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292 POLITICAL HISTORY OF ANCIENT INDIA have also explicit references to courtesan (punschali, veśyā, rūpājīvā) spies in the Arthaśāstra. "
Care of Foreigners It is clear from the accounts of Diodoros 2 and Strabo 3 that the Maurya government took special care of foreigners. "Among the Indians officers are appointed even for foreigners, whose duty is to see that no foreigner is wronged. Should any one of them lose his health, they send physicians to attend him, and take care of him otherwise, and if he djes they bury him, and deliver over such property as he leaves to his relatives. The judges also decide cases in which foreigners are concerned with the greatest care and come down sharply on those who take unfair advantage of them.” 4
• Village Administration The administrative and judicial business of villages was, in Ancient India, carried on by the Grāmikas, Grāmabhojakas op Āyuktas who were, no doubt, assisted by the village elders. The omission of the Grāmika from the list of salaried officials given in the Arthaśāstra? is significant. It probably indicates that in the days of the author of the treatise the Grāmika was not a salaried
1 Pp. 224, 316 of the Arthaśāstra (1919). 2 II. 42, 3 XV. I. 50. 4 McCrindle, Megasthenes and Arrian, 1926, p. 42.
5 Fick, Social Organisation, 162 ; Arthaśāstra, pp. 157. 172. Cf. Lüders, Ins. Nos. 48, 69a, The Kalinga Edicts refer to Ayuktas who helped the princely viceroys and Mahāmātras in carrying out Imperial Policy. In the early PostMauryan and Scythian Age they are distinctly referred to as village officials (Lüders' List, No. 1347). In the Gupia Age the designation is applied to various functionaries including district officers.
6 Grāma-viddhas, Artha, pp. 48, 161, 169, 178. Cf Lüders, Ins., No. 1327. Rock Edicts, V and VIII refer to Mahālakas and Vriddhas.
7 Bk V, Ch. III.
