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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..fd00291 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #60503 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/60503) diff --git a/old/60503-8.txt b/old/60503-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 9d5c051..0000000 --- a/old/60503-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,3670 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Popular Account of Thugs and Dacoits, the -Hereditary Garotters and Gang-Robbers of India, by James Hutton - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - - -Title: A Popular Account of Thugs and Dacoits, the Hereditary Garotters and Gang-Robbers of India - -Author: James Hutton - -Release Date: October 15, 2019 [EBook #60503] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A POPULAR ACCOUNT OF THUGS *** - - - - -Produced by deaurider, Martin Pettit and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - -THUGS AND DACOITS. - - - - -A - -POPULAR ACCOUNT - -OF THE - -THUGS AND DACOITS, - -THE - -HEREDITARY GAROTTERS - -AND - -GANG-ROBBERS - -OF - -INDIA. - -BY - -JAMES HUTTON. - -LONDON: -WM. H. ALLEN AND CO., 7, LEADENHALL STREET. - -1857. - - - - -LONDON: -W. LEWIS AND SON, PRINTERS, 21, FINCH LANE, CORNHILL. - - - - -Thugs and Thuggee. - - -They who reverence ancient descent, and a long line of ancestors, are -bound to regard the Thugs with peculiar veneration. Perhaps, neither -in Asia nor in Europe are there any other families that can date their -origin from such remote antiquity. They are said to be sprung from the -Sagartii, who contributed 8,000 horse to the army of Xerxes, and are -thus described by Herodotus, in the Seventh Book of his History:-- - -"These people lead a pastoral life, were originally of Persian descent, -and use the Persian language; their dress is something betwixt the -Persian and the Pactyan; they have no offensive weapons, either of iron -or brass, except their daggers; their principal dependence in action is -on cords, made of twisted leather, which they use in this manner: when -they engage an enemy, they throw out these cords, having a noose at the -extremity: if they entangle in these either horse or man, they without -difficulty put them to death." - -There is some reason to believe, that in later times the descendants -of these Sagartii accompanied one of the Mahommedan invaders of India, -and settled in the neighbourhood of Delhi. In the latter part of the -seventeenth century, Thevenot makes mention of a strange denomination -of robbers, who infested the road between that city and Agra, and used -"a certain rope, with a running noose, which they can cast with so much -sleight about a man's neck, when they are within reach of him, that -they never fail, so that they strangle him in a trice." These vagrant -plunderers were divided into seven clans or families, called Bahleem, -Bhyns, Bhursote, Kachunee, Huttar, Ganoo, and Tundil, the parent stock -of all the subsequent ramifications. According to tradition, they were -expelled from Delhi by one of the emperors of the house of Gouree, on -account of the murder of a favourite slave. Their victim had long been -aware of their practices, and had connived at them, for the sake of the -handsome gratuities presented as the price of his silence. But, abusing -his power, and making exorbitant demands, he quickly experienced the -fate of those in whose plunder he had so freely participated. The -murderers were therefore driven from the neighbourhood, after being -branded on their posteriors with the current copper coin of the -empire. Five of the clans removed to Agra, whence their descendants -were afterwards called Agureea. A large body of them appear to have -travelled to Arcot, and there founded the proudest and most punctilious -branch of the fraternity. These Arcottee Thugs used to wear checkered -_loongees_, and short jackets, like the Company's Sepoys; they also -carried a knapsack on their back, a light cane in their hand, and -generally a small bag of beetel nut and paun. Their leaders, or -jemadars, frequently assumed the garb and bearing of wealthy merchants, -and had four or five attendants to cook for them, hand the hookah, -clean their pony, and do other menial offices, while the rest of the -gang followed in small parties, not to excite suspicion, but closed up -rapidly when the signal was passed along. The true Hindostanee Thugs, -however, professed to look down upon those of Arcot, and refused to -intermarry with them. The latter retorted, that the others could have -no pretensions to high birth, for at their marriages the matrons, as -they threw down the _toolsee_, were wont to exclaim, "Here's to the -spirits of those (Qulunders), who once led bears and monkeys; to those -who drove bullocks, and marked with the _godnee_ (kunjurs, or gipsies); -and to those who made baskets for the head." But this was explained by -the necessity of assuming disguises, in the first place, to escape from -Delhi, and afterwards for carrying on their terrible vocation. There -was certainly one very low Hindoo class, the _Sooseeas_, but calling -themselves _Naeks_ and _Thories_, with whom the others associated -with reluctance. These chiefly confined themselves to Malwa and -Rajpootana, travelling as merchants, with their leader indulging in a -hackery or palanquin. Sometimes they disguised themselves as Sepoys, -or as treasure-bearers. The most exclusive clan were the Chingurees, -or Mooltanee Thugs, who practised female infanticide to a frightful -extent. They preserved alive only a sufficient number to provide wives -for the members of their own clan. They were allowed to be an ancient -tribe, and were much respected by the inferior associations with -whom they had nothing in common, except the dialect peculiar to all -Thugs. They usually travelled with their families as Brinjarees, with -bullocks and cows laden with goods, and strangled their victims with -a bullock's rope. A colony of about one hundred families was settled -at Hingolee. A very clever and staunch tribe, known as the Jumaldehee -Thugs, settled in Oude, who prudently kept their wives in ignorance of -the true nature of their pursuits, nor did they initiate their sons -till they had reached the age of puberty. When they sallied forth on -their expeditions, they left a certain number of their men at home, to -take care of the women and children, and to these they allotted a full -share of their spoils. The Brinjaree Thugs were especially fortunate -in escaping detection, or even suspicion, by reason of their nomade -habits, which rendered it extremely difficult to trace any particular -crime to them. They were consequently enabled to amass considerable -riches, though they seldom renounced their wandering life. A Thug -approver told the late Major-General Sleeman, that on one occasion he -and his party fell in with a company of merchants from the westward, -who were encamped near Jyepore, and wore exceedingly high turbans. -"What enormous turbans these men wear!" he remarked to a comrade, -using their slang term, _aghasee_. The chief man among the strangers -thereupon stepped forward, and requested the travellers to sit down -with them, adding, at the same time, "My good friends, we are of your -fraternity, though our _aghasees_ are not the same." It turned out that -these supposed merchants were a gang of Brinjaree Thugs, who, having -become wealthy, had given up strangulation, but were not the less glad -to welcome those who still laboured at the pious crime. - -In the beginning, as already stated, the Thugs were invariably -followers of the Prophet, but after a time Hindoos were initiated, who -inoculated their Mussulmaun teachers with their own superstitions. -Thuggee now became a divine institution, ordained by the goddess Kalee. -It is curious to observe how the amalgamation of the two religions -took place. Captain Sleeman asked a Thug approver, named Sahib, if he -thought the English would ever succeed in suppressing Thuggee? The -answer was, "How can the hand of man do away with the works of God?" - -SLEEMAN.--You are a Mussulmaun? - -SAHIB.--Yes; and the greater part of the Thugs of the south -are Mussulmauns. - -SLEEMAN.--And you still marry, inherit, pray, eat, and drink, -according to the Koran? and your Paradise is to be the Paradise -promised by Mahommed? - -SAHIB.--Yes. All, all. - -SLEEMAN.--Has Bhowanee been anywhere named in the Koran? - -SAHIB.--Nowhere. - -It was then explained that Bhowanee was supposed to be another name for -Fatima, daughter of the Prophet, and wife of Ali. Sahib acknowledged -that Bhowanee had no power to admit her votaries into Paradise, nor -any influence over the future state, but maintained that she directed -the destinies of Thugs in this world, and that God would never punish -any one for obedience to her commands. Sleeman's Mahommedan officers -indignantly protested against the idea that Fatima and the Hindoo -goddess were identical, and professed an entire disbelief in the -divinity of Kalee. But they were somewhat disconcerted when the Thugs -asked how they reconciled this want of faith with their presence at -Kalee's festivals: they could not say that they were merely spectators, -led thither by an idle curiosity. The Thugs then adduced, as a proof -of the divine origin of their calling, the fact that they had pursued -it with impunity for nearly two centuries. Captain Sleeman having -declared that neither he nor his native officers cared one jot for -their goddess, and that they were determined to put down her worship -in this form, one of them replied, "They may say so, but they all -know that no man's family can survive a murder committed in any other -way; and yet Thugs have thrived through a long series of generations. -We have all children like other men, and we are never visited with any -extraordinary affliction." - -It may be here parenthetically stated, that of the Oude Thugs -nine-tenths were Mahommedans; in the Doab, one-fifth; south of the -Nerbudda, three-fourths; in Rajpootana, one fourth; and in Bengal, -Behar, Orissa, Bundlecund and Saugor, about one-half. - -Kalee, the goddess who presided over Thuggee, was worshipped also -under the names of Bhowanee, Devey, and Davey. She was the wife of -Mahadeo, or Siva, and first appeared on earth on the banks of the -Hooghly, at a spot afterwards called, in memory of the event, Kalee -Ghaut, now Calcutta. Here stands her most honoured temple, and here is -still celebrated with the most solemn rites her chief festival, the -Doorga Pooja. They who address her with the greatest reverence style -her Kunkalee, or the "man-eater," and represent her as quaffing huge -draughts of blood from men and demons. When alone, she is depicted as -black and hideous of aspect; but in company with her husband, she -is ever fair and beautiful. Once on a time the world was infested -with a monstrous demon named Rukut Beej-dana, who devoured mankind -as fast as they were created. So gigantic was his stature, that the -deepest pools of the ocean reached no higher than his waist. This -horrid prodigy Kalee cut in twain with her resistless sword, but from -every drop of blood that fell to the ground there sprung up a new -demon. For some time she went on destroying them, till the hellish -brood multiplied so fast that she waxed hot and weary with her endless -task. So she paused for a while, and from the sweat, brushed off one -of her arms, she created two men, to whom she gave a _roomal_, or -handkerchief, and commanded them to strangle the demons. When they -had slain them all, they offered to return the _roomal_, but the -goddess bade them keep it and transmit it to their posterity, with the -injunction to destroy all men who were not of their kindred. There -were many exemptions, however, from this rule. The murder of women, -for instance, was positively prohibited, and this prohibition was -seldom or never violated in Bengal, Behar, or Orissa. To the south of -the Nerbudda old women did not always escape, or even young women, -when it was found impossible to separate them from a tempting prize. -Between the Nerbudda, the Indus, and the Jumna, the Thugs had few -scruples of any kind. It was likewise unlawful to murder a Brahman -or a Kaet (member of the writer caste), or a religious mendicant -of any kind, or oilman, potter, carpenter, blacksmith, goldsmith, -elephant-driver, musician, dancing-master, or any one having a domestic -animal with him, or carrying a parent's bones to the sacred river. -But, in later times, these restrictions were either totally evaded or -confined to the first day of the expedition. To the neglect of these -and such-like regulations, the approvers ascribed the decay of the -"time-honoured craft." Davey used to protect them, they said with a -sigh, when they "had some regard for religion." She never forsook them -till they neglected her. They were merely instruments in the hands -of God. "No man is ever killed by man's killing," but through the -will of the Deity. Many "incursions" had been made at different times -against Thuggee, but never on such a scale as that instituted by the -company's officers. "The Company's Ikbal (genius, or good fortune) is -such, that before the sound of your drums, sorcerers, witches, and -demons take flight, and how can Thuggee stand?" In the early ages -of the "institution," Bhowanee used to dispose of the dead bodies -and efface all signs of the murder, but she distinctly warned her -votaries against looking back after they had again taken to the road. -Curiosity, however, at length proved too strong for the sons of Eve, -and one day it came to pass that a Thug looked over his shoulder and -beheld the goddess playing at ball with the corpses, throwing them up -into the air and catching them as they fell; or, according to another -account, she had a dead body in her mouth, the extremities projecting -on either side. After this discovery of her favourite pastimes, Kalee -refused to have anything more to do with their victims, and left it -to themselves to conceal the tokens of their "piety." But she did not -altogether abandon them. Even in her wrath she was gracious to those -who held her name in honour. She accordingly bestowed upon them one of -her teeth for a pick-axe, a rib for a knife, and the hem of her garment -for a noose: yellow and white being the colours she most affected, such -were frequently the hues of the _roomal_. To the last she "everywhere -protected the Thugs, so long as they attended religiously to their -duties." Even when through inattention to the omens she sent for their -guidance, any of them were apprehended and punished, her vengeance was -sure to overtake their oppressors. "Was not Nanha," said an approver, -"the Raja of Jhalone, made leprous by Davey for putting to death Bodhoo -and his brother Khumoolee, two of the most noted Thugs of their day? -He had them trampled under the feet of elephants, but the leprosy -broke out upon his body the very next day." Nanha was so sensible of -his guiltiness, that he did all in his power to appease Davey. "Bodhoo -had begun a well in Jhalone; the Raja built it up in a magnificent -style; he had a Chubootra (tomb) raised to their name, fed Brahmans, -consecrated it, had worship instituted upon it, but all in vain; the -disease was incurable, and the Raja died in a few months a miserable -death.... When Madhajee Scindiah caused seventy Thugs to be executed at -Mathura, was he not warned in a dream by Davey that he should release -them? And did he not, the very day after their execution, begin to -spit blood? And did he not die within three months?... When Dureear, -the Rathore, and Komere and Patore, the Kuchwaha Rajpoots, Zemindars, -arrested eighty of the Thugs who had settled at Nodha, after the -murder of Lieutenant Monsell, they had many warnings to let them go, -but they persisted and kept them till some thirty died. They collected -10,000 rupees, at the rate of 125 rupees from every Thug. What became -of their families? Have they not all perished? They have not a child -left. Rao Sing Havildar, the Gwalior Soobah of Nodha, took the money, -but that very day his only son and the best horse in his stable died, -and he was himself taken ill and died soon after a miserable death.... -The Raja of Kundul, some ninety coss (180 miles) east from Hyderabad, -arrested all the Thugs in his Raj for some murders they had committed. -For three successive nights the voice of Davey was heard from the top -of every temple in the capital, warning the Raja to release them. The -whole town heard her, and urged the Raja to comply. He was obstinate, -and the third night the bed on which he and his Ranee were sleeping was -taken up by Davey, and dashed violently against the ground." They were -dreadfully bruised and frightened, and lost no time in releasing their -heaven-protected prisoners. - -Kalee not only protected the Thugs, but sent them numerous omens as -encouragement or warning. An omen was, in fact, a positive command to -slay the travellers in their power, or to allow them to go unharmed. If -they did not attend to these omens, they became guilty of disobedience, -and had no longer any claim upon the goddess for protection. On -Captain Sleeman inquiring if any evil would befall them if they used -the _roomal_ without reference to the divine signals, Sahib at once -answered in the affirmative, adding, "No man's family ever survives -a murder: it becomes extinct. A Thug who murders in this way loses -the children he has, and is never blessed with more. He cannot escape -punishment." "But how," said Captain Sleeman, "how can you murder -old men and young children without some emotions of pity--calmly and -deliberately as they sit with you and converse with you, and tell you -of their private affairs--of their hopes and fears--and of the wives -and children they are going to meet after years of absence, toil, and -suffering?" The answer was such as might almost have been made by -an ancient Hebrew, had any one asked him if he felt no pity for the -wretched Canaanites he so ruthlessly murdered. "From the time that -the omens have been favourable, we consider them as victims thrown -into our hands by the Deity to be killed; and that we are the mere -instrument in her hands to destroy them: that if we do not kill them, -she will never be again propitious to us, and we and our families -will be involved in misery and want." In precisely such a spirit did -Samuel hew in pieces before the Lord, Agag, king of the Amalekites. -The Thugs were by no means insensible to domestic feelings, or even to -the charms of social and friendly intercourse. At home their conduct -was irreproachable. Their villages were usually models of cleanliness -and neatness; their lands were industriously cultivated, their wives -and children treated with all kindness and affection. When Laek, an -approver, heard of his brother's arrest, he repeated with much feeling -an Hindustani verse, which has been thus rendered into English:--"I -was a pearl, once residing in comfort in the ocean. I surrendered -myself, believing I should repose in peace on the bosom of some fair -damsel--but, alas! they have pierced me and passed a string through my -body, and have left me to dangle in constant pain as an ornament to -her nose." Their wives frequently were quite unconscious that their -husbands were murderers, though they may perchance have suspected them -of being thieves and robbers. The sons also were kept in ignorance -of the entire truth until they had completed their fourteenth or -fifteenth year. In fact, they were gradually trained to the business. -At first they were taken out as if for a pleasant excursion, and had -generally a pony to ride. Presents, too, were given them after each -murder, though they were not made acquainted with the source whence -those gifts were derived. However, before they returned home they -had usually a shrewd suspicion that their treasured prize had not -been honestly come by. Next year they were plainly told that their -parents and relations were highway robbers; but by this time they had -become too fond of the careless roving life and of their share of -the easily-acquired plunder, to listen to the still small voice of -conscience. And thus in the third year they were not horrified to learn -that they were accomplices in murder. By such gentle transitions the -best regulated mind may eventually be attuned to the most atrocious -guilt. A comical reason was given to Captain Sleeman to account for -the omission on the part of a Thug father to initiate his son. "His -father," said the witness, "used to drink very hard, and in his fits -of intoxication he used to neglect his prayers and his days of fast. -All days were the same with him. This lad, Shumshera, was always sober -and religiously disposed, and separated from his father, living always -with his uncle Dondee, who was a very worthy, good man." He, too, was -a Thug, but likewise refrained from removing the veil from the eyes -of the lad. Another relative, however, proved less considerate, and -flattered the young man's vanity by telling him that he belonged to a -very high family of the Jumaldehee Thugs. A sad tale concerning another -youngster was related by Feringeea, a noted leader, who turned king's -evidence. One Aman Soobahdar went out upon an expedition, accompanied -by his cousin Kurhora, aged scarcely fourteen, whom he gave in charge -to Hursooka, his adopted son. After a time the gang fell in with a -party of five Sikhs, whereupon Aman desired Hursooka to keep the boy -well in the rear, so that he might not witness the contemplated murder. -Kurhora, however, becoming frightened, broke away from his companion -and galloped to the front to overtake the others. Just as he came in -sight, the signal was given. In an instant the fatal noose was applied, -a few shrill cries rent the air, and five writhing human bodies lay -convulsively distorted on the ground. At the horrid spectacle Kurhora -"was seized with a trembling, and fell from his pony; he became -immediately delirious, was dreadfully alarmed at the sight of the -turbans of the murdered men, and when any one touched or spoke to him, -talked about the murders and screamed exactly like a boy talks in his -sleep, and trembled violently if any one spoke to him or touched him." -Three or four of the party remained with the poor lad, for he was a -great favourite with them all, but he never recovered his senses, and -died before the evening. Hursooka took his death so much to heart that -he retired from the world, turned Byragee (an ascetic), and passed the -remainder of his days in serving at a temple on the Nerbudda. - -Feringeea, the narrator of the preceding mournful incident, was a fine -handsome fellow, greatly admired by the women, and much respected by -his associates. His name was given to him in memory of an attack made -by a party of Feringees (Europeans) under the French General Perron, -on his uncle's village in distraint of certain customs' dues. As his -mother fled from the scene of violence and brutality, she was seized -with labour pains and brought a man child into the world, whom, in -remembrance of the terror and anguish she had endured, she named -Feringeea. On one occasion Feringeea, when he had grown to man's -estate and had become a famous leader, was travelling with his cousin -Aman Soobahdar and a gang of 150 Thugs through Rajpootana, when he fell -in with a handmaid of the Peishwah Bajee Rao, on her way from Poonah -to Cawnpore. "We intended to kill her and her followers," he quietly -remarked to Captain Sleeman, "but we found her very beautiful, and -after having her and her party three days within our grasp, and knowing -that they had £15,000 worth of property in jewels and other things with -them, we let her and all her party go; we had talked to her and felt -love towards her, for she was very beautiful." - -But beauty was not always equally powerful to save. At another time, -he came up with a beautiful young Moghulanee, travelling with an -old female servant, mounted on a pony, an armed attendant, and six -palanquin-bearers. The ill-fated damsel, unhappily for herself and her -companions, became enamoured of the dashing, handsome young Thug. In -vain he tried to shake her off, for he feared a scandal might arise -if he, a Brahmin, had any improper intercourse with a Mussulmaunee. -And the exchange of other than Platonic love would have saved her -life. So at last he insisted that they should "take" her, and she was -accordingly put to death. "It was her fate," he said, not excusing -himself, but putting the matter in the right light, "It was her fate -to die by our hands." Captain Sleeman, then asked Madar Buksh, who -actually strangled the poor Moghulanee, if he had no pity for the -beautiful young woman. "I had," he answered, "but I had undertaken the -duty, and we must all have food." As if hurt by the enunciation of such -a base practical motive, Feringeea here struck in, saying, "We all -feel pity sometimes, but the _goor_ (consecrated coarse sugar) of the -Tapoonee, (feast after a murder), changes our nature. It would change -the nature of a horse. Let any man once taste of that _goor_, and he -will be a Thug, though he knew all the trades and have all the wealth -in the world. I never wanted food; my mother's family was opulent, her -relations high in office: I have been high in office myself, and become -so great a favourite wherever I went, that I was sure of promotion; yet -I was always miserable while absent from my gang, and obliged to return -to Thuggee. My father made me taste of that fatal _goor_ when I was yet -a mere boy; and, if I were to live a thousand years, I should never -be able to follow any other trade." The fascination of the abominable -"trade" is almost incredible. There were many instances of Thugs -enlisting into the Company's service, and making excellent soldiers; -and yet, whenever an opportunity presented itself, they would get two -parades' leave, join some of their old associates, commit as many -murders as possible, and then, with satisfied feelings, return to their -duty. - -Feringeea, after the apprehension of his gang, could have escaped to -other clans in Rajpootana and Telingana, "but," said he, "you had -secured my mother, wife, and child: I could not forsake them--was -always inquiring after them, and affording my pursuers the means of -tracing me. I knew not what indignities my wife and mother might -suffer. Could I have felt secure that they would suffer none, I should -not have been taken." He was finally captured by two striplings, whom -he could easily have overpowered, had he not imagined that they were -supported by a party of police outside the hut, and that all resistance -was therefore idle. At one period of his life, he was in General -Ochterlony's service, and a great favourite with Sir David. His wife -was not aware that he was a Thug. "Her family," he proudly remarked -to Captain Sleeman, "are of the aristocracy of Jhansee and Sumtur, -as you may know." His foster-brother, being informed the day before -his execution, that his foster-mother had been arrested, earnestly -begged, as a last favour, that he might have an interview with her -as she was led to the scaffold. His request being granted, "he fell -at the old woman's feet, and begged she would release him from the -obligations of the milk with which she had nourished him, and the care -with which she had cherished him from infancy, as he was about to die -before he could fulfil any of them. She placed her hands on his head, -and he knelt, and she said she forgave him all, and bid him die like -a man." The sons were worthy of such mothers, heroic in their firm -resolve. There is likewise on record one example of a woman, named -Baroonee, who used to assist her husband to strangle his victims. Once -she saved his life when nearly overpowered, by tightly pulling the -_roomal_ round the neck of the struggling wretch, till he fell dead at -her feet. Mothers frequently compelled their sons to go on Thuggee, -and wives their husbands; and there was one woman in the Deccan, who -kept a gang, though it does not appear that she ever accompanied them. -Among the ancient male leaders none was more venerated than Dada -Dheera, of the Bhursote clan, whose name was oft-times invoked over -spiritual potations, at certain religious ceremonies. Next to him, was -the Mooltanee leader, Jhora Naek, who, assisted only by his servant, -Koduk Bunwaree, once strangled a man possessed of property to the value -of £16,200. Instead of appropriating this valuable prize, he drove the -mule home, assembled his neighbours, and distributed to each the share -to which he would have been entitled had he been actually present at -the murder. For this remarkable display of honour and self-denial, -both he and his wife were canonized. The leadership was usually the -reward of merit. "A man," said one of them, "who has always at command -the means of advancing a month or two's subsistence to a gang, will be -called a Jemadar; a strong, resolute man, whose ancestors have been for -many generations Thugs, will soon get the title; or a very wise man, -whose advice in difficult cases has weight with the gang; one who has -influence over local authorities, or the native officers of courts of -justice; a man of handsome appearance and high bearing, who can feign -the man of rank well--all these things enable a man to get around him a -few who will consent to give him the fees and title of Jemadar; but it -requires very high and numerous qualifications to gain a man the title -of Soobahdar." - -It is now time to consider what omens were good, what bad, in the -eyes of this strange fraternity. There does not seem to have been any -particular reason for deciding on the hidden meaning of the incidents -that were supposed to be sent to regulate their conduct. The division -of tokens and prodigies into auspicious and adverse was, indeed, -most arbitrary and capricious, and can scarcely in any one instance -be accounted for. The good were not so numerous as the bad, for even -these habitual murderers gladly clutched at any excuse for evading the -necessity of taking human life. Very promising was it, on first setting -out, to meet a woman, carrying on her head a pitcher full of water: -they then felt assured of a happy return to their homes, especially -if she happened to be with child. Still better was it to hear an ass -bray on the left hand, and then on the right; the expedition might last -for years, it would always be attended with success; it passed into a -proverb--_Sou puk, heroo ek dunteroo_,--"One ass is worth a hundred -birds." Another proverb,--_Baean geedee sona leedee_, intimated, -that "a jackal, crossing from right to left, brings gold." To rhymed -sayings of this kind they were partial, as an assistant to memory. -Here is a more elaborate instance: - - - Ratee bolee teetura, - Din ko bolee seear, - Tuj chulee wa deysra, - Nuheen puree achanuk dhar. - - -That is, being interpreted, "If the partridge call at night, or the -jackal during the day, quit that country, or you will be seized." -Immediate and valuable booty might be expected, if the large hill-crow -were heard croaking on a tree, with a river or tank in sight; but the -reverse was the case, if the bird were seated on a live buffalo or -pig, or on the skeleton of any dead animal. Pleasant, too, was the -prospect, if a cat came prowling to their encampment by night; and -equally cheering to see a wolf, or a shrike, crossing the road from the -right to the left; or a large male antelope, or a herd of small deer, -or the blue jay, crossing from left to right. It was good to hear the -hare calling at night, upon the left, or the loud, continued hooting -of the small owl, when sitting; or the call of the partridge, on the -left, while travelling, and on the right, while halting. If a herd of -deer came in sight, they looked, ere long, to fall in with another gang -of Thugs. The call of the sarus was the most variable of all. It was -very encouraging if heard first on the left, and then on the right, on -opening an expedition, and also on reaching a stage, if heard on the -right; if repeated on the left, a rich prize was at hand, but ill luck -was betokened if it first sounded on the left; equally inauspicious was -the cry heard on the right, on leaving a stage, unless preceded on the -left. The most frequent reference was to Pilhaoo and Thibaoo; by the -former was meant the voice or appearance of omen-endowed animals on the -left hand, by the latter, that on the right. If the Pilhaoo were good, -it was improved by being followed by the Thibaoo; if evil, the danger -was in like manner diminished. Unless both were obtained before setting -out, the expedition was deferred to a later season. On leaving a stage, -the Pilhaoo was full of promise,--the Thibaoo of warning; a rule that -was reversed on reaching a halting ground. - -On the other hand, if a turban fell off, or caught fire, the gang -returned home, if at no great distance, and remained quiet for seven -days; otherwise, they offered up _goor_ (coarse sugar), and the owner -of the turban alone retraced his steps. An expedition had also to -be re-commenced, if on the first day or night it encountered the -Ansootare, literally, "tear drops;" that is, a shower of rain falling -in the dry season, or in any month save June, July, August, and -September; nor could any success be anticipated if it thundered, with -little or no rain, when a gang was ready to set out. A very dreadful -omen was the cry of the kite, heard during the interval between the -first watch and day-break. All would then start to their feet, and -betake themselves to hurried flight; though no alarm was entertained -if the cry were heard between sunset and the end of the first watch, -because then "the omen was suffocated under their sides as they turned -in their sleep." Hardly less disastrous was a lizard falling upon -a Thug; any garment that it touched must be given away in charity. -Nothing but ill luck followed the meeting a maimed person, or an -oil-vender, or a woman bearing an empty water-jar, or a leper, or any -one emaciated by sickness; to meet a donkey face to face, was called -Mataphore, or "the head-breaker." It was of evil import to see a -jackal, or a wolf, cross the road from left to right, or a large male -antelope, or small deer, from right to left. If a snake crossed either -behind or in front of the gang, they must kill it or return home; -in either case sacrifices were required. The sight of two jackals -crossing the road together, in front, foretold prison and chains. The -call of one jackal was bad; the general clamour, or "lamentation" of -a pack, still worse; but the short, broken cry of that animal, or the -noise of several fighting, rendered it necessary to take to precipitate -flight. It was ill-omened to hear the call of the kite while flying, -or that mournful sound known as the "weeping" of the wolf, or the low -hooting of the small owl, repeated two or three times; or the loud -responsive cry of two large owls, or the low clicking sound of that -bird, or the slight chirp of the small owl, either sitting or flying. -If any member of the gang sneezed, either on first setting out, or on -leaving a halting-ground, expiatory sacrifices were offered, and all -travellers then in their power were allowed to escape. Were a dog seen -to shake its head, no Thug would dream of executing any design he might -previously have formed. - -It was also unlucky to hear cats fighting in the day-time, or after -the first watch at night; or the low gurgling of the large owl, which -somewhat resembles the bubbling of a hookah. If this sound were -observed on first setting out, the expedition was postponed for several -days; if, afterwards, on the left, the gang hurried on, for there -was danger behind; if on the right, they halted, for there was danger -before them. But probably, no omen was more dreaded than the sight, or -the cry, of a hare. Unless a sacrifice was immediately offered, they -were certain to perish miserably in the jungles, and the wild animals -of the forest would drink water out of their skulls: should they -impiously plunder any traveller then with them, they would obtain no -booty. One of the most intelligent approvers ascribed his apprehension -on one occasion to his neglect of this omen. "A hare crossed the road," -he said, "we disregarded the omen--though the hare actually screamed in -crossing--and went on." On the following day he and seventeen of his -associates were arrested, and only obtained their release after a long -detention. - -It has been already stated that the Thugs attributed their recent -misfortunes to their want of "religion" in neglecting omens, and -disregarding the restrictions assigned to their homicidal duties. Their -evasions of the latter were sometimes humorous. They were forbidden -to destroy any one accompanied by a woman or a cow. But a party of -fourteen, possessing both these safeguards, once fell into the hands of -a gang at Kotree, in Huttah, and were persuaded by the Thugs to sell -the cow to them, as they had made a vow to present one to the Brahmans -at Shahpore. They did actually fulfil their pretended vow, but not -until they had strangled, without any remaining compunction, every one -of their unsuspecting victims, not even excepting the female. According -to the approvers, the practice of killing women had prevailed only -five years, and became one great cause of their ruin. The principal -reluctance to woman-slaughter was entertained by the Hindoos--the -Mussulmauns, perhaps, from their larger experience of the sex, showing -little inclination to spare them. On a certain occasion a Hindoo lady, -called the Kalee Beebee, was met by a gang as she travelled in a dooly -(a sort of litter), accompanied by twelve dependents. The Thugs having -discovered that she had £400 worth of property with her, her death was -insisted upon by the Mussulmauns, and as strenuously objected to by -the Hindoos. Thereupon a violent quarrel arose between them, which was -only appeased by the former perpetrating the deed by themselves. The -Hindoos, however, did not refuse to share in the plunder, save only the -lady's personal ornaments and clothes. One of them, a Brahman, named -Purusram, was shunned by his own brother until he expiated his guilt -by feasting several hundred Brahmans at a great expense. Another member -of the gang, also a Brahman, "got worms in his body, and died barking -like a dog." A third died miserably, and the families of all became -extinct. - -A more horrible instance of woman-slaughter appears to have escaped -unpunished, at least for a time. The Moonshee, Bunda Alee, in company -with his wife, an infant daughter, and six servants, was taking to her -bridegroom another daughter who had attained to a connubial age. On -the journey he fell in with a numerous gang of Thugs, the leaders of -whom contrived to ingratiate themselves with the Moonshee's party, and -all travelled on together. One evening towards dusk some of the Thugs -seated themselves, as usual, with the Moonshee at his tent door, and -began to sing and play on the sitar. One of them presently took up the -Moonshee's sword, which was lying on the ground at his feet, as if -to examine it. The signal was then suddenly given, but the Moonshee -sprung to his feet, screamed aloud, and tried to rush into the tent, -but was instantly seized and strangled. His wife, hearing his shrieks, -came running out with the infant in her arms, and shared his fate. -The bride was put to death within the tent. The servants were at that -moment engaged in grooming the horses, and one of them crept under -a horse's belly and lustily bawled out "murder!" but they were all -quickly silenced by the fatal noose. Ghubboo Khan, who had murdered -the mother, intended to adopt the infant, but was dissuaded by one of -his comrades who pointed out that it might lead to their discovery. He -therefore threw the child alive into the hole in which the dead bodies -were already deposited, and the earth was hastily shovelled in upon the -living and the dead. While this dreadful scene was enacting, a number -of Khulasies were, within sight, occupied in pitching the tents of the -European officers commanding a detachment of troops marching along the -road. The Thugs, however, had taken care to play and sing, at the top -of their voice, as soon as the butchery commenced, while others let -loose two vicious horses and chased them with vociferous shouting, so -as effectually to drown the cries of their victims. - -The five years assigned as the duration of feminicide was simply a -euphuism; it prevailed through a very much longer period. In 1816 a -party of eighteen men and seven women were strangled near Shikarpore, -but the Thugs spared two boys, one of whom, however, cried so bitterly -and made so much moaning, that a ruffian seized him by the legs, swung -him round, and dashed out his brains against a stone. The dead body -was carelessly left lying on the ground, till a fisherman, passing -that way, happened to see it, and went and reported the circumstance -to the Thakoor Burjore Sing, of Powae. Guided by this clue, the -Thakoor discovered the bodies of all the victims, and, collecting as -many men as possible, gave chase to the murderers. Following their -fresh traces he came up with them while washing themselves in a stream -near the village of Tigura. Forming into a compact body, the Thugs -retired upon the village, being repeatedly charged by the Thakoor's -party, who ran one of them through the chest with a spear and sabred -another. The villagers, however, expecting a share of the booty, turned -out to the rescue of the Thugs and repulsed their assailants. Next -morning they escorted them to the neighbouring village of Simareea, -where they received the like sympathy and protection. This was no -extraordinary occurrence, for the natives generally regarded the Thugs -as a fraternity especially favoured by heaven. They would as soon have -thought of destroying a snake or a wolf, or of opposing in any other -way the decrees of Providence. The police, to save themselves trouble, -and partly also from a secret dread of these mysterious and ruthless -beings, used to declare that the dead bodies occasionally found in -ravines, wells, and dry watercourses had been killed by tigers, and -would burn them in all haste lest the marks of strangulation should -be detected by their superiors. In the Deccan the task of suppression -was rendered doubly difficult by the sullen opposition of the native -chiefs, who sometimes even ventured to maltreat the police officers -of the British Government. The Zemindars, or landowners, were always -ready to give any amount of security for Thugs, against whom there -was no sufficient evidence to justify their punishment. "They knew us -very well," said an approver, "but they had then confidence in us; -they thought we should keep our own secrets, and, if we did so, no -one else would be able to convict us, and get them into trouble. Yes, -there was then something like religion and good faith among us, and we -found friends everywhere. Where could we find them now?" The Zemindars -eagerly afforded them protection, because of the enormous rent they -were wont to pay for their lands and villages. Valuable presents, -also, were frequently made to them, at the same time that the Thugs -engaged not to compromise their patrons by committing murder too near -home. The Khyrooa chief once stood a siege from his lord, the Rajah -of Jhansee, before he would surrender some eight or ten villains who -had thrown themselves on his protection. And the Maharajah of Gwalior -was obliged to send two guns and a small army against the Zemindar, -or "laird," of Bahmanpora, to make him give up some Thugs whom he -patronised; the firing lasted for some hours, and several lives were -lost on both sides. Even those who affected to punish the miscreants, -seldom touched their persons except to extort from them their ill-got -treasures. They would seize one or two of the youngest, tie them up, -and flog them till they confessed, or until the gang, in pity for their -sufferings, pledged themselves to make up a certain sum, leaving two or -three of their number as hostages. They were then released, and allowed -to pursue their profession as before. - -In the year 1812, soon after the murder of Lieutenant Monsell, a number -of Thugs were arrested by certain Zemindars and grievously beaten, in -the hope of making them bid high for their release. Their excessive -cupidity, however, defeated its own ends. During their thirteen months -imprisonment, forty of the Thugs perished from the dampness of their -dungeon, combined with the ill-treatment they endured. The survivors -insisted that their comrades were tortured to death by a demon, who -entered the prison every night during the wet season. "I saw him," said -one of them, "only once myself. I was awake while all the rest were -asleep; he came in at the door, and seemed to swell as he came in till -his head touched the roof, and the roof was very high, and his bulk -became enormous. I prostrated myself, and told him that 'he was our -Purmesur (great God), and we poor helpless mortals depending entirely -upon his will.' This pleased him, and he passed by me; but took such -a grasp at the man Mungulee, who slept by my side, that he was seized -with spasms all over, from the nape of the neck to the sole of his -foot." Of the Zemindars, who caused this atrocious suffering, he added, -"not a soul of their families is now left to pour the libation at their -funeral obsequies." How like is this to the glorious old Grecian idea -of the avenging Nemesis! In truth, this was the only sort of justice -administered in India during the supremacy of its native rulers--the -golden age, according to the gentlemen of the Manchester school. - -The Thugs made use of a peculiar dialect, called Ramasee, which was -understood by the members of the fraternity throughout Hindostan, at -Mooltan as at Arcot. The signification of the word Thug