Chandragupta Maurya and His Times c9.262

c9.262

Touring (*Saṁchāra*) Branch. The Touring Section of the Service was also manned by spies of different classes called (1) *Satrī*, who were versed in palmistry, sorcery, and other arts of attracting the populace; (2) *Tīkshṇa*, comprising desperadoes who would employ themselves as menials of high officials; (3) *Rasada*, those who drug people, sometimes working in the guise of women, (4) *Bhikshukī* or women spies who quartered themselves on the households of Ministers (*Mahāmātra-kulāni*).