The Cambridge History of India, Vol. I: Ancient India v1.c26.157

v1.c26.157

Megasthenes, ignorant as he was of Indian languages, could say little of the literature and thought of the country. He only observed the much greater part played by oral tradition and memory, as compared with written documents, than was the case in the Greek world⁴, though he cannot have asserted that writing was unknown, as Strabo would seem to imply, since in one passage he refers to written inscriptions⁵. In the sphere of morals it is interesting to notice that the salient characteristic of the Indian people seemed to this early European observer to be a high level of veracity and honesty. ‘An Indian has never been convicted of lying,’ he wrote in one passage⁶, and in another pointed to the rarity of law-suits as evidence of their frank dealing. ‘They are not litigious. Witnesses and seals are unnecessary when a man makes a deposit; he acts in trust. Their houses are usually unguarded.’ During the time that Megasthenes was in Chandragupta's camp, out of a multitude of 400,000 men there were no convictions for thefts of any sums exceeding 200 drachmas (about £8)⁷. In Sind, Onesicritus said, no legal action could be taken, except for murder and assault. ‘We cannot help being murdered or assaulted, whereas it is our fault if we give our confidence and are swindled. We ought to be more circumspect at the outset and not fill the city with litigations’⁸.