26 



ON HYGIENE IN 



of the Sudras. Then, as in the time of Bharata, the regular 

 army was paid, clothed and fed by the State, and all so 

 liberally that soldiers could with ease support themselves and 

 others. On service they were accompanied by their wives 

 and families. In war they were prohibited from molesting 

 the husbandman ; hence it was said, while the former were 

 engaged fighting and killing each other as they could, the 

 latter might be seen close by tranquilly pursuing their 

 work, perhaps ploughing or gathering in their harvest, 

 or pruning trees, or reaping their crops. The contrast 

 is remarkable as compared with war during the latter 

 quarter of the nineteenth century of the Christian era. 

 In times of peace they underwent their drill, they employed 

 their time in hunting and athletics, gambling with dice, 

 or pursued romantic and often lawless amours ; in fact, 

 not very unlike what one reads of with regard to the 

 military classes of certain advanced countries at the present 

 time. In the third century B.C., the army of Sandracottus 

 was " not composed of contributions from feudatory princes, 

 but was a vast standing camp maintained solely at the 

 expense of the king." Mobilization was then an easy matter 9 

 for the troops were always in a state of readiness to start 

 on an expedition " furnished with all that was required 

 throughout the campaign." In the seventh century, accord- 

 ing to one account armies were raised according to the 

 necessities of the state, soldiers being encouraged to enlist 

 by promises of large rewards. This account however con- 

 flicts with that given by Fa-Hien. 



Young Kshatriyas, that is men of the soldier caste, were 

 trained to fight with their fists, to wrestle with their legs and 

 arms, to throw stones and brandish clubs. At a later period 

 they were taught to shoot with bows and arrows, to throw the 

 quoit or chakr a (in which art the Sikhs excelled up to the date of 

 our wars against that power in 1845 and 1848), to wield swords 



