The World of Courtesans c7.57

c7.57

There is little doubt that these luxurious bars of the Mauryan period must have been the happy hunting-ground of prostitutes, but unfortunately the matter-of-fact, administrative tone of the *Arthashastra* eschews all poetical details. The only information about the presence of prostitutes in the bars is of a laconic nature. The wine merchant or barmen (in addition to carrying out their duties) kept a watch on the activities of their customers from their half-closed rooms. These customers, both local and foreign, pretending to be gentlemen, lay down in their rooms with their very beautiful (*peshatarupabhih*) mistresses (*dasibhih*)