History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c12.8

v1.c12.8

All mines were clearly state property but not all of them were to be worked by the state. It is stated that a mine costly in its working should be leased out for a fixed share of the output (*bhāga*), or for a fixed rent (*prakraya*) and that only light mines should be worked by the state directly. So far as salt mines were concerned they seem to be all intended to be leased out for a share or on hire. Workers in the state-run mines might be supposed to belong to same category as the workers on crown lands, namely, *dāsa*, *karmakāra* and *daṇḍapratikartṛ*. In addition those disgruntled with the regime were to be posted in the mines. Men of the officer grade seem to be meant here, since it is stated that their wives and children should be held as hostages, the precaution being intended to prevent the men from going over to the enemy (Kangle, 1965).