The Political Institutions and Theories of the Hindus: A Study in Comparative Politics c11.t25.11

c11.t25.11

The duty of 1 per cent on all sales was a regular tax of the Roman Empire. Such an impost, call it market due, toll or octroi, was, as we have noted, prevalent in Athens also. The rates in Maurya India were much higher. Commodities sold by cubical measure were charged 6 ¼ per cent, those by weighing 5 per cent, and those by computation 9 1/11 per cent *ad valorem*.¹ This tax, known by the generic name of excise or inland trade revenue, was assessed by the Mauryas in two ways. In certain lines, e. g. salt, precious metals, etc they retained the monopoly of manufacture and sale for the government. But the general method of assessment was the grant of a license to the vendor or manufacturer.