Trade and Trade Routes in Ancient India c8.47

c8.47

Right up from the Mauryan period to the Mughal period nobody could travel without a passport (*mudrā*). The passport was issued by the Superintendent of Passports (*Mudrādhyaksha*).²⁴ He realised a fee of one *māṣaka* for issuing the passport. Only a person with a sealed passport was authorised to enter or leave the countryside. A native of the country who travelled without a passport had to pay a fine of twelve *paṇas*. For using a forged passport the lowest fine for violence was imposed but if a person was a foreigner then the highest fine was imposed upon him. This passport was valid on land and sea routes. The Superintendent of Meadows (*vivītādhyaksha*) examined passports in the way. Such inspection houses were situated on such points on the road through which a traveller was forced to pass. His duty was also to reconnoitre the pastures and make arrangements for protecting travellers from robbers and wild animals. In arid regions he dug wells, built bunds, made arrangements for shelters and the lay out of gardens.