The Mauryan Polity c10.s1.t8.1

c10.s1.t8.1

In addition to these the Central government appointed other agencies to ensure internal peace. The trap-keepers (*vāhurika*), archers (*śabara*), hunters (*pulindas*), outcastes (*caṇḍālās*), and wild tribes (*araṇyacara*) were set about to reconnoitre the country parts including the forest regions, and whenever they anticipated disturbance or danger of any sort, they sent information to the capital. The means of carrying this news was by the blowing of conch shells or the beating of drums. Sometimes it was by flying the pigeons with writs (*mudrā*), or causing fire and smoke at respectable distances.²