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ECONOMIC CONDITIONS
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slaves were treated not as free individuals but were thought to have been the property of their master along with the quadrupeds ( caupada )1 and other external possessions. 2 The initiation of the slaves in the Jaina Church was also restricted on the same grounds.
Besides the slave-girls, female-nurses (dhati) were appointed for bringing up the children in the houses of the wealthy citizens (iddhighara ).* Five nurses, viz. the wet-nurse (khiradhatī), the bath-nurse (nha nadhāti ), the toilet-nurse ( man 'adhatz ), the play-nurse ( kīlāvanadhati) and the lapnurse ( amkadhali ) have been mentioned who performed their respective functions. Specific qualities were required for these nurses, especially for the wet-nurse. 6 Brāhmaṇic authorities also lay down proper rules for selecting such women.? The occupation of these nurses was usually hereditary in a family ( pitiparam parāgaya ), although their master could relieve them of their duty any time he so desired. 8 There were also the foster-mothers or ammadhātis' whose status must have been higher than that of these ordinary nurses. The foster-mothers (ammadhati ) not only performed all the functions of a mother but also served the purpose of a companion to the girl even when she was grown up.10
Hired Labour—Apart from the dasas there were the bhajagas and kammakaras ( hired labourers or wage-earners ) 1. g4C GHI CA 91 7398 391 oz Efti a1NC. 3, p. 475. 2. Dāsa and dāsi were included among ten kinds of external possessions.
-Brh. Bhā. 1. 825; LAI., p. 107. 3. NC, 3, p. 263. 4. pi atai yrafa mat-NC. 3, p. 403. 5. Elecurat AFF T-FEUI-itque sical-NC. 3, p. 404. 6. NC. 3, pp. 403-407. 7. Chapana, D. R., Slavery in Ancient India, p. 160. 8. A nurse (ahāti) can be seen complaining to a monk about her master
(babhu) who employed another nurse in her place and thus deprived
her of her hereditary occupation-NC. 3, p. 405. 9. NC. 2, p. 22. 10. A young girl is mentiond to have asked her fostermother (ammadha tir
to bring a man for her.--Ibid.
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