itself is "a -deceiver;" they were likewise called Phanseegars, from the Hindostanee -word Phansee, "a handkerchief." One Thug could always recognise another -by his salutation _Aulae Khan, Salam_, if addressed to a Mussulmaun; or -_Aulae Bhae, Ram, Ram_, if addressed to a Hindoo, equivalent to "Peace -be with thee, friend!" A few specimens of their phraseology, selected -from Captain Sleeman's Thug vocabulary, may be not altogether devoid of -interest. - -_Aulae_, or _Bora_, signified a Thug; _Beetoo_, or _Kuj_, everybody -not a Thug; _Bagh_, _Phool_, a rendezvous; Boj' ha, the Thug who -carried the bodies to the grave; _Bhukote_, or _Bhurtote_, the -strangler; _Beyl_, site for murder; _Bykureea_, the scout of river -Thugs; Beyl' ha, one who chose the place of murder; _Bunij_, literally -merchandize--technically a traveller; _Bunij Ladhna_, "to load goods," -_i.e._, to murder; _Bhara_ and _Ghurt' ha_, dead bodies of victims; -_Bisul purna_, to be awkwardly handled--to have the _roomal_ caught on -the face or head, instead of being slipped round the neck--the contrary -of _soosul purna_: a Thug who was frequently guilty of bungling in -this manner, was deposed from the honourable post of strangler; -_Chookadena_, or _Thibaedena_, to get travellers to sit down and look -up, by pointing out some star or object in the air, so that, the chin -being raised, the handkerchief might be more easily passed round -the throat; _Chumoseea_, or _Shumsheea_, the Thug whose duty it was -to seize the victim's hands; _Chumeea_, the Thug who held down the -struggling victim; _Chandoo_, an expert Thug; _Cheesa_, a blessing -from heaven, a rich traveller; _Dhonkee_, or _Ronkee_, a policeman -or guard; _Dul_, weight; _Duller_, the head; _Doonr_, the shrieks of -a victim; _Jywaloo_, left for dead, but afterwards recovering, which -occasionally happened when there was not time to bury the bodies, -or when it was judged imprudent to stab and slash them after being -strangled; _Kuboola_, a tyro--the opposite of _Borka_--an adept. The -latter could always gather together a band, for he was acquainted with -the rites of initiation and the signification of omens, of which a -_Kuboola_ was generally quite ignorant. It was, consequently, found -unnecessary to sentence the latter to perpetual imprisonment, as they -could do little harm without the guidance of a _Borka_. A _Kuboola_, of -the old Sindouse stock, once attempted to form a gang, into which he -admitted all sorts of vagabonds, weavers, braziers, bracelet-makers, -&c., who killed men and women indiscriminately, and neglected the -most ordinary precautions. The natural consequence was, that they -were soon detected, seized, and punished. On the other hand, one of -the most noted Thugs on record was Sheikh Ahmed, of Arcot, whose gang -consisted of sixty _Borkas_, disguised as recruits. This able leader -had picked up the English words of command, with some knowledge of -the Company's drill, and could even express himself intelligibly in -English. He never displayed his wealth, which was considerable, or -travelled in an ostentatious manner. On the contrary, when sixty years -old and able to command the services of a hundred men, he would wander -about for months with his wife, cooking his own food, going on foot, -and living like a very poor man. His riches were concealed in various -_caches_, regardless of the Horatian maxim, that silver shines only -with reflected light from a temperate and judicious use. However, he -escaped apprehension, and added, every year, with impunity, to his -long catalogue of crime. But to return to the vocabulary--_Koojaoo_, -an informer, or one who extorted hush-money from Thugs; _Khullee_, a -Thug who, from ignoble care-giving impecuniosity, concealed himself on -his return home to avoid his creditors--for the natives of Hindostan -enjoy many of the blessings of an ancient and refined civilization; -_Khomusna_, to rush in upon travellers when there was not sufficient -time for the ordinary preparations; _Kanthuna_, or _Kanth dalna_, -to stab when no opportunity was afforded for strangling--a very -exceptional case--or to slash the suffocated victim, either to prevent -revival, or the swelling of the body when buried, owing to the evolved -gases finding no vent for escape. This gaseous inflation of the -corpse was apt to cause the imposed earth to crack and open, when the -horrid effluvia attracted jackals to the spot, who, by digging up the -bodies, might discover the fact of a murder having been committed, -and so lead to the detection of the murderers; _Kathee kurna_, to -inveigle travellers, or to consult secretly as to the mode of doing -away with them; _Kharoo_, a gang of Thugs; _Khuruk_, the sound of the -consecrated pick-axe in making a grave, supposed to be audible only -to the initiated; _Kurwa_, a square, or oblong grave, for one corpse -or for many; _Gobba_, a circular grave, with a small pillar of earth -left in the middle--it was believed to crack less than the ordinary -grave, and was therefore preferred when the dead bodies were very -numerous; _Kuthowa_, the Thug whose office it was to cut and stab the -dead bodies; _Lugha_, the grave-digger; _Lutkuneea_, a very small -purse, used exclusively by Thugs and professional thieves; _Maulee_, -or _Phoola_, the Thug entrusted with the duty of taking to the village -the money sent by the absent gang for the maintenance of their wives -and families; _Nawureea_, a novice on his first expedition--sometimes -they were compelled to kick the first murdered man five times on the -back; _Nissar_, safe, as applied to any suitable place for lodging at, -murdering, or dividing spoil--opposed to _tikkur_, unsafe; _Paoo_, -an accomplice of Thugs; _Pehloo_, or _Sikka_, or _Roomal_, the -handkerchief. This was, rather, a turban unfolded, or the long narrow -cloth, or sash, worn round the waist. It was doubled to the length -of about thirty inches, with a knot formed at the doubled extremity, -and about eighteen inches from that a slip knot. The distance between -these two knots was regulated by preparing the fatal instrument on -the knee, which was made to do temporary duty for a neck. The use of -the two knots was to give a firm hold. When the victim was fairly -prostrated, the strangler adroitly loosened the slip knot, and made -another fold of the cloth round his throat. Then placing his foot upon -the back of his victim's neck, he drew the cloth tightly, as if--to -use the informant's own words--he were "packing a bundle of straw." -_Pehloo dena_, to instal as a strangler, of which more hereafter; -_Phank_, a useless thing, a traveller without property; _Pungoo_, or -_Bungoo_, a river Thug of Bengal, who murdered on board his _kuntee_ -or boat; _Phur_, same as _Beyl_, also a spot for dividing the plunder; -_Phurjhana_, to clean the murder-spot--after a nocturnal murder, some -of the gang were generally left behind to remove any signs of the crime -that might be visible by daylight; _Phuruck dena_, to wave a cloth as -signal of danger; _Pusur_, the direction of an expedition; _Ruhna_, -a temporary grave; _Soon_, a Thug by birth, but not yet initiated; -_Saur_, one who escaped from Thugs; _Sotha_, the inveigler; _Tome_, -an article of extraordinary value; _Tilha_, a spy; _Thap_, a night -encampment; _Tuppul_, a bye-path into which they often inveigled -their unsuspecting travelling companions, as more convenient for -their purposes. A rich traveller was called "a delicacy;" a poor one -"a stick;" an old man "a barber's drum." Some of their signals, too, -were quaint. The necessity of caution was inculcated by drawing the -back of the hand along the chin, from the throat outwards; the open -hand placed over the mouth and drawn gently downwards, implied the -absence of danger. "Sweep the place," signified to look out; "bring -firewood," take your places--that is, the place assigned to each Thug -preparatory to action; "take out the handkerchief with the beetel," -get the _roomal_ ready, as already described; "eat beetel," or "hand -the beetel," despatch him--this was called the _Jhirnee_, or signal to -fall on; "look after the straw," get the body ready for burial; "the -straw is come out," jackals have dug up the body. Another form of the -_Jhirnee_ was _Ae ho to ghyree chulo_, "if you are come, pray descend." -When the scouts wished to report that all was safe, they called out as -if to a comrade, "Bajeed Khan," or "Deo," or "Deoseyn." If the scouts -saw any danger at hand, or a traveller coming along, they would call -out "Sheikh Jee," or "Sheikh Mahommed," if they were Mussulmauns; and -"Luchmun Sing," or "Luchee Ram," or "Gunga Ram," if they were Hindoos. -Sometimes the advanced guard of a gang, with victims in their power, -would meet with a party of travellers, of whom they considered their -friends in the rear were capable of disposing. In which case they -sent some one back to tell Bajeed Khan, or Deoseyn, to make haste and -overtake them. The others receiving this message understood that the -coast was clear in front, and on meeting the travellers, lost no time -in putting them to death. If a gang happened from any cause to get -separated, they rallied with the cry, _Bukh, Bukh, Bukh_, "come, come, -come." When the leader judged that the time was at hand for selecting -a _beyl_, or site for murder, he would say to the Thug on whom that -duty devolved, _Jao, kutoree manj lao_, "go and clean the brass cup." -When he desired every one to repair to his post, he gave the _khokee_, -that is, he made a great noise of hawking up phlegm from his throat; -if anything then occurred to cause the suspension of operations, he -gave the _thokee_, or spit out the phlegm. Otherwise, he exclaimed -aloud "Surbulund Khan," or "Dulur Khan," or "Surmust Khan," whereupon -the stranglers made ready and only awaited the _jhirnee_. Then the -fatal words were pronounced, _Tombako kha lo_, or _pee lo_, "eat," or -"drink (_i.e._, smoke) your tobacco"--or one of the other formulæ was -used--and the next instant the _roomal_ was round the throat of the -ill-fated wretch. - -In order to avoid the suspicions likely to be engendered by very large -bands of men travelling together, the Thugs used to break up into small -parties of from three or four to a dozen or so, communicating with -one another by a series of telegraphic signs, which enabled them to -concentrate at any given point with amazing celerity. Thus, on coming -to cross-roads, the leading files drew their feet along the dust in -the direction they had taken. If they wished their comrades to follow -quickly, they piled up some dust along the toe-line of their footmarks, -on which they sometimes impressed their heel. Where there was no dust -easily procurable, they left two stones, one upon the other, or strewed -a few leaves to indicate the right path: if haste was needful, they -would dispose the leaves in a long line. - -Great as was the veneration entertained for the _roomal_, still greater -was that accorded to the _kussee_, or pick-axe. It was consecrated with -peculiar rites. On a day pronounced by the Pundit to be propitious, -the leader betook him to a blacksmith--of course a member of his -own fraternity--and closing the door, constrained him to relinquish -all other work until the axe had been duly fabricated. One of the -four auspicious days, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Friday, was then -selected for the _dhoop_, or offering of incense, which took place -within a house or tent, the shadow of no living thing being allowed -to fall upon the axe. A Thug, renowned for his ceremonial lore, being -appointed to officiate, the consecration was attempted--attempted, for -it did not always succeed at the first trial. The officiating minister -having taken his seat facing the west, received from the leader the -pick-axe on a lordly brazen dish. A pit was then dug, over which the -axe was held, and washed with water, and afterwards in succession -with a mixture of sugar and water, sour milk, and ardent spirits, -care being taken that the various liquids should flow into the pit. -The next proceeding was to mark the axe from head to point with seven -spots of red lead, and again place it on the brazen dish, together with -a cocoa-nut, some cloves, paun leaves, gogul gum, inderjon, sessamum -seeds, white sandal wood, and sugar. Ghee, or clarified butter, was -also put into a small brass cup, standing by the side of the dish. A -fire being now kindled with dried cow-dung and mango, or byr-wood, all -these articles were thrown into it, excepting the cocoa-nut. So soon -as the flames blazed high and bright, the priest, holding the axe in -both hands, passed it through them seven times. Then, stripping off the -rough outer coat of the cocoa-nut, he placed the fruit on the ground, -and taking up the axe by the point, asked of the assembled Thugs, -"Shall I strike?" All having replied in the affirmative, he struck -the nut with the butt-end of the axe, and usually shivered it into -fragments. The whole of the shell and some of the kernel being thrown -into the fire, the axe was wrapt in a clean white cloth and laid on the -ground, pointing to the west, the Thugs facing the same quarter of the -heavens and worshipping. This act of adoration done, they all partook -of the cocoa-nut, and collecting the fragments, threw them into the -pit. Should the Thibaoo now be heard, all was duly performed, and the -axe was a holy thing--no longer a _kodalee_, but a _kussee_. But if the -Pilhaoo first smote upon their ears, or the priest failed to crack the -nut at a blow, the ceremonies must be repeated--all had been done in -vain. - -On the march, the sacred _kussee_ was always intrusted to a Thug of -approved sobriety and steadiness, who carried it in his waist-belt. -While encamped it was buried in a secure place, with the point turned -towards the direction intended to be pursued. If a better road could -be taken, the axe would be found pointing that way. No human foot was -allowed to tread the ground beneath which it reposed; nor should the -touch of any unclean man or thing ever pollute its purity. If a well -happened to be near, it was thrown into it, instead of being buried; -and when the gang was ready to set out, being duly summoned, it came -of its own accord to its bearer. Nay, more, if a dozen _kussees_ were -thrown into the same well, each would fly unerringly to its proper -guardian. When this startling assertion was made, Captain Sleeman -suggested it was a clever piece of jugglery; whereupon an approver -indignantly exclaimed: "What! shall not a hundred generations of Thugs -be able to distinguish the tricks of man from the miracles of God? Is -there not the difference of heaven and earth between them! Is not one -a mere trick, and the other a miracle, witnessed by hundreds assembled -at the same time?" Another approver capped his rhetorical friend, by -declaring that he had seen with his own eyes this miracle performed in -favour of the Arcottee Thugs, as the reward of their superior piety -and strict observance of omens. - -The burnt-offerings were repeated on all holy days, and after any -unusual interval between murders. After being used, it was washed -with solemn rites. There was no more binding oath than to swear by -the _kussee_. If the axe itself were not procurable, it sufficed to -make an effigy of it in cloth or clay. The person attested, held it in -his hand as he swore, and then drank the water in which it had been -previously bathed. A perjurer died an awful death within six days -after his guilt, his head gradually turning round till his face stood -over his back. After all, this is not more strange than the old Hebrew -trial of jealousy, as described in the fifth chapter of the Book of -Numbers; nor more ridiculous than any ordeal in which supernatural -effects were expected from simple and natural causes. If the _kussee_ -fell from the hand of its bearer, his death was certain to ensue within -twelve months, or else some dire calamity befel the gang. The immediate -results of the untoward accident were his deposition from his high -office, a change of route, and a fresh consecration of the axe. It has -been before remarked, that no one but a Thug could hear the sound of -the _kussee_, when used in digging graves. It had likewise another -virtue, in common with the _roomal_. "Are you never afraid," asked -Captain Sleeman, one day, of some of the approvers, "of the spirits of -the persons you murder?" - -"Never," they replied, "they cannot trouble us." - -"Why? Do they not trouble other men when they commit murder?" - -"Of course they do. The man who commits a murder is always haunted by -spirits. He has sometimes fifty at a time upon him, and they drive him -mad." - -"And how do they not trouble you?" - -"Are not the people we kill, killed by the orders of Davey? Do not -all whom we kill, go to Paradise, and why should their spirits stay -to trouble us?... A good deal of our security from spirits is to be -attributed to the _roomal_, with which we strangle." - -"I did not know that there was any virtue in the _roomal_." - -"Is it not our _sikka_ (ensign), as the pick-axe is our _nishan_ -(standard)?... More is attributable to the pick-axe. Do we not worship -it every seventh day? Is it not our standard? Is its sound ever heard -when digging the grave of any but a Thug? And can any man ever swear -to a falsehood upon it?" - -Next to the leader of the gang, the most important personages were -the stranglers. Before a Thug could hope to attain this honourable -distinction, he must have served on several expeditions, and given -proof of courage and impassibility. The usual gradations were, -employment as a scout, then as a grave-digger, afterwards as a holder -of hands, and finally he might become a strangler. So soon as his -mind was inflamed with this ambition, he had recourse to one of the -oldest and most famous of the brotherhood, and besought him to act as -_gooroo_, or spiritual preceptor, and to accept him as his _cheyla_, -or disciple. If his request were granted, the _gooroo_ led him into a -field, with three or four experienced Thugs, and all placed themselves -facing the direction in which the gang was about to move. Then the -_gooroo_ lifted up his voice, and prayed aloud:--"O Kalee, Kunkalee, -Bhudkalee! O Kalee, Mahakalee, Calcutta Walee! if it seemeth to thee -fit that the traveller now at our lodging should die by the hands -of this thy slave, vouchsafe us the Thibaoo." Should the auspicious -omen be refused, the candidate must wait until another opportunity. -But if the goddess smiled upon his vows, the party returned to their -quarters, and the _gooroo_, taking a handkerchief, and looking towards -the west, tied a knot in one end of it, inserting therein a rupee or -other silver coin. This knot was called _goor ghaut_, or the classic -knot, and was a very artistic performance, the end of the _roomal_ -being skilfully folded inwards. The disciple thereupon respectfully -took the handkerchief in his right hand, and went and stood over his -sleeping victim--for a feeble person, and one asleep, was generally -chosen for the maiden trial of skill. When all was ready, the -_Shumsheea_, or hand-holder, suddenly awakened the sleeper with the -cry that a snake or a scorpion was under or beside him. As he started -up, bewildered with sleep and terror, the _roomal_ was slipped over -his neck, and in a few seconds he had ceased to fear either reptiles -or baser men. The deed being satisfactorily accomplished, the _cheyla_ -bowed lowly before his preceptor, and touched his feet with both hands, -a compliment he also paid to all the _gooroo's_ relatives and friends -there present. After the Thibaoo had again been heard, he untied the -knot, and presented the coin, with whatever silver he possessed, to his -teacher, who added to it whatever money he happened to have upon his -own person. Of this amount half a crown was expended in the purchase -of _goor_, or coarse sugar, and the rest in sweetmeats. The Tapoonee -feast was then held under a neem, mango, or byr-tree, the _cheyla_ -sitting with the Bhurtotes, or stranglers, and receiving a like share -of the consecrated _goor_. At the conclusion of the expedition, the -tyro entertained his preceptor's family, and gave to him and his wife a -present of new clothes. The entertainment was returned by the _gooroo_, -between whom and his pupil an indissoluble connection existed ever -afterwards unto death. - -The Tapoonee, to which allusion has just been made, was a sacrifice -offered to Bhowanee after every murder. A half-crown's worth of coarse -sugar having been procured through the instrumentality of one of -their most plausible members--for the purchase of so large a quantity -at a time might have excited strange surmises--it was placed on a -blanket, or sheet, spread upon a clear spot of ground. The _kussee_, or -sacred pickaxe, and a silver coin--by way of _roop dursun_, or silver -offering--were also laid upon the sheet, beside the pile of sugar. The -most experienced of the leaders there present then seated himself on -the edge of the sheet, facing to the west, and on either side of him -were ranged as many Bhurtotes as could be accommodated on the carpet, -but taking care that they should make an even number. The others sat -behind these. The leader next made a hole in the ground, and dropping -into it a pinch of the _goor_, raised his eyes to the sky, and, with -clasped hands, devoutly prayed aloud:--"Great goddess! as thou didst -vouchsafe one lakh and 62,000 rupees (£16,200) to Jora Naick and Koduk -Bunwaree in their need, so, we pray thee, fulfil our desires!" These -words were repeated by the entire assembly; after which the leader -sprinkled a little water over the pit and the _kussee_, and placed some -_goor_ on the hand of every Thug seated on the blanket. Some one then -uttered the _jhirnee_, or signal for strangulation, and the _goor_ -was eaten in solemn silence. Not a word was spoken until the whole -of the consecrated pile had disappeared, and been washed down with -a draught of pure water. If any crumbs fell on the ground they were -carefully picked up and thrown into the hole; for should any beast of -the field, or bird of the air, partake of the holy offering, the wrath -of the goddess would burn for years. The silver coin being restored to -its owner, the unconsumed sugar was distributed among the lower and -junior grades of the association. But if any one of the uninitiated, -by chance or design, tasted of that to which the stranglers only were -entitled, he was straightway irresistibly impelled to Thuggee, and -never could the charm that bound him be broken or counteracted. - -When necessity, or the weariness of inactivity, or the fascination -of their terrible calling, urged them to leave their tranquil homes, -their wives and families; the leader of the gang, accompanied by four -of his ablest followers, would seat themselves on a blanket around a -long-experienced and venerable sage; while the vulgar herd sat down -surrounding this group at a little distance. In front of the pundit -was placed a brass plate containing a few grains of wheat and rice, -and two copper coins. The leader having respectfully inquired on -what day they should set out, and in what direction, the pundit went -through various ceremonies, too trivial to be particularized, and -then indicated the day, the hour, and the route. When the appointed -period had arrived--it could not be a Wednesday, or a Thursday, or -in the months of July, September, or December--the leader filled a -_lotah_, or brass vessel, with water, and carried it with his right -hand over its mouth and holding it by his side. Some turmeric, two -copper coins and one of silver, together with the head of the pickaxe, -were next tied up separately in a clean white handkerchief, which the -leader pressed against his breast in his left hand. Then turning to -the heaven-selected direction he slowly moved with all the gang to a -field outside the village, where finding a suitable spot, and still -preserving the same attitude, he paused, and in seeming abstraction, -prayed: "Great goddess! Universal Mother! If this our meditated -expedition be good in thy sight, vouchsafe unto us help, and the signs -of thy approbation!" The other Thugs repeated his words, and praised -their patron, Bhowanee. Within half an hour afterwards the Pilhaoo -ought to be heard on the left and the Thibaoo on the right hand. Then, -and not till then, the leader relaxed from his statue-like attitude, -and putting the _lotah_ on the ground, himself sat down, still looking -in the same direction. Thus he remained seven hours communing with -himself, his abstraction being finally interrupted by his followers -bringing him food and informing him that all things were ready. The -silver and copper coins and the turmeric he carefully preserved -throughout the expedition, and on his return presented them to some -poor Brahman, unless great good fortune had attended his party, in -which case they were kept for the opening of the next expedition. If -the _lotah_ had fallen from his hand before the omens were given, he -would assuredly have died within twelve, or at the latest, within -twenty-four months. The preparations being completed, the gang struck -off in the direction indicated by the pundit; but after taking a few -steps they could turn aside as circumstances might seem to recommend. - -During the first seven days after their departure the females of their -respective families held no intercourse with those belonging to another -gang, lest the victims intended for their own friends should fall into -the power of the others. The Thugs, themselves, for the like period -abstained from animal food, and even from their favourite _ghee_, -and partook of no other food than fish, _goor_, and _dal_ (a kind of -pulse). Nor did they shave or allow their clothes to be washed, or -indulge in alms'-giving--which, with personal abstinence, constitutes -the Hindoo notion of practical religion. On the seventh day they had a -grand feast, in which green vegetables of some kind made a prominent -figure. If a victim, however, were obtained within these seven days of -probation, all restraints were at once cancelled and abandoned. Should -the expedition last no longer than one year, they frequently denied -themselves the taste of milk throughout, and likewise refrained from -brushing their teeth. Any bad omens encountered prior to the second -halt sufficed to break off the expedition; after that point they could -be averted by expiatory rites. It was considered unfortunate to hear -any one lamenting the dead as they started, or to meet an inhabitant of -their own village, or an oil-vender, carpenter, potter, dancing-master, -a maimed or lame person, a fakir (Mussulmaun religious mendicant) with -a brown waist-band, or a jogee (Hindoo religious mendicant) with long -interwoven hair. But it promised well to fall in with a fair in any -other village than their own, or a corpse, or to see a party of female -friends weeping round a bride as she left her parents' house to go to -her husband's. - -As a general rule, the different divisions of a gang used to encamp -near each other at the various halting grounds, and were always in -frequent communication with one another. No sooner had one of them -fallen in with a party of travellers than the intelligence was conveyed -to all the others, and every one was on the alert. Their leaders, -travelling as merchants, gentlemen, soldiers, or peasants, usually -succeeded by their plausible manners in ingratiating themselves -with the strangers. And there was nothing formidable or repulsive -in their outward appearance. On the contrary, they are described as -being mild and benevolent of aspect, and peculiarly courteous, gentle, -and obliging. Unlike most of the natives of India, they travelled -unarmed, with the exception of two or three who carried daggers. It was -therefore an apparently reasonable request on their part to be allowed -to proceed under the protection of those who made a grand display of -their swords and spears and fire-arms. - -This request being usually accorded, the united parties journeyed -on together, chatting and prattling with the volubility and easy -familiarity of orientals. Sometimes days would elapse before a -favourable opportunity occurred. There is an instance mentioned of a -gang having accompanied a family of eleven persons for twenty days, -during which they had traversed upwards of 200 miles, and then murdered -the whole of them, though the head of the family had only one arm, and -ought therefore to have been spared. Another gang accomplished 160 -miles in twelve days, in company with a party of sixty--men, women -and a child--before they found an eligible occasion. They preferred -committing murder in the evening, when the travellers would be seated -on the ground, mingled with themselves, talking, smoking, singing, and -playing the sitar. Where it could be done without suspicion, three -Thugs were allotted to every victim. So soon as the fatal signal was -given, one seized hold of his hands, the second grasped his legs and -held him down, while the strangler tightened the _roomal_ round his -neck, and only relaxed the strain when life was extinct. Then the -bearers of the daggers slashed the dead bodies, the grave-diggers -quickly excavated a deep trench, the corpses were stripped and thrown -in, the earth was hastily shovelled in and trampled down, and in an -incredibly short space of time all traces were completely effaced -of the terrible tragedy. When the ground was too hard to admit of a -grave being dug, or any other cause intervened to prevent the burial, -the bodies were flung into a ravine, or well, or water course, -or concealed in the jungle. Not unfrequently it happened that no -convenient opportunity was presented for murdering the travellers while -seated. In this case, an experienced Thug would be sent forward to -select a _beyl_, or suitable spot, on arriving at which, if the scouts -reported a clear coast, the gang would close upon their unsuspecting -companions and speedily put them to death. It was more difficult when -the travellers were mounted, though the fleetest charger could not -avail to save his rider. A horseman was always attacked by three men; -one walked at his horse's head, a second a little way in the rear, and -a third by his side, pleasantly conversing with him until the signal -was given, when he suddenly dragged him out of the saddle and, with the -assistance of his comrade, strangled him before he could recover his -self-possession. It was thought a subject for just pride when a Thug -pulled a traveller from his horse and murdered him without aid. Such an -exploit was a patent of nobility, and conferred credit upon the third -and fourth generation. The Thugs, even as approvers, used to glory in -the recollection of their past achievements, and spoke of them with -as much animation as a sportsman exhibits in describing a good day's -shooting or a capital run with the hounds. To avoid confusion, they -would distinguish the grand murders by the number of victims they had -killed. Thus, in the chaleesrooh, or forty-soul affair, thirty-one men, -seven women and two girls were murdered by a collective force of 360 -Thugs, who divided among themselves £1,700 worth of plunder. A few -days previously 160 of this gang had disposed of a party consisting -of a widow, a slave-girl and twelve armed followers. The Sartrooh, or -sixty-soul affair, is an excellent illustration of their ordinary mode -of operations. The Thugs travelled with this numerous party, consisting -of fifty-two men, seven women, and a Brahman boy, about four years old, -for twenty days before they consummated their purpose. At Sehora they -persuaded their companions to quit the high road and take one that -led through the jungles. However, they patiently went on with them, -gaining more and more upon their confidence, till they had come to -Chittakote. "There," said one of them to Captain Sleeman, "we sent on -people as usual to select a place for the murder, and they found one -about five miles distant, in a very extensive jungle, without a human -habitation for many miles on either side. We persuaded the party to set -out soon after midnight; and as they went along, we managed to take our -appointed places, two Thugs by every traveller, and the rest in parties -of reserve at different intervals along the line, every two managing -to keep the person they were appointed to kill, in conversation. On -reaching the place chosen, the signal was given at several different -places, beginning with the rear party, and passing on to that in -front; and all were seized and strangled except the boy. It was now -near morning, and too late to admit of the bodies being securely -buried; we made a temporary grave for them in the bed of the river, -covered them over with sand, and went on with the boy and the booty -to Chittakote, intending to send back a large party the next night -and have the bodies securely buried. The rains had begun to set in, -and after the murders it rained very heavily all the day. The party, -however, went back, but found that the river had risen and washed away -all the bodies, except two or three, which they found exposed, and -pushed into the stream to follow the rest." - -So recently as 1830 Bhowanee was believed to have saved her votaries -the trouble of burying their victims. A gang after wandering about -Loodhiana, Sirhind, and Umballah, came to Goolchutter, where they -performed their ablutions in the sacred tank and rested three days. -"Having then proceeded two miles towards Kurnal, they overtook two -travellers from Mooltan on their way to Muttra, mounted on ponies. They -were in appearance very poor." So poor, indeed, that it was judged they -would not pay for the trouble of killing them, and they had nearly -escaped until a speculative Thug offered to give £10 for whatever might -be found upon them. "Their death was accordingly determined on, and -they were conducted by the Thugs to Turowlee where they rested in the -Serai ('accommodation for man and beast'), and Cheyne Jemadar invited -the poor wretches to partake of a repast." The travellers, being -religious mendicants, had many anecdotes to tell of their adventures -and travels, and pleasantly beguiled the early hours of darkness. Next -morning they all set out together and had not gone very far before the -_jhirnee_ was given, and the mendicants ceased to beg and to breathe. -But while their grave was being dug, the neighing of horses was heard -coming along the road, which caused the Thugs to flee to a place of -concealment, leaving the corpses on the ground. The horsemen passed -on, and saw or suspected nothing. Then the Thugs came out from their -hiding places, but lo! the bodies had disappeared--but not so their -property which amounted to the value of several hundred pounds. It is -true religious mendicants were exempted from strangulation, but this -was clearly an exceptional case, for Bhowanee had positively commanded -their death by sending favourable omens; she had, besides, rewarded her -worshippers with a rich booty, and even disposed of the dead bodies, -whose souls had gone straight to Paradise. - -They were not, however, always equally fortunate. A gang once learnt -from the spies that four travellers with property were trudging along -the road towards Baroda. Instantly, twenty fine stout fellows set -out after them, and after a long chase came up with the travellers -and murdered them. "To the great disappointment and chagrin of us -all," bewailed one of the gang, "no property was found upon them, for -they turned out to be common stone-cutters, and their tools tied in -bundles, which they carried over their shoulders, deceived the spies -into the supposition that they were carrying treasure." At another -time a gang fell in with two Ganges-water carriers, two tailors, and a -woman, and next day they were joined by two very poor travellers, of -whom they tried in vain to disembarrass themselves. They would start -at night without awakening them, but somehow the others _would_ hear -their preparations and insist upon accompanying them. The Thugs then -appointed four of their brethren to detach these unconscious suicides -from the rest of the party and keep them on the high road while the -others struck off down a byepath. This device also failed, for they -became frightened and could be satisfied with nothing less than a -junction with the main body. Their obstinacy sealed their fate. Half a -dozen of the Thugs went on with them in advance, and strangling them, -found upon them only one rupee--worth about two shillings. The others -soon shared the fate of the two poor travellers, but turned out a more -profitable prize, as they yielded among them twenty pounds. A smaller -sum, however, than one shilling will often times tempt a Hindoo to -commit murder, even though he have nothing to do with Thuggee. What -value the latter attached to life may be inferred from the testimony of -one of themselves. "I have never strangled any one," said he, "but have -aided in throwing bodies into wells. Eight annas (one shilling) is a -very good remuneration for murdering a man. We often strangle a victim -who is suspected of having two pice (one farthing)." But it seldom -happened that a murder produced less than two pounds; the average being -probably about fifteen pounds. It is almost comical to read that these -dread beings were sometimes robbed at night by vulgar pilferers, though -they usually set a watch. The same sort of retribution is observable -in the fate of twenty-seven Dacoits, or gang-robbers, who had in their -possession at the time above £1,300 worth of money, gold ornaments, -gems, and shawls. A gang of one hundred and twenty-five Thugs having -met with them, begged to be allowed to travel under their protection. -The Dacoits carelessly assented, and were shortly afterwards all put to -death. - -Eager as they were for booty the Thugs appear to have been courteous -and forbearing towards one another, and equitable in the division -of their spoils. Feringeea and twenty-six of his gang were one day -cooking their dinners under some trees by the road-side when five -travellers came bye, but could not be persuaded to stop and partake of -their meal, saying they intended to sleep at Hirora that night, and -they had yet eight miles to go. The Thugs followed after them, and -also reached Hirora, but could discover no traces of the travellers. -Feringeea, therefore, inferred that they must have fallen into the -hands of another gang, and suddenly recollected having passed an -encampment of Brinjarees (bullock-drivers) not far from the town. -On the following morning he accordingly went back with a few of his -comrades, and at once recognised a horse and a pony which he had -observed in the possession of the travellers. "What have you done with -the five travellers, my good friends?" he said. "You have taken from -us our _merchandize_." They apologised for what they had done, pleading -ignorance, and offered to share the booty; but this Feringeea declined, -saying that he had no claim to a share, as none of his party was -present at the _loading_. - -The division of the spoils was regulated with great nicety. The -leaders were usually entitled to every tenth article, and to one anna -in the rupee (one sixteenth) of actual money, besides their share as -individuals. If the gang consisted of twenty, including the Jemadar, -the booty was divided into twenty-one equal parts, of which the Jemadar -received two. Five per cent. was then set aside for the stranglers, and -the rest divided into three equal heaps, corresponding to as many equal -sections of the gang. Each section marked a cowree (a shell), and the -three were put into a man's hand without his knowing to which either -belonged, who then placed one on each pile. The sections afterwards -divided among themselves each its own lot. - -A feast was sometimes held in honour of Davee, in the course of an -expedition. If the expenses were defrayed by subscription, as was most -customary, it was called a Punchaetee Kotee, and was usually celebrated -during the Hooley or Dusserah festivals. Occasionally a single member -provided the feast; but, to be entitled to do so, he must have been a -strangler, or at least a Thug in the third generation. The feast was in -this wise. Having procured some goats, of whom two must be perfectly -black, without speck or blemish, and a sufficient quantity of rice, -_ghee_, spices, and spirits, they assembled in a room the doors and -windows of which could be closed, so as to prevent any prying eyes from -seeing what was passing within. The floor being carefully swept and -plastered with cow-dung, a square space, measuring a cubit each way, -was drawn in the middle of the apartment, with a mixture of turmeric -and lime. On this square was spread a clean white sheet, whereon was -placed some boiled rice, and on the top of that the half of a cocoa-nut -shell filled with _ghee_, in which floated two cotton wicks lying -across each other, so as to give four lights. If a cocoa-nut was not -procurable, a vessel of the same form was shapened in dough. Upon the -sheet were then laid the sacred pickaxe, the dagger of the gang (the -_misericorde_), and the spirits. The two black goats were next washed -and thoroughly wetted, and placed with their faces to the westward. -If one, or both of them shook off the wet with lusty vigour, it was -a sign that the sacrifice was acceptable; otherwise, the rice and -spirits alone were consumed, and without any further ceremony. But in -the former case, if Mahommedans, they chaunted a sort of grace as they -cut the throats of the whole of the animals; if Hindoos, they struck -off their heads at a blow. The skins, bones, and offal were thrown into -a pit dug for the purpose. When every man's appetite was satiated, -they washed their face and hands over the pit, and filled it up and -levelled it with the ground. Should any profane eye witness any part of -the preparations, or a spark fall on the sheet and burn a hole, or any -animal touch the offal, the leader must expect to die within a year and -all his companions would come to grief. - -Besides the land Thugs there was a bold and skilful clan calling -themselves Bungoos, or Pungoos, who practised the same vocation on the -Hooghly river, going up as far as Benares or even Cawnpore, but chiefly -infesting the Burdwan district. Their system and dialect differed -considerably from those of their land brethren. Their leaders assumed -the appearance of the proprietor or captain of a passenger boat, while -some of his gang bent to the oars or towed the vessel along the bank, -and the others, dressed as pilgrims or shopkeepers, took their seat -on deck; these were the stranglers and their assistants. A few of the -most plausible and insinuating members were employed as _Sothas_, -or inveiglers. These wandered on the roads leading to the various -Ghauts, or landing places, and contrived to get into conversation with -the travellers who seemed bound for the river. On arriving at the -Ghaut they would see a clean tidy boat, already partially filled with -passengers and ready to swing off. They naturally hastened on board, -rejoicing at not being detained. The river Thugs always faced their -victims, sitting in a row on one side of the deck opposite to them. So -soon as an opportunity presented itself, the look-out man smote the -deck three times with his hand. Then the helmsman gave the _jhirnee_, -by exclaiming _Bhugna ko paun do_, "give my sister's son some paun." -Up sprang the pretended voyagers, and throwing the _roomal_ round the -neck of their victims pressed it tightly in front, bending their head -backwards, while their assistants held their feet and hands. Though -sometimes one Thug would almost suffice for the purpose, nine of them -have been known to strangle seven men stronger than themselves, and -twelve have overpowered ten. When the convulsive writhings had ceased, -they made certainty doubly sure by breaking the backbone and violently -kicking or punching their victims with their elbows. The bodies were -then pushed into the river through a window made in either side of the -boat, immediately above the water-mark. The greatest care was taken -to avoid shedding any blood, which by discolouring the stream might -lead to suspicion and detection. If a drop were spilt, they returned -home and offered up expiatory sacrifices. Women were invariably -permitted to escape, and all property of a suspicious character was -at once destroyed. Their proceedings, however, were no secret to the -river police, whose silence was secured by rich presents. Their very -existence was thus kept from the knowledge of the European magistrates -until the year 1836, but in little more than twelve months afterwards -161 of the miscreants had been arrested, and the names obtained of -thirty-eight others. There were usually about fourteen to each boat, -and there were eighteen boats regularly occupied in this dreadful -business, besides several engaged for occasional service. The hot and -wet seasons were deemed equally unfavourable, as few travellers were -then abroad; the most productive months being November, December, -January, and February. A party of river Thugs, occupying two boats, -contrived to become acquainted with the _Manjee_, or commander of -a boat laden with tobacco and hemp, and persuaded him and his crew -to stop with them at a _chur_, or sand-bank, and cook their dinners -together. After the repast the Thug leader asked the others to join his -party in fulfilling a vow he had made to the god Hurry Sote. So they -all sang the song of Hurry Sote, when the leader suddenly exclaimed, -"Now, Hurry, give us our plunder!" Five Thugs instantly leaped on the -throats of the Manjee and his crew, threw them back upon the sand and -strangled them. Then their comrades fell upon the lifeless corpses, -broke their backbones, punched them on the ribs with their fists and -elbows, and dragging them into the deep running water let them float -down the stream. - -Perhaps