Theory of Government in Ancient India (Post-Vedic) c8.s4.22

c8.s4.22

The bureau of mines naturally fell into two sections, one concerned with the oceanic products, and the other with land mines, each run by experts. The former is charged with the collection of diamonds, pearls, corals, conch-shells, and precious stones. It also controlled salt which has almost always formed a government monopoly in India. Another branch of it regulated the commerce of the articles which came under its purview. The superintendent of land mines presided over a huge technical staff. The prospectors should wander over the plains, slopes, and the mountains in search of ores of scores of metals. Kautalya treats minutely of their numerous properties, and innumerable indications of depth of colour, weight, smell, taste, greasiness, adhesiveness, and so forth.¹ A Brāhmaṇa, guilty of a heinous crime, might be deprived of his property or sent to the mines.² The ores were scientifically purified under another branch of the Department. Finally, they were transmitted for use to the Superintendent of gold, of inferior metals, of the armoury, and so on.¹