Hindu Law and Custom (Recht und Sitte) c8.66

c8.66

§ 28. *Interests.* The movable property is differentiated from the real estate or the immovables (*Sthāvara*), literally "fixed and motionless property" which may consist of pieces of land, plantations, fields, woods, houses etc., including however also rents out of a piece of land and income from a donation (*nibandha, vṛtti*); very probably cattle was the most primitive form of movable property, particularly animals giving milk (*dohya*) and beasts of burden and animals used for riding (*vāhya, vāhana*). The standpoint of the Vedas that the cows are the proper medium of trade is still in evidence particularly in many Prāyaścittas and in the compensation for murder and then also in marriage (*ārsa*, § 16). Yet metal money is predominant, particularly the already very old Kārṣāpaṇa,¹ as in the laws of punishments most of which are fines (M. 8, 131—138 etc.). The formulas of oaths and ordeals are regulated according to the value of the disputed object estimated in gold (Vi. 9,4), and thus we find here a pure gold currency. The Greek disignations Dīnāra=dynários and Dramma=draxmy are mentioned only in later works and also the Suvarṇa, which occurs at quite an early date, is later equated with the Dīnāra in value. Besides the money and the domestic animals, male and female slaves, who are comprehended in the term "two-footed," ornaments, corns, fruits, metals, and other raw products, weapons and dresses are the principal items of movable property.