a better idea than has yet been given of the nature and extent -of Thuggee, may be derived from Captain Sleeman's Official Report of -an Expedition into Malwa, Guzerat, Kandeish, and Berar, by gangs from -Gwalior, Bundlecund, and the Saugor districts, in 1827-28. The leader -was our old friend Feringeea, who started from Gorha with twenty-five -Thugs and proceeded to Moghul ka Serai, where he fell in with two -Mahrattas. These were put to death about three miles further on. -Arriving at Tuppa, in Indore, the gang was then joined by eleven more -Thugs, who all went on together to Raghooghur, where they met two -Mahrattas and a Marwaree on their way from Saugor to Indore. Here Soper -Sing and fifteen Thugs came up with them, escorting a bird-catcher and -two shopkeepers journeying from Indore to Patna. All six were strangled -in the night and buried in one grave. Next morning Feringeea's party, -with five of Soper Sing's crossed the Nerbudda at the Puglana Ghaut, -and at Samneer murdered three Sipahees, in search of service, at -mid-day, and left their bodies by the road side. The next stage was -Kurajgow Kuringee, whence they accompanied a traveller, who was going -towards the south, for sixteen miles, where they killed him and buried -his corpse beneath the walls of a small Hindoo temple. Thence they -passed through Omrowtee to Larun Kurnajee, and in their camp in a grove -killed a traveller whom they had brought on with them from Bam; and -also a thief found skulking among some tombs, who had one hundred and -ten pounds worth of stolen goods in his possession. At Busum their -numbers were swelled by a reinforcement of fifty Thugs under four -leaders. Going on together in one body they encamped near Nandair, -and there murdered five travellers. Some of the new arrivals having -again left them, the others held on to Rovegow, where they overtook -nine persons, whom they accompanied about three miles and strangled -just before daybreak. At Hyderabad they lodged near the bridge over -the Hoosa Nuddee, where they killed and buried a Brahman and two -Rajpoots with whom they had scraped an acquaintance in the Bhegan -Bazar. Wandering on to Gungakhera they fell in with three Marwarees, -whom they escorted a stage on the Holwa road. One of the travellers -being accidentally thrown from his horse, was instantly strangled, and -his companions of course shared the same fate. As they had not reached -the appointed _Beyl_, they left the bodies upon the ground, a prey to -jackals and carnivorous birds. Their next encampment was at Purureea, -in Holwa, where they murdered a Soobahdar (native commissioned -officer), five sepoys, and a woman. At Doregow they met three Pundits -and with them a Byragee (Hindoo ascetic), mounted on a pony, plastered -over with sugar and covered with flies. Driving away the mendicant, -they killed and buried the Pundits. On leaving Doregow the Byragee -again joined them and went on in their company to Raojana, where they -overtook six cloth-merchants travelling from Bombay to Nagpore. As -the mendicant was much in their way, they pelted him with stones, and -having thus got rid of him they killed the merchants, burying their -bodies in the grove. The next day the Byragee again joined them and -proceeded with them to Mana, where they fell in with two bearers and -a sepoy. Shaking off their troublesome companion, they hastened on to -the spot selected for the contemplated murder, where the mendicant once -more came up with them. Their patience being exhausted, they offered -one of the gang ten shillings extra to kill him and take the sin upon -himself. All four were then strangled, and, to their astonishment, -the Byragee proved the most valuable prize of all; for upon him and -his pony they found many pounds weight of coral, 350 strings of small -pearls, fifteen strings of large pearls, and a gilded necklace. Soon -after they arrived at Omrowtee, between which and Nadgow they got hold -of two men, whom they murdered at their encampment. They were treasure -bearers and had with them £400 worth of silver. These are a peculiar -class of men, excessively poor, but famed for their honesty. They were -never known to betray their trust, and would rather yield their life -than surrender their charge. They bore no weapons, chiefly relying on -the poverty of their garb and external appearance. The Bombay and Surat -merchants used to employ them in conveying specie through Kandeish -and Surat to Indore and Rajpootana, and they generally succeeded in -escaping the notice of mere marauders; but it was a different thing -with the Thugs who took life officially and professionally, content -with a farthing but oftener reaping a fruitful harvest. - -From Nadgow the band proceeded to Kuragow, and soon afterwards in -passing through a small dry ravine fell in with four men driving two -bullocks laden with copper pice. The men were instantly put to death, -and their bodies slightly covered with stones and rubbish. After this -affair two of their leaders with their respective followers returned -home, while the others strolled onwards through Burhanpore to Indore, -where they received an accession of strength by the junction of three -leaders with sixty Thugs. - -Three Marwarees being here inveigled into a house occupied by a part -of the gang, never again went forth into the road. They remained at -Indore a whole day, but were not idle, for Feringeea prevailed upon -four more Marwarees to accompany him to the encampment of the remainder -of the gang, and they likewise were dismissed to Hades. Soon after -leaving Indore they fell in with four travellers, whom they murdered -in camp that evening. Feringeea's party then diverged from the main -body and passed through Saugor to Chutterpore, where intelligence -was received that a body of armed men were in pursuit of them. They, -therefore, doubled back and came to Kondee, a short distance from which -they murdered two travellers. At Raghooghur they were reinforced by -twelve of their fraternity, and on the following day by thirty more -under Sheikh Inaent: and at Dubohee, near Bhilsa, they were joined by -two more leaders with twenty Thugs. Here they murdered two sepoys. -After this affair fifty of them under Sheik Inaent went on to Baroda, -where they all fell sick and were glad to return to Bheelpore. Their -convalescence was celebrated by the murder of two Bearers. Encouraged -by this success they journeyed to Oodeypore in the Dhar Pergunnah. -Three sepoys and another man were strangled next morning about two -miles from the town. A little further on they overtook an elephant -driver, in the service of the Oodeypore Rajah, and him they murdered -at night at a village called Amjhera. Passing through Mhow, to a -village on the side of Raghooghur, they fell in with three Bearers, -whom they strangled next morning. They then held on through Ashta till -they encountered a Havildar (non-commissioned native officer), a sepoy, -and another, of whom they disposed the following morning. Shortly -afterwards a large portion of this gang returned home, whereon the -Sheikh went off and rejoined Feringeea. Their junction had scarcely -been effected before it was announced that the police were close upon -their track. Many more of the Thugs then started off homewards, and -others retreated to a stream near Peepala, where, notwithstanding their -fears, they made away with two sepoys, another man, and a woman. - -A village called Jhundawala was the scene of their next exploit--a -Bearer their next victim. After that they came to Tuppa, and, as they -were setting out next morning, were joined by a Havildar, a sepoy, -and two women, whom they murdered on the following day. Arriving at -Kenjarra they strangled two more sepoys, and four more a few days -afterwards. The gang then broke up, and Feringeea returned to his -home in Tehree. Since he last parted from his wife, unconscious of his -crimes, he had been an accomplice in the murder of one hundred men and -five women. Let not this appalling number appear incredible. In the -kingdom of Oude, a fair sample of native government, there were 1406 -miles of road infested by Thugs, and no fewer than two hundred and -seventy-four _Beyls_, or sites of murder; that is, one in every five -miles and a half. Twenty Thugs, admitted as Approvers, acknowledged -that they were present, respectively, at 508, 931, 350, 377, 604, -119, 42, 103, 264, 203, 195, 294, 117, 322, 340, 28, 65, 81, 153, and -twenty-four murders, the least experienced having witnessed twenty-four -murders, and the most 931--thus giving an average of 256 murders to -each of the twenty. The same Beyl was not unfrequently the scene of -several murders. Captain Sleeman mentions a striking instance of this. -When Feringeea was first brought before him a prisoner, in December -1830, he offered, if his life were spared, to give information that -would lead to the arrest of some large gangs who had appointed to -rendezvous at Jyepore in the following February. Some incredulity as -to his power to do so having been expressed, he begged to be allowed -to accompany the "Sahib" a short distance on his official tour of -inspection, when he would afford ample evidence as to his knowledge of -Thuggee. He promised no more than he was able to perform. Two stages -from Saugor on the road to Seronge, Captain Sleeman encamped for the -night in a small mango grove near the village of Selohda. At an early -hour of the next morning Feringeea desired to see him, and pointing to -three different spots declared they were so many graves. "A Pundit and -six attendants, murdered in 1818, lay among the ropes of my sleeping -tent, a Havildar and four Sipahees murdered in 1824, lay under my -horses, and four Brahman carriers of Ganges-water and a woman, murdered -soon after the Pundit, lay within my sleeping-tent. The sward had -grown over the whole, and not the slightest sign of its ever having -been broken was to be seen." All night long Mrs. Sleeman had tossed -about in her sleep, tormented by horrible dreams, probably engendered -by the foul air arising from so many graves--certainly not caused by -the spirits of the departed, and, perhaps, many a ghost story may owe -its origin to some similar cause. Still doubting, Captain Sleeman sent -for the police and a posse of villagers, who after digging down about -five feet came upon the skeletons of the Havildar and his comrades, -and afterwards the others were discovered in succession. Feringeea -then proposed to discover other graves in the neighbouring groves, but -Captain Sleeman could stand no more of such horrors for that morning. -It transpired that the Pundit's horse had been presented to the -proprietor of the village, in which some of the gang actually resided, -and that the others came thither every year and stopped some time -"feasting, carousing and murdering," and yet neither the police nor the -inhabitants appeared to have the slightest suspicion of the real nature -of their pursuits. It must be remembered that they never murdered any -but strangers and wayfarers, and that the villagers and their property -would be perfectly secure. It would be an excess of charity, however, -to suppose that the Zemindar had not a shrewd guess as to the means by -which his horse was obtained. During the three years, 1822 to 1824, -both inclusive, that Captain Sleeman was magistrate of the Nursingpore -district in the Nerbuddah valley, and--as he imagined--cognizant of -every crime and every bad character within its limits, he was perfectly -unconscious that there was a Thug village only 400 yards from the -Court-house, and that only a few miles distant the groves of Mundaisur -contained fully one hundred dead bodies. These groves were a favourite -place of rendezvous for gangs coming from Upper India and from the -Deccan, with the connivance and under the protection of two respectable -landholders, descendants of the pious individuals who had planted those -trees to shelter the unhoused wanderer. - -The destruction of life and property since the commencement even of the -present century must have been enormous. It is known that in 1826-27, -two hundred and five men and six women were murdered by different gangs -in Malwah and Rajpootana. In 1827-28, three hundred and sixty-four -males and twenty-one females were strangled in Kandeish, Berar, and -Guzerat. In 1828-29, two hundred and twenty-six men and six women were -thus disposed of in Malwah and Kandeish. In 1829-30, ninety-four men, -four women, and a child perished in Baroda and Bundlecund. In 1830-31 -the Bundlecund gangs destroyed fifty-seven males and one female. -In 1830-31-32, one hundred and seventy males and five females were -murdered in Rajpootana and Guzerat. And in 1832-33, forty-one males -were strangled in the Gwalior district alone. It has been estimated -that on an average more than ten distinct cases of murder occurred -in every expedition, and that every Thug went upon at least ten -expeditions, which would assign to each a guilty complicity in fully -one hundred murders. The amount of property of which they despoiled -the public must also have been very great, and occasionally individual -prizes were of no trivial value. Thus in 1826 a party of fourteen were -murdered by a gang of one hundred and fifty Thugs, and a booty secured -worth £2,500. In 1827, seven men were murdered by three hundred and -fifty Thugs, and robbed of £2,200. In 1828, the murder of nine persons -by a gang of one hundred and twenty-five yielded £4,000; and in 1829, -that of six persons produced £8,200, to be divided between one hundred -and fifty Thugs. - -It must seem incredible, but it is nevertheless the simple fact, that -this terrible system of murder flourished for nearly two centuries -under those native governments of whose excellence so much has been -said in certain quarters. The division of the vast peninsula into many -separate, independent, and jealous states, no doubt, encouraged the -perpetration of crime by facilitating escape and rendering detection -and apprehension almost impossible. So long as their own subjects or -tenants were not molested, neither princes nor landed proprietors -considered themselves bound to interfere with an institution of -which they entertained a mysterious dread, and whence they derived -goodly gifts and a handsome revenue. Superstition and cupidity were -powerful allies in favour of the Thugs, who, besides, in their palmy -days, exhibited admirable prudence and tact in avoiding whatever -might be offensive to their patrons and injurious to themselves. -They were especially careful not to touch any European, for they -well knew that from such they were more likely to receive lead than -gold, and that search would be made for the missing man; nor, indeed, -was the like facility afforded for familiarity, owing, in a great -measure, as Fuseli would say, to "de d--d ignorance of de language." -All tell-tale property they quickly destroyed, and never committed a -murder near home, or where they were known; nor after a murder did -they ever proceed in the direction whence their victims had come, -lest they should be betrayed by a horse, a bullock, or an ass, being -anywhere recognised. The native custom of sending remittances in the -form of jewels and precious metals without any armed escort, and of -carrying considerable sums upon the person, increased the temptation -of doing honour to Bhowanee. The vast population, too, was always in -motion. Parties of travellers, or lonely wanderers, on foot, or on -horseback, streamed along the roads and bye-paths, reposing in the -intense heat of the day or during the moonless hours of the night -beneath the hospitable shade of a grove of mangoes and other stately -trees, or around the well that owed its origin to pious vanity. And -the very terror felt for their unknown enemies made the travellers an -easier prey, for in seeking to avoid the danger, they frequently ran -into it by inviting the company of the mild, cheerful and intelligent -companions, who were ever ready to converse with them, to walk with -them, and--to murder them. Their existence was first known to the -English in 1799, after the fall of Seringapatam, when a hundred -Phanseegars, or Thugs, were taken prisoners at Bangalore, though even -then they were not suspected of pursuing an hereditary profession. The -first regular information concerning their habits was not obtained -until 1807, when a gang of them was arrested between Chittore and -Arcot. It had frequently been remarked, indeed, that very many sepoys -never returned to their regiments on the expiration of their leave of -absence, and they were struck off the rolls as deserters. But when the -true cause of their absence was discovered, the Commander-in-Chief, -Major-General St. Leger, issued a general order in 1810, warning the -native troops against associating with chance companions on the road, -and advising them to send their money to their homes by means of -_hoondees_, or bills, and not to travel by night. The evil, however, -was of too monstrous a growth to be thus easily checked. And there was -likewise great difficulty experienced in bringing home any particular -crime, even when the perpetrators happened to be in custody. The -merchants and bankers whose property had been stolen were reluctant to -appear in court to give evidence: it was looked upon as somewhat of an -indignity, and the cautious delays of English jurisprudence caused a -waste of time they could ill endure. Their money was gone, and there -was an end of it. It was predestined that it should go in that manner. -The thieves were merely instruments working out the will of Providence. -Against them they bore no malice or vindictive feeling. Even the -relatives of murdered men refused to come forward until they obtained -a promise that they should not be summoned to appear in a distant -court. And in the majority of cases it was impossible to ascertain -who were the murdered persons, or whence they came. A few isolated -cases of conviction did, indeed, occur, as in 1823, when Mr. Molony -arrested a gang of 115 in the valley of the Nerbudda, and convicted -the whole of them; and again in 1826, when a large gang was arrested -in the same valley by Major Wardlaw, and their guilt proven. But these -exceptions rather tended to make the Thugs more cautious than to induce -them to relinquish their ancestral vocation. It was not until 1829-30 -that the task of suppression was fairly commenced. The honour of the -initiative was reserved for Lord William Bentinck, who passed certain -acts rendering Thuggee the object of a special judicature, and giving -a wider discretion to the officers employed in its suppression. His -lordship was fortunate in his selection of the special officers. It is -needless to do more than mention the names of the late Major General, -then Captain, Sleeman, Major, now Colonel, Borthwick, Colonel Stewart, -Captain Patton, Captain Malcolm, Captain G. Hollings, and Mr. F. C. -Smith. The best proof of the ability and energy displayed by these -gentlemen is the fact that by the year 1840 the committals amounted -to 3,689. Of this number, 466 were hanged, 1,504 transported, 933 -imprisoned for life, 81 confined for different periods, 86 called upon -to give ample security for their future good conduct, 97 acquitted, -and 56 admitted as approvers: 12 effected their escape, and 208 died -a natural death before sentence was passed. The approvers were not -absolutely pardoned, or even released from custody. Sentence was passed -upon them in the usual manner, but respited as long as they showed -signs of repentance and reformation. The utmost caution was used in -sifting their evidence and in confronting them with the accused, but -their testimony was so clear and so thoroughly substantiated that -no reasonable man could entertain the slightest doubt as to their -veracity. So complete was the success of the measures now adopted that -on the 17th of August, 1840, Hoossain Dost Khan, a powerful Talooqdar -(baronial lord) in the Nizam's dominions, previously an avowed opponent -of the British, wrote a letter to Captain Malcolm, from which the -following is an extract:--"Seeing that the best arrangements have been -made in this matter, the whole of the inhabitants of the country, and -travellers, have been emancipated from the fear of Thugs; day and night -they raise their hands in prayer to state that in the days of kings -bygone no such peace and comfort existed. Thanks to Almighty God, the -power of conferring this great boon, a source of great renown has -been reserved for you from the beginning of the world, in order that -this matter should be so arranged. Where are the murdered men? How -can there be any, when you do not even hear the slightest allusion -to Thugs? The whole world are giving thanks for this." It must be -confessed, however, that there was some slight exaggeration in the -worthy Talooqdar's congratulations, for in the course of the next -seven years 531 more Thugs were apprehended and committed for trial. -Of these, 33 were hanged, 174 transported, 267 imprisoned for life and -27 for shorter periods, 5 called upon to put in bail, 125 acquitted, -and 46 admitted as approvers: besides 11 who died, and 2 who made -their escape. It was no easy matter to prevent the last contingency, -so great was their patience and ingenuity. Towards the close of 1834, -twenty-seven prisoners escaped from the Jubbulpore gaol, by cutting -through their irons and the bars of their windows, with thread smeared -with oil and then incrusted with finely-powdered stone. In 1848 also -there were 120 committed, of whom 5 were hanged, 24 transported, 11 -imprisoned for life and 31 for a limited period, 7 required to find -substantial bail, 12 acquitted, and 9 admitted as approvers: 2 died, -and 10 remained under trial. Since that year Thuggee appears to have -quite died out. In 1853, indeed, some cases occurred in the Punjaub, -but vigorous measures being at once adopted, under the superintendence -of Captain Sleeman, whose happy lot it was to complete the good work -inaugurated by his distinguished father, its final suppression was -almost coincident with its revival. - -The question that next presented itself for the anxious consideration -of the Government was the means of providing for the families of the -approvers. If left to their own devices, or the suggestions of want, -there was too much reason to apprehend that the elder members, who had -already witnessed the taking of human life, might be tempted to revert -to the practices of their forefathers. Accordingly, in the year 1838, -on the recommendation of Captain Charles Brown, a School of Industry -was founded at Jubbulpore, for the purpose of teaching the sons of -the approvers a trade or craft by which they might earn an honest -livelihood. At first their parents were opposed to the idea, but soon -joyfully acquiesced when they came to understand the benevolent motives -of the Government. For a time the old Thugs continued to speak with -animation of their past achievements, but, gradually weaned from their -former habits and associations, they learned to look back with shame -upon their antecedents and studiously avoided any further allusion to -them. By the end of 1847 the school possessed 850 inmates, of whom -307 were employed as guards, brickmakers, builders, cleaners, &c., -&c.; while the remaining 543 applied their superior ingenuity to the -manufacture of lac dye, sealing-wax, blankets, _satringees_ (a sort of -strong drugget), fine cloth for trousers, _dhotees_, or body cloths, -_newar_ tape of sorts, cotton wicks, stockings, gloves, towels, tents, -and carpeting. In that year the product of their labour amounted to -131 tents, 3324 yards of Kidderminster carpeting, forty-six woollen -carpets, and a vast quantity of towels, tablecloths, plaids, checks, -&c., which realised upwards of £3,500. Of this sum £500 were given to -the Thugs as an encouragement, and to form a capital for such as were -allowed after a time to establish themselves in Jubbulpore on their -own account. And nearly £300 were paid to their wives for spinning -thread for the factory. Much of the success of this institution has no -doubt been due to the excellent and judicious superintendence of Mr. -Williams, formerly a patrol of the Delhi Customs. - -Let British supremacy in India cease when it will, the suppression of -Thuggee will ever remain a glorious monument to the zeal, energy, and -judgment of the civil and military servants of the East India Company. -It is easy to direct epigram and innuendo against the idea of a body -of merchants ruling a vast empire with enlightened and disinterested -beneficence. But the impartial student of Anglo-Indian history can -readily adduce many such examples as the preceding--for instance, -the suppression of Suttee, human sacrifices, and infanticide; the -repression of torture, gang robberies, and voluntary mutilation--in -order to prove that these merchants were truly princes, these -traffickers the honourable of the earth. - - - - -The Tusma-Baz Thugs. - - -The Tusma-Baz Thugs were the fruit of European civilization grafted -on the Asiatic stock. At the commencement of the present century -one Creagh, a private in an English regiment stationed at Cawnpore, -initiated three natives of low degree into the mysteries of an art, -formerly practised by thimble-riggers in this country, and known as -"pricking the garter." The game, designated Tusma-bazee by his Hindoo -disciples, was played in this manner:--a strap being doubled into -many folds, the bystanders were requested to insert a stick where the -first double took place, which it was impossible to do without the -consent of the juggler. Creagh's three apostles speedily became the -leaders of as many schools or gangs, numbering in the year 1848, when -they were brought to justice, about fifty persons, chiefly residing -in the outskirts of Cawnpore. They had long been known to the police -authorities as professional gamblers, and had more than once been -either punished for that offence or required to furnish security for -their good behaviour. It was not their custom, however, to confine -their depredations to their native town. On the contrary, they -travelled to a considerable distance to the westward, preferring those -districts which still remained under the misrule of petty independent -princes. Their first proceeding was to conciliate the police, which -was usually effected by the promise of one-fourth of their profits. -Having thus provided against all chance of molestation, they would meet -as strangers, and accidentally, near some well frequented spot, and -gradually begin to play. By degrees a crowd gathered around them, and -some one or another was certain to be tempted to try his fortune. At -first he was, of course, allowed to win, but it rarely happened that he -finally escaped being fleeced of his last coin. The leader received a -double share of the plunder, in consideration of the risk and expence -he incurred in maintaining his followers until a sufficient booty had -been secured to render them independent. If any one of the gang was -arrested, it was the leader's duty to use every means in his power to -release him, and for every rupee he expended for this purpose he was -allowed two pice interest. The balance, after deducting the captain's -share was equally divided among the rest, and was generally squandered -in drinking and gambling among themselves. It was, however, a light -and lucrative profession, and they frequently remitted considerable -sums of money to their families. But they did not solely rely on their -superior sleight of hand. When the opportunity was favourable they -did not scruple to add murder to robbery. Their ordinary plan seems -to have been by means of medicated sweetmeats, or sugar, hospitably -pressed upon the unwary who ventured to test their skill in play. The -drug mostly used was expressed from the seed of the _datura_ plant, -a powerful and dangerous narcotic. To call them Thugs was evidently -a misnomer, for they had none of the observances of that ancient -fraternity, nor did they lay any claim to religious motives. They were -simply organized bands of vagrants of the most worthless characters, -who preferred fraud to labour and murder to industry. Their detection -would have taken place at a much earlier period, had not the police -been bribed to connive at their proceedings. It is almost superfluous -to remark that their practices were no sooner discovered by the -European magistrates than their occupation was gone, and themselves -severely punished. - - - - -Dacoits, or Gang-Robbers of India. - - -In India, under its native rulers, murder and robbery were hereditary -professions. The Thugs, or hereditary murderers, have been completely -put down; but the work of suppression has not yet been equally -successful with regard to the hereditary robbers, as they ever found -a ready harbour of refuge in the waste lands of the late kingdom of -Oude, and, indeed, in every independent state. They usually lived in -colonies, in the midst of wild jungles, difficult of access. With -incredible rapidity they would sweep down on some distant town or -village, plunder some house previously selected for the purpose, and -before any pursuit could be organized they were far advanced on their -homeward journey. To avert suspicion they assumed various disguises -with admirable adaptability. North of the Jumna they generally -travelled as holy-water carriers, because long files of that class -of men were continually traversing the roads of that district. But -to the south of the Jumna they appeared as Brinjaras, or drivers of -laden bullocks, or as pilgrims journeying to some sacred shrine, or as -sorrowing relatives conveying the bones of the departed to the banks -of the Ganges; or as the friends of a bridegroom going to fetch home -his bride. In the funeral processions to the "holy Gunga," men's bones -were borne in red, those of women in white bags, neither of which were -ever allowed to touch the earth, but at their halting grounds were -suspended from the apex of a triangle formed by three short poles or -staves. These were afterwards useful to the Dacoits as handles for the -spear-heads which they carried in their waist-bands. Instead of the -bones of their parents they contented themselves with those of inferior -animals, wild or domestic. The chief advantage of this disguise was -that such mourners were every where treated with the utmost respect, -and never subjected to inconvenient inquiries as to whence they came -or whither they were going. In Central India a more successful mummery -was to assume the garb and appearance of Alukramies, a peculiar -class of pilgrims, who travelled in small parties accompanying a -high-priest--personated by the leader of the gang. "They had four or -five tents, some of white and some of dyed cloth, and two or three -pairs of Nakaras, or kettle-drums, and trumpets, with a great number -of buffaloes, cows, goats, sheep, and ponies. Some were clothed, but -the bodies of the greater part were covered with nothing but ashes, -paint, and a small cloth waist-band. Those who had long hair went -bare-headed, and those who had nothing but short hair wore a piece -of cloth round the head." The pretended Alukramies always took the -precaution of hiring the services of half a dozen genuine Byragees, or -ascetics, whom they put forward in difficult emergencies. They would -often stop for days together in one place, awaiting favourable tidings -from the scouts they sent out in all directions. On arriving at a -village the drums were beat and the trumpets sounded to announce their -approach, and some of the party were sent in, with silver sticks, in -the name of the high-priest to bring the headman to pay his respects -and offer the established Nuzzurana of 1¼ rupee (two shillings and -sixpence). If this offering were not punctually and promptly made, -double the amount was exacted on the following day, and he must -have been a bold man who would venture, by a refusal, to incur the -displeasure of the gods. The landholder, or proprietor of the village, -was also expected to furnish, gratuitously, a sufficient number of -men to carry the tents, flags, drums, and trumpets of these pious -cormorants, whose demands, however, were usually complied with without -a murmur. They were distinguished from other wandering mendicants -by "a large red flag upon a long pole, with the figure of Hunooman, -or the Sun and Moon, embroidered upon it. On one occasion they (the -Dacoits) prevailed upon Cheytun Das, a celebrated Byragee of Hindoon in -Jyepore, then eighty years of age, to enact the high priest, and he was -accompanied by his chief disciple, or son, Gunga Das." - -There were various clans, or colonies, of Dacoits. The Budhuks lived -in the Oude Teraie, or belt of forest land lying along the foot of the -Nepaul hills, whence they made frequent incursions into the British -territory, especially to the eastward in the direction of Goruckpore. -They were men of low caste, and would eat anything but bullocks, cows, -buffaloes, snakes, foxes, and lizards. Agricultural employments they -abhorred as too toilsome. According to a familiar proverb, "once a -Budhuk, always a Budhuk, and all Budhuks are Dacoits." Their leaders -were almost invariably men of good descent: some of them affected to -trace back their ancestors for twenty generations, and adduced their -long impunity as a proof that they were predestined to be what they -were, and that, consequently they could never be anything else. "The -tiger's offspring," they would say, "are tigers--the young Budhuks -become Dacoits." In their palmy days they were able to maintain ten -or a dozen wives, but when misfortunes came upon them they were -compelled to reduce the pleasing burden to four or five. And they -were not altogether a burden, for each wife received in the division -of spoil a sum equal to two-thirds of her husband's share. A penitent -Budhuk once made the logical, but ungallant remark, that it was the -women who ought to be transported, for then no more Budhuks would be -born into the world. Nevertheless, in times of trouble the old women -were not without their use. They would then assume the semblance of -extreme poverty, and, mounted on wretched ponies, would travel many a -long weary mile to the place where their relatives were confined, and -by judicious presents to the native officers in authority, generally -succeeded in mitigating the lot, if they failed to accomplish the -release, of the prisoners. In this labour of love they not unfrequently -expended between one and two hundred pounds. There were also Budhuks -by adoption, but these were never allowed to eat with the hereditary -robbers, though they might smoke the same hookah. As a matter of -choice they preferred to avoid bloodshed, but in self-defence, or -to secure the success of their attack they never scrupled either -to wound or to slay outright. Shoojah-ood-Dowlah, Nawab of Oude, -once attempted to direct their love of enterprise into an honorable -channel by enrolling 1,200 of them into a corps, commanded by their -own leaders. But their depredations became so intolerable that they -acquired the appropriate epithet of the "Wolf Regiment," and as they -were continually mutinying they were soon afterwards disbanded. A brief -narrative of a few cases of Dacoitee committed by the Budhuks will give -the best idea of the system they pursued. - -In the early part of 1818 a powerful gang started from Khyradee in -Oude with the intention of cutting off a treasure, escorted by sixty -armed police, on the way from Benares to the westward. They disguised -themselves as bird-catchers and took with them "falcons and hawks -of all kinds, well trained, also mynas, parrots, and other kinds of -speaking and mocking birds." They had also a boat prepared to convey -them across the river. Having learnt from their scouts that the -treasure would be lodged on a particular night in the Chobee-ka-Serai -between Allahabad and Cawnpore, they fitted handles to their axes and -spear-heads, and made some rude ladders by means of which, about two -hours after dark, they scaled the wall of the Serai. "A guard which -had been told off for the purpose broke open the gate from the inside -and stood over it to prevent any attack from without, or escape from -within, while the rest attacked the escort and secured the treasure." -In this spirited affair the Dacoits killed eight and wounded seventeen -of the police, carried off £7,600 in specie, and made their escape -without the loss of a single man. - -In April of the same year the Governor of Bharaitch forwarded to the -General Treasury at Lucknow the sum of £2,600 in silver and £600 in -gold mohurs, in two carts, escorted by thirty soldiers of the royal -army. It was lodged, for one night, outside the gate of a small fort, -two loaded guns commanding the only approach. A noted leader, named -Naeka, with a gang of eighty Dacoits undertook to cut out the prize. -First of all, he divided his followers into three parties. One division -of twenty men rushed upon the guns and spiked them. A second, of equal -force, fastened the gate of the fort with a strong chain to prevent the -garrison from sallying forth; while the others boldly attacked the -guard and killed four of them--two of their own party, however, being -wounded. As they were returning in hot haste to their homes they were -themselves assailed by two large land owners, who took from them £2,000 -in rupees and the whole of the gold. They in their turn fell into the -hands of the king's troops--Naeka and sixty of his associates being -also apprehended. After six years' detention in the Seetapore gaol they -were all released, the landowners paying a fine of £2,000 in addition -to their booty, and the Dacoits a further sum of £1,000. - -Fortune, certainly, did not always smile upon them, notwithstanding her -proverbial partiality for the brave. Two gangs having united one day -in May, 1819, attacked the house of Sah Beharee Lall, a rich banker, -residing in the heart of Lucknow, the capital city of Oude. At first -all went well with them, and they carried off upwards of £4,000 into a -jungle not far from Khyrabad. A dispute then arose among the leaders -respecting the division of the plunder, and one of them, thinking -himself unjustly treated, rode off to Lucknow and gave information that -led to the apprehension of two hundred men, women, and children. A -long and tedious imprisonment awaited them, until in despair they rose -upon their guard, in 1834, and seventy of them effected their escape, -leaving five of their comrades on the ground, two of them being killed -upon the spot. The others were released in 1839. - -The boldness and suddenness of their onset usually assured their -success. One evening in the month of February, 1822, a party of men, -carrying canes in their hands, and about forty in number, were observed -hurrying along in a loose straggling manner towards the military -station of Nursingpore. On reaching the rivulet that separates the -town from the cantonments they were challenged by the sentry--for -a picket of soldiers was always posted on the bank, under a native -officer. Carelessly answering that they were cowherds and that their -cattle were coming on after them, they proceeded without molestation up -the principal street, but suddenly halted in front of a shop of some -pretensions. Striking their torches against pots containing combustible -matter, with which they had previously provided themselves, they were -instantly surrounded with a blaze of light. Already bewildered, the -bystanders were terrified into silence by a few rapid thrusts of the -spears, into which the canes had been instantaneously transformed. The -house was rifled as if by magic, ten or a dozen persons were killed or -wounded, and in a quarter of an hour from their entrance into the town, -the Dacoits were on their way to the jungles. Within twenty paces on -one side of the house was a police station, and not a hundred paces -on the other side was the picket of sepoys already alluded to. But as -marriage processions were just then of frequent occurrence, it was -supposed that the noise and the glare of the torches belonged to those -very uproarious festivities, until a little boy creeping along a ditch -whispered to the native officer that they had killed his father. The -alarm was immediately given, but before the troops could turn out, the -Dacoits had got a fair start, which carried them beyond the reach of -both horse and foot. - -A bolder exploit was performed towards the close of that year. Two -skilful leaders, having collected some forty followers and distributed -among them ten matchlocks, ten swords, and twenty-five spears, waylaid -a treasure going from the native Collector's treasury at Budrauna to -Goruckpore. The prize consisted of £1,200, and was guarded by a Naïk, -or corporal, with four sepoys and five troopers. It had to pass -through a dense jungle, and it was settled--said one of them in after -years--"that the attack should take place there; that we should have -strong ropes tied across the road in front and festooned to trees on -both sides, and, at a certain distance behind, similar ropes festooned -to trees on one side, and ready to be fastened on the other, as soon as -the escort of horse and foot should get well in between them." Having -completed these preparations the gang laid down on either side of -the road patiently awaiting their prey. "About five in the morning," -continued the narrator, "we heard a voice as if calling upon the -name of God (Allah), and one of the gang started up at the sound and -said, 'Here comes the treasure!' We put five men in front with their -matchlocks loaded not with ball but shot, that we might, if possible, -avoid killing anybody. When we had got the troopers, infantry, and -treasure all within the space, the hind ropes were run across the road -and made fast to the trees on the opposite side, and we opened a fire -in upon the party from all sides. The foot soldiers got into the jungle -at the sides of the road, and the troopers tried to get over the ropes -at both ends, but in vain." The corporal and a horse were killed, -two troopers wounded, and the treasure carried off in spite of a hot -pursuit. - -One of the most famous Budhuk chiefs was named Maherban, who lived -in his fort at Etwa in the Oude forest. He had seven wives, who -frequently accompanied him in his expeditions, with the exception of -his chief wife, from whom no such toils and risk were expected. Late -in the autumn of 1818 he and his brother assembled about two hundred -men, women, and children, and wisely settled beforehand the rates of -division of plunder, setting aside a portion for the families of those -who might die or be killed. They then sacrificed ten goats, and, each -dipping a finger into the blood, swore mutual fidelity; after which -they ate and drank and made merry. On the following evening Maherban -and twenty of the principal Dacoits advanced a little way in front of -the rest of the party, and spat in the direction they were about to -pursue. Then raising his hands towards heaven Maherban thus prayed -aloud:--"If it be thy will, O God! and thine, O Kalee! to prosper our -undertaking, for the sake of the blind and the lame, the widow and -the orphan, who depend upon our exertions for subsistence, vouchsafe, -we pray thee, the call of the female jackal!" His followers likewise -lifted up their hands, and having repeated the prayer after their -leader, all sat down in attentive silence. The auspicious omen was -presently heard three times upon the left. Thus assured of success, -Maherban purchased a palanquin for his second wife--suitable for a -man of wealth and dignity. The gang now started for Benares in small -detachments, and took lodgings in different parts of that city where -they stayed a whole month, making offerings and inquiries. Intelligence -was at length received of a cartload of treasure going towards the -west, under the care of an armed police force. On the first night of -December the escort rested with their precious charge in a public Serai -at Josee near Allahabad. Having procured staves for their spears and -handles for their axes, the gang left the palanquin, their wives, and -superfluous clothes, in a grove about four miles distant. At midnight -they arrived at the Serai and were agreeably surprised to find the -gate open. Here one detachment halted and mounted guard, while another -overawed the police, and the rest plundered the treasure. A brave -merchant, named Kaem Khan, likewise reposing in the Serai, in vain -endeavoured to infuse courage into the panic-stricken escort by word -and gesture. Disgusted with their pusillanimity he continued to lay -about him with his long straight sword, wounding two of his assailants -and severing in twain many a spear, until a Dacoit got behind him and -felled him with a bludgeon, when he was quickly put to death. They -then carried off twenty bags containing in all 14,000 Spanish dollars, -and had their wounded men tended at a neighbouring village. As some -compensation for their sufferings they presented each of them with £10 -in addition to his share. - -A career of triumph had the same effect upon Maherban as upon greater -heroes: it made him indolent and luxurious, and his followers repined -at their forced inactivity. "One day, while he was sitting with two of -his wives, Mooneea and Soojaneea, they taunted him on the long interval -of rest he had enjoyed, while his more active brother had been covering -his followers and family with honour and money. 