Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c13.52

c13.52

Although the porters and carriers were considered the lowest type of workers, they seem to have been the nonetheless important sections of labourers, for provisions relating to the conditions of their work occupy some space in the law-books of the period. These carriers were mostly employed by the merchants and were held responsible for the ware placed under their charge, except in the case of losses caused by fate or the state.³ The porters could be variously punished for giving up their work at various stages. Nārada lays down that one who abandons merchandise, which he had agreed to convey to its destination, shall give a sixth part of his wages;⁴ he shall be compelled to pay twice the amount of his wages, if he raises difficulty at the time of starting⁵ — a rule which is also supported by Yājñavalkya.⁶ But according to the other provisions of the latter lawgiver if the porter gives up his work after having started it, he shall pay ¼, if on the way, and if in the midway the whole of it.⁷ The corresponding obligation on the hirer to pay wages to the porter does not seem to have been so effective. Nārada ordains that a merchant who does not take a conveyance or beasts for draught or burden, after having hired them, shall be made to pay ¼ of the hire; and the whole if he leaves them halfway.⁸ This provision applies only to the owners of conveyances or animals most probably to the cart-owners cum drivers, and not to the human beings who acted as beasts of burden. Nevertheless, the parallel Nepalese version, which is considered as true reading,⁹ states that, if the porter strikes work through the fault of his employer, he shall be rewarded for as much as has been finished by him.¹