The Political Institutions and Theories of the Hindus: A Study in Comparative Politics c10.s3.t1.5

c10.s3.t1.5

Further, we know from Megasthenes⁴ that under the Mauryas (B. C. 322—185 B. C.) the city fathers of Pâtali-putra regularly kept census and vital statistics of the municipal area. Such data were compiled for every territorial jurisdiction, as is borne out by the *Arthaśâstra*. The gazetteer of the village was compiled by the *gopa*.¹ The *sthânika* was responsible for the district gazetteer, as the *nâgaraka* for that of the city. The imperial gezetteer was the compilation of the *samâhartâ* or collector-general from these local directories. All details from the number of males and females to the incomes and expenditures of the families were to be found in these official registers.