'You have,' said -Soojaneea, 'been now some ten months without attempting any enterprise -worthy your reputation; you are at your ease, and indulging in sports -no doubt very agreeable to you, but without any honour or profit to -us, while these your followers, men of illustrious birth and great -courage, are suffering from want, and anxiety about their families. -They have been told of a boat coming from Calcutta, laden with Spanish -dollars; if you do not wish to go yourself and take it, pray lend us -your swords, and we will go ourselves, and try what we can do, rather -than let your brave fellows starve.' Maherban was deeply stung by these -reproaches, and waxed very warm, but was too angry to make any reply -to his wives. He got his followers together, and leaving his principal -wife, Mooneea, behind him, he set out in the character of a chief of -high rank, going on a pilgrimage, with Soojaneea carried in a splendid -litter as a princess; and in four months they returned with some 40,000 -Spanish dollars." While on his way homewards from this successful -expedition he "gave a large sum of money to a gardener at Seosagur, -about three miles from Saseram, to plant a grove of mango-trees near -a tank, for the benefit of travellers, in the name of Rajah Maherban -Sing, of Gour in Oude, and promised him further aid on future occasions -of pilgrimage, if he found the work progressing well, saying, 'that -it was a great shame that travellers should be left as he had been, -without shade for themselves and their families to rest under, during -the heat of the day.'" As he approached his forest home all the women -went forth to meet him in holiday attire, and welcomed "the conquering -hero"--and the dollars--with music and dancing. - -Encouraged by this brilliant success Maherban resolved to proceed at -the close of the season to Sherghottee to intercept another boat-load -of dollars, which his spies told him was to be conveyed from Calcutta -to Benares. First of all he engaged a discharged Sepoy to instruct -his men in the Company's drill, and very apt scholars they proved -themselves. But while this parade work was going on, one of them eloped -with Heera Sing's pretty wife. The injured man straightway applied to -Maherban for redress, but the chief was too busy with his preparations -to attend to a merely personal affair, and probably deemed the loss of -a reluctant wife no very serious matter. Heera Sing then betook himself -to the other leaders, but failed to enlist their sympathy, for a man -who cannot bind a wife by her affections deserves to lose her. Foiled -at all points, he determined upon a large and base revenge: he gave -information of Maherban's movements to the English magistrates. - -Suspecting no treachery, Maherban at length set out as a Hindoo -prince with a noble retinue, and attended by a numerous guard of -soldiers dressed in the Company's uniform. Unfortunately for him and -his followers, the Dacoitee of the previous year had been carefully -tracked out and the guilt lodged at the door of the real criminals. -Mr. Cracroft, the magistrate of Jaunpore, was accordingly authorized -to proceed to surprise his fastness with four companies of native -infantry under the command of Captain Anquetil. Their march was -unmolested, and in the heart of a dense unhealthy jungle--though not -so experienced by the Dacoits themselves--they came upon his fort, a -parallelogram sixty yards long by forty wide. It was surrounded by a -ditch with an embankment within, formed of the mud there excavated. At -a short distance was another colony of about five hundred able-bodied -Budhuks governed by Cheyda, Maherban's brother. These united with the -few who had been left at home by the latter, and opened a warm but -ill-directed fire upon the troops, as they advanced with cheers to the -assault. The simple works were carried at the first rush, and whatever -was combustible was committed to the flames. But it was impossible to -follow up the retreating Dacoits, and having inflicted this trivial -injury Captain Anquetil had no alternative but to extricate his -detachment from their dangerous position, and return to head-quarters. -Meanwhile measures were taken by the magistrates at Jaunpore, Behar, -and Benares, to intercept and arrest the gang under Maherban himself. -That chief was artfully induced to leave the high road and make a -pilgrimage to Gunga. Here he was given to understand that there was -an informality in the payment of customs' dues, and that he must halt -until the matter could be adjusted. While encamped in a mango grove -he was suddenly surrounded by the police, but still imagining that -his apprehension was entirely due to the supposed irregularity, his -followers offered no resistance, and only discovered their mistake -on being committed for trial as robbers and murderers. Maherban -himself was hanged in 1821, and the whole of his gang, 160 in number, -imprisoned for life or for limited periods. - -After Maherban's execution his principal widow Mooneea succeeded -to the government of the survivors of his colony. In the autumn of -1823 the adventurous dame joined some noted leaders in fitting out -an expedition, consisting of eighty men and seven women, with the -intention of cutting off a treasure party going to Katmandoo. Having -taken the auspices in the usual manner, but actually guided by their -pre-determination, they moved in small parties towards Junnukpore in -the Nepaul territory. While travelling in disguise, some of them -fell in with a detachment of eighty Goorkhas (Nepaul highlanders) -escorting fifteen bullocks laden with 64,000 rupees (£6,400). Two of -them contrived to attach themselves to the escort, while the others -separated to collect their comrades. When about fifty had got together -they resolved to make the attack without waiting for the others. The -guard lodged that night about twelve miles from Jungpore, in a place -surrounded by a wall and ditch, outside of which was an encampment -of nearly 500 merchants, itinerant traders, and other travellers. -The night was clear and bright, but they nevertheless kindled their -torches, and with the aid of two stout ladders hastily constructed, -effected an entrance, surprised the guard, and possessed themselves of -the treasure. It was too cumbersome, however, to be all carried off at -once, and they were consequently obliged to bury about 17,000 rupees. -The news of this outrage having reached the Nepaul military station -of Jalesur, all suspicious persons were detained, and among them some -members of the gang who, under the lash, confessed their complicity -and led to the arrest of twenty-nine others, and to the death of two, -who foolishly resisted. These also being subjected to the lash pointed -out the _caches_ where the 17,000 rupees had been buried, and 35,000 -more were found upon their persons: the others got off with the rest -of the treasure. The information obtained from the prisoners furnished -the clue to the apprehension of a vast number of Dacoits whom the Oude -authorities threw into prison without undergoing even the form of a -trial. With like irregularity some of them were released as a _Khyrat_, -or "thanksgiving to God," whenever the King or any member of the royal -family recovered from an illness. - -The scanty remnants of this last gang finding their former fastnesses -no longer secure, fled for refuge to the Rajah of Kottar within the -British territories, who readily accepted their presents, and in -return promised them his protection. From these new head-quarters -they frequently sallied forth, and joining their old comrades, made -inroads into Rohilcund and the Doab. Being unable to plunder in western -Oude, because the landowners in their strongholds defied both king and -Dacoits, they confined their depredations to the Company's territories, -and so constantly attacked and plundered the treasuries of the native -collectors, that the Government was compelled to fortify them and -impose a guard. Even this did not always prevail, and large sums of -money were oftentimes carried off, after the guard had been surprised -and overpowered. - -The Budhuks dwelling in the eastern part of the Teraie were better -known as Seear Marwars, and were originally husbandmen, but took to -Dacoitee in the Nawabship of Shoojah-ood-Doolah. They numbered in all -from four to six thousand males, but were divided into colonies of -three or four hundred each, clustered round a rude fort. They were in -the habit of giving 25 per cent. of their booty to the Zemindars whose -protection they enjoyed, and by whom they were generally subsidized to -fight their battles with their neighbours, or with the farmers of the -revenue. In 1826-27 Mr., now Sir, Frederick Currie, the magistrate of -Goruckpore, organised a system of repression by means of a corps of -Irregular Cavalry under Major Hawkes, and an augmentation of his own -police force. That gentleman flattered himself that he had completely -put down this tribe of Dacoits, but, in fact, he had only driven them -into another district. Their old haunts no longer sheltering them from -pursuit, they removed their household gods to Rohilcund, the Doab -("Mesopotamia"), Rajpootana, and Gwalior. The Budhuk colonies, however -distant from one another, kept up an interchange of civilities and -intermarried with one another. Members of the same _gote_, or family, -though belonging to different colonies, could not intermarry, but as -there were several _gotes_ in every colony, the different settlements -could interchange sons and daughters. For instance Solunkee ("Mr. -Brown") could not marry a person of the same name in his own, or in any -another colony, but there was no objection to his taking to wife the -daughter of Powar ("Mr. Jones,") or Dhundele ("Mr. Robinson") however -closely they might be connected with him. - -Mr. Currie certainly did succeed in momentarily checking the -depredations of the plunderers in his own district, but within three -years the evil had returned to its former dimensions. And of these some -idea may be formed from the statement that between 1818 and 1834, the -Budhuks of the Oude Teraie were known to have committed 118 Dacoitees, -in which 172 men were killed, 682 wounded, and property carried off -to the value of nearly £115,000: although 457 of the miscreants were -arrested, only 186 could be legally convicted. But the actual number -of gang-robberies far exceeded that which was reported. Many of the -Dacoits boasted that they had been engaged in a dozen or fifteen -expeditions. One of them confessed to Mr. Hodgson, in 1824, that he -had participated in seven Dacoitees, yielding a total of £36,900. A -noted leader, named Lucka, was engaged in forty-nine, in the course -of twenty-five years, some of them taking place at a distance of -four or five hundred miles from his home. A Chumbul Dacoit confessed -to thirty-eight in twenty-seven years, and another to twenty-three -in twenty-two years; and another Oude Budhuk to thirty-nine in -thirty-three years. They generally commenced at an early age, from -eighteen to twenty, according to the vigour of their constitution. -Lucka, of whom mention is made above, was arrested under the disguise -of a Byragee, his body smeared with ashes and a house of peacock's -feathers on his back: but the restlessness of his eye, and the nervous -movements of his limbs betrayed him. Arrest and punishment, however, -were always endured with commendable resignation, being considered as -the accidents of their profession. - -The achievements of Bukshee and other leaders soon proved the fallacy -of Mr. Currie's complacent belief in the efficacy of his repressive -measures. In November, 1830, Bukshee's gang slowly travelled through -Oude, in the disguise of Ganges water-carriers, moving in small -parties and encamping in groves to avoid unpleasant interrogatories. -Arriving at the frontiers, they gradually concentrated towards Sursole -in the Cawnpore district, where they were informed by their spies that -a private treasure was on its way from Mirzapore to Furruckabad. Having -cut handles for their axe and spear heads, they crossed the Ganges -in a boat previously purchased for the occasion, and worked by two -well-disposed ferrymen. After reaching the opposite bank they had still -ten miles to go, so that it was almost midnight before they attained -their destination. A sudden rush was all that was then necessary, -though to increase the panic caused by their irruption they deemed it -expedient to wound six or seven of the escort. Breaking open the boxes, -they abstracted twenty-five bags, each containing 1000 rupees (in all, -£2,500), and made off to the river. But by that time it was daylight, -and the ferrymen had run their boat under the shelter of a high bank, -and were fast asleep. Afraid to make a noise by hallooing to them, the -Dacoits buried their treasure in the sands and dispersed themselves -among the neighbouring villages until nightfall. In the meantime the -police had discovered their boat, but being assured by the men that -it had brought over only some fodder for cattle, they immediately gave -it up. Soon after sunset the robbers met at the appointed rendezvous, -where they found the boatmen anxiously expecting them. So, digging up -the treasure, they went on board and were safely ferried over to the -other side, presenting each of these men with fifty rupees. - -About the same season of the following year Bukshee again took the -field in his old disguise, and moved down to Allahabad. This was the -place of rendezvous for the different detachments, and here they -made their offerings to the gods, and received the blessings of the -priests and prayers for success in all their undertakings. They then -returned to the left bank and dropped down the river till they came -opposite to Bindachul, where there stood a celebrated temple to Davee. -Again crossing to the right bank they worshipped at the shrine of the -goddess of destruction, and were rewarded for their devotion by the -intelligence that a merchant's shop in Mirzapore, only four miles -distant, promised a rich booty. Accordingly, so soon as it was dusk -they advanced two miles in that direction, and throwing off their -disguise concealed themselves in a hollow till past eight o'clock to -allow the streets to get empty. Then they hurried on to the town and -stopped before the house chosen for their operations, every avenue -to which was guarded by parties told off for that purpose. Suddenly -lighting their torches they rushed in at the still open door, stabbing -and slashing right and left, and carried off between four and five -thousand pounds sterling. A few minutes afterwards they were again -clear of the town. Returning to their place of concealment they resumed -their garments, hastened thence to the river, and presented each of -the boatmen with a hundred rupees for conveying them safely across. In -due time they reached their forest homes without hurt or molestation. -Connected with this expedition there occurred a characteristic -incident. To avoid disputes Bukshee had stipulated before hand that -he should receive one-fifth of the plunder in addition to his proper -portion and the repayment of the outlay he incurred in fitting out -and maintaining the gang, in order to ransom his parents who had been -detained in the gaol at Lucknow for the last twelve years. He was no -doubt sincere in his intention to apply these funds in the manner he -had stated, but unhappily he had several wives, who somehow absorbed -the whole amount, and his parents accordingly remained in confinement. -When reproached with having obtained the money under fraudulent -pretences, Bukshee excused himself by the patriotic remark that his -father was now too old to be of any service to the colony: he did not, -however, offer to refund the eight thousand rupees he had thus obtained. - -The Dacoits do not appear to have possessed the honour that is supposed -to exist among thieves in so high a degree as the Thugs. A notable -instance of the laxity of their mutual engagements was furnished about -the same time that Bukshee successfully defrauded his followers. A -gang of forty Dacoits, under two brothers, named Hemraj and Mungul -Sing, and their cousin Dhurmoo, were lying at Sherghottee, in the hope -of intercepting a treasure then on the way from Calcutta to Benares. -Here they were joined, much against their inclination, by a party of -fourteen under Ghureeba, who threatened to inform against them unless -they agreed not only to admit him into partnership, but also to set -aside a proportionate share of the plunder for a gang of twenty-five -under Bureear, from whom he had recently parted. After considerable -altercation Ghureeba carried his point, and the convention was ratified -by oaths of mutual fidelity. Then they all went on together to the -village of Dungaen, at the foot of the hills, where they attacked -the treasure-party at night, and, after killing four and wounding -sixteen of the escort, carried off twenty-eight bags, each containing -2,500 rupees (in all, £6,000). Hemraj and Mungul Sing now adhered -so far to their previous engagements, that they allowed to Ghureeba -and the absent Bureear the shares to which they were entitled, but -refused to burden themselves in behalf of a party who had rendered -them no assistance. Ghureeba expostulated with them to no purpose, and -declared he would hold them answerable for the whole amount. After some -further jangling, it was finally arranged that 30,000 rupees should -be buried until Bureear could fetch them himself, and this labour was -voluntarily undertaken by Mungul Sing. On their return home, Bureear -displayed such indignation at their unfriendly conduct that they were -constrained to pacify him with a present of 2,000 rupees, and a month -afterwards Mungul Sing and some others set out with him to dig up the -treasure. But instead of 30,000, they found only 18,000 rupees. As -might be expected, this discovery of the treachery of his associates -did not tend to mollify the already exasperated Bureear. In his wrath -he applied for redress to Rajah Gung Sing, of Dhera Jugdeespore, in -the kingdom of Oude, and appointed him arbiter. The Rajah proposed to -decide the question by an appeal to heaven, and to this Mungul Sing -and his party were compelled to assent. A blacksmith was thereupon -ordered to make some cannon-balls red hot, and these were placed with -tongs on the palms of the suspected persons' hands, defended only by -a thin peepul leaf. The ordeal was to carry these balls a certain -distance without being burned, but after taking a few paces they all -gave in. They were consequently pronounced guilty, and were sentenced -to refund the money they had purloined, and to pay a fine of 500 rupees -to the Rajah. In default of restitution, they were delivered over in -irons to Bureear, who kept them in confinement for several months, and -threatened to cut off their ears unless they made good his loss. But, -finding that his own followers were opposed to any further severity, -he prudently connived at their escape. "The hands of Boohooa, who -afterwards rose to the distinction of a leader, still (1849) bear -the marks of the burning he got; and, in showing them to me (Captain -Sleeman) one day, he confessed that the 'decision of the Deity' in -that case was a just one; that he had really assisted Mungul Sing in -robbing Ghureeba on that occasion of 10,000 rupees, by burying them -in a pit at some distance from the rest; and that he, Nundran, and -another of the party, afterwards helped themselves to three out of the -ten thousand, unknown to Mungul Sing." What became of the two thousand -still unaccounted for--the total deficiency being 12,000--he was unable -to say. - -The same Bukshee, of whom so much has already been said, was informed -by his spies, in January, 1833, that the ex-Peishwah Bajee Rao had -hoarded a large amount of gold coin at Bithore, on the right bank of -the Ganges, not far from Cawnpore. He accordingly assembled a numerous -band of Dacoits, who, after receiving their instructions, broke up into -small parties, which concentrated at a particular spot at the appointed -time. They then boldly stormed the ex-Peishwah's palace, wounded -eighteen of his servants, and carried off 50,000 rupees in silver and -15,000 gold mohurs, each worth fifteen rupees. As they approached -their homes they were met by their female relatives in triumphant -procession, to whom they made a largesse of fifteen mohurs and twenty -rupees to lay out in sweetmeats for themselves and their children. On -the following day every man in the village received five gold mohurs, -seven rupees, and two four-anna pieces (worth sixpence a piece). A -series of the most shocking debaucheries ensued, which resulted in the -death of Chunda, the second leader of the gang. Six months afterwards -the Oude authorities surprised the colony, when Bukshee and a hundred -of his followers were put to the sword, and nearly three hundred -taken prisoners; a considerable quantity of plunder was seized at the -same time. The Budhuks, however, were soon released, and the king -even entertained the idea of restoring the recovered property to its -rightful owner. But the queen is said to have suggested to his majesty -"that if he suffered the ex-Peishwah to recover his property in this -way, he would expose himself to a demand from the honourable company -for all that had been taken by gangs from the same colonies in their -attacks upon numerous public treasuries and private storehouses in all -parts of their dominions, and add to the grounds already urged for -depriving him of his country; but that if he allowed the property to be -quietly, the noise about it would soon cease, while he would escape all -further responsibility and odium." Her majesty's advice was both too -prudent and too palatable to be lightly rejected, and the property was, -accordingly, "quietly absorbed." - -A yet more dashing, though not equally profitable enterprise was that -of the famous Budhuk chief, Gujraj, in 1839. In the absence of the -Rajah of Jhansi, who had gone with nearly all his armed retainers to -a marriage festival in the Duteea Rajah's family, Gujraj, with fifty -followers, scaled the wall of that town, attacked the bankers' shops, -killed one man and wounded another, and finally got off unmolested with -£4,000 worth of plunder. This leader was warmly patronised by the Rajah -of Nurwur, who had always half a dozen of his men to guard him while he -slept. - -In Rajpootana, Gwalior, and Malwa the Dacoits called themselves -Bagrees, or Bagorras. This clan numbered about 1,200 families, -principally settled, or rather bivouacked, on the banks of the Chumbul. -Of their proceedings less is known than concerning those of their Oude -brethren. They were greatly favoured by the native princes and powerful -landholders, and even when they were seized their punishment seldom -went further than a compulsory restitution of the stolen property. -They rarely insulted women beyond demanding of them their gold and -silver ornaments, and their reckless liberality made them so popular -with the poorer classes that when some of the petty princes were urged -by the Indian Government to take steps to put down Dacoitee within -their respective territories, they excused themselves on the ground -that it would cause a revolution. They were, besides, much prized as -auxiliaries in the state of perpetual warfare that existed among these -independent princes. When the Alwar Chief, in 1783, renounced his -allegiance to the Rajah of Jyepore, his sword and shield was Kishna, -the great Bagree leader. At a later period, his grandson, Bijee Sing, -rendered an important service to the lord of Alwar, for which he -received an estate worth 4,000 rupees a year, rent free for ever. The -commander of the Jyepoor forces had reduced the Alwar Chief to great -straits, when the latter invoked the aid of Bhart Sing and Bijee Sing, -who came to his assistance with 500 Bagrees, resolute and well armed -men. The Manukpoor Gotra estate was offered as a reward to any one -who would assassinate the enemy's leader. The Dacoits accepted the -adventure. "Bhart Sing approached the tent at night with only four or -five followers, whom he left outside. He entered the tent, and found -the minister asleep and entirely defenceless. He could not kill a man -in that state, and taking up his sword, shield, and turban, which lay -by the bedside, he returned with them to Bijee Sing, saying that he -could never stab a brave man in that defenceless state. Bijee Sing then -went, entered the tent which was still without a sentry, and stabbed -the minister to the heart." - -At another time the Rajah of Kerowlie engaged a small band of Bagrees -to assist him in besieging his cousin the Thakoor Luchmun Sing, in the -city of Ameergur. "The duty assigned to us"--said one of them--"was to -cut off all supplies, and at night to attack the advanced batteries -thrown out by the garrison upon elevated places. The commandant allowed -us to select as many as we wanted of his best soldiers on whose courage -we could most rely, and we generally took about the same number as we -ourselves. We then reconnoitred the strongest batteries, sometimes in -the daytime in all manner of disguises, sometimes at night creeping -along the ground like wild animals, till we got up close to them, and -saw all that we wanted to see. After we had become well acquainted -with the positions, in three or four days we entered upon the attack. -Well armed with swords, shields, and spears, and some with muskets, we -advanced close to the ground till we got so near that we could rush -in upon them before the enemy could deliver their fire. No man is -permitted to carry a matchlock on such occasions; nor do we, indeed, -ever carry them in our enterprises, because the light of the matches -might warn people of our approach and bring their fire upon us. When -within the proper distance the signal is given, and we start up, and -rush in, and kill every man we can. There are always supporting parties -of troops close behind us, to follow up our attack and keep possession -of the surprised batteries. In this way we in one night surprised and -took three of the batteries which Luchmun Sing had placed upon a hill -near his fort. The night was dark, and we attacked them all at the -same time. We were about forty Bagrees, and we had with us about sixty -select soldiers, and for each battery we had from thirty to thirty-five -men; but we knew every inch of the ground we were to act upon, and we -could rely upon each other. We on such occasions stop all supplies that -they try to get into the besieged fort. We watch for several nights and -permit the people to take in all they please unmolested; and when we -know all the roads by which the supplies go in, we attack them all in -one night, and are allowed to keep what we get for ourselves." - -These Bagrees were as scrupulously devout in their way as the Italian -banditti are said to be, whom they resembled in more than one point. -Ajeet Sing, the leader of a Chumbul gang, in describing a Dacoitee -that had yielded 40,000 rupees, went on to say:--"Four thousand five -hundred rupees were taken to cover the expenses of the road, to offer -to the gods who had guided us, and to give in charity to the poor. For -offerings to the gods we purchase goats, sweet cakes, and spirits; -and having prepared the feast, we throw a handful of the savoury food -upon the fire in the name of the gods who have most assisted us; but -of the feast so consecrated, no female but a virgin can partake. The -offering is made through the man who has successfully invoked the god -on that particular occasion; and as my god had guided us on this, I was -employed to prepare the feast for him, and to throw the offering on -the fire. The offering must be taken up before the feast is touched, -and put upon the fire, and a little water must be sprinkled upon it. -The savoury smell of the food as it burns, reaches the nostrils of the -god and delights him. On this, as on most occasions, I invoked the -spirit of Gunga Sing, my grandfather, and to him I made the offering. -I considered him to be the greatest of all my ancestors as a robber, -and him I invoked on this trying occasion. He never failed me when I -invoked him, and I had the greatest confidence in his aid. The spirits -of our ancestors can easily see whether we shall succeed in what we are -about to undertake; and when we are to succeed, they order us on,--and -when we are not, they make signs to us to desist." - -The same Ajeet Sing described a singular superstition that existed -among the Bagrees. One of his comrades happened to be severely wounded -on the wrist, and became so faint from loss of blood that he was -obliged to be carried. As he passed under a Banyan tree, "the spirit -of the place fell upon him, and the four men who carried him fell down -with the shock." The phenomenon was thus explained. "If any man who -has been wounded on the field of battle, or in a Dacoitee, be taken -bleeding to a place haunted by a spirit, the spirit gets very angry and -lays hold of him: he comes upon him in all manner of shapes, sometimes -in that of a buffalo, at others in that of a woman, sometimes in the -air above, and sometimes from the ground below; but no one can see him -except the wounded person he is angry with and wants to punish. Upon -such a wounded person we always place a naked sword, or some other -sharp steel instrument, as spirits are much afraid of weapons of this -kind. If there be any good conjuror at hand to charm the spirits away -from the person wounded, he recovers, but nothing else can save him. -When the spirit seized Gheesa under the tree, we had unfortunately no -conjuror of this kind, and he, poor fellow! died in consequence. It was -evident that a spirit had got hold of him, for he could not keep his -head upright; it always fell down upon his right or left shoulder as -often as we tried to put it right, and he complained much of a pain in -the region of the liver. We therefore concluded the spirit had broken -his neck, and was consuming his liver." - -Dead bodies were usually burned, and the ashes thrown into the sacred -stream. Sometimes this could not be done, as, for instance, when one -died upon an expedition, and there was no time or means to make a -funeral pyre. In such cases the body would be hastily buried, or, as -once occurred, thrust into a porcupine's hole, and some of the fingers -cut off and carried home to the sorrowing relatives. The part was -then burned for the whole, and the gang presented a widow with money -to distribute in alms, and enabled her to make a handsome offering to -the family priest. Each colony had two or three especial deities, who -were the spirits of ancestors distinguished in the "imperial business," -as they proudly designated their vocation. When they desired to know -who of their forefathers was the most sympathetic, the most interested -in their welfare, they carefully noted the incoherent ravings of a -delirious man, or one suffering from epilepsy. His rambling talk was -attributed to the temporary possession of his tongue by some departed -spirit. If there were any doubt as to whose it was, the family -priest, or a relative of the sick man, would throw on the ground a -few grains of wheat, or coloured glass beads, mentioning the name of -some ancestor, and at the same time crying odd or even. If they cried -correctly two or three times consecutively, they had discovered the -demigod. They then sacrificed a goat, or some other animal, that the -pleasant odour of the culinary operations might gratify the nostrils of -the "daimon," while the assembled friends loudly sang his praises. If -the patient began to amend during the sacrifice, it was deemed a full -confirmation of their belief, and a new "Lar familiaris," or household -god was added to the polytheism of the colony. - -The chief deities worshipped by the Dacoits in common were Kalee -or Davee, and Sooruj Deota or Sun God. Before setting out upon an -expedition, they were always careful to take the auspices; which was -done in this manner. Having procured several goats, the principal men -assembled, and while one of them held some water in his mouth, the -others prayed, "O thou Sun God! And O all ye other gods! if we are to -succeed in the enterprise we are about to undertake, we pray ye to -cause these goats to shake their bodies!" If they do not shake them -after the gods have been thus duly invoked, the enterprise must not -be entered upon, and the goats are not sacrificed. "We then try the -auspices with the wheat; we have a handful of wheat, a large shell, -a brass jug, cloth, and frankincense (_gogul_), and scented wood -(_dhoop_) to burn. We burn the frankincense and scented wood, and blow -the shell; and taking out a pinch of the grains, put them on the cloth -and count them. If they come up odd, the omen is favourable; if even, -it is bad. After this, which we call the auspices of the Akut, we take -that of the Seearnee, or female jackal. If it calls on the left, it -is good; if on the right, it is bad. If the omens turn out favourable -in all three trials then we have no fear whatever; but if they are -favourable in only one trial out of the three, the enterprise must be -given up." - -The Bowrees appear to have been an off-set of the Bagree Dacoits. -They affected to be descended from Rajpoots, but in truth very little -is known as to their origin. Their peculiar dialect, however, was -Guzerattee, though for generations past they had not even visited -that province, but the circumstance is in favour of the theory that -traces them to Chittore, the capital of Mewar, adjacent to Guzerat, -whence they are believed to have emigrated when Akhbar captured that -city in 1567. According to the deposition of Dhokul Sing, made in -1839, the Bowrees were "not a people of yesterday--we are of ancient -and illustrious descent." Their ancestor, Pardhee, was one of the -companions of Ram in his expedition for the recovery of Seeta. "If," -said this approver, "if any prince happens to have an enemy that he -wishes to have made away with, he sends for some of our tribe, and -says, 'Go, and bring such or such an one's head.' We go, and steal -into his sleeping apartments, and take off the person's head without -any other person knowing anything about it. If the prince wanted, -not the head of his enemy, but the gold tassels of the bed on which -he lay asleep, we brought them to him. In consequence of our skill -in these matters, we were held everywhere in high esteem; and we -served princes and had never occasion to labour at tillage. We who -came to the Delhi territory (they were mostly located about Delhi, -Mozuffernugur, and Meerut), and were called Bowrees, took to thieving. -Princes still employed us to take off the heads of their enemies, and -rob them of their valuables. At present the Bowrees confine themselves -almost exclusively to robbing tents; they do not steal cattle, or cut -into ("dig through") houses; but they will rob a cart on the highway -occasionally--any other trade than robbery they never take to." During -the absence of the men on some thriving expedition, their wives and -families were protected and maintained by the Zemindar, on whose land -they resided, and who likewise was ever ready to advance a small sum of -money to enable his respectable tenants to take to the road--secure -of repayment with usury. Before setting out they sacrificed a goat to -Davee, and offered burnt offerings. - -They also presented sweetmeats to the goddess, and vowed no stinted -quantity should they return successful from their wanderings. To omens -they paid great regard. A couplet in familiar use among them was to the -effect, that "if the cow and the deer cross from the left to the right, -and the snake from right to left, and the blue jay from left to right, -even the wealth that has gone from thee shall come back." - -Of the cognate tribes of Sanseea and Bereea Dacoits some interesting -details may be gathered from the official reports of the Commissioners -for the suppression of Dacoitee. According to tradition there lived -a long time ago, in the province or Mharwar, two uterine brothers -named Sains Mull and Mullanoor. Sains was very illiterate and found it -extremely difficult to earn a livelihood by his own exertions. So he -went to the god Bhugwan and represented his case. The deity heard him -with compassion and gave him an order upon every village in the world -for the payment of half a crown from each. Returning home the foolish -fellow showed the paper to his brother, who, moved by envy, tore it -in pieces. A fraternal squabble naturally ensued, which at length -terminated by both of them repairing to Bughwan. But the god declined -to give a second order, and advised Mullanoor to assume the life of a -mendicant, while his brother was to maintain himself by singing and -dancing. From the former were descended the Bereeas, who wandered -about the country, playing the _dhol_ (a kind of drum), begging and -stealing: the men and women living together in a promiscuous state of -extreme socialism. The descendents of the other brother were called -Sanseeas, also a roving tribe, pretending to deal in cattle, goats, -horses, cloth, grain, or anything else that came into their hands. They -were generally in great request as _Bhâts_, or Bards at the marriage -festivals of the Jats. Their business was to trace the lineage of their -entertainer to the founders of the Jat family, and celebrate the heroic -virtues of his ancestors. If the host proved a niggard, and refused to -comply with the exorbitant demands of these vagabond minstrels, they -would make an effigy of his father and parade it up and down before -his house;--or even, in extreme cases, suspend it from a bamboo and -fix it over his door, by which means he temporarily lost caste, so -that none of his neighbours would drink or smoke with him. In former -times these Bhâts almost lived upon the Jats, each claiming, as his -peculiar province, fifty or a hundred families who, in succession, -gave him yearly one day's food and two shillings and sixpence in -money. The Sanseeas were divided into two sub-clans, the Malhas and -the Kalkas--the former being descended from Sains Mull's son, and the -latter from his grand-daughter by an adopted son. A Malha could not -marry a Malha, nor a Kalka a Kalka, but the young men of the one family -chose their wives from among the young women of the other. Originally -the Sanseeas confined themselves to mendicancy, minstrelsy, and -cattle-lifting, but after a time, emboldened by poverty or impunity, -they took to Dacoitee, which they reduced to a regular system. - -In their expeditions they left their old men and women, and their -children at home, under the protection of a friendly Zemindar, but -took with them a few young women and such as had children at the -breast, with a view to avert suspicion. When they arrived within two -days' march of the scene of their projected operations, the main body -halted, while the leader with a small party of followers, male and -female, went on to reconnoitre and make the necessary preparations. -Their usual plan was to enter a liquor shop, and while purchasing -some spirits, to ask the name of some respectable money-changer or -banker. They thus learnt the address of the one who was esteemed the -wealthiest. On the following morning at early dawn they repaired -to his shop, because at that hour he would be obliged to go to his -treasure-chest, whereas, later in the day he would have a small supply -of money beside him for ordinary business. Having now ascertained -where his hoard was deposited, and such other particulars as might be -useful, they proceeded to the bazar and procured a sufficient quantity -of bamboos for spear-staves. These they buried near the town on their -way back to the camp. All things being ready they took some spirituous -liquor and spilling a little on the ground, prayed aloud: "O Davee! -Mother! If we succeed in our business and get a good deal of booty, -we will make a grand _poojah_ (religious festival) to thee, and offer -thee a cocoa-nut!" The goddess being propitiated, the next step was to -assign to every man his particular post: some to act as scouts, others -to guard the avenues, others again to rush into the house, while the -Jemadar, or leader, reserved to himself the task of breaking open the -money-chest with his trusty hatchet. Early next morning they advanced -to an easy distance of the place, and some of them went forward for -the spear-staves buried on the previous day. A Sanseea, of approved -tact and intelligence again entered the town to purchase oil for the -torches, and to make the final reconnoissance. So soon as darkness -descended, the gang threw off their clothes and started at a rapid -pace, without once looking behind. If they had reason to expect that -the local police would be vigilant--a rare occurrence--they concealed -their spears in a bundle of reeds or coarse straw, which one of them -carried on his head, followed by another to personate the purchaser of -the fodder. On arriving in front of the shop, the bundle was thrown on -the ground, the cord hastily loosened, the spears extracted and the -torches lighted. Then the Jemadar invoked the aid of his patron deity -and vowed a grateful offering if the chest should at once yield to his -blows. Raising their war-cry _Deen! Deen!