Hindu Administrative Institutions c9.s1.49

c9.s1.49

Under this department of commerce there was another tax, the road-cess.² The collector of these dues was known as the *antapāla*. He was perhaps a little away from the toll-house. He received one-fourth *paṇa* for every load of merchandise, one *paṇa* for each head of cattle and other animals. He would examine foreign commodities, and if found useful, would send them to the toll-officer. Useless and harmful articles were shut out by him. The really useful things such as valuable seeds were let in free of charge.³ Another feature of this useful department was the weaving home. The proverb ‘let the women spin and not preach’ found a practical illustration in the economics of Kauṭalya. Women of various grades from young to the aged took to spinning and weaving of cotton, wool, hemp and flax. This was one aspect of the ancient cottage industries. Women could spin in their homes. There were special arrangements for taking raw materials to them, and taking back finished goods from them.⁴ The state paid them both time and piece wages. There were special days which were observed as holidays and those who worked in the holidays were also entitled to special allowances.¹ On the one hand this system found employment for the weaker sex and on the other hand the profits which accrued from these manufactures went to swell the treasury.