2
THE IIDIAN EMIAPIRE
[CHAP.
especially by Megasthenes, the ambassador of Seleucus-who
had succeeded to the eastern portion of Alexander's empire-
at the court of Chandra Gupta.
The system of government described in the code is an
absolute monarchy, and the boldest poetical figures are used
to describe the power and glory of the king'. His main func-
tions are declared to be to restrain violence and to punish evil-
doers. The manner in which he should pass the day is laid
down with some minuteness. He is to rise in the last watch
of the night, make the morning sacrifice, hold public audience,
consult with his ministers in some lonely place from which
women and talking birds are carefully excluded, take exercise,
bathe, dine, transact personal and family business, give some
time to relaxation, review his troops, perform his religious
duties at sunset, receive the reports of his emissaries, withdraw
to his private apartments for supper, and, after indulging for
some time in music, retire to rest. The court was maintained
with some magnificence, and the Greek writers describe
gorgeous processions and raiment. The king is to appoint
seven councillors to assist him in the administration, and one
learned Brahman distinguished above them all. He is also to
employ suitable persons for the collection of the revenues, and
an 'ambassador,' who appears to have fulfilled the functions of
a minister of foreign affairs. The administration is to be con-
ducted by a chain of civil officers, rising from heads of single
townships or villages to heads of i,ooo villages. The villages
enjoyed a large measure of local autonomy, according to the
immemorial custom of the country. The code of Manu refers
to the village community, but gives little indication of its great
importance. Megasthenes found the system in full force, and
each little rural unit seemed to the Greek an independent
republic. Every considerable town had its superintendent of
affairs, whose duty it was to check the abuses to which the
local officers were (it is said) prone. Megasthenes mentions
that India was divided into iiS kingdoms. The Hindu kings
must have waged frequent war, for a considerable portion of
the code of Manu is filled with maxims and instructions
regarding military organization and foreign politics, and large
armies were maintained. According to Megasthenes, Chandra
Gupta had an army more than twice as large as that which now
Northern India in the pre-Maurya period also contained a number of
aristocratic republics, of which an interesting account is given in chap. ii
of Prof. Rhys David's Buddhist India; but in these too the supreme power
gradually became hereditary and absolute.
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