Page:Ancient India as described by Megasthenês and Arrian.djvu/103

(40) The second caste consists of tbe husband- men, who form the bulk of the population, and are in disposition most mild and gentle. They are exempted from military service, and cultivate their lands undisturbed by fe^. They never go to town, either to take part in its tumxilts, or for any other purpose. ** It therefore not unfrequent- ly happens that at the same time, and in the same part of the country, men may be seen drawn up in array of battle, and fighting at risk of their lives, while other men close at hand are ploughing and digging inperfect security, having these soldiers to protect them. The whole of the land is the property of the king, and the husbandmen till it on condition of receiving one -fourth of the produce. (41) ° The ihirdc&Bte consists of herdsmen and h u n t e r s> who alone are allowed to hunt, and ta keep cattle, and to sell draught animals or let them out on hire. 1^ return for clearing the land of wild beasts and fowls which devour the seeds- sown in the fields, they receive an allowance of grain from the king. They lead a wandering life and live under tents. Fragm. XXXVI. follows here. [So much, then, on the subject of wild animals^ We shall now return to Megasthenes, and resume from where we digressed.] (46)' The fourth class, after herdsmen and hunters, consists of those who work at trades, of those who vend wares, and of those who are employed in bodily labour. Some of these pay tribute, and Tender to the state certain prescribed services. But the armour-makers and shipbuilders receive wages and their victuals from the king, for whom Digitized by Google