State and Government in Ancient India c21.52

c21.52

Even when occasional embassies were not on visit in a neighbouring state, spies were always at work to fish out useful information. Some of them lived in the guise of students and others in that of ascetics or merchants. Prostitutes and dancing girls were also extensively employed; many of them used to manage to get service as betel-bearers or umbrella bearers in the court and so manage to be nearest to the king with a view to find out what was passing in the innermost circles of government.