_ they furiously assaulted the -bystanders, pelting them with stones, striking them with their spears, -and even wounding them if obstinate. The Jemadar, the torch-bearers, -and four or five determined men, under favour of the tumult, broke into -the house, smashing doors and all other impediments. In a few minutes -afterwards the house was abandoned by the unwelcome intruders, who -moved off to the place of rendezvous as fast as their weighty plunder -would permit them; the Jemadar piously imploring of Bhugwan to send -their pursuers in a wrong direction. Should one of the gang happen -to have been slain, his spirit was likewise invoked, and spirituous -liquor and a goat promised to his manes. At every temple on the road, -and at every stream they had to cross, they threw down a rupee or two -to propitiate the genius of the place. When within a couple of miles -of their encampment they called aloud Koo-Koo. If no response were -heard they pushed on rapidly, occasionally imitating the call of the -partridge: when close at hand they uttered a hissing noise. On their -actual arrival they were certain to find everything packed up and -ready for a start. Mounted on their rough, hardy little ponies they -would cover a distance of sixty to eighty miles in twenty-four hours -for two or three consecutive days, until fairly beyond all danger of -pursuit. Any one was allowed to join a gang on payment of a few rupees, -though not to carry a spear or enter the house until his coolness and -courage had been freely tested. If a Dacoit committed homicide he -was obliged to expiate his blood-guiltiness by making a _poojah_, at -which he trusted his comrades with half a crown's worth of liquor. -In the division of spoils the Jemadar claimed one-tenth in addition -to the repayment of his advances towards fitting out the expedition. -The balance was then divided among the entire gang, the leader again -sharing, and provision was made for the wounded and for the widows of -those who had fallen. - -The religious creed of the Sanseeas was sufficiently simple. "I -believe" said one of them, "in Ram (God), Bhowanee, and Sheik Fureed, -whose shrine is at Gierur, about eighteen miles from Hingunghat. There -we make offerings after a successful expedition. Sheikh Fureed acquired -his saintship thus:--he first performed a devotional penance of twelve -years, carrying about with him a load of wood tied to his stomach, but -that was not accepted: next another, in which he ate nothing but forest -leaves for twelve years--not accepted: lastly, his third trip, he hung -himself up by the heels in iron chains in a Baolee (a well) at Gierur; -then he was taken up and asked what he wanted; he said, to have every -request granted; this was promised, and he disappeared. Many people now -pray to him for luck." - -Like the Thugs and the other Dacoits, the Sanseeas prided themselves -on the exact observance of omens. They looked upon it as unfortunate to -hear the cry of the jackal or the cat, a kite screaming while sitting -on a tree, the braying of an ass, a flute, or the lamentation over -the dead. It was equally inauspicious to see a dog run away with any -one's food, a woman break a water-pitcher, a hare, a wolf, a fox, a -chamelion, an oil-vender, a carpenter, a blacksmith, two cows tied -together, or a thief in custody. If they encountered a corpse, or if -a turban fell off, or the Jemadar forgot to put some bread in his -waist-belt, or left his spear or axe behind him--the expedition must -be deferred. But nothing could be more promising than to meet a woman -selling milk, or any one carrying a bag of money, or a basket of grain, -or fish, or a pitcher of water. Nor was it less encouraging to see a -calf sucking, or a pig, or a blue jay, or a marriage procession. - -Their most binding form of attestation was by means of a piece of -new cotton cloth, exactly 1¼ cubit square, in which was tied up -half-a-pound of coarse sugar. The accuser hung the parcel upon the -branch of a peepul tree, and challenged the accused to touch it. If the -latter foreswore himself, he would sicken within three days. Another -ordeal was to tie seven peepul leaves, one over the other, on the -palm of the suspected person's hand, on which a red-hot iron plate was -then placed. Unless he carried this seven paces without suffering any -inconvenience and deposited it upon seven thorns arranged to receive -it, he was pronounced guilty. At other times a Punchayut, or Council -of Elders, seated themselves on the bank of a river, when one of them -stepped forward and fired two arrows together from one bow, the one in -the name of Bhugwan, the other in that of the Punchayut. The furthest -one was then stuck upright in the ground, while a man walked into -the stream up to his breast and planted a bamboo in the channel. The -accused also entered the water and laid hold of the pole. A member of -the Punchayut having clapped his hands seven times as a signal for him -to plunge his head under the water, set off at the top of his speed for -the arrow, brought it back, and again clapped his hands seven times. -If the accused had kept his head immersed until this second signal, he -was deemed innocent: otherwise, his guilt was held to be satisfactorily -proven. - -When a male child was born, his head was carefully shaved, with the -exception of a small spot dedicated to Bhugwan. This lock of hair -was all that he was permitted to wear until the completion of his -tenth or twelfth year, when it also was shorn off by the barber, and -his relatives gave a grand entertainment to the tribe. Those who died -before this ceremony were simply buried with the face downwards: -the only solemnity being the preparation of some sweet cakes, of -which three were given to a dog and the rest consumed by relatives -and friends. But those who survived this important epoch of their -lives were, after death, placed on a funeral pyre. When the fire was -extinguished, the ashes were carefully examined and the bones buried on -the spot. Great feasting and jollity then followed, and the spirit of -the deceased, propitiated by an offering of swines' flesh and spirits, -was invoked to aid and protect his family. - -Matrimony was a matter of arrangement between the parents; a Punchayut -deciding the amount of the dower to be given by the father of the -bridegroom to the bride's father. The marriage ceremony consisted in -a libation of spirits to Bhugwan, the Supreme Being, and a public -declaration that the boy and girl were henceforth man and wife; the -whole concluding with a feast. If a man happened to be touched by the -petticoat of his mother-in-law, or daughter-in-law, he lost caste, -and therefore took care never to go near them. The same result was the -consequence of his being struck by his wife's petticoat in the course -of connubial strife. By thus losing caste he was incapacitated from -joining his tribe in worship, or in funeral rites, though he was still -allowed to eat and drink with them. However, a handsome entertainment -to his brother robbers and a humble offering to the gods removed all -impurities, social and religious. - -The Bolarum Dacoitee committed in 1837 is such an excellent -illustration of the system adopted by the Sanseeas that no apology need -be offered for the length of the narrative, as given to Captain Malcolm -ten years afterwards by one of the Dacoits actually engaged in it. - -"From this place (Sadaseopath) I and four others came on to Hyderabad, -where we looked about us for five days, but finding nothing likely -to suit our purpose, we went to Bolarum, and took up our quarters -at a buneeya's (tradesman's) shop in the village of Alwal, close to -the cantonments. In the cantonments we soon discovered a respectable -looking shop, which appeared well suited for a Dacoitee. Early one -morning I took fifty shuhr-chelnee rupees with me and went to the shop, -where I found the owner transacting business. I asked him to exchange -the shuhr-chelnee for bagh-chelnee rupees, and when I had agreed -to give him one pice discount on each rupee, he went and unlocked -one of two large-sized boxes, which I saw in an inner room, and out -of which he took the money I required. I also noticed some silver -horse-furniture hanging upon a peg on the wall, and in a niche a dagger -and a pair of pistols." "Having thus obtained all the information I -required as to the exact spot where the property was likely to be -found, I next examined the position of the different guards likely to -interrupt us in the act of breaking into the house. I found that a -guard of eighteen men was stationed at the chowrie (police station) -some distance off, and that a sentry was posted at night at a place -where four streets met, close to the shop I had reconnoitred. From the -latter I feared no opposition, as he could easily be overpowered, and -we calculated upon breaking into the house before the chowrie-guard -could turn out and come to the rescue of the banker." - -"I then returned to my comrades, with whom I remained for two days, -making ourselves acquainted with all the localities about the place, -the roads leading from it, and in fact with everything that might be of -use to us in the enterprise we were about to undertake. Among other -things, we learnt that after gun-fire, or eight o'clock, the guard had -orders to stop all parties entering the cantonments, and we therefore -determined to commence operations before that hour." - -"We then returned to Sadaseopath (forty miles distant), and on relating -the result of our proceedings to the gang, it was determined to risk -a Dacoitee on the Sowar's house at Bolarum. Our next proceeding was -to convey as secretly as possible to the vicinity of that place -sufficient arms and axes to answer our purpose; these were made up into -bundles and entrusted to four men, who proceeded in the night time to -Puttuncherroo, and on the following night, a couple of hours before -daybreak, we reached a small nullah (ravine) behind the mosque near -Bolarum, where the axes and spears were carefully buried in the sand. -The rest of our party in the meantime struck their camp, and, leaving -the high road, made to the village of Tillapoor, about eight or nine -miles from the fort of Golcondah." - -"The gang chosen for the Dacoitee consisted of twenty-four able men, -under Rungelah Jemadar and myself, and left Tillapoor about ten o'clock -in the forenoon, and, in small parties of two and three, reached at -twilight the spot where our arms were concealed. We then procured some -oil from the shop in the cantonments, and, about half-past seven or -nearly eight o'clock, we proceeded in straggling order towards the shop -about to be attacked, and which we reached without being challenged by -any one. The sentry posted near the shop we were about to attack did -not appear to suspect or notice us; and the moment our _mussal_ (torch) -was lighted, he was speared by Baraham Shah and Kistniah, while others -commenced breaking in the doors of the inner room, the outer partition -of the shop having been found open. Three bankers, whom we found -writing their accounts in the outer shop, rushed into the house and -disappeared. The lock of the door yielded to one blow from the axe of -Rungelah, and, on throwing down the planks of which it was formed, we -found the box which I had seen on a former occasion, unlocked and open. -Out of this we took sixteen bags full of money, leaving four, which we -were obliged to relinquish, as we were pressed for time, and had not -sufficient men at hand to remove them. The whole place now was in a -state of commotion and uproar; and, as we drew off as fast as we could, -we were followed by a crowd of camp-followers and Sipahees, to the -place where a number of bullocks were picketed. We here struck into -the paddy (rice) fields, and across these our pursuers did not attempt -to follow us. A short distance from Bolarum, two of the bags broke, and -the money fell to the ground; and as it was dark, and we had no time to -search for it, we lost nearly 1,500 rupees." Nevertheless, they got off -with 14,500 rupees, and with silver horse-furniture valued at £15 more. - -The impossibility of guarding against these organized attacks by -large bodies of armed men, through the means of the ordinary police, -induced Lord Auckland in 1838 to appoint Captain Sleeman commissioner -for the suppression of Dacoitee, in addition to his duties as General -Superintendent of measures for the suppression of Thuggee. The task -was a difficult one. Not only were the Dacoits protected and screened -by the native princes, land owners, and magistrates--their own numbers -and determination rendered their apprehension a matter of some danger. -It was afterwards ascertained that in 1839 there were no fewer than -seventy-two leaders south of the Jumna who could gather together 1,625 -followers; and to the north of that river forty-six leaders, supported -by 1,445 men. In the Oude jungles were many powerful colonies, who -were usually warned by friendly Zemindars of the approach of danger, -and thus enabled to flee to less accessible fastnesses. On one occasion -1,500 of them escaped into Nepaul where they temporarily dispersed, -to meet again at a given rendezvous. The Commissioner himself aptly -compared their colonies to a ball of quicksilver, which, if pressed -by the finger, will divide into many smaller globules, all certain -to come together again and cohere as firmly as before. However, the -constant alarms to which they were now subjected, compelled them to -conceal themselves in such unhealthy spots that they were decimated by -disease. In the Goruckpore district a gang, consisting of ninety-four -men and 280 women and children, suffered so much from this cause that -they voluntarily surrendered themselves. Others were hunted down from -one district to another, until in despair they yielded themselves -prisoners, or endeavoured to abandon their illegal vocation and -settle down to agricultural pursuits. Many of the prisoners, being -conditionally pardoned, were admitted into the police force, where -they distinguished themselves by their courage and intelligence. It is -a remarkable trait in the character of the Dacoits that they rarely -forfeited their word. If once they pledged themselves not to revert -to their former evil habits, there was little danger of a relapse. An -experimental colony was formed of the approvers and their families -near Moradabad, at a place called, _de nomine facti_, Buddukabad. The -result has been satisfactory, though the Dacoits usually complained -of the difficulty of confining their expenditure to the comparatively -small means furnished by honest industry. A Budduk, they would say, -cannot live on eight rupees a month (three rupees being the wages of -an ordinary labourer): he requires at least two rupees a day, because -he eats meat and takes large quantities of _ghee_ and rice, and loves -liquor, and is addicted to polygamy. One of them, who had been ten -years in prison, being asked by Capt. Ramsay if, in the event of his -liberation, he would promise to amend his life, shook his head and -answered with a merry laugh:--"No, no, that would never do. Why should -I become an honest man--work hard all day in the sun, rain, and all -weathers, and earn--what? Some five or six pice a day! We Dacoits -lead very comfortable and agreeable lives. When from home, which is -generally only during the cold season, we march some fourteen or -sixteen miles a-day for, perhaps, a couple of months, or say four, at -the outside--commit a Dacoitee and bring home money sufficient to -keep us comfortable for a year, or perhaps two. When at home we amuse -ourselves by shooting, or visiting our friends, or in any way most -agreeable--eat when we please, and sleep when we please--can, what you -call an honest man, do that?" - -Another who had passed a like period within the gaol at Lucknow, -returned to Dacoitee a few months after his release. "I was then -young," said he, "and in high spirits--I had been confined with many -other old Dacoits--and in gaol I used to hear them talking of their -excursions, how they got 50,000 rupees here and 20,000 rupees there; -and I used to long for my release, that I might go on Dacoitee and -enjoy myself." The confessions of both these men would be readily -endorsed by many inmates of our own prisons. Evil associations and -the charms of a contraband career are equally potent in Europe and in -Asia. But among the natives of India the profession of a Dacoit was not -regarded as one of shame and disgrace. Indeed, even the Commissioner -avowed he could see little difference, ethically, between expeditions -in quest of plunder, and those for the purpose of conquest; it was -a question of degree, not of principle. They themselves gloried in -their calling. "Ours," they said, "has been a _Padshahee Kam_ (an -imperial business); we have attached and seized boldly the thousands -and hundreds of thousands that we have freely and nobly spent: we have -been all our lives wallowing in wealth and basking in freedom, and -find it hard to manage with a few copper pice a day we get from you." -So energetic, however, and persevering were the measures adopted for -the suppression of this "Padshahee Kam" that within a very few years -after their inauguration, there existed in the Upper Provinces scarcely -even the nucleus of a gang. The few who still remained at liberty were -known by name and personal appearance, and only escaped apprehension -by leading simple and inoffensive lives, gaining their daily bread by -their daily labour. - -The task of suppression in the Lower Provinces has been attended with -so many peculiar difficulties, from the natural configuration of the -country, that Dacoitee can hardly yet be said to be extinguished. But -its days are numbered, and a marked diminution of cases is observable -every year. The apathy of their victims has, undoubtedly, been one -great cause of the impunity so long enjoyed by these daring marauders. -This reluctance to prosecute, though partly owing to a well founded -dread of incurring the vengeance of the comrades of convicted Dacoits, -is chiefly attributable to the repugnance felt by all respectable -natives to appear in Court even as complainants. The tedious -formalities of legal proceedings appear to them in the light of studied -annoyances, and their dignity is offended by the distrust with which -their statements are necessarily received. Perhaps, the ancient mode of -administering justice would be, after all, the most efficacious, and -certainly most in accordance with the native character. The elders of -the town, or village, seated at the gate, or beneath the grateful shade -of stately trees, and presided over by an English gentleman conversant -with their habits and language, and possessed of tact, patience, and -good sense, would probably dispense more evenhanded justice than is -obtained by all the costly paraphernalia of courts of law founded on a -totally different phase of civilization. Be this as it may, enough has -now been said to disprove the vulgar allegation of indifference to the -welfare of their fellow subjects so flippantly and frequently urged -against the Government of the East India Company. And these are only -two out of many instances that might be adduced to show that their -administration has been one of continued and consistent progress. It is -reserved for posterity to admire the gratitude that seeks to reward the -annexation and improvement of a vast empire by maligning the motives -of those to whom this country is indebted for the brightest gem in the -imperial crown, vilipending their services, and depriving them of power -and patronage. - - - - -The Mangs. - - -Some curious and interesting information has been furnished by Captain -C. Barr, of the Bombay Native Infantry, with regard to the Mangs, or -Kholapore Dacoits. It is needless to observe, that Kholapore was one -of the early divisions of the Mahratta empire, or that it separated -from the main body in 1729, under the auspices of one of the younger -branches of Sivajee's family. The Mangs occupied the very lowest -grade in the ladder of society--or, rather, they were looked upon as -outcasts, and quite beyond the pale of society. They harboured in wilds -and forests, and lived upon carrion, roots, and wild fruits. Their -real occupation, however, was that of border robbers; and yet it was -a source of pride among them that their wives should remain ignorant -of the nature of their pursuits. They never robbed or defrauded one -another; they even believed that the spoliation of "the Gentiles" -necessitated an expiation, which usually assumed the form of a gift of -a pair of shoes to a Brahman, and alms to the poor. Experience had -taught them the expediency of employing a peculiar dialect--perhaps -it was the original language of their race. Their leader, or headman, -was called the Naïk, and was selected by the majority of votes for -his skill in planning an expedition, his bravery in carrying it out, -and his integrity in the division of the spoils. The office was, -consequently, not hereditary; but they so far believed in the efficacy -of blood, as to allow considerable weight for a father's merits. The -Naïk's person and property were alike inviolable. On all ceremonial -occasions his precedence was allowed; in disputes, his decision was -final; and on him devolved the duty of laying out plans for robberies. -To every band was attached an informer, who was also the receiver -of the stolen goods. These scoundrels generally pretended to be, -and perhaps were, bangle-sellers, dealers in perfume, goldsmiths, -jewellers, &c., &c. In this capacity they were admitted into women's -apartments, and so enabled to form a correct notion of the topography -of a house, and a shrewd guess as to the wealth of its inmates. Their -mode of conducting a Dacoitee was in all respects similar to those -already described. The only persons exempt from their depredations -were bangle-sellers and agricultural labourers, who, in return, -afforded them refuge and hospitality in the hour of need. After a -successful foray, each of the gang contributed one-fourth of his share -to the Naïk, towards the common fund for defraying the expenses of -preparation, absolution, and feasts of triumph. The informer was not -entitled to any specific sum; but, as he enjoyed the privilege of -pre-emption of the booty, his interests are not likely to have been -overlooked. - -Like all barbarous tribes, and all persons addicted to criminal -practices, the Mangs were extremely superstitious. They never, for -instance, set out upon an expedition on a Friday. The new-born child -was bathed in a spot previously prepared for the purpose, and baptized -by the Brahman, in the name of the deity presiding over that particular -hour. In the family, however, and throughout life, the neophyte sinner -was known by some household name. Danger was encountered at an early -period of life. The mother and another woman stood on opposite sides of -the cradle, and the former tossed her child to the other, commending -it to the mercy of Jee Gopal, and waited to receive it back in like -manner, in the name of Jee Govind. - -The Mangs usually married young in life. If a girl happened to hang -heavy on hand, she was married, at the age of puberty, to the deity. -In other words, she was attached as a prostitute to the temple of -the god Khundoba, or the goddess Yellania. Those belonging to the -service of the latter were wont, in the month of February, to parade -the streets in a state of utter nudity. It was customary, previous to -a secular marriage, for the parents of the bridegroom to ask for the -hand of the bride. A test of the aspirant's address was then demanded. -In one instance, the father of the maiden filled a silver vessel with -water up to the brim after carefully suspending it over his head in -bed, so that the slightest touch would be certain to splash the water -on to his face. The suitor, however, was not daunted by the difficulty -of the enterprise. Procuring some dry porous earth, he employed it as a -sponge, carefully applying it to the surface of the water. Having thus -reduced the level of the surface, he cut the strings, carried off the -vessel, and next morning claimed his bride. The marriage ceremonies -were by no means interesting, except when a bachelor wooed a widow. -In this case he was first united to the _asclepias gigantea_, which -was immediately transplanted. Withering away and dying, it left him at -liberty to marry the charming widow. If a lady survived the sorrow -caused by the death of two or three husbands, she could not again enter -the holy state unless she consented to be married with a fowl under her -armpit--the unfortunate bird being afterwards killed to appease the -manes of her former consorts. - -Each family had its household god, but all agreed in the common worship -of Davee, as the tutelar deity of the tribe. Their chief festival was -the Dusserah, on which day they usually set out on their expeditions, -armed with sword and shield, and iron crowbar. Unhappily, the Mangs -must be spoken of in the past tense. The servants of the East India -Company, actuated, no doubt, by mercenary motives, have put an end -to their depredations and compelled them to resort to honest and -common-place industry. Thus are sentimentality and romance crushed at -the India House. - - - - -The Oothaeegeerahs - -or - -Professional Thieves. - - -In the year 1851 it was accidentally discovered that the British -territories had long been infested with gangs of thieves from the -Banpoor States. These Sunoreahs, or Oothaeegeerahs, who extended their -depredations into the very heart of Calcutta, had carried on their -vocation with impunity for many generations. Their existence was well -known, however, to the native authorities, from whom they received -protection and encouragement. The head man of each village was _ex -officio_ chief of the Sunoreahs, and kept a registry of the various -"nals," or gangs under his own jurisdiction--usually from seven to ten -in number. In Tehree they were estimated at 4,000, in Banpoor at 300, -and in Dutteeah also at 300. There were in all twelve villages occupied -by them, presided over by a Government officer, whose duty it was to -act as umpire in all disputes arising out of the division of spoils. - -Shortly after the Dusserah festival the chiefs of each village -repaired to their favourite Brahman priest to ascertain in what -direction they were to bend their steps. This having been duly -indicated, together with the auspicious day and hour, they started -off in a body to some place of considerable note. Here the gang, -consisting, probably, of fifty or sixty men, was subdivided into -parties of ten or twelve, and detached to adjacent towns and villages, -while the leader, with a strong party, remained at the point of -separation. Hither they all returned in the month of July; and, if -their joint exertions had produced fifty or sixty rupees for each -man, they then hastened home to prepare their fields for the summer -crop. But should fortune have proved unfavourable they again took to -the road, while their leader alone hastened back to the village laden -with plunder for their respective families. The office of Mookeea, or -leader, was hereditary, and, in default of male issue, descended to -females. If among the booty there happened to be any object of peculiar -elegance or value, it was ceremoniously presented to the chief of the -state. Thus, the head of the Tehree Government acknowledged a present -of two valuable pearl nose ornaments, by bestowing on the thief a grant -of land, rent free, in perpetuity; and the Rajah of Banpore was known -to have accepted two handsome watches and a pair of arm ornaments. -There was no mystery in the disposal of their stolen goods. These were -openly sold in the market places and bazaars at half their value, and, -during the absence of the Sunoreahs on their thieving expeditions, -the village money-lender unhesitatingly supplied their families with -whatever they might require. Of course, care was taken never to commit -any depredations within the territories of their protectors and patrons. - -The Sunoreahs had "chounees," or depôts in all parts of India, where -they could always find a ready sale for their effects. Near Calcutta -their head quarters were at the serai of the Rajah of Burdwan, whose -ostentatious hospitality oftentimes maintained as many as 200 of them. -Though usually possessed of ample means, they never scrupled to accept -alms with the Byragees, or religious mendicants at Burdwan. No matter -how widely they might have roamed from their native villages, they -always found ready purchasers for their pilferings, and they themselves -easily recognised each other by means of a peculiar "bolee," or slang. - -When their proceedings first became known to Major P. Harris, -Superintendent of Chundeyree, that officer immediately addressed the -Rajah of Banpoor on the subject, and elicited from him a most naïve and -characteristic reply, the following extract from which well exemplifies -the native notions of morality and good government:-- - -"I have to state that from former times these people following their -profession, have resided in my territory and in the states of other -native princes; and they have always followed this calling, but no -former kings, or princes or authority have ever forbidden the practice; -therefore these people for generations have resided in my territory -and the states of other princes; proceeding to distant districts, to -follow their occupation, robbing by day for a livelihood for themselves -and families, both cash, and any other property they could lay hands -on. In consequence of these people stealing by day only, and that -they do not take life, or distress any person, by personal ill-usage, -and that they do not break into houses, by digging wells or breaking -door-locks, but simply by their smartness manage to abstract property; -owing to such trifling thefts I looked on their proceedings as petty -thefts, and have not interfered with them. As many States as there may -be in India, under the protection of the British Government, there is -not one in which these people are not to be found, and it is possible -that in all other States who protect them, the same system is pursued -towards them as in my district; and besides, these people thieving -only by day, the police officers in the British territories are not -expected to exert themselves, the loss having occurred simply through -the owner's negligence. Owing to this circumstance, your friend looking -on their transgressions as trifling, I have not caused my police to -interfere with them. The British Government, who issue orders to all -the native powers in India, have never directed the system of Sunoreahs -to be stopped. From this I conclude that their offence is looked upon -by the British Government, as trifling; and probably this is the -reason that neither the British Government, nor any other authority, -have ever directed me to stop their calling; and on this account, from -property that they have brought home, and I have heard that it suited -me, or that they themselves, considering the article to be a curiosity -from a distant province, have presented to me through my servants; -thus, viewing the offence as trifling, that there was no owner to the -property, I received it from them, and gave them a trifle in return." - - -LONDON: - -LEWIS AND SON, PRINTERS, 21, FINCH LANE, CORNHILL. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Popular Account of Thugs and -Dacoits, the Hereditary Garotters and Gang-Robbers of India, by James Hutton - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A POPULAR ACCOUNT OF THUGS *** - -***** This file should be named 60503-8.txt or 60503-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/0/5/0/60503/ - -Produced by deaurider, Martin Pettit and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - - -Title: A Popular Account of Thugs and Dacoits, the Hereditary Garotters and Gang-Robbers of India - -Author: James Hutton - -Release Date: October 15, 2019 [EBook #60503] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A POPULAR ACCOUNT OF THUGS *** - - - - -Produced by deaurider, Martin Pettit and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<div class="center"><a name="cover.jpg" id="cover.jpg"></a><img src="images/cover.jpg" alt="cover" /></div> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> - -<h1>THUGS AND DACOITS.</h1> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span></p> - -<p class="bold">A</p> - -<p class="bold">POPULAR ACCOUNT</p> - -<p class="bold">OF THE</p> - -<p class="bold2">THUGS AND DACOITS,</p> - -<p class="bold">THE</p> - -<p class="bold2">HEREDITARY GAROTTERS</p> - -<p class="bold">AND</p> - -<p class="bold2">GANG-ROBBERS</p> - -<p class="bold">OF</p> - -<p class="bold2">INDIA.</p> - -<p class="bold space-above">BY</p> - -<p class="bold2">JAMES HUTTON.</p> - -<p class="bold">LONDON:<br />WM. H. ALLEN AND CO., 7, LEADENHALL STREET.<br />——<br />1857.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span></p> - -<p class="center">LONDON:<br />W. LEWIS AND SON, PRINTERS, 21, FINCH LANE, CORNHILL.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span></p> - -<h2>Thugs and Thuggee.</h2> - -<p>They who reverence ancient descent, and a long line of ancestors, are -bound to regard the Thugs with peculiar veneration. Perhaps, neither -in Asia nor in Europe are there any other families that can date their -origin from such remote antiquity. They are said to be sprung from the -Sagartii, who contributed 8,000 horse to the army of Xerxes, and are -thus described by Herodotus, in the Seventh Book of his History:—</p> - -<p>"These people lead a pastoral life, were originally of Persian descent, -and use the Persian language; their dress is something betwixt the -Persian and the Pactyan; they have no offensive weapons, either of iron -or brass, except their daggers; their principal dependence in action is -on cords, made of twisted leather, which they use in this manner: when -they engage an enemy, they throw out these cords, having a noose at the -extremity: if they entangle in these either<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> horse or man, they without -difficulty put them to death."</p> - -<p>There is some reason to believe, that in later times the descendants -of these Sagartii accompanied one of the Mahommedan invaders of India, -and settled in the neighbourhood of Delhi. In the latter part of the -seventeenth century, Thevenot makes mention of a strange denomination -of robbers, who infested the road between that city and Agra, and used -"a certain rope, with a running noose, which they can cast with so much -sleight about a man's neck, when they are within reach of him, that -they never fail, so that they strangle him in a trice." These vagrant -plunderers were divided into seven clans or families, called Bahleem, -Bhyns, Bhursote, Kachunee, Huttar, Ganoo, and Tundil, the parent stock -of all the subsequent ramifications. According to tradition, they were -expelled from Delhi by one of the emperors of the house of Gouree, on -account of the murder of a favourite slave. Their victim had long been -aware of their practices, and had connived at them, for the sake of the -handsome gratuities presented as the price of his silence. But, abusing -his power, and making exorbitant demands, he quickly experienced the -fate of those in whose plunder he had so freely participated.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> The -murderers were therefore driven from the neighbourhood, after being -branded on their posteriors with the current copper coin of the -empire. Five of the clans removed to Agra, whence their descendants -were afterwards called Agureea. A large body of them appear to have -travelled to Arcot, and there founded the proudest and most punctilious -branch of the fraternity. These Arcottee Thugs used to wear checkered -<i>loongees</i>, and short jackets, like the Company's Sepoys; they also -carried a knapsack on their back, a light cane in their hand, and -generally a small bag of beetel nut and paun. Their leaders, or -jemadars, frequently assumed the garb and bearing of wealthy merchants, -and had four or five attendants to cook for them, hand the hookah, -clean their pony, and do other menial offices, while the rest of the -gang followed in small parties, not to excite suspicion, but closed up -rapidly when the signal was passed along. The true Hindostanee Thugs, -however, professed to look down upon those of Arcot, and refused to -intermarry with them. The latter retorted, that the others could have -no pretensions to high birth, for at their marriages the matrons, as -they threw down the <i>toolsee</i>, were wont to exclaim, "Here's to the -spirits of those (Qulunders), who once led<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> bears and monkeys; to those -who drove bullocks, and marked with the <i>godnee</i> (kunjurs, or gipsies); -and to those who made baskets for the head." But this was explained by -the necessity of assuming disguises, in the first place, to escape from -Delhi, and afterwards for carrying on their terrible vocation. There -was certainly one very low Hindoo class, the <i>Sooseeas</i>, but calling -themselves <i>Naeks</i> and <i>Thories</i>, with whom the others associated -with reluctance. These chiefly confined themselves to Malwa and -Rajpootana, travelling as merchants, with their leader indulging in a -hackery or palanquin. Sometimes they disguised themselves as Sepoys, -or as treasure-bearers. The most exclusive clan were the Chingurees, -or Mooltanee Thugs, who practised female infanticide to a frightful -extent. They preserved alive only a sufficient number to provide wives -for the members of their own clan. They were allowed to be an ancient -tribe, and were much respected by the inferior associations with -whom they had nothing in common, except the dialect peculiar to all -Thugs. They usually travelled with their families as Brinjarees, with -bullocks and cows laden with goods, and strangled their victims with -a bullock's rope. A colony of about one hundred families was settled -at Hingolee.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> A very clever and staunch tribe, known as the Jumaldehee -Thugs, settled in Oude, who prudently kept their wives in ignorance of -the true nature of their pursuits, nor did they initiate their sons -till they had reached the age of puberty. When they sallied forth on -their expeditions, they left a certain number of their men at home, to -take care of the women and children, and to these they allotted a full -share of their spoils. The Brinjaree Thugs were especially fortunate -in escaping detection, or even suspicion, by reason of their nomade -habits, which rendered it extremely difficult to trace any particular -crime to them. They were consequently enabled to amass considerable -riches, though they seldom renounced their wandering life. A Thug -approver told the late Major-General Sleeman, that on one occasion he -and his party fell in with a company of merchants from the westward, -who were encamped near Jyepore, and wore exceedingly high turbans. -"What enormous turbans these men wear!" he remarked to a comrade, -using their slang term, <i>aghasee</i>. The chief man among the strangers -thereupon stepped forward, and requested the travellers to sit down -with them, adding, at the same time, "My good friends, we are of your<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> -fraternity, though our <i>aghasees</i> are not the same." It turned out that -these supposed merchants were a gang of Brinjaree Thugs, who, having -become wealthy, had given up strangulation, but were not the less glad -to welcome those who still laboured at the pious crime.</p> - -<p>In the beginning, as already stated, the Thugs were invariably -followers of the Prophet, but after a time Hindoos were initiated, who -inoculated their Mussulmaun teachers with their own superstitions. -Thuggee now became a divine institution, ordained by the goddess Kalee. -It is curious to observe how the amalgamation of the two religions -took place. Captain Sleeman asked a Thug approver, named Sahib, if he -thought the English would ever succeed in suppressing Thuggee? The -answer was, "How can the hand of man do away with the works of God?"</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Sleeman.</span>—You are a Mussulmaun?</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Sahib.</span>—Yes; and the greater part of the Thugs of the south -are Mussulmauns.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Sleeman.</span>—And you still marry, inherit, pray, eat, and drink, -according to the Koran? and your Paradise is to be the Paradise -promised by Mahommed?</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Sahib.</span>—Yes. All, all.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span></p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Sleeman.</span>—Has Bhowanee been anywhere named in the Koran?</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Sahib.</span>—Nowhere.</p> - -<p>It was then explained that Bhowanee was supposed to be another name for -Fatima, daughter of the Prophet, and wife of Ali. Sahib acknowledged -that Bhowanee had no power to admit her votaries into Paradise, nor -any influence over the future state, but maintained that she directed -the destinies of Thugs in this world, and that God would never punish -any one for obedience to her commands. Sleeman's Mahommedan officers -indignantly protested against the idea that Fatima and the Hindoo -goddess were identical, and professed an entire disbelief in the -divinity of Kalee. But they were somewhat disconcerted when the Thugs -asked how they reconciled this want of faith with their presence at -Kalee's festivals: they could not say that they were merely spectators, -led thither by an idle curiosity. The Thugs then adduced, as a proof -of the divine origin of their calling, the fact that they had pursued -it with impunity for nearly two centuries. Captain Sleeman having -declared that neither he nor his native officers cared one jot for -their goddess, and that they were determined to put down her worship -in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> this form, one of them replied, "They may say so, but they all -know that no man's family can survive a murder committed in any other -way; and yet Thugs have thrived through a long series of generations. -We have all children like other men, and we are never visited with any -extraordinary affliction."</p> - -<p>It may be here parenthetically stated, that of the Oude Thugs -nine-tenths were Mahommedans; in the Doab, one-fifth; south of the -Nerbudda, three-fourths; in Rajpootana, one fourth; and in Bengal, -Behar, Orissa, Bundlecund and Saugor, about one-half.</p> - -<p>Kalee, the goddess who presided over Thuggee, was worshipped also -under the names of Bhowanee, Devey, and Davey. She was the wife of -Mahadeo, or Siva, and first appeared on earth on the banks of the -Hooghly, at a spot afterwards called, in memory of the event, Kalee -Ghaut, now Calcutta. Here stands her most honoured temple, and here is -still celebrated with the most solemn rites her chief festival, the -Doorga Pooja. They who address her with the greatest reverence style -her Kunkalee, or the "man-eater," and represent her as quaffing huge -draughts of blood from men and demons. When alone, she is depicted as -black and hideous of aspect; but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> in company with her husband, she -is ever fair and beautiful. Once on a time the world was infested -with a monstrous demon named Rukut Beej-dana, who devoured mankind -as fast as they were created. So gigantic was his stature, that the -deepest pools of the ocean reached no higher than his waist. This -horrid prodigy Kalee cut in twain with her resistless sword, but from -every drop of blood that fell to the ground there sprung up a new -demon. For some time she went on destroying them, till the hellish -brood multiplied so fast that she waxed hot and weary with her endless -task. So she paused for a while, and from the sweat, brushed off one -of her arms, she created two men, to whom she gave a <i>roomal</i>, or -handkerchief, and commanded them to strangle the demons. When they -had slain them all, they offered to return the <i>roomal</i>, but the -goddess bade them keep it and transmit it to their posterity, with the -injunction to destroy all men who were not of their kindred. There -were many exemptions, however, from this rule. The murder of women, -for instance, was positively prohibited, and this prohibition was -seldom or never violated in Bengal, Behar, or Orissa. To the south of -the Nerbudda old women did not always escape, or even young<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> women, -when it was found impossible to separate them from a tempting prize. -Between the Nerbudda, the Indus, and the Jumna, the Thugs had few -scruples of any kind. It was likewise unlawful to murder a Brahman -or a Kaet (member of the writer caste), or a religious mendicant -of any kind, or oilman, potter, carpenter, blacksmith, goldsmith, -elephant-driver, musician, dancing-master, or any one having a domestic -animal with him, or carrying a parent's bones to the sacred river. -But, in later times, these restrictions were either totally evaded or -confined to the first day of the expedition. To the neglect of these -and such-like regulations, the approvers ascribed the decay of the -"time-honoured craft." Davey used to protect them, they said with a -sigh, when they "had some regard for religion." She never forsook them -till they neglected her. They were merely instruments in the hands -of God. "No man is ever killed by man's killing," but through the -will of the Deity. Many "incursions" had been made at different times -against Thuggee, but never on such a scale as that instituted by the -company's officers. "The Company's Ikbal (genius, or good fortune) is -such, that before the sound of your drums, sorcerers, witches, and -demons take flight, and how<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> can Thuggee stand?" In the early ages -of the "institution," Bhowanee used to dispose of the dead bodies -and efface all signs of the murder, but she distinctly warned her -votaries against looking back after they had again taken to the road. -Curiosity, however, at length proved too strong for the sons of Eve, -and one day it came to pass that a Thug looked over his shoulder and -beheld the goddess playing at ball with the corpses, throwing them up -into the air and catching them as they fell; or, according to another -account, she had a dead body in her mouth, the extremities projecting -on either side. After this discovery of her favourite pastimes, Kalee -refused to have anything more to do with their victims, and left it -to themselves to conceal the tokens of their "piety." But she did not -altogether abandon them. Even in her wrath she was gracious to those -who held her name in honour. She accordingly bestowed upon them one of -her teeth for a pick-axe, a rib for a knife, and the hem of her garment -for a noose: yellow and white being the colours she most affected, such -were frequently the hues of the <i>roomal</i>. To the last she "everywhere -protected the Thugs, so long as they attended religiously to their -duties." Even when through inattention to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> omens she sent for their -guidance, any of them were apprehended and punished, her vengeance was -sure to overtake their oppressors. "Was not Nanha," said an approver, -"the Raja of Jhalone, made leprous by Davey for putting to death Bodhoo -and his brother Khumoolee, two of the most noted Thugs of their day? -He had them trampled under the feet of elephants, but the leprosy -broke out upon his body the very next day." Nanha was so sensible of -his guiltiness, that he did all in his power to appease Davey. "Bodhoo -had begun a well in Jhalone; the Raja built it up in a magnificent -style; he had a Chubootra (tomb) raised to their name, fed Brahmans, -consecrated it, had worship instituted upon it, but all in vain; the -disease was incurable, and the Raja died in a few months a miserable -death.... When Madhajee Scindiah caused seventy Thugs to be executed at -Mathura, was he not warned in a dream by Davey that he should release -them? And did he not, the very day after their execution, begin to -spit blood? And did he not die within three months?... When Dureear, -the Rathore, and Komere and Patore, the Kuchwaha Rajpoots, Zemindars, -arrested eighty of the Thugs who had settled at Nodha, after the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> -murder of Lieutenant Monsell, they had many warnings to let them go, -but they persisted and kept them till some thirty died. They collected -10,000 rupees, at the rate of 125 rupees from every Thug. What became -of their families? Have they not all perished? They have not a child -left. Rao Sing Havildar, the Gwalior Soobah of Nodha, took the money, -but that very day his only son and the best horse in his stable died, -and he was himself taken ill and died soon after a miserable death.... -The Raja of Kundul, some ninety coss (180 miles) east from Hyderabad, -arrested all the Thugs in his Raj for some murders they had committed. -For three successive nights the voice of Davey was heard from the top -of every temple in the capital, warning the Raja to release them. The -whole town heard her, and urged the Raja to comply. He was obstinate, -and the third night the bed on which he and his Ranee were sleeping was -taken up by Davey, and dashed violently against the ground." They were -dreadfully bruised and frightened, and lost no time in releasing their -heaven-protected prisoners.