The Political Institutions and Theories of the Hindus: A Study in Comparative Politics c9.s4.t3.6

c9.s4.t3.6

In the second place, the *jetthaka* (alderman) and *setthi*, i. e., the heads of corporations were treated by kings as representatives of the people functionally divided as artisans, merchants and peasants. In pre-Maurya times, i. e. previous to the third quarter of the fourth century B. C., it was through their gilds that the people were summoned by the king on important occasions.⁴ *Śreṇîs* appear thus to have played an important part in the public finance. The taxes to be paid by traders and other inhabitants of the town were agreed upon by the ruler “in consultation with the heads of the gilds”.⁵