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Economic Conditions
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Agghapanaka, Agghāpanika)1 whose duty was to fix prices of the articles bought for the royal household, but he was not concernd with the whole society. FEES AND SALARIES
Like prices, we find generally exaggerated statements about fees and salaries, but a few references do appear to be authentic. Thus the Mahāvagga tells us that a courtesan's fee for one night was 50 to 100 Kahāpaņas.2 A teacher's honorarium for the whole course was probably 1,000 silver Kahāpaņa.3 A labourer earned only 11 Mäshaka daily according to a Jataka story. There are references to show that the earning of the labourer was not sufficient enough to ensure him a happy life, and that he lived in stark penury and misery.5 .LOANS AND INTEREST
Loans and debts could be taken on interest. There was a money-lender Ananda of Vānijyagāma. Money lending was looked upon as an honest calling. Letters of credit as substitutes for money were known. It is noteworthy that the Gautamadharmasūtra? prescribes a limit to the interest chargeable by the creditor. The lawful limit is 12% per month or 15% per year. The interest cannot exceed the principal howsocver long the debt may remain unpaid.8 WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
Because of the repid progress in the sphere of trade and -commerce, weights and measures were properly maintained. Pāṇinio mentions them as Ādhaka, Achila, Palra, Droņa, and Prastha. According to the Vasishtha Dharmasūtralo, right measurcment is necessary and the king should arrange for it. False "weights and measures were considered to be crimes. According
1. Jā, I. 124. 2. MU, VIII. 1. p. 1-3. 3. Jā, II 47; 278; IV. 33; V. 128. 4. Ibid, III. 326. 5. Ibid, 1.475; Ja, III. 446. 6. Uva, 1, p. 6. 7. Gau. Dh. S, XII. 26. S. Ibid, XII. 28. 9. Pa,, -102; 5. 1. 53. 20. Vas. Dh, S, 19. 23,
