Page:Ancient India as described by Megasthenês and Arrian.djvu/107

 88 separately discharge. In their collective capa- city they have charge both of their special de- partments, and also of matters affecting the general interest, as the keeping of public build- ings in proper repair, the regulation of prices, the care of markets, harbours, and temples. governing body, which directs military affairs. This also consists of six divisions, with five* m.embers to each. One division is appointed to cooperate with the admiral of the fleet, an- other with the superintendent of the bullock- trains which are used for transporting en- gines of war, food for the soldiers, provender for the cattle, and other military requisites. They supply servants who beat the drum, and others who carry gongs ; grooms also for the horses, and. mechanists and their assistants. To the sound of the gong they send out foragers to bring in grass, and by a system of rewards and punishments ensure the work being done with despatch and safety. *^The third division has charge of the foot-soldiers, the fourth of the horses, the fifth of the war-chariots, and the sixth of the elephants. ^"There are royal stables for the horses and elephants, and also a royal magazine for the arms, because the soldier has to return bis arms to the maga- zine, and his horse and his elephant to the stables. ^*They use the elephants without bridles. The chariotis are drawn on the march Digitized by Google
 * ^Next to the city magistrates there is a third