</p> - -<p>Kalee not only protected the Thugs, but sent them numerous omens as -encouragement or warning. An omen was, in fact, a positive <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span>command to -slay the travellers in their power, or to allow them to go unharmed. If -they did not attend to these omens, they became guilty of disobedience, -and had no longer any claim upon the goddess for protection. On -Captain Sleeman inquiring if any evil would befall them if they used -the <i>roomal</i> without reference to the divine signals, Sahib at once -answered in the affirmative, adding, "No man's family ever survives -a murder: it becomes extinct. A Thug who murders in this way loses -the children he has, and is never blessed with more. He cannot escape -punishment." "But how," said Captain Sleeman, "how can you murder -old men and young children without some emotions of pity—calmly and -deliberately as they sit with you and converse with you, and tell you -of their private affairs—of their hopes and fears—and of the wives -and children they are going to meet after years of absence, toil, and -suffering?" The answer was such as might almost have been made by -an ancient Hebrew, had any one asked him if he felt no pity for the -wretched Canaanites he so ruthlessly murdered. "From the time that -the omens have been favourable, we consider them as victims thrown -into our hands by the Deity to be killed; and that we are the mere<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> -instrument in her hands to destroy them: that if we do not kill them, -she will never be again propitious to us, and we and our families -will be involved in misery and want." In precisely such a spirit did -Samuel hew in pieces before the Lord, Agag, king of the Amalekites. -The Thugs were by no means insensible to domestic feelings, or even to -the charms of social and friendly intercourse. At home their conduct -was irreproachable. Their villages were usually models of cleanliness -and neatness; their lands were industriously cultivated, their wives -and children treated with all kindness and affection. When Laek, an -approver, heard of his brother's arrest, he repeated with much feeling -an Hindustani verse, which has been thus rendered into English:—"I -was a pearl, once residing in comfort in the ocean. I surrendered -myself, believing I should repose in peace on the bosom of some fair -damsel—but, alas! they have pierced me and passed a string through my -body, and have left me to dangle in constant pain as an ornament to -her nose." Their wives frequently were quite unconscious that their -husbands were murderers, though they may perchance have suspected them -of being thieves and robbers. The sons also were kept in ignorance -of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> entire truth until they had completed their fourteenth or -fifteenth year. In fact, they were gradually trained to the business. -At first they were taken out as if for a pleasant excursion, and had -generally a pony to ride. Presents, too, were given them after each -murder, though they were not made acquainted with the source whence -those gifts were derived. However, before they returned home they -had usually a shrewd suspicion that their treasured prize had not -been honestly come by. Next year they were plainly told that their -parents and relations were highway robbers; but by this time they had -become too fond of the careless roving life and of their share of -the easily-acquired plunder, to listen to the still small voice of -conscience. And thus in the third year they were not horrified to learn -that they were accomplices in murder. By such gentle transitions the -best regulated mind may eventually be attuned to the most atrocious -guilt. A comical reason was given to Captain Sleeman to account for -the omission on the part of a Thug father to initiate his son. "His -father," said the witness, "used to drink very hard, and in his fits -of intoxication he used to neglect his prayers and his days of fast. -All days were the same with him. This lad, <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span>Shumshera, was always sober -and religiously disposed, and separated from his father, living always -with his uncle Dondee, who was a very worthy, good man." He, too, was -a Thug, but likewise refrained from removing the veil from the eyes -of the lad. Another relative, however, proved less considerate, and -flattered the young man's vanity by telling him that he belonged to a -very high family of the Jumaldehee Thugs. A sad tale concerning another -youngster was related by Feringeea, a noted leader, who turned king's -evidence. One Aman Soobahdar went out upon an expedition, accompanied -by his cousin Kurhora, aged scarcely fourteen, whom he gave in charge -to Hursooka, his adopted son. After a time the gang fell in with a -party of five Sikhs, whereupon Aman desired Hursooka to keep the boy -well in the rear, so that he might not witness the contemplated murder. -Kurhora, however, becoming frightened, broke away from his companion -and galloped to the front to overtake the others. Just as he came in -sight, the signal was given. In an instant the fatal noose was applied, -a few shrill cries rent the air, and five writhing human bodies lay -convulsively distorted on the ground. At the horrid spectacle Kurhora -"was seized with a trembling, and fell from his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> pony; he became -immediately delirious, was dreadfully alarmed at the sight of the -turbans of the murdered men, and when any one touched or spoke to him, -talked about the murders and screamed exactly like a boy talks in his -sleep, and trembled violently if any one spoke to him or touched him." -Three or four of the party remained with the poor lad, for he was a -great favourite with them all, but he never recovered his senses, and -died before the evening. Hursooka took his death so much to heart that -he retired from the world, turned Byragee (an ascetic), and passed the -remainder of his days in serving at a temple on the Nerbudda.</p> - -<p>Feringeea, the narrator of the preceding mournful incident, was a fine -handsome fellow, greatly admired by the women, and much respected by -his associates. His name was given to him in memory of an attack made -by a party of Feringees (Europeans) under the French General Perron, -on his uncle's village in distraint of certain customs' dues. As his -mother fled from the scene of violence and brutality, she was seized -with labour pains and brought a man child into the world, whom, in -remembrance of the terror and anguish she had endured, she named -Feringeea. On one occasion <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span>Feringeea, when he had grown to man's -estate and had become a famous leader, was travelling with his cousin -Aman Soobahdar and a gang of 150 Thugs through Rajpootana, when he fell -in with a handmaid of the Peishwah Bajee Rao, on her way from Poonah -to Cawnpore. "We intended to kill her and her followers," he quietly -remarked to Captain Sleeman, "but we found her very beautiful, and -after having her and her party three days within our grasp, and knowing -that they had £15,000 worth of property in jewels and other things with -them, we let her and all her party go; we had talked to her and felt -love towards her, for she was very beautiful."</p> - -<p>But beauty was not always equally powerful to save. At another time, -he came up with a beautiful young Moghulanee, travelling with an -old female servant, mounted on a pony, an armed attendant, and six -palanquin-bearers. The ill-fated damsel, unhappily for herself and her -companions, became enamoured of the dashing, handsome young Thug. In -vain he tried to shake her off, for he feared a scandal might arise -if he, a Brahmin, had any improper intercourse with a Mussulmaunee. -And the exchange of other than Platonic love would have saved her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> -life. So at last he insisted that they should "take" her, and she was -accordingly put to death. "It was her fate," he said, not excusing -himself, but putting the matter in the right light, "It was her fate -to die by our hands." Captain Sleeman, then asked Madar Buksh, who -actually strangled the poor Moghulanee, if he had no pity for the -beautiful young woman. "I had," he answered, "but I had undertaken the -duty, and we must all have food." As if hurt by the enunciation of such -a base practical motive, Feringeea here struck in, saying, "We all -feel pity sometimes, but the <i>goor</i> (consecrated coarse sugar) of the -Tapoonee, (feast after a murder), changes our nature. It would change -the nature of a horse. Let any man once taste of that <i>goor</i>, and he -will be a Thug, though he knew all the trades and have all the wealth -in the world. I never wanted food; my mother's family was opulent, her -relations high in office: I have been high in office myself, and become -so great a favourite wherever I went, that I was sure of promotion; yet -I was always miserable while absent from my gang, and obliged to return -to Thuggee. My father made me taste of that fatal <i>goor</i> when I was yet -a mere boy; and, if I were to live a thousand years, I should never -be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> able to follow any other trade." The fascination of the abominable -"trade" is almost incredible. There were many instances of Thugs -enlisting into the Company's service, and making excellent soldiers; -and yet, whenever an opportunity presented itself, they would get two -parades' leave, join some of their old associates, commit as many -murders as possible, and then, with satisfied feelings, return to their -duty.</p> - -<p>Feringeea, after the apprehension of his gang, could have escaped to -other clans in Rajpootana and Telingana, "but," said he, "you had -secured my mother, wife, and child: I could not forsake them—was -always inquiring after them, and affording my pursuers the means of -tracing me. I knew not what indignities my wife and mother might -suffer. Could I have felt secure that they would suffer none, I should -not have been taken." He was finally captured by two striplings, whom -he could easily have overpowered, had he not imagined that they were -supported by a party of police outside the hut, and that all resistance -was therefore idle. At one period of his life, he was in General -Ochterlony's service, and a great favourite with Sir David. His wife -was not aware that he was a Thug. "Her family," he proudly remarked -to Captain Sleeman, "are of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> the aristocracy of Jhansee and Sumtur, -as you may know." His foster-brother, being informed the day before -his execution, that his foster-mother had been arrested, earnestly -begged, as a last favour, that he might have an interview with her -as she was led to the scaffold. His request being granted, "he fell -at the old woman's feet, and begged she would release him from the -obligations of the milk with which she had nourished him, and the care -with which she had cherished him from infancy, as he was about to die -before he could fulfil any of them. She placed her hands on his head, -and he knelt, and she said she forgave him all, and bid him die like -a man." The sons were worthy of such mothers, heroic in their firm -resolve. There is likewise on record one example of a woman, named -Baroonee, who used to assist her husband to strangle his victims. Once -she saved his life when nearly overpowered, by tightly pulling the -<i>roomal</i> round the neck of the struggling wretch, till he fell dead at -her feet. Mothers frequently compelled their sons to go on Thuggee, -and wives their husbands; and there was one woman in the Deccan, who -kept a gang, though it does not appear that she ever accompanied them. -Among the ancient male leaders none was more venerated than Dada<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> -Dheera, of the Bhursote clan, whose name was oft-times invoked over -spiritual potations, at certain religious ceremonies. Next to him, was -the Mooltanee leader, Jhora Naek, who, assisted only by his servant, -Koduk Bunwaree, once strangled a man possessed of property to the value -of £16,200. Instead of appropriating this valuable prize, he drove the -mule home, assembled his neighbours, and distributed to each the share -to which he would have been entitled had he been actually present at -the murder. For this remarkable display of honour and self-denial, -both he and his wife were canonized. The leadership was usually the -reward of merit. "A man," said one of them, "who has always at command -the means of advancing a month or two's subsistence to a gang, will be -called a Jemadar; a strong, resolute man, whose ancestors have been for -many generations Thugs, will soon get the title; or a very wise man, -whose advice in difficult cases has weight with the gang; one who has -influence over local authorities, or the native officers of courts of -justice; a man of handsome appearance and high bearing, who can feign -the man of rank well—all these things enable a man to get around him a -few who will consent to give him the fees and title of Jemadar; but it -requires<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> very high and numerous qualifications to gain a man the title -of Soobahdar."</p> - -<p>It is now time to consider what omens were good, what bad, in the -eyes of this strange fraternity. There does not seem to have been any -particular reason for deciding on the hidden meaning of the incidents -that were supposed to be sent to regulate their conduct. The division -of tokens and prodigies into auspicious and adverse was, indeed, -most arbitrary and capricious, and can scarcely in any one instance -be accounted for. The good were not so numerous as the bad, for even -these habitual murderers gladly clutched at any excuse for evading the -necessity of taking human life. Very promising was it, on first setting -out, to meet a woman, carrying on her head a pitcher full of water: -they then felt assured of a happy return to their homes, especially -if she happened to be with child. Still better was it to hear an ass -bray on the left hand, and then on the right; the expedition might last -for years, it would always be attended with success; it passed into a -proverb—<i>Sou puk, heroo ek dunteroo</i>,—"One ass is worth a hundred -birds." Another proverb,—<i>Baean geedee sona leedee</i>, intimated, -that "a jackal, crossing from right to left, brings gold." To rhymed -sayings<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> of this kind they were partial, as an assistant to memory. -Here is a more elaborate instance:</p> - -<div class="center"><div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<div>Ratee bolee teetura,</div> -<div>Din ko bolee seear,</div> -<div>Tuj chulee wa deysra,</div> -<div>Nuheen puree achanuk dhar.</div> -</div></div></div> - -<p>That is, being interpreted, "If the partridge call at night, or the -jackal during the day, quit that country, or you will be seized." -Immediate and valuable booty might be expected, if the large hill-crow -were heard croaking on a tree, with a river or tank in sight; but the -reverse was the case, if the bird were seated on a live buffalo or -pig, or on the skeleton of any dead animal. Pleasant, too, was the -prospect, if a cat came prowling to their encampment by night; and -equally cheering to see a wolf, or a shrike, crossing the road from the -right to the left; or a large male antelope, or a herd of small deer, -or the blue jay, crossing from left to right. It was good to hear the -hare calling at night, upon the left, or the loud, continued hooting -of the small owl, when sitting; or the call of the partridge, on the -left, while travelling, and on the right, while halting. If a herd of -deer came in sight, they looked, ere long, to fall in with another gang -of Thugs. The call of the sarus was the most<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> variable of all. It was -very encouraging if heard first on the left, and then on the right, on -opening an expedition, and also on reaching a stage, if heard on the -right; if repeated on the left, a rich prize was at hand, but ill luck -was betokened if it first sounded on the left; equally inauspicious was -the cry heard on the right, on leaving a stage, unless preceded on the -left. The most frequent reference was to Pilhaoo and Thibaoo; by the -former was meant the voice or appearance of omen-endowed animals on the -left hand, by the latter, that on the right. If the Pilhaoo were good, -it was improved by being followed by the Thibaoo; if evil, the danger -was in like manner diminished. Unless both were obtained before setting -out, the expedition was deferred to a later season. On leaving a stage, -the Pilhaoo was full of promise,—the Thibaoo of warning; a rule that -was reversed on reaching a halting ground.</p> - -<p>On the other hand, if a turban fell off, or caught fire, the gang -returned home, if at no great distance, and remained quiet for seven -days; otherwise, they offered up <i>goor</i> (coarse sugar), and the owner -of the turban alone retraced his steps. An expedition had also to -be re-commenced, if on the first day or night it <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span>encountered the -Ansootare, literally, "tear drops;" that is, a shower of rain falling -in the dry season, or in any month save June, July, August, and -September; nor could any success be anticipated if it thundered, with -little or no rain, when a gang was ready to set out. A very dreadful -omen was the cry of the kite, heard during the interval between the -first watch and day-break. All would then start to their feet, and -betake themselves to hurried flight; though no alarm was entertained -if the cry were heard between sunset and the end of the first watch, -because then "the omen was suffocated under their sides as they turned -in their sleep." Hardly less disastrous was a lizard falling upon -a Thug; any garment that it touched must be given away in charity. -Nothing but ill luck followed the meeting a maimed person, or an -oil-vender, or a woman bearing an empty water-jar, or a leper, or any -one emaciated by sickness; to meet a donkey face to face, was called -Mataphore, or "the head-breaker." It was of evil import to see a -jackal, or a wolf, cross the road from left to right, or a large male -antelope, or small deer, from right to left. If a snake crossed either -behind or in front of the gang, they must kill it or return home; -in either case sacrifices were required. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> sight of two jackals -crossing the road together, in front, foretold prison and chains. The -call of one jackal was bad; the general clamour, or "lamentation" of -a pack, still worse; but the short, broken cry of that animal, or the -noise of several fighting, rendered it necessary to take to precipitate -flight. It was ill-omened to hear the call of the kite while flying, -or that mournful sound known as the "weeping" of the wolf, or the low -hooting of the small owl, repeated two or three times; or the loud -responsive cry of two large owls, or the low clicking sound of that -bird, or the slight chirp of the small owl, either sitting or flying. -If any member of the gang sneezed, either on first setting out, or on -leaving a halting-ground, expiatory sacrifices were offered, and all -travellers then in their power were allowed to escape. Were a dog seen -to shake its head, no Thug would dream of executing any design he might -previously have formed.</p> - -<p>It was also unlucky to hear cats fighting in the day-time, or after -the first watch at night; or the low gurgling of the large owl, which -somewhat resembles the bubbling of a hookah. If this sound were -observed on first setting out, the expedition was postponed for several -days; if, afterwards, on the left, the gang hurried on, for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> there -was danger behind; if on the right, they halted, for there was danger -before them. But probably, no omen was more dreaded than the sight, or -the cry, of a hare. Unless a sacrifice was immediately offered, they -were certain to perish miserably in the jungles, and the wild animals -of the forest would drink water out of their skulls: should they -impiously plunder any traveller then with them, they would obtain no -booty. One of the most intelligent approvers ascribed his apprehension -on one occasion to his neglect of this omen. "A hare crossed the road," -he said, "we disregarded the omen—though the hare actually screamed in -crossing—and went on." On the following day he and seventeen of his -associates were arrested, and only obtained their release after a long -detention.</p> - -<p>It has been already stated that the Thugs attributed their recent -misfortunes to their want of "religion" in neglecting omens, and -disregarding the restrictions assigned to their homicidal duties. Their -evasions of the latter were sometimes humorous. They were forbidden -to destroy any one accompanied by a woman or a cow. But a party of -fourteen, possessing both these safeguards, once fell into the hands of -a gang at Kotree, in Huttah, and were persuaded<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> by the Thugs to sell -the cow to them, as they had made a vow to present one to the Brahmans -at Shahpore. They did actually fulfil their pretended vow, but not -until they had strangled, without any remaining compunction, every one -of their unsuspecting victims, not even excepting the female. According -to the approvers, the practice of killing women had prevailed only -five years, and became one great cause of their ruin. The principal -reluctance to woman-slaughter was entertained by the Hindoos—the -Mussulmauns, perhaps, from their larger experience of the sex, showing -little inclination to spare them. On a certain occasion a Hindoo lady, -called the Kalee Beebee, was met by a gang as she travelled in a dooly -(a sort of litter), accompanied by twelve dependents. The Thugs having -discovered that she had £400 worth of property with her, her death was -insisted upon by the Mussulmauns, and as strenuously objected to by -the Hindoos. Thereupon a violent quarrel arose between them, which was -only appeased by the former perpetrating the deed by themselves. The -Hindoos, however, did not refuse to share in the plunder, save only the -lady's personal ornaments and clothes. One of them, a Brahman, named -Purusram, was shunned by his own<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> brother until he expiated his guilt -by feasting several hundred Brahmans at a great expense. Another member -of the gang, also a Brahman, "got worms in his body, and died barking -like a dog." A third died miserably, and the families of all became -extinct.</p> - -<p>A more horrible instance of woman-slaughter appears to have escaped -unpunished, at least for a time. The Moonshee, Bunda Alee, in company -with his wife, an infant daughter, and six servants, was taking to her -bridegroom another daughter who had attained to a connubial age. On -the journey he fell in with a numerous gang of Thugs, the leaders of -whom contrived to ingratiate themselves with the Moonshee's party, and -all travelled on together. One evening towards dusk some of the Thugs -seated themselves, as usual, with the Moonshee at his tent door, and -began to sing and play on the sitar. One of them presently took up the -Moonshee's sword, which was lying on the ground at his feet, as if -to examine it. The signal was then suddenly given, but the Moonshee -sprung to his feet, screamed aloud, and tried to rush into the tent, -but was instantly seized and strangled. His wife, hearing his shrieks, -came running out with the infant in her arms, and shared his fate.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> -The bride was put to death within the tent. The servants were at that -moment engaged in grooming the horses, and one of them crept under -a horse's belly and lustily bawled out "murder!" but they were all -quickly silenced by the fatal noose. Ghubboo Khan, who had murdered -the mother, intended to adopt the infant, but was dissuaded by one of -his comrades who pointed out that it might lead to their discovery. He -therefore threw the child alive into the hole in which the dead bodies -were already deposited, and the earth was hastily shovelled in upon the -living and the dead. While this dreadful scene was enacting, a number -of Khulasies were, within sight, occupied in pitching the tents of the -European officers commanding a detachment of troops marching along the -road. The Thugs, however, had taken care to play and sing, at the top -of their voice, as soon as the butchery commenced, while others let -loose two vicious horses and chased them with vociferous shouting, so -as effectually to drown the cries of their victims.</p> - -<p>The five years assigned as the duration of feminicide was simply a -euphuism; it prevailed through a very much longer period. In 1816 a -party of eighteen men and seven women were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> strangled near Shikarpore, -but the Thugs spared two boys, one of whom, however, cried so bitterly -and made so much moaning, that a ruffian seized him by the legs, swung -him round, and dashed out his brains against a stone. The dead body -was carelessly left lying on the ground, till a fisherman, passing -that way, happened to see it, and went and reported the circumstance -to the Thakoor Burjore Sing, of Powae. Guided by this clue, the -Thakoor discovered the bodies of all the victims, and, collecting as -many men as possible, gave chase to the murderers. Following their -fresh traces he came up with them while washing themselves in a stream -near the village of Tigura. Forming into a compact body, the Thugs -retired upon the village, being repeatedly charged by the Thakoor's -party, who ran one of them through the chest with a spear and sabred -another. The villagers, however, expecting a share of the booty, turned -out to the rescue of the Thugs and repulsed their assailants. Next -morning they escorted them to the neighbouring village of Simareea, -where they received the like sympathy and protection. This was no -extraordinary occurrence, for the natives generally regarded the Thugs -as a fraternity especially favoured by heaven. They would as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> soon have -thought of destroying a snake or a wolf, or of opposing in any other -way the decrees of Providence. The police, to save themselves trouble, -and partly also from a secret dread of these mysterious and ruthless -beings, used to declare that the dead bodies occasionally found in -ravines, wells, and dry watercourses had been killed by tigers, and -would burn them in all haste lest the marks of strangulation should -be detected by their superiors. In the Deccan the task of suppression -was rendered doubly difficult by the sullen opposition of the native -chiefs, who sometimes even ventured to maltreat the police officers -of the British Government. The Zemindars, or landowners, were always -ready to give any amount of security for Thugs, against whom there -was no sufficient evidence to justify their punishment. "They knew us -very well," said an approver, "but they had then confidence in us; -they thought we should keep our own secrets, and, if we did so, no -one else would be able to convict us, and get them into trouble. Yes, -there was then something like religion and good faith among us, and we -found friends everywhere. Where could we find them now?" The Zemindars -eagerly afforded them protection, because of the enormous rent they -were wont to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> pay for their lands and villages. Valuable presents, -also, were frequently made to them, at the same time that the Thugs -engaged not to compromise their patrons by committing murder too near -home. The Khyrooa chief once stood a siege from his lord, the Rajah -of Jhansee, before he would surrender some eight or ten villains who -had thrown themselves on his protection. And the Maharajah of Gwalior -was obliged to send two guns and a small army against the Zemindar, -or "laird," of Bahmanpora, to make him give up some Thugs whom he -patronised; the firing lasted for some hours, and several lives were -lost on both sides. Even those who affected to punish the miscreants, -seldom touched their persons except to extort from them their ill-got -treasures. They would seize one or two of the youngest, tie them up, -and flog them till they confessed, or until the gang, in pity for their -sufferings, pledged themselves to make up a certain sum, leaving two or -three of their number as hostages. They were then released, and allowed -to pursue their profession as before.</p> - -<p>In the year 1812, soon after the murder of Lieutenant Monsell, a number -of Thugs were arrested by certain Zemindars and grievously beaten, in -the hope of making them bid high<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> for their release. Their excessive -cupidity, however, defeated its own ends. During their thirteen months -imprisonment, forty of the Thugs perished from the dampness of their -dungeon, combined with the ill-treatment they endured. The survivors -insisted that their comrades were tortured to death by a demon, who -entered the prison every night during the wet season. "I saw him," said -one of them, "only once myself. I was awake while all the rest were -asleep; he came in at the door, and seemed to swell as he came in till -his head touched the roof, and the roof was very high, and his bulk -became enormous. I prostrated myself, and told him that 'he was our -Purmesur (great God), and we poor helpless mortals depending entirely -upon his will.' This pleased him, and he passed by me; but took such -a grasp at the man Mungulee, who slept by my side, that he was seized -with spasms all over, from the nape of the neck to the sole of his -foot." Of the Zemindars, who caused this atrocious suffering, he added, -"not a soul of their families is now left to pour the libation at their -funeral obsequies." How like is this to the glorious old Grecian idea -of the avenging Nemesis! In truth, this was the only sort of justice -administered in India during the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> supremacy of its native rulers—the -golden age, according to the gentlemen of the Manchester school.</p> - -<p>The Thugs made use of a peculiar dialect, called Ramasee, which was -understood by the members of the fraternity throughout Hindostan, at -Mooltan as at Arcot. The signification of the word Thug itself is "a -deceiver;" they were likewise called Phanseegars, from the Hindostanee -word Phansee, "a handkerchief." One Thug could always recognise another -by his salutation <i>Aulae Khan, Salām</i>, if addressed to a Mussulmaun; -or <i>Aulae Bhae, Ram, Ram</i>, if addressed to a Hindoo, equivalent to -"Peace be with thee, friend!" A few specimens of their phraseology, -selected from Captain Sleeman's Thug vocabulary, may be not altogether -devoid of interest.</p> - -<p><i>Aulae</i>, or <i>Bora</i>, signified a Thug; <i>Beetoo</i>, or <i>Kuj</i>, everybody -not a Thug; <i>Bagh</i>, <i>Phool</i>, a rendezvous; Boj' ha, the Thug who -carried the bodies to the grave; <i>Bhukote</i>, or <i>Bhurtote</i>, the -strangler; <i>Beyl</i>, site for murder; <i>Bykureea</i>, the scout of river -Thugs; Beyl' ha, one who chose the place of murder; <i>Bunij</i>, literally -merchandize—technically a traveller; <i>Bunij Ladhna</i>, "to load goods," -<i>i.e.</i>, to murder; <i>Bhara</i> and <i>Ghurt' ha</i>,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> dead bodies of victims; -<i>Bisul purna</i>, to be awkwardly handled—to have the <i>roomal</i> caught on -the face or head, instead of being slipped round the neck—the contrary -of <i>soosul purna</i>: a Thug who was frequently guilty of bungling in -this manner, was deposed from the honourable post of strangler; -<i>Chookadena</i>, or <i>Thibaedena</i>, to get travellers to sit down and look -up, by pointing out some star or object in the air, so that, the chin -being raised, the handkerchief might be more easily passed round -the throat; <i>Chumoseea</i>, or <i>Shumsheea</i>, the Thug whose duty it was -to seize the victim's hands; <i>Chumeea</i>, the Thug who held down the -struggling victim; <i>Chandoo</i>, an expert Thug; <i>Cheesa</i>, a blessing -from heaven, a rich traveller; <i>Dhonkee</i>, or <i>Ronkee</i>, a policeman -or guard; <i>Dul</i>, weight; <i>Duller</i>, the head; <i>Doonr</i>, the shrieks of -a victim; <i>Jywaloo</i>, left for dead, but afterwards recovering, which -occasionally happened when there was not time to bury the bodies, -or when it was judged imprudent to stab and slash them after being -strangled; <i>Kuboola</i>, a tyro—the opposite of <i>Borka</i>—an adept. The -latter could always gather together a band, for he was acquainted with -the rites of initiation and the signification of omens, of which a -<i>Kuboola</i> was generally<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> quite ignorant. It was, consequently, found -unnecessary to sentence the latter to perpetual imprisonment, as they -could do little harm without the guidance of a <i>Borka</i>. A <i>Kuboola</i>, of -the old Sindouse stock, once attempted to form a gang, into which he -admitted all sorts of vagabonds, weavers, braziers, bracelet-makers, -&c., who killed men and women indiscriminately, and neglected the -most ordinary precautions. The natural consequence was, that they -were soon detected, seized, and punished. On the other hand, one of -the most noted Thugs on record was Sheikh Ahmed, of Arcot, whose gang -consisted of sixty <i>Borkas</i>, disguised as recruits. This able leader -had picked up the English words of command, with some knowledge of -the Company's drill, and could even express himself intelligibly in -English. He never displayed his wealth, which was considerable, or -travelled in an ostentatious manner. On the contrary, when sixty years -old and able to command the services of a hundred men, he would wander -about for months with his wife, cooking his own food, going on foot, -and living like a very poor man. His riches were concealed in various -<i>caches</i>, regardless of the Horatian maxim, that silver shines only -with reflected light from a temperate<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> and judicious use. However, he -escaped apprehension, and added, every year, with impunity, to his -long catalogue of crime. But to return to the vocabulary—<i>Koojaoo</i>, -an informer, or one who extorted hush-money from Thugs; <i>Khullee</i>, a -Thug who, from ignoble care-giving impecuniosity, concealed himself on -his return home to avoid his creditors—for the natives of Hindostan -enjoy many of the blessings of an ancient and refined civilization; -<i>Khomusna</i>, to rush in upon travellers when there was not sufficient -time for the ordinary preparations; <i>Kanthuna</i>, or <i>Kanth dalna</i>, -to stab when no opportunity was afforded for strangling—a very -exceptional case—or to slash the suffocated victim, either to prevent -revival, or the swelling of the body when buried, owing to the evolved -gases finding no vent for escape. This gaseous inflation of the -corpse was apt to cause the imposed earth to crack and open, when the -horrid effluvia attracted jackals to the spot, who, by digging up the -bodies, might discover the fact of a murder having been committed, -and so lead to the detection of the murderers; <i>Kathee kurna</i>, to -inveigle travellers, or to consult secretly as to the mode of doing -away with them; <i>Kharoo</i>, a gang of Thugs; <i>Khuruk</i>, the sound of the -consecrated pick-axe in making a grave, supposed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> to be audible only -to the initiated; <i>Kurwa</i>, a square, or oblong grave, for one corpse -or for many; <i>Gobba</i>, a circular grave, with a small pillar of earth -left in the middle—it was believed to crack less than the ordinary -grave, and was therefore preferred when the dead bodies were very -numerous; <i>Kuthowa</i>, the Thug whose office it was to cut and stab the -dead bodies; <i>Lugha</i>, the grave-digger; <i>Lutkuneea</i>, a very small -purse, used exclusively by Thugs and professional thieves; <i>Maulee</i>, -or <i>Phoola</i>, the Thug entrusted with the duty of taking to the village -the money sent by the absent gang for the maintenance of their wives -and families; <i>Nawureea</i>, a novice on his first expedition—sometimes -they were compelled to kick the first murdered man five times on the -back; <i>Nissar</i>, safe, as applied to any suitable place for lodging at, -murdering, or dividing spoil—opposed to <i>tikkur</i>, unsafe; <i>Paoo</i>, -an accomplice of Thugs; <i>Pehloo</i>, or <i>Sikka</i>, or <i>Roomal</i>, the -handkerchief. This was, rather, a turban unfolded, or the long narrow -cloth, or sash, worn round the waist. It was doubled to the length -of about thirty inches, with a knot formed at the doubled extremity, -and about eighteen inches from that a slip knot. The distance between -these two knots was regulated by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> preparing the fatal instrument on -the knee, which was made to do temporary duty for a neck. The use of -the two knots was to give a firm hold. When the victim was fairly -prostrated, the strangler adroitly loosened the slip knot, and made -another fold of the cloth round his throat. Then placing his foot upon -the back of his victim's neck, he drew the cloth tightly, as if—to -use the informant's own words—he were "packing a bundle of straw." -<i>Pehloo dena</i>, to instal as a strangler, of which more hereafter; -<i>Phank</i>, a useless thing, a traveller without property; <i>Pungoo</i>, or -<i>Bungoo</i>, a river Thug of Bengal, who murdered on board his <i>kuntee</i> -or boat; <i>Phur</i>, same as <i>Beyl</i>, also a spot for dividing the plunder; -<i>Phurjhana</i>, to clean the murder-spot—after a nocturnal murder, some -of the gang were generally left behind to remove any signs of the crime -that might be visible by daylight; <i>Phuruck dena</i>, to wave a cloth as -signal of danger; <i>Pusur</i>, the direction of an expedition; <i>Ruhna</i>, -a temporary grave; <i>Soon</i>, a Thug by birth, but not yet initiated; -<i>Saur</i>, one who escaped from Thugs; <i>Sotha</i>, the inveigler; <i>Tome</i>, -an article of extraordinary value; <i>Tilha</i>, a spy; <i>Thap</i>, a night -encampment; <i>Tuppul</i>, a bye-path into which they often inveigled -their unsuspecting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> travelling companions, as more convenient for -their purposes. A rich traveller was called "a delicacy;" a poor one -"a stick;" an old man "a barber's drum." Some of their signals, too, -were quaint. The necessity of caution was inculcated by drawing the -back of the hand along the chin, from the throat outwards; the open -hand placed over the mouth and drawn gently downwards, implied the -absence of danger. "Sweep the place," signified to look out; "bring -firewood," take your places—that is, the place assigned to each Thug -preparatory to action; "take out the handkerchief with the beetel," -get the <i>roomal</i> ready, as already described; "eat beetel," or "hand -the beetel," despatch him—this was called the <i>Jhirnee</i>, or signal to -fall on; "look after the straw," get the body ready for burial; "the -straw is come out," jackals have dug up the body. Another form of the -<i>Jhirnee</i> was <i>Ae ho to ghyree chulo</i>, "if you are come, pray descend." -When the scouts wished to report that all was safe, they called out as -if to a comrade, "Bajeed Khan," or "Deo," or "Deoseyn." If the scouts -saw any danger at hand, or a traveller coming along, they would call -out "Sheikh Jee," or "Sheikh Mahommed," if they were Mussulmauns; and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> -"Luchmun Sing," or "Luchee Ram," or "Gunga Ram," if they were Hindoos. -Sometimes the advanced guard of a gang, with victims in their power, -would meet with a party of travellers, of whom they considered their -friends in the rear were capable of disposing. In which case they -sent some one back to tell Bajeed Khan, or Deoseyn, to make haste and -overtake them. The others receiving this message understood that the -coast was clear in front, and on meeting the travellers, lost no time -in putting them to death. If a gang happened from any cause to get -separated, they rallied with the cry, <i>Bukh, Bukh, Bukh</i>, "come, come, -come." When the leader judged that the time was at hand for selecting -a <i>beyl</i>, or site for murder, he would say to the Thug on whom that -duty devolved, <i>Jao, kutoree manj lao</i>, "go and clean the brass cup." -When he desired every one to repair to his post, he gave the <i>khokee</i>, -that is, he made a great noise of hawking up phlegm from his throat; -if anything then occurred to cause the suspension of operations, he -gave the <i>thokee</i>, or spit out the phlegm. Otherwise, he exclaimed -aloud "Surbulund Khan," or "Dulur Khan," or "Surmust Khan," whereupon -the stranglers made ready and only awaited the <i>jhirnee</i>. Then the -fatal<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> words were pronounced, <i>Tombako kha lo</i>, or <i>pee lo</i>, "eat," or -"drink (<i>i.e.</i>, smoke) your tobacco"—or one of the other formulæ was -used—and the next instant the <i>roomal</i> was round the throat of the -ill-fated wretch.</p> - -<p>In order to avoid the suspicions likely to be engendered by very large -bands of men travelling together, the Thugs used to break up into small -parties of from three or four to a dozen or so, communicating with -one another by a series of telegraphic signs, which enabled them to -concentrate at any given point with amazing celerity. Thus, on coming -to cross-roads, the leading files drew their feet along the dust in -the direction they had taken. If they wished their comrades to follow -quickly, they piled up some dust along the toe-line of their footmarks, -on which they sometimes impressed their heel. Where there was no dust -easily procurable, they left two stones, one upon the other, or strewed -a few leaves to indicate the right path: if haste was needful, they -would dispose the leaves in a long line.</p> - -<p>Great as was the veneration entertained for the <i>roomal</i>, still greater -was that accorded to the <i>kussee</i>, or pick-axe. It was consecrated with -peculiar rites. On a day pronounced by the Pundit to be propitious, -the leader betook him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> to a blacksmith—of course a member of his -own fraternity—and closing the door, constrained him to relinquish -all other work until the axe had been duly fabricated. One of the -four auspicious days, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Friday, was then -selected for the <i>dhoop</i>, or offering of incense, which took place -within a house or tent, the shadow of no living thing being allowed -to fall upon the axe. A Thug, renowned for his ceremonial lore, being -appointed to officiate, the consecration was attempted—attempted, for -it did not always succeed at the first trial. The officiating minister -having taken his seat facing the west, received from the leader the -pick-axe on a lordly brazen dish. A pit was then dug, over which the -axe was held, and washed with water, and afterwards in succession -with a mixture of sugar and water, sour milk, and ardent spirits, -care being taken that the various liquids should flow into the pit. -The next proceeding was to mark the axe from head to point with seven -spots of red lead, and again place it on the brazen dish, together with -a cocoa-nut, some cloves, paun leaves, gogul gum, inderjon, sessamum -seeds, white sandal wood, and sugar. Ghee, or clarified butter, was -also put into a small brass cup, standing by the side of the dish. A -fire<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> being now kindled with dried cow-dung and mango, or byr-wood, all -these articles were thrown into it, excepting the cocoa-nut. So soon -as the flames blazed high and bright, the priest, holding the axe in -both hands, passed it through them seven times. Then, stripping off the -rough outer coat of the cocoa-nut, he placed the fruit on the ground, -and taking up the axe by the point, asked of the assembled Thugs, -"Shall I strike?" All having replied in the affirmative, he struck -the nut with the butt-end of the axe, and usually shivered it into -fragments. The whole of the shell and some of the kernel being thrown -into the fire, the axe was wrapt in a clean white cloth and laid on the -ground, pointing to the west, the Thugs facing the same quarter of the -heavens and worshipping. This act of adoration done, they all partook -of the cocoa-nut, and collecting the fragments, threw them into the -pit. Should the Thibaoo now be heard, all was duly performed, and the -axe was a holy thing—no longer a <i>kodalee</i>, but a <i>kussee</i>. But if the -Pilhaoo first smote upon their ears, or the priest failed to crack the -nut at a blow, the ceremonies must be repeated—all had been done in -vain.</p> - -<p>On the march, the sacred <i>kussee</i> was always intrusted to a Thug of -approved sobriety and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> steadiness, who carried it in his waist-belt. -While encamped it was buried in a secure place, with the point turned -towards the direction intended to be pursued. If a better road could -be taken, the axe would be found pointing that way. No human foot was -allowed to tread the ground beneath which it reposed; nor should the -touch of any unclean man or thing ever pollute its purity. If a well -happened to be near, it was thrown into it, instead of being buried; -and when the gang was ready to set out, being duly summoned, it came -of its own accord to its bearer. Nay, more, if a dozen <i>kussees</i> were -thrown into the same well, each would fly unerringly to its proper -guardian. When this startling assertion was made, Captain Sleeman -suggested it was a clever piece of jugglery; whereupon an approver -indignantly exclaimed: "What! shall not a hundred generations of Thugs -be able to distinguish the tricks of man from the miracles of God? Is -there not the difference of heaven and earth between them! Is not one -a mere trick, and the other a miracle, witnessed by hundreds assembled -at the same time?" Another approver capped his rhetorical friend, by -declaring that he had seen with his own eyes this miracle performed in -favour of the Arcottee Thugs, as the reward<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> of their superior piety -and strict observance of omens.