Indian Antiquary Vol 04

SR No.: 032496
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 410
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 18 MB

Page 144

134
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[MAY, 1875.
time eaten a little, and having been recreated (p. 173, 114). Besides these, there was a civi with musical strains," he went to rest early, in head or governor to every town, or rather village, order that Ite might rise refreshed from his with its district; and over a group of ten towns labour.
or villages was a superior officer to whom these of the ministers the two principal persons were subordinate; higher again was the lord were the Foreign Minister and the Commander- of one hundred towns, and so on. To the head in-Chief (p. 167, 64, 65). Home affairs appear of a village was assigned for his maintenance to have been chiefly transacted by the king in the food, drink, wood and other articles which person. The qualifications for the post of were by law daily due from the inhabitants to foreign minister and the principles of foreign the king (p. 173, 118). The head of a group policy are dwelt upon in the Institutes at great of ten villages was entitled to "the produce of length, and the art of war is expounded very two plough lands" (that is, of so much land as fully. Even the order of the march and the required two ploughs for its cultivation); "the best mode of commencing a general action are lord of twenty that of five plough lands; the laid down. Come very prudent advice is given lord of a hundred that of a village or small relative to the conduct of a war; actual fight- town; the lord of a thousand that of a large ing was to be resorted to only as the last ex- town" (p. 174, 119). It is by no means clear pedient: "Let him," says Manu (p. 184, 197), what were the exact functions of the officers in speaking of the king, "secretly bring over to this graded system. No doubt it devolved uphis party all such as he can safely bring over; on them to maintain general peace and order let him be informed of all that his enemies are (p. 173, 116), but what sort or staff of police doing; and, when a fortunate moment is offered | force each had at his command for this purpose by heaven, let him give battle, pushing on to is not apparent. The affairs of the townships conquest, and abandoning fear: yet he should and districts (whatever this word 'affairs' may be more sedulous to reduce his enemies by ne- comprehend) were transacted by them (p. 174, gotiation, by well-applied gifts, and by creating 120). And probably the king's revenue was divisions, using either all or some of those me- collected by them. Seemingly this machinery thods, than by hazarding at any time a decisive was somewhat of a rough and ready character, action, since victory or defeat are not surely and approached that patriarchal form which is foreseen on either side when two armies engage generally very delightful to the governors, and in the field : let the king then avoid a pitched imagined by them to be perfectly adapted to battle; but should there be no means of apply. secure the happiness and welfare of the governed. ing the three expedients, let him, after due pre- Wide latitude of discretion, only controlled by paration, fight so valiantly that his enemy may the will of a superior officer, did not, however, be totally routed.". Manu goes on (p. 184, 201) in those days lead to the most happy results. to enjoin that in a conquered country the re- Mann himself says (p. 174, 123): “Since the ligion should be respected, the established laws servants of the king whom he has appointed maintained, and the rights of property so far as guardians of districts are generally knaves, who possible be undisturbed. It is evident that war seize what belongs to other men, from such and the enlargement of dominion formed a sub- knaves let him defend his people; from such ject which had engaged the attention and been evil-minded servants as wring wealth from substudied successfully by men of advanced intelli- jects* attending them on business, let the king gence in the time of Mana.
confiscate all the possessions, and banish them It is unfortunate that the executive adminis- from his realm." With the object of keeping tration of the internal affairs of the kingdom did the local officers to their duties, and protecting not offer the like attraction to the author or the people from oppression at their hands, there compiler of the Institutes. We hardly get the was an entirely separate body of inspectors, and smallest glimpse of the Civil Service system. also in every large town a superintendent of Detachments of troops commanded by trust- affairs (p. 174, 121), elevated in rank, formed in worthy officers were quartered in military stations power, distinguished "as a planet amongststars," over the country, in order to protect the people -a sort of exalted commissioner of division.
Since come to be rayats.