Indian Antiquary Vol 05

SR No.: 032497
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 438
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 20 MB

Page 113

MARCE, 1876.]
TRANSLATION OF THE INDICA OF ARRIAN.
91
of Indian rivers, though greater than the great- Nearchus tells us, the shadow which but one
est rivers elsewhere; bat it is smaller than the of them casts, has a circumference of five hun· Ganges where it falls into it. Megasthenes dred feet, and is capable of sheltering ten thou
informs us that this city stretched in the in- sand men. They live upon the fruits which each habited quarters to an extreme length on each season produces, and on the bark of trees,--the side of eighty stadia, and that its breadth was bark being no less sweet and nutritious than fifteen stadia, and that a ditch encompassed it the fruit of the date-palm. all round, which was six hundred feet in breadth After these, the second caste consists of the and thirty cubits in depth, and that the wall tillers of the soil, who form the most was crowned with 570 towers and had four-and- numerous class of the population. They are neisixty gates. The same writer tells us further ther furnished with arms, por have any military this remarkable fact about India, that all the duties to perform, but they cultivate the soil and Indians are free, and not one of them is a slave. pay tribute to the kings and the independent The Lacedæmonians and the Indians are cities. In times of civil war the soldiers are here so far in harmony. The Lacedæmonians, debarred by use and wont from molesting the however, hold the Helots as slaves, and these husbandmen or ravaging their lands: so that Helota do servile labour; but the Indians do while the former are fighting and killing each not even use aliens as slaves, and much less a 1 other as they can, the latter may be seen close countryman of their own.
at hand tranquilly pursuing their work, -perXI. But further: in India the whole people haps ploughing, or gathering in their crops, is divided into about seven castes. Among pruning the trees, or reaping the harvest. these are the Sages, who are not so numer- The third caste among the Indians consists ous as the others, but hold the supreme place of the herdsmen, both shepherds and neatof dignity and honour,-for they are under no herds; and these neither live in cities nor in necessity of doing any bodily labour at all, or of villages, but they are nomadio and live on the contributing from the produce of their labour hills. They also are subject to tribute, which they anything to the common stock, nor indeed is any pay in cattle. It may be added that they scour duty absolutely binding on them except to per- the country in pursuit of fowl and wild beasts. form the sacrifices offered to the gods on behalf XII. The fourth caste consists of handiof the state. If anyone, again, has a private craftsmen and retail-dealers. These sacrifice to offer, one of these sages shows him have to perform gratuitously certain public serthe proper mode, as if he could not otherwise
vices, and to pay tribute from the products of make an acceptable offering to the gods. To their labour. An exception, however, is made these sages the knowledge of divination among in favour of those who fabricate the weapons of the Indians is exclusively restricted, and none war,--and not only so, but they even draw but a sage is allowed to practise that art. They pay from the state. In this class are included predict about such matters as the seasons of the shipbuilders, and the sailors employed in the year, and any calamity which may befall the state; navigation of the rivers. but the private fortunes of individuals they do The fifth caste among the Indians consists of not care to predict,-either because divination the warriors, who are second in point of does not concern itself with trifling matters, or numbers to the husbandmen, but lead a life of because to take any trouble about such is deem- supreme freedom and jollity. They have milied unbecoming. But if anyone fails thrice to tary duties, and these only, to perform. Others predict truly, he incurs, it is said, no further make their arms, and others supply them with penalty than being obliged to be silent for the horses, and they have others to attend on them future, and there is no power on earth able to in the camp, who take care of their horses, compel that man to speak who has once been clean their arms, drive their elephants, prepare condemned to silence. These sages go naked, their chariots, and act as their charioteers. But living during winter in the open air to enjoy they fight as long as there is need to fight, and the sunshine, and during summer, when the when peace returns they abandon themselves heat is too powerful, in meadows and low to enjoyment, -the pay which they receive from grounds under trees of such vast size that, as the state being so liberal that they can main