</p> - -<p>The burnt-offerings were repeated on all holy days, and after any -unusual interval between murders. After being used, it was washed -with solemn rites. There was no more binding oath than to swear by -the <i>kussee</i>. If the axe itself were not procurable, it sufficed to -make an effigy of it in cloth or clay. The person attested, held it in -his hand as he swore, and then drank the water in which it had been -previously bathed. A perjurer died an awful death within six days -after his guilt, his head gradually turning round till his face stood -over his back. After all, this is not more strange than the old Hebrew -trial of jealousy, as described in the fifth chapter of the Book of -Numbers; nor more ridiculous than any ordeal in which supernatural -effects were expected from simple and natural causes. If the <i>kussee</i> -fell from the hand of its bearer, his death was certain to ensue within -twelve months, or else some dire calamity befel the gang. The immediate -results of the untoward accident were his deposition from his high -office, a change of route, and a fresh consecration of the axe. It has -been before remarked, that no one but a Thug could hear the sound of -the <i>kussee</i>, when<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> used in digging graves. It had likewise another -virtue, in common with the <i>roomal</i>. "Are you never afraid," asked -Captain Sleeman, one day, of some of the approvers, "of the spirits of -the persons you murder?"</p> - -<p>"Never," they replied, "they cannot trouble us."</p> - -<p>"Why? Do they not trouble other men when they commit murder?"</p> - -<p>"Of course they do. The man who commits a murder is always haunted by -spirits. He has sometimes fifty at a time upon him, and they drive him -mad."</p> - -<p>"And how do they not trouble you?"</p> - -<p>"Are not the people we kill, killed by the orders of Davey? Do not -all whom we kill, go to Paradise, and why should their spirits stay -to trouble us?... A good deal of our security from spirits is to be -attributed to the <i>roomal</i>, with which we strangle."</p> - -<p>"I did not know that there was any virtue in the <i>roomal</i>."</p> - -<p>"Is it not our <i>sikka</i> (ensign), as the pick-axe is our <i>nishan</i> -(standard)?... More is attributable to the pick-axe. Do we not worship -it every seventh day? Is it not our standard? Is its sound ever heard -when digging the grave of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> any but a Thug? And can any man ever swear -to a falsehood upon it?"</p> - -<p>Next to the leader of the gang, the most important personages were -the stranglers. Before a Thug could hope to attain this honourable -distinction, he must have served on several expeditions, and given -proof of courage and impassibility. The usual gradations were, -employment as a scout, then as a grave-digger, afterwards as a holder -of hands, and finally he might become a strangler. So soon as his -mind was inflamed with this ambition, he had recourse to one of the -oldest and most famous of the brotherhood, and besought him to act as -<i>gooroo</i>, or spiritual preceptor, and to accept him as his <i>cheyla</i>, -or disciple. If his request were granted, the <i>gooroo</i> led him into a -field, with three or four experienced Thugs, and all placed themselves -facing the direction in which the gang was about to move. Then the -<i>gooroo</i> lifted up his voice, and prayed aloud:—"O Kalee, Kunkalee, -Bhudkalee! O Kalee, Mahakalee, Calcutta Walee! if it seemeth to thee -fit that the traveller now at our lodging should die by the hands -of this thy slave, vouchsafe us the Thibaoo." Should the auspicious -omen be refused, the candidate must wait until another opportunity. -But if the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span>goddess smiled upon his vows, the party returned to their -quarters, and the <i>gooroo</i>, taking a handkerchief, and looking towards -the west, tied a knot in one end of it, inserting therein a rupee or -other silver coin. This knot was called <i>goor ghaut</i>, or the classic -knot, and was a very artistic performance, the end of the <i>roomal</i> -being skilfully folded inwards. The disciple thereupon respectfully -took the handkerchief in his right hand, and went and stood over his -sleeping victim—for a feeble person, and one asleep, was generally -chosen for the maiden trial of skill. When all was ready, the -<i>Shumsheea</i>, or hand-holder, suddenly awakened the sleeper with the -cry that a snake or a scorpion was under or beside him. As he started -up, bewildered with sleep and terror, the <i>roomal</i> was slipped over -his neck, and in a few seconds he had ceased to fear either reptiles -or baser men. The deed being satisfactorily accomplished, the <i>cheyla</i> -bowed lowly before his preceptor, and touched his feet with both hands, -a compliment he also paid to all the <i>gooroo's</i> relatives and friends -there present. After the Thibaoo had again been heard, he untied the -knot, and presented the coin, with whatever silver he possessed, to his -teacher, who added to it whatever money he happened to have upon his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> -own person. Of this amount half a crown was expended in the purchase -of <i>goor</i>, or coarse sugar, and the rest in sweetmeats. The Tapoonee -feast was then held under a neem, mango, or byr-tree, the <i>cheyla</i> -sitting with the Bhurtotes, or stranglers, and receiving a like share -of the consecrated <i>goor</i>. At the conclusion of the expedition, the -tyro entertained his preceptor's family, and gave to him and his wife a -present of new clothes. The entertainment was returned by the <i>gooroo</i>, -between whom and his pupil an indissoluble connection existed ever -afterwards unto death.</p> - -<p>The Tapoonee, to which allusion has just been made, was a sacrifice -offered to Bhowanee after every murder. A half-crown's worth of coarse -sugar having been procured through the instrumentality of one of -their most plausible members—for the purchase of so large a quantity -at a time might have excited strange surmises—it was placed on a -blanket, or sheet, spread upon a clear spot of ground. The <i>kussee</i>, or -sacred pickaxe, and a silver coin—by way of <i>roop dursun</i>, or silver -offering—were also laid upon the sheet, beside the pile of sugar. The -most experienced of the leaders there present then seated himself on -the edge of the sheet, facing to the west, and on either side of him -were ranged as many<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> Bhurtotes as could be accommodated on the carpet, -but taking care that they should make an even number. The others sat -behind these. The leader next made a hole in the ground, and dropping -into it a pinch of the <i>goor</i>, raised his eyes to the sky, and, with -clasped hands, devoutly prayed aloud:—"Great goddess! as thou didst -vouchsafe one lakh and 62,000 rupees (£16,200) to Jora Naick and Koduk -Bunwaree in their need, so, we pray thee, fulfil our desires!" These -words were repeated by the entire assembly; after which the leader -sprinkled a little water over the pit and the <i>kussee</i>, and placed some -<i>goor</i> on the hand of every Thug seated on the blanket. Some one then -uttered the <i>jhirnee</i>, or signal for strangulation, and the <i>goor</i> -was eaten in solemn silence. Not a word was spoken until the whole -of the consecrated pile had disappeared, and been washed down with -a draught of pure water. If any crumbs fell on the ground they were -carefully picked up and thrown into the hole; for should any beast of -the field, or bird of the air, partake of the holy offering, the wrath -of the goddess would burn for years. The silver coin being restored to -its owner, the unconsumed sugar was distributed among the lower and -junior grades of the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span>association. But if any one of the uninitiated, -by chance or design, tasted of that to which the stranglers only were -entitled, he was straightway irresistibly impelled to Thuggee, and -never could the charm that bound him be broken or counteracted.</p> - -<p>When necessity, or the weariness of inactivity, or the fascination -of their terrible calling, urged them to leave their tranquil homes, -their wives and families; the leader of the gang, accompanied by four -of his ablest followers, would seat themselves on a blanket around a -long-experienced and venerable sage; while the vulgar herd sat down -surrounding this group at a little distance. In front of the pundit -was placed a brass plate containing a few grains of wheat and rice, -and two copper coins. The leader having respectfully inquired on -what day they should set out, and in what direction, the pundit went -through various ceremonies, too trivial to be particularized, and -then indicated the day, the hour, and the route. When the appointed -period had arrived—it could not be a Wednesday, or a Thursday, or -in the months of July, September, or December—the leader filled a -<i>lotah</i>, or brass vessel, with water, and carried it with his right -hand over its mouth and holding it by his side. Some turmeric, two<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> -copper coins and one of silver, together with the head of the pickaxe, -were next tied up separately in a clean white handkerchief, which the -leader pressed against his breast in his left hand. Then turning to -the heaven-selected direction he slowly moved with all the gang to a -field outside the village, where finding a suitable spot, and still -preserving the same attitude, he paused, and in seeming abstraction, -prayed: "Great goddess! Universal Mother! If this our meditated -expedition be good in thy sight, vouchsafe unto us help, and the signs -of thy approbation!" The other Thugs repeated his words, and praised -their patron, Bhowanee. Within half an hour afterwards the Pilhaoo -ought to be heard on the left and the Thibaoo on the right hand. Then, -and not till then, the leader relaxed from his statue-like attitude, -and putting the <i>lotah</i> on the ground, himself sat down, still looking -in the same direction. Thus he remained seven hours communing with -himself, his abstraction being finally interrupted by his followers -bringing him food and informing him that all things were ready. The -silver and copper coins and the turmeric he carefully preserved -throughout the expedition, and on his return presented them to some -poor Brahman, unless great good fortune had attended his party,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> in -which case they were kept for the opening of the next expedition. If -the <i>lotah</i> had fallen from his hand before the omens were given, he -would assuredly have died within twelve, or at the latest, within -twenty-four months. The preparations being completed, the gang struck -off in the direction indicated by the pundit; but after taking a few -steps they could turn aside as circumstances might seem to recommend.</p> - -<p>During the first seven days after their departure the females of their -respective families held no intercourse with those belonging to another -gang, lest the victims intended for their own friends should fall into -the power of the others. The Thugs, themselves, for the like period -abstained from animal food, and even from their favourite <i>ghee</i>, -and partook of no other food than fish, <i>goor</i>, and <i>dal</i> (a kind of -pulse). Nor did they shave or allow their clothes to be washed, or -indulge in alms'-giving—which, with personal abstinence, constitutes -the Hindoo notion of practical religion. On the seventh day they had a -grand feast, in which green vegetables of some kind made a prominent -figure. If a victim, however, were obtained within these seven days of -probation, all restraints were at once cancelled and abandoned. Should -the expedition last no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> longer than one year, they frequently denied -themselves the taste of milk throughout, and likewise refrained from -brushing their teeth. Any bad omens encountered prior to the second -halt sufficed to break off the expedition; after that point they could -be averted by expiatory rites. It was considered unfortunate to hear -any one lamenting the dead as they started, or to meet an inhabitant of -their own village, or an oil-vender, carpenter, potter, dancing-master, -a maimed or lame person, a fakir (Mussulmaun religious mendicant) with -a brown waist-band, or a jogee (Hindoo religious mendicant) with long -interwoven hair. But it promised well to fall in with a fair in any -other village than their own, or a corpse, or to see a party of female -friends weeping round a bride as she left her parents' house to go to -her husband's.</p> - -<p>As a general rule, the different divisions of a gang used to encamp -near each other at the various halting grounds, and were always in -frequent communication with one another. No sooner had one of them -fallen in with a party of travellers than the intelligence was conveyed -to all the others, and every one was on the alert. Their leaders, -travelling as merchants, gentlemen, soldiers, or peasants, usually -succeeded by their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> plausible manners in ingratiating themselves -with the strangers. And there was nothing formidable or repulsive -in their outward appearance. On the contrary, they are described as -being mild and benevolent of aspect, and peculiarly courteous, gentle, -and obliging. Unlike most of the natives of India, they travelled -unarmed, with the exception of two or three who carried daggers. It was -therefore an apparently reasonable request on their part to be allowed -to proceed under the protection of those who made a grand display of -their swords and spears and fire-arms.</p> - -<p>This request being usually accorded, the united parties journeyed -on together, chatting and prattling with the volubility and easy -familiarity of orientals. Sometimes days would elapse before a -favourable opportunity occurred. There is an instance mentioned of a -gang having accompanied a family of eleven persons for twenty days, -during which they had traversed upwards of 200 miles, and then murdered -the whole of them, though the head of the family had only one arm, and -ought therefore to have been spared. Another gang accomplished 160 -miles in twelve days, in company with a party of sixty—men, women -and a child—before they found an eligible occasion.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> They preferred -committing murder in the evening, when the travellers would be seated -on the ground, mingled with themselves, talking, smoking, singing, and -playing the sitar. Where it could be done without suspicion, three -Thugs were allotted to every victim. So soon as the fatal signal was -given, one seized hold of his hands, the second grasped his legs and -held him down, while the strangler tightened the <i>roomal</i> round his -neck, and only relaxed the strain when life was extinct. Then the -bearers of the daggers slashed the dead bodies, the grave-diggers -quickly excavated a deep trench, the corpses were stripped and thrown -in, the earth was hastily shovelled in and trampled down, and in an -incredibly short space of time all traces were completely effaced -of the terrible tragedy. When the ground was too hard to admit of a -grave being dug, or any other cause intervened to prevent the burial, -the bodies were flung into a ravine, or well, or water course, -or concealed in the jungle. Not unfrequently it happened that no -convenient opportunity was presented for murdering the travellers while -seated. In this case, an experienced Thug would be sent forward to -select a <i>beyl</i>, or suitable spot, on arriving at which, if the scouts -reported a clear coast, the gang would close upon their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> unsuspecting -companions and speedily put them to death. It was more difficult when -the travellers were mounted, though the fleetest charger could not -avail to save his rider. A horseman was always attacked by three men; -one walked at his horse's head, a second a little way in the rear, and -a third by his side, pleasantly conversing with him until the signal -was given, when he suddenly dragged him out of the saddle and, with the -assistance of his comrade, strangled him before he could recover his -self-possession. It was thought a subject for just pride when a Thug -pulled a traveller from his horse and murdered him without aid. Such an -exploit was a patent of nobility, and conferred credit upon the third -and fourth generation. The Thugs, even as approvers, used to glory in -the recollection of their past achievements, and spoke of them with -as much animation as a sportsman exhibits in describing a good day's -shooting or a capital run with the hounds. To avoid confusion, they -would distinguish the grand murders by the number of victims they had -killed. Thus, in the chaleesrooh, or forty-soul affair, thirty-one men, -seven women and two girls were murdered by a collective force of 360 -Thugs, who divided among themselves £1,700 worth of plunder. A<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> few -days previously 160 of this gang had disposed of a party consisting -of a widow, a slave-girl and twelve armed followers. The Sartrooh, or -sixty-soul affair, is an excellent illustration of their ordinary mode -of operations. The Thugs travelled with this numerous party, consisting -of fifty-two men, seven women, and a Brahman boy, about four years old, -for twenty days before they consummated their purpose. At Sehora they -persuaded their companions to quit the high road and take one that -led through the jungles. However, they patiently went on with them, -gaining more and more upon their confidence, till they had come to -Chittakote. "There," said one of them to Captain Sleeman, "we sent on -people as usual to select a place for the murder, and they found one -about five miles distant, in a very extensive jungle, without a human -habitation for many miles on either side. We persuaded the party to set -out soon after midnight; and as they went along, we managed to take our -appointed places, two Thugs by every traveller, and the rest in parties -of reserve at different intervals along the line, every two managing -to keep the person they were appointed to kill, in conversation. On -reaching the place chosen, the signal was given at several different -places, beginning<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> with the rear party, and passing on to that in -front; and all were seized and strangled except the boy. It was now -near morning, and too late to admit of the bodies being securely -buried; we made a temporary grave for them in the bed of the river, -covered them over with sand, and went on with the boy and the booty -to Chittakote, intending to send back a large party the next night -and have the bodies securely buried. The rains had begun to set in, -and after the murders it rained very heavily all the day. The party, -however, went back, but found that the river had risen and washed away -all the bodies, except two or three, which they found exposed, and -pushed into the stream to follow the rest."</p> - -<p>So recently as 1830 Bhowanee was believed to have saved her votaries -the trouble of burying their victims. A gang after wandering about -Loodhiana, Sirhind, and Umballah, came to Goolchutter, where they -performed their ablutions in the sacred tank and rested three days. -"Having then proceeded two miles towards Kurnal, they overtook two -travellers from Mooltan on their way to Muttra, mounted on ponies. They -were in appearance very poor." So poor, indeed, that it was judged they -would not pay for the trouble of killing them, and they had nearly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> -escaped until a speculative Thug offered to give £10 for whatever might -be found upon them. "Their death was accordingly determined on, and -they were conducted by the Thugs to Turowlee where they rested in the -Serai ('accommodation for man and beast'), and Cheyne Jemadar invited -the poor wretches to partake of a repast." The travellers, being -religious mendicants, had many anecdotes to tell of their adventures -and travels, and pleasantly beguiled the early hours of darkness. Next -morning they all set out together and had not gone very far before the -<i>jhirnee</i> was given, and the mendicants ceased to beg and to breathe. -But while their grave was being dug, the neighing of horses was heard -coming along the road, which caused the Thugs to flee to a place of -concealment, leaving the corpses on the ground. The horsemen passed -on, and saw or suspected nothing. Then the Thugs came out from their -hiding places, but lo! the bodies had disappeared—but not so their -property which amounted to the value of several hundred pounds. It is -true religious mendicants were exempted from strangulation, but this -was clearly an exceptional case, for Bhowanee had positively commanded -their death by sending favourable omens; she had, besides, rewarded her -worshippers with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> a rich booty, and even disposed of the dead bodies, -whose souls had gone straight to Paradise.</p> - -<p>They were not, however, always equally fortunate. A gang once learnt -from the spies that four travellers with property were trudging along -the road towards Baroda. Instantly, twenty fine stout fellows set -out after them, and after a long chase came up with the travellers -and murdered them. "To the great disappointment and chagrin of us -all," bewailed one of the gang, "no property was found upon them, for -they turned out to be common stone-cutters, and their tools tied in -bundles, which they carried over their shoulders, deceived the spies -into the supposition that they were carrying treasure." At another -time a gang fell in with two Ganges-water carriers, two tailors, and a -woman, and next day they were joined by two very poor travellers, of -whom they tried in vain to disembarrass themselves. They would start -at night without awakening them, but somehow the others <i>would</i> hear -their preparations and insist upon accompanying them. The Thugs then -appointed four of their brethren to detach these unconscious suicides -from the rest of the party and keep them on the high road while the -others struck off down a byepath. This device also failed, for they -became<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> frightened and could be satisfied with nothing less than a -junction with the main body. Their obstinacy sealed their fate. Half a -dozen of the Thugs went on with them in advance, and strangling them, -found upon them only one rupee—worth about two shillings. The others -soon shared the fate of the two poor travellers, but turned out a more -profitable prize, as they yielded among them twenty pounds. A smaller -sum, however, than one shilling will often times tempt a Hindoo to -commit murder, even though he have nothing to do with Thuggee. What -value the latter attached to life may be inferred from the testimony of -one of themselves. "I have never strangled any one," said he, "but have -aided in throwing bodies into wells. Eight annas (one shilling) is a -very good remuneration for murdering a man. We often strangle a victim -who is suspected of having two pice (one farthing)." But it seldom -happened that a murder produced less than two pounds; the average being -probably about fifteen pounds. It is almost comical to read that these -dread beings were sometimes robbed at night by vulgar pilferers, though -they usually set a watch. The same sort of retribution is observable -in the fate of twenty-seven Dacoits, or gang-robbers, who had in their -possession at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> the time above £1,300 worth of money, gold ornaments, -gems, and shawls. A gang of one hundred and twenty-five Thugs having -met with them, begged to be allowed to travel under their protection. -The Dacoits carelessly assented, and were shortly afterwards all put to -death.</p> - -<p>Eager as they were for booty the Thugs appear to have been courteous -and forbearing towards one another, and equitable in the division -of their spoils. Feringeea and twenty-six of his gang were one day -cooking their dinners under some trees by the road-side when five -travellers came bye, but could not be persuaded to stop and partake of -their meal, saying they intended to sleep at Hirora that night, and -they had yet eight miles to go. The Thugs followed after them, and -also reached Hirora, but could discover no traces of the travellers. -Feringeea, therefore, inferred that they must have fallen into the -hands of another gang, and suddenly recollected having passed an -encampment of Brinjarees (bullock-drivers) not far from the town. -On the following morning he accordingly went back with a few of his -comrades, and at once recognised a horse and a pony which he had -observed in the possession of the travellers. "What have you done with -the five travellers, my good friends?" he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> said. "You have taken from -us our <i>merchandize</i>." They apologised for what they had done, pleading -ignorance, and offered to share the booty; but this Feringeea declined, -saying that he had no claim to a share, as none of his party was -present at the <i>loading</i>.</p> - -<p>The division of the spoils was regulated with great nicety. The -leaders were usually entitled to every tenth article, and to one anna -in the rupee (one sixteenth) of actual money, besides their share as -individuals. If the gang consisted of twenty, including the Jemadar, -the booty was divided into twenty-one equal parts, of which the Jemadar -received two. Five per cent. was then set aside for the stranglers, and -the rest divided into three equal heaps, corresponding to as many equal -sections of the gang. Each section marked a cowree (a shell), and the -three were put into a man's hand without his knowing to which either -belonged, who then placed one on each pile. The sections afterwards -divided among themselves each its own lot.</p> - -<p>A feast was sometimes held in honour of Davee, in the course of an -expedition. If the expenses were defrayed by subscription, as was most -customary, it was called a Punchaetee Kotee, and was usually celebrated -during the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> Hooley or Dusserah festivals. Occasionally a single member -provided the feast; but, to be entitled to do so, he must have been a -strangler, or at least a Thug in the third generation. The feast was in -this wise. Having procured some goats, of whom two must be perfectly -black, without speck or blemish, and a sufficient quantity of rice, -<i>ghee</i>, spices, and spirits, they assembled in a room the doors and -windows of which could be closed, so as to prevent any prying eyes from -seeing what was passing within. The floor being carefully swept and -plastered with cow-dung, a square space, measuring a cubit each way, -was drawn in the middle of the apartment, with a mixture of turmeric -and lime. On this square was spread a clean white sheet, whereon was -placed some boiled rice, and on the top of that the half of a cocoa-nut -shell filled with <i>ghee</i>, in which floated two cotton wicks lying -across each other, so as to give four lights. If a cocoa-nut was not -procurable, a vessel of the same form was shapened in dough. Upon the -sheet were then laid the sacred pickaxe, the dagger of the gang (the -<i>misericorde</i>), and the spirits. The two black goats were next washed -and thoroughly wetted, and placed with their faces to the westward. -If one, or both of them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> shook off the wet with lusty vigour, it was -a sign that the sacrifice was acceptable; otherwise, the rice and -spirits alone were consumed, and without any further ceremony. But in -the former case, if Mahommedans, they chaunted a sort of grace as they -cut the throats of the whole of the animals; if Hindoos, they struck -off their heads at a blow. The skins, bones, and offal were thrown into -a pit dug for the purpose. When every man's appetite was satiated, -they washed their face and hands over the pit, and filled it up and -levelled it with the ground. Should any profane eye witness any part of -the preparations, or a spark fall on the sheet and burn a hole, or any -animal touch the offal, the leader must expect to die within a year and -all his companions would come to grief.</p> - -<p>Besides the land Thugs there was a bold and skilful clan calling -themselves Bungoos, or Pungoos, who practised the same vocation on the -Hooghly river, going up as far as Benares or even Cawnpore, but chiefly -infesting the Burdwan district. Their system and dialect differed -considerably from those of their land brethren. Their leaders assumed -the appearance of the proprietor or captain of a passenger boat, while -some of his gang bent to the oars or towed the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> vessel along the bank, -and the others, dressed as pilgrims or shopkeepers, took their seat -on deck; these were the stranglers and their assistants. A few of the -most plausible and insinuating members were employed as <i>Sothas</i>, -or inveiglers. These wandered on the roads leading to the various -Ghauts, or landing places, and contrived to get into conversation with -the travellers who seemed bound for the river. On arriving at the -Ghaut they would see a clean tidy boat, already partially filled with -passengers and ready to swing off. They naturally hastened on board, -rejoicing at not being detained. The river Thugs always faced their -victims, sitting in a row on one side of the deck opposite to them. So -soon as an opportunity presented itself, the look-out man smote the -deck three times with his hand. Then the helmsman gave the <i>jhirnee</i>, -by exclaiming <i>Bhugna ko paun do</i>, "give my sister's son some paun." -Up sprang the pretended voyagers, and throwing the <i>roomal</i> round the -neck of their victims pressed it tightly in front, bending their head -backwards, while their assistants held their feet and hands. Though -sometimes one Thug would almost suffice for the purpose, nine of them -have been known to strangle seven men stronger than themselves, and -twelve have <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span>overpowered ten. When the convulsive writhings had ceased, -they made certainty doubly sure by breaking the backbone and violently -kicking or punching their victims with their elbows. The bodies were -then pushed into the river through a window made in either side of the -boat, immediately above the water-mark. The greatest care was taken -to avoid shedding any blood, which by discolouring the stream might -lead to suspicion and detection. If a drop were spilt, they returned -home and offered up expiatory sacrifices. Women were invariably -permitted to escape, and all property of a suspicious character was -at once destroyed. Their proceedings, however, were no secret to the -river police, whose silence was secured by rich presents. Their very -existence was thus kept from the knowledge of the European magistrates -until the year 1836, but in little more than twelve months afterwards -161 of the miscreants had been arrested, and the names obtained of -thirty-eight others. There were usually about fourteen to each boat, -and there were eighteen boats regularly occupied in this dreadful -business, besides several engaged for occasional service. The hot and -wet seasons were deemed equally unfavourable, as few travellers were -then abroad; the most productive months being November,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> December, -January, and February. A party of river Thugs, occupying two boats, -contrived to become acquainted with the <i>Manjee</i>, or commander of -a boat laden with tobacco and hemp, and persuaded him and his crew -to stop with them at a <i>chur</i>, or sand-bank, and cook their dinners -together. After the repast the Thug leader asked the others to join his -party in fulfilling a vow he had made to the god Hurry Sote. So they -all sang the song of Hurry Sote, when the leader suddenly exclaimed, -"Now, Hurry, give us our plunder!" Five Thugs instantly leaped on the -throats of the Manjee and his crew, threw them back upon the sand and -strangled them. Then their comrades fell upon the lifeless corpses, -broke their backbones, punched them on the ribs with their fists and -elbows, and dragging them into the deep running water let them float -down the stream.</p> - -<p>Perhaps a better idea than has yet been given of the nature and extent -of Thuggee, may be derived from Captain Sleeman's Official Report of -an Expedition into Malwa, Guzerat, Kandeish, and Berar, by gangs from -Gwalior, Bundlecund, and the Saugor districts, in 1827-28. The leader -was our old friend Feringeea, who started from Gorha with twenty-five -Thugs and proceeded<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> to Moghul ka Serai, where he fell in with two -Mahrattas. These were put to death about three miles further on. -Arriving at Tuppa, in Indore, the gang was then joined by eleven more -Thugs, who all went on together to Raghooghur, where they met two -Mahrattas and a Marwaree on their way from Saugor to Indore. Here Soper -Sing and fifteen Thugs came up with them, escorting a bird-catcher and -two shopkeepers journeying from Indore to Patna. All six were strangled -in the night and buried in one grave. Next morning Feringeea's party, -with five of Soper Sing's crossed the Nerbudda at the Puglana Ghaut, -and at Samneer murdered three Sipahees, in search of service, at -mid-day, and left their bodies by the road side. The next stage was -Kurajgow Kuringee, whence they accompanied a traveller, who was going -towards the south, for sixteen miles, where they killed him and buried -his corpse beneath the walls of a small Hindoo temple. Thence they -passed through Omrowtee to Larun Kurnajee, and in their camp in a grove -killed a traveller whom they had brought on with them from Bam; and -also a thief found skulking among some tombs, who had one hundred and -ten pounds worth of stolen goods in his possession. At Busum<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> their -numbers were swelled by a reinforcement of fifty Thugs under four -leaders. Going on together in one body they encamped near Nandair, -and there murdered five travellers. Some of the new arrivals having -again left them, the others held on to Rovegow, where they overtook -nine persons, whom they accompanied about three miles and strangled -just before daybreak. At Hyderabad they lodged near the bridge over -the Hoosa Nuddee, where they killed and buried a Brahman and two -Rajpoots with whom they had scraped an acquaintance in the Bhegan -Bazar. Wandering on to Gungakhera they fell in with three Marwarees, -whom they escorted a stage on the Holwa road. One of the travellers -being accidentally thrown from his horse, was instantly strangled, and -his companions of course shared the same fate. As they had not reached -the appointed <i>Beyl</i>, they left the bodies upon the ground, a prey to -jackals and carnivorous birds. Their next encampment was at Purureea, -in Holwa, where they murdered a Soobahdar (native commissioned -officer), five sepoys, and a woman. At Doregow they met three Pundits -and with them a Byragee (Hindoo ascetic), mounted on a pony, plastered -over with sugar and covered with flies. Driving away the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span>mendicant, -they killed and buried the Pundits. On leaving Doregow the Byragee -again joined them and went on in their company to Raojana, where they -overtook six cloth-merchants travelling from Bombay to Nagpore. As -the mendicant was much in their way, they pelted him with stones, and -having thus got rid of him they killed the merchants, burying their -bodies in the grove. The next day the Byragee again joined them and -proceeded with them to Mana, where they fell in with two bearers and -a sepoy. Shaking off their troublesome companion, they hastened on to -the spot selected for the contemplated murder, where the mendicant once -more came up with them. Their patience being exhausted, they offered -one of the gang ten shillings extra to kill him and take the sin upon -himself. All four were then strangled, and, to their astonishment, -the Byragee proved the most valuable prize of all; for upon him and -his pony they found many pounds weight of coral, 350 strings of small -pearls, fifteen strings of large pearls, and a gilded necklace. Soon -after they arrived at Omrowtee, between which and Nadgow they got hold -of two men, whom they murdered at their encampment. They were treasure -bearers and had with them £400 worth of silver. These are a peculiar -class<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> of men, excessively poor, but famed for their honesty. They were -never known to betray their trust, and would rather yield their life -than surrender their charge. They bore no weapons, chiefly relying on -the poverty of their garb and external appearance. The Bombay and Surat -merchants used to employ them in conveying specie through Kandeish -and Surat to Indore and Rajpootana, and they generally succeeded in -escaping the notice of mere marauders; but it was a different thing -with the Thugs who took life officially and professionally, content -with a farthing but oftener reaping a fruitful harvest.</p> - -<p>From Nadgow the band proceeded to Kuragow, and soon afterwards in -passing through a small dry ravine fell in with four men driving two -bullocks laden with copper pice. The men were instantly put to death, -and their bodies slightly covered with stones and rubbish. After this -affair two of their leaders with their respective followers returned -home, while the others strolled onwards through Burhanpore to Indore, -where they received an accession of strength by the junction of three -leaders with sixty Thugs.</p> - -<p>Three Marwarees being here inveigled into a house occupied by a part -of the gang, never again went forth into the road. They remained at -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span>Indore a whole day, but were not idle, for Feringeea prevailed upon -four more Marwarees to accompany him to the encampment of the remainder -of the gang, and they likewise were dismissed to Hades. Soon after -leaving Indore they fell in with four travellers, whom they murdered -in camp that evening. Feringeea's party then diverged from the main -body and passed through Saugor to Chutterpore, where intelligence -was received that a body of armed men were in pursuit of them. They, -therefore, doubled back and came to Kondee, a short distance from which -they murdered two travellers. At Raghooghur they were reinforced by -twelve of their fraternity, and on the following day by thirty more -under Sheikh Inaent: and at Dubohee, near Bhilsa, they were joined by -two more leaders with twenty Thugs. Here they murdered two sepoys. -After this affair fifty of them under Sheik Inaent went on to Baroda, -where they all fell sick and were glad to return to Bheelpore. Their -convalescence was celebrated by the murder of two Bearers. Encouraged -by this success they journeyed to Oodeypore in the Dhar Pergunnah. -Three sepoys and another man were strangled next morning about two -miles from the town. A little further on they overtook an elephant -driver, in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> service of the Oodeypore Rajah, and him they murdered -at night at a village called Amjhera. Passing through Mhow, to a -village on the side of Raghooghur, they fell in with three Bearers, -whom they strangled next morning. They then held on through Ashta till -they encountered a Havildar (non-commissioned native officer), a sepoy, -and another, of whom they disposed the following morning. Shortly -afterwards a large portion of this gang returned home, whereon the -Sheikh went off and rejoined Feringeea. Their junction had scarcely -been effected before it was announced that the police were close upon -their track. Many more of the Thugs then started off homewards, and -others retreated to a stream near Peepala, where, notwithstanding their -fears, they made away with two sepoys, another man, and a woman.</p> - -<p>A village called Jhundawala was the scene of their next exploit—a -Bearer their next victim. After that they came to Tuppa, and, as they -were setting out next morning, were joined by a Havildar, a sepoy, -and two women, whom they murdered on the following day. Arriving at -Kenjarra they strangled two more sepoys, and four more a few days -afterwards. The gang then broke up, and Feringeea returned to his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> -home in Tehree. Since he last parted from his wife, unconscious of his -crimes, he had been an accomplice in the murder of one hundred men and -five women. Let not this appalling number appear incredible. In the -kingdom of Oude, a fair sample of native government, there were 1406 -miles of road infested by Thugs, and no fewer than two hundred and -seventy-four <i>Beyls</i>, or sites of murder; that is, one in every five -miles and a half. Twenty Thugs, admitted as Approvers, acknowledged -that they were present, respectively, at 508, 931, 350, 377, 604, -119, 42, 103, 264, 203, 195, 294, 117, 322, 340, 28, 65, 81, 153, and -twenty-four murders, the least experienced having witnessed twenty-four -murders, and the most 931—thus giving an average of 256 murders to -each of the twenty. The same Beyl was not unfrequently the scene of -several murders. Captain Sleeman mentions a striking instance of this. -When Feringeea was first brought before him a prisoner, in December -1830, he offered, if his life were spared, to give information that -would lead to the arrest of some large gangs who had appointed to -rendezvous at Jyepore in the following February. Some incredulity as -to his power to do so having been expressed, he begged to be allowed -to accompany the "Sahib"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> a short distance on his official tour of -inspection, when he would afford ample evidence as to his knowledge of -Thuggee. He promised no more than he was able to perform. Two stages -from Saugor on the road to Seronge, Captain Sleeman encamped for the -night in a small mango grove near the village of Selohda. At an early -hour of the next morning Feringeea desired to see him, and pointing to -three different spots declared they were so many graves. "A Pundit and -six attendants, murdered in 1818, lay among the ropes of my sleeping -tent, a Havildar and four Sipahees murdered in 1824, lay under my -horses, and four Brahman carriers of Ganges-water and a woman, murdered -soon after the Pundit, lay within my sleeping-tent. The sward had -grown over the whole, and not the slightest sign of its ever having -been broken was to be seen." All night long Mrs. Sleeman had tossed -about in her sleep, tormented by horrible dreams, probably engendered -by the foul air arising from so many graves—certainly not caused by -the spirits of the departed, and, perhaps, many a ghost story may owe -its origin to some similar cause. Still doubting, Captain Sleeman sent -for the police and a posse of villagers, who after digging down about -five feet came upon the skeletons of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> Havildar and his comrades, -and afterwards the others were discovered in succession. Feringeea -then proposed to discover other graves in the neighbouring groves, but -Captain Sleeman could stand no more of such horrors for that morning. -It transpired that the Pundit's horse had been presented to the -proprietor of the village, in which some of the gang actually resided, -and that the others came thither every year and stopped some time -"feasting, carousing and murdering," and yet neither the police nor the -inhabitants appeared to have the slightest suspicion of the real nature -of their pursuits. It must be remembered that they never murdered any -but strangers and wayfarers, and that the villagers and their property -would be perfectly secure. It would be an excess of charity, however, -to suppose that the Zemindar had not a shrewd guess as to the means by -which his horse was obtained. During the three years, 1822 to 1824, -both inclusive, that Captain Sleeman was magistrate of the Nursingpore -district in the Nerbuddah valley, and—as he imagined—cognizant of -every crime and every bad character within its limits, he was perfectly -unconscious that there was a Thug village only 400 yards from the -Court-house, and that only a few miles distant the groves of Mundaisur -contained fully<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> one hundred dead bodies. These groves were a favourite -place of rendezvous for gangs coming from Upper India and from the -Deccan, with the connivance and under the protection of two respectable -landholders, descendants of the pious individuals who had planted those -trees to shelter the unhoused wanderer.</p> - -<p>The destruction of life and property since the commencement even of the -present century must have been enormous. It is known that in 1826-27, -two hundred and five men and six women were murdered by different gangs -in Malwah and Rajpootana. In 1827-28, three hundred and sixty-four -males and twenty-one females were strangled in Kandeish, Berar, and -Guzerat. In 1828-29, two hundred and twenty-six men and six women were -thus disposed of in Malwah and Kandeish. In 1829-30, ninety-four men, -four women, and a child perished in Baroda and Bundlecund. In 1830-31 -the Bundlecund gangs destroyed fifty-seven males and one female. -In 1830-31-32, one hundred and seventy males and five females were -murdered in Rajpootana and Guzerat. And in 1832-33, forty-one males -were strangled in the Gwalior district alone. It has been estimated -that on an average more than ten distinct cases of murder occurred -in every expedition, and that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> every Thug went upon at least ten -expeditions, which would assign to each a guilty complicity in fully -one hundred murders. The amount of property of which they despoiled -the public must also have been very great, and occasionally individual -prizes were of no trivial value. Thus in 1826 a party of fourteen were -murdered by a gang of one hundred and fifty Thugs, and a booty secured -worth £2,500. In 1827, seven men were murdered by three hundred and -fifty Thugs, and robbed of £2,200. In 1828, the murder of nine persons -by a gang of one hundred and twenty-five yielded £4,000; and in 1829, -that of six persons produced £8,200, to be divided between one hundred -and fifty Thugs.