Indian Antiquary Vol 34

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 55

MARCH, 1905.]
OHANAKYA'S LAND AND REVENDE POLICY.
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Persons who smuggle merchandise with that on which toll has been paid and who manage to carry two sorts of merchandise with a pass obtained only upon one sort, shall pay a fine equivalont to the amount of toll due on it. Persons who, swearing by the cow-dang for their veracity, smugglo merchandise shall pga fine of 3,000 paras. Weapons, armour, metals, carriages, precious stones, grains and quadrupeds shall be sold outside the Toll-gate free of toll. Sellers of the above articles inside the forts shall pay a fine of 3,000 panas and lose the value of the commodities also.
8.
The Superintendent of the Bordor shall receive one and a quarter panas as a tax called verteni on all traffic passing the border. He shall receito a pana on a load of merchandise carried by single-hoofed quadrupede, half a pana on a load carried by quadrupeds with donble hoofs, and one-sixteenth of a pana on a head-load.
The Superintendent of the Border shall do his best to restore to the owners the merchandise which is known to be carried by thieves. The Superintendent of the Border shall examine the superior or inferior quality of the merchandise coming to the border country, provide the merchant with a pass and sead, and send him to the Superintendent of the Toll, The king's spy in the guise of a merchant shall gather information on all kinds of merchandise arriving at the border and send the same information to the king. The king will send this information to tlae Superintendent of the Tolls long before the arrival of the merehandise in question at the Toll-gate. Then the Superintendent shall tell various merchants on their arrival at the Tollgate that sucla and such a merchant bas been predicted by the king as baving brought such and such an amount of merchandise of such and such a natare, and that hiding is useless with a king of such prophetic power.
10. Merchandise of inferior quality shall pay a fine of eight times the toll due on it if its quantity, &c, is eoncealed. Merchandise of superior quality shall all be confiscated if its quantity, &c., is concealed. The king should strictly prohibit the traffic of such commodities as are either dangerous or useless to the country. He should encourage the traffic of such as are of great benefit to the country. Le should also see that seeds of all sorts are not easily obtainable.
(C) Rates of Toll
1.
Commodities may be of two kinds, local or foreiga, to be imported or exported either for religious or trade parposes. Commodities to be imported shall pay as toll one-fifth their value.
In the case of flowers, fruits, vegetables, roots, turnips, pepper, seeds, dried fish, and flesh, the toll shall be one-sixth of their value.
In the case of conebs, diamonds, precious stones, pearls, corals, and necklaces, the value and the amount of toll on them shall be determined by persons who are familiar with such transactions and can estimate the time, labour, and capital shat are necossary for tho production of sach commodities.