Hindu Administrative Institutions c11.s9.13

c11.s9.13

Besides this chief officer each limb of the entire army was under the guidance of its respective leader. There were commandants of cavalry, infantry, chariots, and of elephants. The officer of horse classifies the horses in respect of age, breed, etc.; superintendent the stables, regulates their feeding, training and medical conveniences.¹ The superintendent of elephants controls elephant-forests, captures the elephants, and trains them.² The officer in charge of the chariots has to attend to their construction, their equipment, and the particular training of the chariot-fighters. The leader of the infantry on the other hand should know the strength or weakness of hereditary and other troops, and must also be familiar with different modes of fighting such as in trenches, or open battle-field, and meet sudden surprises, or attacks from heights.³