z Jan Prominent feature of the Citadel area at Mohenjo-Daro is the Great Bath (below) which was used for ceremonial purification. With steps at each end, it is lined with close-fitting bricks and was originally surrounded by a wide platform abutting on a cloistered walk (above). [See also illus, on pp. 12 and 19.1 151762 Reconstruction by F Alan Philpott
No text on this page.
HOW DID THEY LIVE? INDIA Impaticntly we wait while our friend asks--and then reccircs-permission for us to handle and examine some of them. They are of various sizes, the biggest about two inches across, and, like the onc in Sumcr, most arc splendidly engraved with brilliant represcntations of animals-elephants, shinoceros, tigers and different breeds of cattle are among those we recognizc. Above these beasts we notice in cach case a line of curiously shaped characters which are can only assume to be some form of writing. We remember secing similar “ lettering " carlier in the afternoon on some of the things in the shops. Naram confirms our guess and docs his best to explain what the mysterious characters mcan, but try as we will we cannot even begin 10 understand him. Nor need we be ashamed of our denseness, for this is thc puzzlc that is to remain unsolved for 4,000 years and maybe much longer than that. Bu ut we do grasp one important fact that these small tablets also serve the purpose of amulets which, since they are carried about by everybody, are thought to protect their owners from the spirits and goblins and the evil-eye ” in which all believe. But it seems that these spirits and goblins are not the Indus Valler people's only gods. Their chief deities are the Earth-God, giver and maintainer of life, and his consort the Earth-Goddess. The Earth-God is worshipped under the form of his emblem, the Serpent Shesh. Though they do not, of course, know it, this Earth-God is the early form of Siva, one of the grcat Hindu gods whose symbol is thic hooded Cobra. For thousands of years the 38 No doubt locally grown cotton was used by the people of Mohenjo- Daro to wear the material for their clothing, and dyers' troughs like these are a sign that the colouring of textiles was probably an industry of some importance. people of India have preserved this primitive belief in the Earth-God and his symbol and, far away in Southern India, stones carved in the shape of the sacred Cobra and set by the wayside shrines can be seen to this day. Dut we must not linger in the market lest night short way farther on and indeed we are not sorry to Icave the bustle, noise and smells for the quieter and less oppressive streets beyond. Turning left into one of the cross-lanes, we presently ascend a broad flight of steps and find ourselves upon an extensive raised platform, or artificial hill, which forms the Citadel and Civic Centre, as it were, of Mohenjo- Daro, some thirty feet above the houses and shops of the Lower City that we have just left. Here we first explore the ceremonial Bathing Place. 39 st DU **, laboral C are the $ ard in the Great Bath at Vlohenjo Daro stood the City Granari. a massive ilding utternt brick with a wooden superstructure When it was brought to lighi Vall the woodwork had long since perished. but the 25 it brich bewus wonderfull preserved 4* Below the main hadir platform at one or the pamry farnoksite mens Into hub balinsi » must have tacked dixharge the legal storchonse is fitted with entilation shalts (imp kil) in leed Ite condition for the time 41 HOW DID THEY LIVE? INDIA This is a big oblong building which we enter by a wide cloister-like passage with doorways at intervals in the inner wall. Passing through one of these we come to a paved walk about fifteen feet wide and extending all the way round a huge sunken bath. It is not being used at the moment, so by peering down through the clear water, we can see that the whole bath is lined with closely-fitted bricks and that at each end, lcading down to the water, is a stairway with wooden trcads. At both ends, also, wc notice platforms across the bath to mark off strips of shallow water for the young. The water itself, Naram says, is supplied from a I dcep well adjoining the Bath-House and the bath can be emptied through a small outlet in one corner. Thence the water flows into a channel in which a man can stand upright and so away into the main drainage system of the town. Leaving this spectacular bath, which is only used for ritual