Studies in Ancient Hindu Polity (Based on the Arthashastra of Kautilya), Vol. I c11.14

c11.14

to determine which house was tax-free; to determine the occupiers of houses; to ascertain the income and expenditure of each family; to count the number of domesticated animals (जङ्गम) of each house. It will be seen that these points of inquiry are in common with those of the village officers; over and above these, there were a few independent heads of inquiry,¹ viz. to find out the causes of emigration and immigration, to ascertain the number of men arriving and departing, and to watch the movements of men and women of suspicious character. It should be remarked that they had to perform the above duties under the guise of householders (गृहपतिकव्यञ्जनाः). Disguised as ascetics (तापसवञ्जनाः), they watched the movement of cultivators, cowherds, merchants, and superintendents of Government departments.² Sometimes, also, under the guise of thieves (चोरव्यञ्जन), the spies, with their followers, frequented places of pilgrimage, bathing-places, deserted tracts, mountains, ancient ruins, etc.,¹ to detect thieves, enemies and wicked persons.