Age of the Nandas and Mauryas c9.s40.5

c9.s40.5

Those in charge of the city (the *astynomoi*) were divided into six bodies of five each. Their functions were respectively (1) supervision of industrial establishments ; (2) care of foreigners including provision of lodging and assistants who would watch their doings, attention to sick persons and burying the dead³ ; (3) census of population and property ; (4) control of trade and commerce, regulation of weights and measures, and marking with the official stamp articles passed for sale¹, no one being allowed to deal in more than one commodity except on payment of a double-tax ; (5) similar duties regarding manufactured goods, the traders being required strictly not to mix new goods with old ; (6) collection of the tax of ten per cent on sales, the penalty for evasion being death. The six bodies acted together in general matters like the maintenance of public buildings, regulaion of prices, and care of markets, harbours and temples.