purification, we go into an adjacent passage which has thick walls and, at intervals, eight narrow doorways, four on each side. Without seeming inquisitive, we cannot, of course, see inside these, but Naram tells us that here live the officiating priests who attend the purification ceremonies held at certain times in the great bath outside. Each of these priests has his own private bathroom for daily ablutions and above this is the cell in which he lives, reached by a flight of stairs. Our way back from the Bath-House lies through a neighbouring street where our attention is drawn to a large, well-built and seemingly very old building which occupies the whole of one block. It is the 42 1 Endence of Mohenjo-Daro's wellplanned drainage system Water from the Great Bath could be emptied through an outlet at onc comer whence it mas carried anay through a brickbuilt channel with corbelled roof enough for a man to stand in HOW DID THEY LIVE? INDIA This is a big oblong building which we enter by a wide cloister-like passage with doorways at intervals in the inner wall. Passing through one of these we come to a paved walk about fifteen feet wide and extending all the way round a huge sunken bath. It is not being used at the moment, so by peering down through the clear water, we can see that the whole bath is lined with closely-fitted bricks and that at each end, leading down to the water, is a stairway with wooden trcads. At both ends, also, we notice platforms across the bath to mark off strips of shallow water for the young. The water itself, Naram says, is supplied from a I deep well adjoining the Bath-House and the bath can be emptied through a small outlet in one corner. Thence the water flows into a channel in which a man can stand upright and so away into the main drainage systcm of the town. Leaving this spectacular bath, which is only used for ritual purification, we go into an adjacent passage which has thick walls and, at intervals, cight narrow doorways, four on cach side. Without seeming inquisitive, we cannot, of course, see inside these, but Naram tells us that here live the officiating priests who attend the purification ceremonies held at certain times in the great bath outside. Each of these priests has his own private bathroom for daily ablutions and above this is the cell in which he lives, reached by a flight of stairs. Our way back from the Bath-House lies through a neighbouring street where our attention is drawn to a large, well-built and seemingly very old building which occupies the whole of one block. It is the Evidence of Vobec Dev's wiplanned drainage system the Great Bath cold be through an outlet at opreme It was camed at dromeria built chatod av mnoob for 1 m 10 sf The water which the citizens of Mohenjo-Daro put to such good use came mainly from public wells; some private houses had their own. residence of the Governor and the administrative offices of the town. To Mohenjo-Daro it is what the Mansion House is to London. Its chief feature is a big pillared-hall used for conferences and other functions. Not far from this Government House is the premier shrine of the city's gods, hardly to be distinguished from the outside from an ordinary dwelling house, except that it is raised upon a slight eminence. Here we may not enter, but upon the altars within are the images of the Earth-God and 44 Cleaning pots and drawing water--domestic scenes in fresurr-irt India that must closely parallel the everyday life of the lodrs Tulier countrypeople.
On the highest point of the Citadel is a 2nd-century Buddhist shrine built above the Indus civilization walls 2,000 years earlier in date. 46 > NIGHTFALL IN MOHENJO-DARO of the Mother Goddess who protects the home and the town. In the courtyard of this holy building, guarded by a brick wall, grows the sacred Pipal Tree (the Sacred Fig) whose leaves shake like the aspen poplar and for that reason are believed to be the abode of spirits. In a quarter of an hour now it will be dark, so we turn our steps homeward, passing as we go certain houses, situated at the corners of streets, which are places of refreshment–the inns of the time. They have larger rooms than the ordinary dwelling and in each of them is one room paved with bricks where tall pottery jars of liquor stand-probably“ toddy which is drawn from the succulent shoots of the palm tree. Already, we sce, some of the townsmen are making their way to these centres