Trade and Trade Routes in Ancient India c8.44

c8.44

The following duties have also been ordained. A small animal and a man with a load in a hand were charged a *māṣaka*, a load on the head, a load on the back, a cow and a horse were charged two *māṣakas*, a camel and a buffalo four *māṣakas*, a small vehicle had to pay five *māṣakas*, a bullock cart had to pay six *māṣakas*, a cart seven *māṣakas* and a load of commodities one quarter of a *paṇa*. These were the charges made in ordinary course. The fees for ferries on big rivers was double the amount mentioned. Further steps were taken for the maintenance of the ferrymen. The villages situated on waterways had to pay a fixed amount of food and wages to them. At the frontier the ferrymen were expected to realise the duties, export charges and road cess and were also authorised to confiscate the goods of one travelling without the passport, a person crossing with heavy load at an improper time and at a point which was not authorised.