The World of Courtesans c7.16

c7.16

The fees which a *ganika* charged from her clients was called *bhoga*, the *bhati* of later times. The amount was fixed by the Superintendent who was the direct recipient of such fees and he also determined the amount of the gifts (*daya*), the gross receipts (*aya*), the gross expenditure (*vyaya*), the net income and the profit. As her income was supposed to belong to the state, the Superintendent had full control over her financial affairs and prevented her from being extravagant. The courtesans only received their salaries They handed over to the Superintendent their fees and other receipts which were deposited in the treasury. It is, however, probable that they kept the gifts for themselves.