The Mauryan Polity c10.s3.t2.4

c10.s3.t2.4

The citizens were to make a report of the strangers residing with them or leaving the station.³ The boundary-guards or *antapālas* were to collect what is known as the road cess (*vartani*) and they were held responsible for the loss incurred by merchants in the part of the country under their charge. Thus adequate attention was paid to the safety and security of merchants, travellers, foreigners and others.⁴