The Social Organisation in North-East India in Buddha's Time c17.9

c17.9

agghâpanikaṭṭhâna. I. 126) whose work consisted in estimating the value of elephants, horses, precious stones, gold, etc., and in paying the owners of wares their proper price. In the Suppâraka Jâtaka the work of an estimator was given to a blind fisherman who exchanges his work for service in the Court. He determines as valuer the things which are most heavily taxed. Thus he knows by merely touching with the hand that a carriage which should serve the king as a State carriage is built with the wood of a perforated tree or that a costly garment is eaten by mice at one place; he receives, however, from the king only eight kahâpaṇas for every valuation. Not willing to accept a payment which according to him is suitable for a barber (imassa dâyo nahâpitadâyo. IV. 138), he leaves the service of the king and returns to his fisherman’s village.