The Political Institutions and Theories of the Hindus: A Study in Comparative Politics c12.s1.t2.19

c12.s1.t2.19

Among the other republican nationalities of the time we know about the Sambastai⁴ (the Sabarcae?), on the statement of Diodorus, that they dwelt in cities with democratic form of administration, and about the Cedrosii (Gedrosioi),⁵ on the report of Curtius, that they were a "free people with a council for discussing important matters of state". Another race is mentioned by Curtius, probably the Sabarcae (?) of Diodorus, as a powerful Indian tribe whose "form of government was democratic and not regal". They had no king but were led by three generals who owed office to election. Their army consisted of 60,000 foot, 6,000 cavalry and 500 chariots.¹ Similarly, the Oreitai, the Abastanoi, the Xathroi (the Kṣatriya), and the Arabitai are four peoples whom Arrian calls "independent tribes with leaders".² Of these the Kṣatriyas were expert naval architects. They supplied Alexander with galleys of thirty oars and transport vessels.³