of gossip and companionship. s the sun goes down and the air begins to s A chilly, we reach the house of our friend and as that the children have already gone to beco.com they rise and go to rest with the sun, Happy in the company of Naram and it cnjoy another welcome meal-this time ITpattis (which are something like si fried in clarified butter) and fruit. TT shown to our room and, haring take actez its pottery candlestick, we say “Gsca our host and hostess. A pile of masina floor makes a much more comfordable could have expected and we drop sáng, timc-though not before we have done our hand a small, squarc, flatush CSBE surface we can feel the outline osa.es INDEX (sce also mar. p. 6) 1 ", loys, 27 ? * > nose, 14 AUSTIS, 38, 47 Ormuz, trade with, 5, 7 Animals, chily models, 2.3. 26, 25 PARIATI dogs, 23 chgrcd on seals, 3. ILLUSTRITIONS Persia, trade with India, 5 30) - Persian Gulf, 5, 6 Architecture, Sce Building loll Arl, bronzo liquic, 27 thus 43 Pinal Trec, 47 Portuguese fort at Ormuz, 5 carreuscalucite, 15 Pottery, animals, 23, 26 engraving of seals, 30 US 2 domestic utcnsils, 17, -- niodelling, 23, 26, 33 (see also Pottery) 28, 30, 45, 47 decoration of, 29, 30 Avoka, King, 24 potter's shop, Frontis- Asces, 14 Enor, 28 piece, 32 BA Tou, the Great, 10, FOO), chow pattis, 47 19,36 7, 42. 43 , curry, 18 Priest, statuciic of, 15 Bathrooms, 17 fruit, 25, 31 Priesis, college, 10 Beirds, Berring of, 14, 15 grain and spices, 31 dwellings, 42 Beds. 47 mcill, 33 Purification ritual, 42 Bhils (erally Indus Valley sweets, 34 RACIAL history, 23 tribe), 24 Fruir, 25, 31 Reed matting, for bedding, Boilts, 4, 8-9, 12 Furnishing of houses, 17 47 Briccicis, 12 GAVIS, 27, 29 for flooring, 16, Bricks, 15 (see also vitrious Gods, Earı God, 35, 38 17 illustrations) ---, Mother Goddess, 33 Reeds for boat-building, 4 Bronze, 27, 31 shrine of Earth God, Religion, belier in spirits, Buddhist shrine, 10, 19, 46 38, 47 Building, city granary, 40-1 , Siva, 35, 38 gods, 33, 35, 38, 44 Great Bath Ilouse', 19, Government, 20 Rings, car, 14 36-7, 43 Governor's residence, 42 houses, 11, 20-1, 22 Granary, City, 10, 40-1 SACRED ſig tree, 47 -----, public rells, H HAIRMINS, 13, 14 Sculpture, 15 Bullock-carts, 11, 14, 17 Hlair-savies, 14, 15 Scals, as amulets, 38, 47 Bullon, 13 Heater (charcoal), 28 cxamples, 3, 30-1 CANDLLSUCK, 28 Hooded cobra, 35, 38 Sumerian, 4 Carving, 15 I louses, description, 12, 15 Sea of the Rising Sun, see Chandragupta, King of Pat interior, 17, 24-5 mar, p. 6 liputra, 24 ruins, 11, 20-1 Serpent Race, see Naga- Citadel, air view, 10 water chutes, 22 bandis before and after cl INDUS, River, 5, 8 Serpent-symbols, 35, 38 cavation, 19 Inns, 47 Sind (Pakistan), 5 Buddhist shrine, 46 JEWELLERY, 12, 14, 31 Siva (Hindu god), 35, 38 -, description, 31 KOLS (carly Indus Vallcy Streets, description, 12, 14 Clay models, 23, 26, 33 tribc), 24 illustrations, 10, 11, Cobra, symbol of Siva, 35, LAYOUT of Mohenjo-Daro, 19, 20, 21, 22 38 10, 11, 12, 14, 19, 20, 21 Sugar-canc, 34 Combs, 13, 14 MAP (Sumer to Indus Val- Sumerian seals, 4 Coppersmiths, 32 ley), 6 Sweets, 34 Cosmctics, 14 Meat, 33 TEXTILES, see Weaving Cotton, 33, 39 Mohenjo Daro, design of Toddy, 47 Council of clccted rcprccity, 12, 14 Toilet accessories, 13, 14 sentatives, 20 form of government, Town-planning, see Layout Crafts, 32 20, 23 Toys, 23, 27, 33 DANCING, 29 position, 10, 11 Transport, 14 Dancing girl (bronze figur trade with Sumer, 4 UR, see map, p. 6 inc), 27 (scc also Architecture, Art, Utensils, domestic, 17, 28, Dicc, 29 Building, etc., 30, 45, 47 Drainage system, 18, 22, 42, Map, p. ) WATCHMAN (doorkeeper), 16 43 Music, 29 Water, in houses, 18 Draughts, 29 Muslins, 33 wells, 20, 44, 45 (see Dress, buttons, 13 NAGABANDUS (the Serpent also Bath House and men's, 14 Race), 23 Drainage) women's, 13, 14 Naga pcople, 24 Weaving, 32, 39 Dyers' troughs, 39 Necklaces, 12, 14 Wells, 20, 44, 45 EDUCATION, 30 OCHRE, red, 7, 30 Women, status of, 26 Egypt, trade with Ormuz, 7 Ormuz, Portuguese fort at, 5 Writing, 31, 38 ACKNOWLEDGMENT Illustrations on pages 3, 11-15, 20(bottom). 21 (boulom), 23, 27, 28, 30–33, 35(top), 37, 39 and 43 are the copyright of the Archaeological Dept. of the Indian Govt., New Delhi. Those on pages 22, 26, 29, 40-41 and 46 are reproduced by courtesy of Dr. R. E. Mortimer Wheeler: 19(boscam), 21. lop) and 44, Deone Dickoson; 17, W. Stokes. and 1
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