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AUGUST, 1877.]
THE INDIRA OF MEGASTHENÉS.
237
numerous class of the population. They are nei- pay from the state. In this class are included ther furnished with arms, nor have any military shipbuilders, and the sailors employed in the duties to perform, but they cultivate the soil and navigation of the rivers. pay tribute to the kings and the independent | The fifth caste among the Indians consists of cities. In times of civil war the soldiers are the warriors, who are second in point of not allowed to molest the husbandmen or ravage numbers to the husbandmen, but lead a life of their lands: hence, while the former are fight- supreme freedom and enjoyment. They have ing and killing each other as they can, the latter only military duties to perform. Others make may be seen close at hand tranquilly pursuing their arms, and others supply them with their work, -perhaps ploughing, or gathering horses, and they have others to attend on them in their crops, pruning the trees, or reaping the in the camp, who take care of their horses, harvest.
clean their arms, drive their elephants, prepare The third caste among the Indians consists their chariots, and act as their charioteers. As of the herdsmen, both shepherds and neat- long as they are required to fight they fight, ard herds; and these neither dwell in cities nor in when peace returns they abandon themselves villages, but they are nomadic and live on the to enjoyment,--the pay which they receive from hills. They too are subject to tribute, and this the state being so liberal that they can with ease they pay in cattle. They scour the country in maintain themselves, and others besides. pursuit of fowl and wild beasts.
The sixth class consists of those called s u perXII. The fourth caste consists of bandi intendents. They spy out what goes on in craftsmen and retail.dealers. They country and town, and report everything to the have to perform gratuitously certain public ser- king where the people have a king, and to the vices, and to pay tribute from the products of magistrates where the people are self-governed, their labour. An exception, however, is made and it is against use and wont for these to give in favour of those who fabricate the weapons of in a false report ;-bat indeed no Indian is war,--and not only so, but they even draw accused of lying.
exempted from military service, and cultivate consists of those who work at trades, of those who their lands undisturbed by fear. They never go vend wares, and of those who are employed in to town, either to take part in its tumults, or for bodily labour. Some of these pay tribute, and any other purpose. It therefore not unfrequent- render to the state certain prescribed services. ly happens that at the same time, and in the But the armour-makers and shipbuilders receive same part of the country, men may be seen drawn wages and their victuals from the king, for whom ap in array of battle, and fighting at risk of their alone they work. The general in command of the lives, while other men close at hand are ploughing army supplies the soldiers with weapons, and the and diggingin perfect security, having these soldiers admiral of the fleet lets out ships on hire for the to protect them. The whole of the land is the transport both of passengers and merchandize. property of the king, and the husbandmen till (47) The fifth class consists of fighting men, it on condition of receiving one-fourth of the who, when not engaged in active service, pass their produce.
time in idleness and drinking. They are main(41) The third caste consists of herds men and tained at the king's expense, and hence they are hunters, who alone are allowed to hunt, and to always ready, when occasion calls, to take the keep cattle, and to sell draught animals or let them field, for they carry nothing of their own with out on hire. In return for clearing the land of them but their own bodies. wild beasts and fowls which devour the seeds | (48) The sixth class consists of the overseers, hown in the fields, they receive an allowance of to whom is assigned the duty of watching all that grain from the king. They lead a wandering life goes on, and making reports secretly to the king. and live under tents.
Some are entrusted with the inspection of the Fragm. XXXVI. follows here.
city, and others with that of the army. The [So much, then, on the subject of wild animals. former employ as their coadjutors the 'courtezans We shall now return to Megasthenes, and resume of the city, and the latter the courtezans of the from where we digressed.]
camp. The ablest and most trustworthy men are (46)' The fourth class, after herdsmen and hunters,' appointed to fill these offices.
* Sheriffs : see Ind. Ant. vol. V. p. 267.
