Chandragupta Maurya and His Times c15.63

c15.63

But if Trade was thus taxed, it received compensation in the protection assured to it in those olden days when life and property were not secure everywhere. The transit of goods was guarded all along its way. Any loss suffered in transit was to be made good by the Government officer in charge of the locality through which they passed. In the village, the responsibility was that of its head-man (*Grāma-Svāmī* or *Grāma-mukhya*); beyond the village, the *Vivītādhyaksha*; beyond his jurisdiction the responsibility was that of the government Police, the *Chora-rajjuka*; and beyond him was *Sīmā-Svāmī*, the chief of the frontier.