Diplomacy and Trade in the Chinese World, 589-1276

346 west turkestan

Textiles

Cottons

718:yüeh-nocloth from Samarkand.

Other

717: textiles from Samarkand.

Pigments

717: indigo from Samarkand.

Jewels

665: carnelian from Tokharia.
740: carnelian from Samarkand.

In contrast to the oasis states of East Turkestan, which locally pro-
duced relatively little, much of the merchandise from West Turkestan
was native. Leopards and perhaps lions existed in the wild but could
also have been bred. Horses and mules were raised on the pastures.
Dogs must have been common. Ostriches in those days were found
in a much more widespread area than now and may still have existed
in West Turkestan. Seedlings came from local orchards. Much of the
minerals, manufactured goods, textiles, and jewels was no doubt locally
produced. The indigo plant may have been locally grown. Only much
of the drugs and carnelian would have come from abroad and then
have been passed along to China.
Nothing at all is recorded about how the Chinese paid for these
goods.