</p> - -<p>It must seem incredible, but it is nevertheless the simple fact, that -this terrible system of murder flourished for nearly two centuries -under those native governments of whose excellence so much has been -said in certain quarters. The division of the vast peninsula into many -separate, independent, and jealous states, no doubt, encouraged the -perpetration of crime by facilitating escape and rendering detection -and apprehension almost impossible. So long as their own subjects or -tenants were not molested, neither princes nor landed proprietors -considered themselves<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> bound to interfere with an institution of -which they entertained a mysterious dread, and whence they derived -goodly gifts and a handsome revenue. Superstition and cupidity were -powerful allies in favour of the Thugs, who, besides, in their palmy -days, exhibited admirable prudence and tact in avoiding whatever -might be offensive to their patrons and injurious to themselves. -They were especially careful not to touch any European, for they -well knew that from such they were more likely to receive lead than -gold, and that search would be made for the missing man; nor, indeed, -was the like facility afforded for familiarity, owing, in a great -measure, as Fuseli would say, to "de d—d ignorance of de language." -All tell-tale property they quickly destroyed, and never committed a -murder near home, or where they were known; nor after a murder did -they ever proceed in the direction whence their victims had come, -lest they should be betrayed by a horse, a bullock, or an ass, being -anywhere recognised. The native custom of sending remittances in the -form of jewels and precious metals without any armed escort, and of -carrying considerable sums upon the person, increased the temptation -of doing honour to Bhowanee. The vast population, too, was always in -motion. Parties of <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span>travellers, or lonely wanderers, on foot, or on -horseback, streamed along the roads and bye-paths, reposing in the -intense heat of the day or during the moonless hours of the night -beneath the hospitable shade of a grove of mangoes and other stately -trees, or around the well that owed its origin to pious vanity. And -the very terror felt for their unknown enemies made the travellers an -easier prey, for in seeking to avoid the danger, they frequently ran -into it by inviting the company of the mild, cheerful and intelligent -companions, who were ever ready to converse with them, to walk with -them, and—to murder them. Their existence was first known to the -English in 1799, after the fall of Seringapatam, when a hundred -Phanseegars, or Thugs, were taken prisoners at Bangalore, though even -then they were not suspected of pursuing an hereditary profession. The -first regular information concerning their habits was not obtained -until 1807, when a gang of them was arrested between Chittore and -Arcot. It had frequently been remarked, indeed, that very many sepoys -never returned to their regiments on the expiration of their leave of -absence, and they were struck off the rolls as deserters. But when the -true cause of their absence was discovered, the Commander-in-Chief,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> -Major-General St. Leger, issued a general order in 1810, warning the -native troops against associating with chance companions on the road, -and advising them to send their money to their homes by means of -<i>hoondees</i>, or bills, and not to travel by night. The evil, however, -was of too monstrous a growth to be thus easily checked. And there was -likewise great difficulty experienced in bringing home any particular -crime, even when the perpetrators happened to be in custody. The -merchants and bankers whose property had been stolen were reluctant to -appear in court to give evidence: it was looked upon as somewhat of an -indignity, and the cautious delays of English jurisprudence caused a -waste of time they could ill endure. Their money was gone, and there -was an end of it. It was predestined that it should go in that manner. -The thieves were merely instruments working out the will of Providence. -Against them they bore no malice or vindictive feeling. Even the -relatives of murdered men refused to come forward until they obtained -a promise that they should not be summoned to appear in a distant -court. And in the majority of cases it was impossible to ascertain -who were the murdered persons, or whence they came. A few isolated -cases of conviction did, indeed,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> occur, as in 1823, when Mr. Molony -arrested a gang of 115 in the valley of the Nerbudda, and convicted -the whole of them; and again in 1826, when a large gang was arrested -in the same valley by Major Wardlaw, and their guilt proven. But these -exceptions rather tended to make the Thugs more cautious than to induce -them to relinquish their ancestral vocation. It was not until 1829-30 -that the task of suppression was fairly commenced. The honour of the -initiative was reserved for Lord William Bentinck, who passed certain -acts rendering Thuggee the object of a special judicature, and giving -a wider discretion to the officers employed in its suppression. His -lordship was fortunate in his selection of the special officers. It is -needless to do more than mention the names of the late Major General, -then Captain, Sleeman, Major, now Colonel, Borthwick, Colonel Stewart, -Captain Patton, Captain Malcolm, Captain G. Hollings, and Mr. F. C. -Smith. The best proof of the ability and energy displayed by these -gentlemen is the fact that by the year 1840 the committals amounted -to 3,689. Of this number, 466 were hanged, 1,504 transported, 933 -imprisoned for life, 81 confined for different periods, 86 called upon -to give ample security for their future good <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span>conduct, 97 acquitted, -and 56 admitted as approvers: 12 effected their escape, and 208 died -a natural death before sentence was passed. The approvers were not -absolutely pardoned, or even released from custody. Sentence was passed -upon them in the usual manner, but respited as long as they showed -signs of repentance and reformation. The utmost caution was used in -sifting their evidence and in confronting them with the accused, but -their testimony was so clear and so thoroughly substantiated that -no reasonable man could entertain the slightest doubt as to their -veracity. So complete was the success of the measures now adopted that -on the 17th of August, 1840, Hoossain Dost Khan, a powerful Talooqdar -(baronial lord) in the Nizam's dominions, previously an avowed opponent -of the British, wrote a letter to Captain Malcolm, from which the -following is an extract:—"Seeing that the best arrangements have been -made in this matter, the whole of the inhabitants of the country, and -travellers, have been emancipated from the fear of Thugs; day and night -they raise their hands in prayer to state that in the days of kings -bygone no such peace and comfort existed. Thanks to Almighty God, the -power of conferring this great boon, a source of great renown<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> has -been reserved for you from the beginning of the world, in order that -this matter should be so arranged. Where are the murdered men? How -can there be any, when you do not even hear the slightest allusion -to Thugs? The whole world are giving thanks for this." It must be -confessed, however, that there was some slight exaggeration in the -worthy Talooqdar's congratulations, for in the course of the next -seven years 531 more Thugs were apprehended and committed for trial. -Of these, 33 were hanged, 174 transported, 267 imprisoned for life and -27 for shorter periods, 5 called upon to put in bail, 125 acquitted, -and 46 admitted as approvers: besides 11 who died, and 2 who made -their escape. It was no easy matter to prevent the last contingency, -so great was their patience and ingenuity. Towards the close of 1834, -twenty-seven prisoners escaped from the Jubbulpore gaol, by cutting -through their irons and the bars of their windows, with thread smeared -with oil and then incrusted with finely-powdered stone. In 1848 also -there were 120 committed, of whom 5 were hanged, 24 transported, 11 -imprisoned for life and 31 for a limited period, 7 required to find -substantial bail, 12 acquitted, and 9 admitted as approvers: 2 died, -and 10 remained under trial. Since that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> year Thuggee appears to have -quite died out. In 1853, indeed, some cases occurred in the Punjaub, -but vigorous measures being at once adopted, under the superintendence -of Captain Sleeman, whose happy lot it was to complete the good work -inaugurated by his distinguished father, its final suppression was -almost coincident with its revival.</p> - -<p>The question that next presented itself for the anxious consideration -of the Government was the means of providing for the families of the -approvers. If left to their own devices, or the suggestions of want, -there was too much reason to apprehend that the elder members, who had -already witnessed the taking of human life, might be tempted to revert -to the practices of their forefathers. Accordingly, in the year 1838, -on the recommendation of Captain Charles Brown, a School of Industry -was founded at Jubbulpore, for the purpose of teaching the sons of -the approvers a trade or craft by which they might earn an honest -livelihood. At first their parents were opposed to the idea, but soon -joyfully acquiesced when they came to understand the benevolent motives -of the Government. For a time the old Thugs continued to speak with -animation of their past achievements, but, <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span>gradually weaned from their -former habits and associations, they learned to look back with shame -upon their antecedents and studiously avoided any further allusion to -them. By the end of 1847 the school possessed 850 inmates, of whom -307 were employed as guards, brickmakers, builders, cleaners, &c., -&c.; while the remaining 543 applied their superior ingenuity to the -manufacture of lac dye, sealing-wax, blankets, <i>satringees</i> (a sort of -strong drugget), fine cloth for trousers, <i>dhotees</i>, or body cloths, -<i>newar</i> tape of sorts, cotton wicks, stockings, gloves, towels, tents, -and carpeting. In that year the product of their labour amounted to -131 tents, 3324 yards of Kidderminster carpeting, forty-six woollen -carpets, and a vast quantity of towels, tablecloths, plaids, checks, -&c., which realised upwards of £3,500. Of this sum £500 were given to -the Thugs as an encouragement, and to form a capital for such as were -allowed after a time to establish themselves in Jubbulpore on their -own account. And nearly £300 were paid to their wives for spinning -thread for the factory. Much of the success of this institution has no -doubt been due to the excellent and judicious superintendence of Mr. -Williams, formerly a patrol of the Delhi Customs.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span></p> - -<p>Let British supremacy in India cease when it will, the suppression of -Thuggee will ever remain a glorious monument to the zeal, energy, and -judgment of the civil and military servants of the East India Company. -It is easy to direct epigram and innuendo against the idea of a body -of merchants ruling a vast empire with enlightened and disinterested -beneficence. But the impartial student of Anglo-Indian history can -readily adduce many such examples as the preceding—for instance, -the suppression of Suttee, human sacrifices, and infanticide; the -repression of torture, gang robberies, and voluntary mutilation—in -order to prove that these merchants were truly princes, these -traffickers the honourable of the earth.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span></p> - -<h2>The Tusma-Baz Thugs.</h2> - -<p>The Tusma-Baz Thugs were the fruit of European civilization grafted -on the Asiatic stock. At the commencement of the present century -one Creagh, a private in an English regiment stationed at Cawnpore, -initiated three natives of low degree into the mysteries of an art, -formerly practised by thimble-riggers in this country, and known as -"pricking the garter." The game, designated Tusma-bazee by his Hindoo -disciples, was played in this manner:—a strap being doubled into -many folds, the bystanders were requested to insert a stick where the -first double took place, which it was impossible to do without the -consent of the juggler. Creagh's three apostles speedily became the -leaders of as many schools or gangs, numbering in the year 1848, when -they were brought to justice, about fifty persons, chiefly residing -in the outskirts of Cawnpore. They had long been known to the police -authorities as professional gamblers, and had more than once been -either punished for that offence or required to furnish<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> security for -their good behaviour. It was not their custom, however, to confine -their depredations to their native town. On the contrary, they -travelled to a considerable distance to the westward, preferring those -districts which still remained under the misrule of petty independent -princes. Their first proceeding was to conciliate the police, which -was usually effected by the promise of one-fourth of their profits. -Having thus provided against all chance of molestation, they would meet -as strangers, and accidentally, near some well frequented spot, and -gradually begin to play. By degrees a crowd gathered around them, and -some one or another was certain to be tempted to try his fortune. At -first he was, of course, allowed to win, but it rarely happened that he -finally escaped being fleeced of his last coin. The leader received a -double share of the plunder, in consideration of the risk and expence -he incurred in maintaining his followers until a sufficient booty had -been secured to render them independent. If any one of the gang was -arrested, it was the leader's duty to use every means in his power to -release him, and for every rupee he expended for this purpose he was -allowed two pice interest. The balance, after deducting the captain's -share was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> equally divided among the rest, and was generally squandered -in drinking and gambling among themselves. It was, however, a light -and lucrative profession, and they frequently remitted considerable -sums of money to their families. But they did not solely rely on their -superior sleight of hand. When the opportunity was favourable they -did not scruple to add murder to robbery. Their ordinary plan seems -to have been by means of medicated sweetmeats, or sugar, hospitably -pressed upon the unwary who ventured to test their skill in play. The -drug mostly used was expressed from the seed of the <i>datura</i> plant, -a powerful and dangerous narcotic. To call them Thugs was evidently -a misnomer, for they had none of the observances of that ancient -fraternity, nor did they lay any claim to religious motives. They were -simply organized bands of vagrants of the most worthless characters, -who preferred fraud to labour and murder to industry. Their detection -would have taken place at a much earlier period, had not the police -been bribed to connive at their proceedings. It is almost superfluous -to remark that their practices were no sooner discovered by the -European magistrates than their occupation was gone, and themselves -severely punished.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span></p> - -<h2>Dacoits, or Gang-Robbers of India.</h2> - -<p>In India, under its native rulers, murder and robbery were hereditary -professions. The Thugs, or hereditary murderers, have been completely -put down; but the work of suppression has not yet been equally -successful with regard to the hereditary robbers, as they ever found -a ready harbour of refuge in the waste lands of the late kingdom of -Oude, and, indeed, in every independent state. They usually lived in -colonies, in the midst of wild jungles, difficult of access. With -incredible rapidity they would sweep down on some distant town or -village, plunder some house previously selected for the purpose, and -before any pursuit could be organized they were far advanced on their -homeward journey. To avert suspicion they assumed various disguises -with admirable adaptability. North of the Jumna they generally -travelled as holy-water carriers, because long files of that class -of men were continually traversing the roads of that district. But -to the south of the Jumna they appeared as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> Brinjaras, or drivers of -laden bullocks, or as pilgrims journeying to some sacred shrine, or as -sorrowing relatives conveying the bones of the departed to the banks -of the Ganges; or as the friends of a bridegroom going to fetch home -his bride. In the funeral processions to the "holy Gunga," men's bones -were borne in red, those of women in white bags, neither of which were -ever allowed to touch the earth, but at their halting grounds were -suspended from the apex of a triangle formed by three short poles or -staves. These were afterwards useful to the Dacoits as handles for the -spear-heads which they carried in their waist-bands. Instead of the -bones of their parents they contented themselves with those of inferior -animals, wild or domestic. The chief advantage of this disguise was -that such mourners were every where treated with the utmost respect, -and never subjected to inconvenient inquiries as to whence they came -or whither they were going. In Central India a more successful mummery -was to assume the garb and appearance of Alukramies, a peculiar -class of pilgrims, who travelled in small parties accompanying a -high-priest—personated by the leader of the gang. "They had four or -five tents, some of white and some of dyed cloth, and two or three -pairs of Nakaras, or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> kettle-drums, and trumpets, with a great number -of buffaloes, cows, goats, sheep, and ponies. Some were clothed, but -the bodies of the greater part were covered with nothing but ashes, -paint, and a small cloth waist-band. Those who had long hair went -bare-headed, and those who had nothing but short hair wore a piece -of cloth round the head." The pretended Alukramies always took the -precaution of hiring the services of half a dozen genuine Byragees, or -ascetics, whom they put forward in difficult emergencies. They would -often stop for days together in one place, awaiting favourable tidings -from the scouts they sent out in all directions. On arriving at a -village the drums were beat and the trumpets sounded to announce their -approach, and some of the party were sent in, with silver sticks, in -the name of the high-priest to bring the headman to pay his respects -and offer the established Nuzzurana of 1¼ rupee (two shillings -and sixpence). If this offering were not punctually and promptly -made, double the amount was exacted on the following day, and he must -have been a bold man who would venture, by a refusal, to incur the -displeasure of the gods. The landholder, or proprietor of the village, -was also expected to furnish, gratuitously, a sufficient number of -men<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> to carry the tents, flags, drums, and trumpets of these pious -cormorants, whose demands, however, were usually complied with without -a murmur. They were distinguished from other wandering mendicants -by "a large red flag upon a long pole, with the figure of Hunooman, -or the Sun and Moon, embroidered upon it. On one occasion they (the -Dacoits) prevailed upon Cheytun Das, a celebrated Byragee of Hindoon in -Jyepore, then eighty years of age, to enact the high priest, and he was -accompanied by his chief disciple, or son, Gunga Das."</p> - -<p>There were various clans, or colonies, of Dacoits. The Budhuks lived -in the Oude Teraie, or belt of forest land lying along the foot of the -Nepaul hills, whence they made frequent incursions into the British -territory, especially to the eastward in the direction of Goruckpore. -They were men of low caste, and would eat anything but bullocks, cows, -buffaloes, snakes, foxes, and lizards. Agricultural employments they -abhorred as too toilsome. According to a familiar proverb, "once a -Budhuk, always a Budhuk, and all Budhuks are Dacoits." Their leaders -were almost invariably men of good descent: some of them affected to -trace back their ancestors for twenty generations, and adduced their -long impunity as a proof that they were predestined to be what<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> they -were, and that, consequently they could never be anything else. "The -tiger's offspring," they would say, "are tigers—the young Budhuks -become Dacoits." In their palmy days they were able to maintain ten -or a dozen wives, but when misfortunes came upon them they were -compelled to reduce the pleasing burden to four or five. And they -were not altogether a burden, for each wife received in the division -of spoil a sum equal to two-thirds of her husband's share. A penitent -Budhuk once made the logical, but ungallant remark, that it was the -women who ought to be transported, for then no more Budhuks would be -born into the world. Nevertheless, in times of trouble the old women -were not without their use. They would then assume the semblance of -extreme poverty, and, mounted on wretched ponies, would travel many a -long weary mile to the place where their relatives were confined, and -by judicious presents to the native officers in authority, generally -succeeded in mitigating the lot, if they failed to accomplish the -release, of the prisoners. In this labour of love they not unfrequently -expended between one and two hundred pounds. There were also Budhuks -by adoption, but these were never allowed to eat with the hereditary -robbers, though they might smoke the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> same hookah. As a matter of -choice they preferred to avoid bloodshed, but in self-defence, or -to secure the success of their attack they never scrupled either -to wound or to slay outright. Shoojah-ood-Dowlah, Nawab of Oude, -once attempted to direct their love of enterprise into an honorable -channel by enrolling 1,200 of them into a corps, commanded by their -own leaders. But their depredations became so intolerable that they -acquired the appropriate epithet of the "Wolf Regiment," and as they -were continually mutinying they were soon afterwards disbanded. A brief -narrative of a few cases of Dacoitee committed by the Budhuks will give -the best idea of the system they pursued.</p> - -<p>In the early part of 1818 a powerful gang started from Khyradee in -Oude with the intention of cutting off a treasure, escorted by sixty -armed police, on the way from Benares to the westward. They disguised -themselves as bird-catchers and took with them "falcons and hawks -of all kinds, well trained, also mynas, parrots, and other kinds of -speaking and mocking birds." They had also a boat prepared to convey -them across the river. Having learnt from their scouts that the -treasure would be lodged on a particular night in the Chobee-ka-Serai -between<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> Allahabad and Cawnpore, they fitted handles to their axes and -spear-heads, and made some rude ladders by means of which, about two -hours after dark, they scaled the wall of the Serai. "A guard which -had been told off for the purpose broke open the gate from the inside -and stood over it to prevent any attack from without, or escape from -within, while the rest attacked the escort and secured the treasure." -In this spirited affair the Dacoits killed eight and wounded seventeen -of the police, carried off £7,600 in specie, and made their escape -without the loss of a single man.</p> - -<p>In April of the same year the Governor of Bharaitch forwarded to the -General Treasury at Lucknow the sum of £2,600 in silver and £600 in -gold mohurs, in two carts, escorted by thirty soldiers of the royal -army. It was lodged, for one night, outside the gate of a small fort, -two loaded guns commanding the only approach. A noted leader, named -Naeka, with a gang of eighty Dacoits undertook to cut out the prize. -First of all, he divided his followers into three parties. One division -of twenty men rushed upon the guns and spiked them. A second, of equal -force, fastened the gate of the fort with a strong chain to prevent the -garrison<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> from sallying forth; while the others boldly attacked the -guard and killed four of them—two of their own party, however, being -wounded. As they were returning in hot haste to their homes they were -themselves assailed by two large land owners, who took from them £2,000 -in rupees and the whole of the gold. They in their turn fell into the -hands of the king's troops—Naeka and sixty of his associates being -also apprehended. After six years' detention in the Seetapore gaol they -were all released, the landowners paying a fine of £2,000 in addition -to their booty, and the Dacoits a further sum of £1,000.</p> - -<p>Fortune, certainly, did not always smile upon them, notwithstanding her -proverbial partiality for the brave. Two gangs having united one day -in May, 1819, attacked the house of Sah Beharee Lall, a rich banker, -residing in the heart of Lucknow, the capital city of Oude. At first -all went well with them, and they carried off upwards of £4,000 into a -jungle not far from Khyrabad. A dispute then arose among the leaders -respecting the division of the plunder, and one of them, thinking -himself unjustly treated, rode off to Lucknow and gave information that -led to the apprehension of two hundred men,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> women, and children. A -long and tedious imprisonment awaited them, until in despair they rose -upon their guard, in 1834, and seventy of them effected their escape, -leaving five of their comrades on the ground, two of them being killed -upon the spot. The others were released in 1839.</p> - -<p>The boldness and suddenness of their onset usually assured their -success. One evening in the month of February, 1822, a party of men, -carrying canes in their hands, and about forty in number, were observed -hurrying along in a loose straggling manner towards the military -station of Nursingpore. On reaching the rivulet that separates the -town from the cantonments they were challenged by the sentry—for -a picket of soldiers was always posted on the bank, under a native -officer. Carelessly answering that they were cowherds and that their -cattle were coming on after them, they proceeded without molestation up -the principal street, but suddenly halted in front of a shop of some -pretensions. Striking their torches against pots containing combustible -matter, with which they had previously provided themselves, they were -instantly surrounded with a blaze of light. Already bewildered, the -bystanders were terrified into silence by a few rapid<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> thrusts of the -spears, into which the canes had been instantaneously transformed. The -house was rifled as if by magic, ten or a dozen persons were killed or -wounded, and in a quarter of an hour from their entrance into the town, -the Dacoits were on their way to the jungles. Within twenty paces on -one side of the house was a police station, and not a hundred paces -on the other side was the picket of sepoys already alluded to. But as -marriage processions were just then of frequent occurrence, it was -supposed that the noise and the glare of the torches belonged to those -very uproarious festivities, until a little boy creeping along a ditch -whispered to the native officer that they had killed his father. The -alarm was immediately given, but before the troops could turn out, the -Dacoits had got a fair start, which carried them beyond the reach of -both horse and foot.</p> - -<p>A bolder exploit was performed towards the close of that year. Two -skilful leaders, having collected some forty followers and distributed -among them ten matchlocks, ten swords, and twenty-five spears, waylaid -a treasure going from the native Collector's treasury at Budrauna to -Goruckpore. The prize consisted of £1,200, and was guarded by a Naïk, -or corporal, with four<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> sepoys and five troopers. It had to pass -through a dense jungle, and it was settled—said one of them in after -years—"that the attack should take place there; that we should have -strong ropes tied across the road in front and festooned to trees on -both sides, and, at a certain distance behind, similar ropes festooned -to trees on one side, and ready to be fastened on the other, as soon as -the escort of horse and foot should get well in between them." Having -completed these preparations the gang laid down on either side of -the road patiently awaiting their prey. "About five in the morning," -continued the narrator, "we heard a voice as if calling upon the -name of God (Allah), and one of the gang started up at the sound and -said, 'Here comes the treasure!' We put five men in front with their -matchlocks loaded not with ball but shot, that we might, if possible, -avoid killing anybody. When we had got the troopers, infantry, and -treasure all within the space, the hind ropes were run across the road -and made fast to the trees on the opposite side, and we opened a fire -in upon the party from all sides. The foot soldiers got into the jungle -at the sides of the road, and the troopers tried to get over the ropes -at both ends, but in vain." The corporal and a horse were killed, -two<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> troopers wounded, and the treasure carried off in spite of a hot -pursuit.</p> - -<p>One of the most famous Budhuk chiefs was named Maherban, who lived -in his fort at Etwa in the Oude forest. He had seven wives, who -frequently accompanied him in his expeditions, with the exception of -his chief wife, from whom no such toils and risk were expected. Late -in the autumn of 1818 he and his brother assembled about two hundred -men, women, and children, and wisely settled beforehand the rates of -division of plunder, setting aside a portion for the families of those -who might die or be killed. They then sacrificed ten goats, and, each -dipping a finger into the blood, swore mutual fidelity; after which -they ate and drank and made merry. On the following evening Maherban -and twenty of the principal Dacoits advanced a little way in front of -the rest of the party, and spat in the direction they were about to -pursue. Then raising his hands towards heaven Maherban thus prayed -aloud:—"If it be thy will, O God! and thine, O Kalee! to prosper our -undertaking, for the sake of the blind and the lame, the widow and -the orphan, who depend upon our exertions for subsistence, vouchsafe, -we pray thee, the call of the female jackal!" His followers likewise -lifted up<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> their hands, and having repeated the prayer after their -leader, all sat down in attentive silence. The auspicious omen was -presently heard three times upon the left. Thus assured of success, -Maherban purchased a palanquin for his second wife—suitable for a -man of wealth and dignity. The gang now started for Benares in small -detachments, and took lodgings in different parts of that city where -they stayed a whole month, making offerings and inquiries. Intelligence -was at length received of a cartload of treasure going towards the -west, under the care of an armed police force. On the first night of -December the escort rested with their precious charge in a public Serai -at Josee near Allahabad. Having procured staves for their spears and -handles for their axes, the gang left the palanquin, their wives, and -superfluous clothes, in a grove about four miles distant. At midnight -they arrived at the Serai and were agreeably surprised to find the -gate open. Here one detachment halted and mounted guard, while another -overawed the police, and the rest plundered the treasure. A brave -merchant, named Kaem Khan, likewise reposing in the Serai, in vain -endeavoured to infuse courage into the panic-stricken escort by word -and gesture. Disgusted with their pusillanimity he continued<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> to lay -about him with his long straight sword, wounding two of his assailants -and severing in twain many a spear, until a Dacoit got behind him and -felled him with a bludgeon, when he was quickly put to death. They -then carried off twenty bags containing in all 14,000 Spanish dollars, -and had their wounded men tended at a neighbouring village. As some -compensation for their sufferings they presented each of them with £10 -in addition to his share.</p> - -<p>A career of triumph had the same effect upon Maherban as upon greater -heroes: it made him indolent and luxurious, and his followers repined -at their forced inactivity. "One day, while he was sitting with two of -his wives, Mooneea and Soojaneea, they taunted him on the long interval -of rest he had enjoyed, while his more active brother had been covering -his followers and family with honour and money. 'You have,' said -Soojaneea, 'been now some ten months without attempting any enterprise -worthy your reputation; you are at your ease, and indulging in sports -no doubt very agreeable to you, but without any honour or profit to -us, while these your followers, men of illustrious birth and great -courage, are suffering from want, and anxiety about their families. -They have been told of a boat coming<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> from Calcutta, laden with Spanish -dollars; if you do not wish to go yourself and take it, pray lend us -your swords, and we will go ourselves, and try what we can do, rather -than let your brave fellows starve.' Maherban was deeply stung by these -reproaches, and waxed very warm, but was too angry to make any reply -to his wives. He got his followers together, and leaving his principal -wife, Mooneea, behind him, he set out in the character of a chief of -high rank, going on a pilgrimage, with Soojaneea carried in a splendid -litter as a princess; and in four months they returned with some 40,000 -Spanish dollars." While on his way homewards from this successful -expedition he "gave a large sum of money to a gardener at Seosagur, -about three miles from Saseram, to plant a grove of mango-trees near -a tank, for the benefit of travellers, in the name of Rajah Maherban -Sing, of Gour in Oude, and promised him further aid on future occasions -of pilgrimage, if he found the work progressing well, saying, 'that -it was a great shame that travellers should be left as he had been, -without shade for themselves and their families to rest under, during -the heat of the day.'" As he approached his forest home all the women -went forth to meet him in holiday<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> attire, and welcomed "the conquering -hero"—and the dollars—with music and dancing.</p> - -<p>Encouraged by this brilliant success Maherban resolved to proceed at -the close of the season to Sherghottee to intercept another boat-load -of dollars, which his spies told him was to be conveyed from Calcutta -to Benares. First of all he engaged a discharged Sepoy to instruct -his men in the Company's drill, and very apt scholars they proved -themselves. But while this parade work was going on, one of them eloped -with Heera Sing's pretty wife. The injured man straightway applied to -Maherban for redress, but the chief was too busy with his preparations -to attend to a merely personal affair, and probably deemed the loss of -a reluctant wife no very serious matter. Heera Sing then betook himself -to the other leaders, but failed to enlist their sympathy, for a man -who cannot bind a wife by her affections deserves to lose her. Foiled -at all points, he determined upon a large and base revenge: he gave -information of Maherban's movements to the English magistrates.</p> - -<p>Suspecting no treachery, Maherban at length set out as a Hindoo -prince with a noble retinue, and attended by a numerous guard of -soldiers<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> dressed in the Company's uniform. Unfortunately for him and -his followers, the Dacoitee of the previous year had been carefully -tracked out and the guilt lodged at the door of the real criminals. -Mr. Cracroft, the magistrate of Jaunpore, was accordingly authorized -to proceed to surprise his fastness with four companies of native -infantry under the command of Captain Anquetil. Their march was -unmolested, and in the heart of a dense unhealthy jungle—though not -so experienced by the Dacoits themselves—they came upon his fort, a -parallelogram sixty yards long by forty wide. It was surrounded by a -ditch with an embankment within, formed of the mud there excavated. At -a short distance was another colony of about five hundred able-bodied -Budhuks governed by Cheyda, Maherban's brother. These united with the -few who had been left at home by the latter, and opened a warm but -ill-directed fire upon the troops, as they advanced with cheers to the -assault. The simple works were carried at the first rush, and whatever -was combustible was committed to the flames. But it was impossible to -follow up the retreating Dacoits, and having inflicted this trivial -injury Captain Anquetil had no alternative but to extricate his -detachment from their dangerous position, and return to head-quarters.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> -Meanwhile measures were taken by the magistrates at Jaunpore, Behar, -and Benares, to intercept and arrest the gang under Maherban himself. -That chief was artfully induced to leave the high road and make a -pilgrimage to Gunga. Here he was given to understand that there was -an informality in the payment of customs' dues, and that he must halt -until the matter could be adjusted. While encamped in a mango grove -he was suddenly surrounded by the police, but still imagining that -his apprehension was entirely due to the supposed irregularity, his -followers offered no resistance, and only discovered their mistake -on being committed for trial as robbers and murderers. Maherban -himself was hanged in 1821, and the whole of his gang, 160 in number, -imprisoned for life or for limited periods.</p> - -<p>After Maherban's execution his principal widow Mooneea succeeded -to the government of the survivors of his colony. In the autumn of -1823 the adventurous dame joined some noted leaders in fitting out -an expedition, consisting of eighty men and seven women, with the -intention of cutting off a treasure party going to Katmandoo. Having -taken the auspices in the usual manner, but actually guided by their -pre-determination, they moved in small parties towards Junnukpore in -the Nepaul<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> territory. While travelling in disguise, some of them -fell in with a detachment of eighty Goorkhas (Nepaul highlanders) -escorting fifteen bullocks laden with 64,000 rupees (£6,400). Two of -them contrived to attach themselves to the escort, while the others -separated to collect their comrades. When about fifty had got together -they resolved to make the attack without waiting for the others. The -guard lodged that night about twelve miles from Jungpore, in a place -surrounded by a wall and ditch, outside of which was an encampment -of nearly 500 merchants, itinerant traders, and other travellers. -The night was clear and bright, but they nevertheless kindled their -torches, and with the aid of two stout ladders hastily constructed, -effected an entrance, surprised the guard, and possessed themselves of -the treasure. It was too cumbersome, however, to be all carried off at -once, and they were consequently obliged to bury about 17,000 rupees. -The news of this outrage having reached the Nepaul military station -of Jalesur, all suspicious persons were detained, and among them some -members of the gang who, under the lash, confessed their complicity -and led to the arrest of twenty-nine others, and to the death of two, -who foolishly resisted. These also being subjected to the lash pointed -out the <i>caches</i><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> where the 17,000 rupees had been buried, and 35,000 -more were found upon their persons: the others got off with the rest -of the treasure. The information obtained from the prisoners furnished -the clue to the apprehension of a vast number of Dacoits whom the Oude -authorities threw into prison without undergoing even the form of a -trial. With like irregularity some of them were released as a <i>Khyrat</i>, -or "thanksgiving to God," whenever the King or any member of the royal -family recovered from an illness.</p> - -<p>The scanty remnants of this last gang finding their former fastnesses -no longer secure, fled for refuge to the Rajah of Kottar within the -British territories, who readily accepted their presents, and in -return promised them his protection. From these new head-quarters -they frequently sallied forth, and joining their old comrades, made -inroads into Rohilcund and the Doab. Being unable to plunder in western -Oude, because the landowners in their strongholds defied both king and -Dacoits, they confined their depredations to the Company's territories, -and so constantly attacked and plundered the treasuries of the native -collectors, that the Government was compelled to fortify them and -impose a guard. Even this did not always prevail, and large sums of -money were oftentimes<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> carried off, after the guard had been surprised -and overpowered.</p> - -<p>The Budhuks dwelling in the eastern part of the Teraie were better -known as Seear Marwars, and were originally husbandmen, but took to -Dacoitee in the Nawabship of Shoojah-ood-Doolah. They numbered in all -from four to six thousand males, but were divided into colonies of -three or four hundred each, clustered round a rude fort. They were in -the habit of giving 25 per cent. of their booty to the Zemindars whose -protection they enjoyed, and by whom they were generally subsidized to -fight their battles with their neighbours, or with the farmers of the -revenue. In 1826-27 Mr., now Sir, Frederick Currie, the magistrate of -Goruckpore, organised a system of repression by means of a corps of -Irregular Cavalry under Major Hawkes, and an augmentation of his own -police force. That gentleman flattered himself that he had completely -put down this tribe of Dacoits, but, in fact, he had only driven them -into another district. Their old haunts no longer sheltering them from -pursuit, they removed their household gods to Rohilcund, the Doab -("Mesopotamia"), Rajpootana, and Gwalior. The Budhuk colonies, however -distant from one another, kept up an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> interchange of civilities and -intermarried with one another. Members of the same <i>gote</i>, or family, -though belonging to different colonies, could not intermarry, but as -there were several <i>gotes</i> in every colony, the different settlements -could interchange sons and daughters. For instance Solunkee ("Mr. -Brown") could not marry a person of the same name in his own, or in any -another colony, but there was no objection to his taking to wife the -daughter of Powar ("Mr. Jones,") or Dhundele ("Mr. Robinson") however -closely they might be connected with him.</p> - -<p>Mr. Currie certainly did succeed in momentarily checking the -depredations of the plunderers in his own district, but within three -years the evil had returned to its former dimensions. And of these some -idea may be formed from the statement that between 1818 and 1834, the -Budhuks of the Oude Teraie were known to have committed 118 Dacoitees, -in which 172 men were killed, 682 wounded, and property carried off -to the value of nearly £115,000: although 457 of the miscreants were -arrested, only 186 could be legally convicted. But the actual number -of gang-robberies far exceeded that which was reported. Many of the -Dacoits boasted that they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> had been engaged in a dozen or fifteen -expeditions. One of them confessed to Mr. Hodgson, in 1824, that he -had participated in seven Dacoitees, yielding a total of £36,900. A -noted leader, named Lucka, was engaged in forty-nine, in the course -of twenty-five years, some of them taking place at a distance of -four or five hundred miles from his home. A Chumbul Dacoit confessed -to thirty-eight in twenty-seven years, and another to twenty-three -in twenty-two years; and another Oude Budhuk to thirty-nine in -thirty-three years. They generally commenced at an early age, from -eighteen to twenty, according to the vigour of their constitution. -Lucka, of whom mention is made above, was arrested under the disguise -of a Byragee, his body smeared with ashes and a house of peacock's -feathers on his back: but the restlessness of his eye, and the nervous -movements of his limbs betrayed him. Arrest and punishment, however, -were always endured with commendable resignation, being considered as -the accidents of their profession.</p> - -<p>The achievements of Bukshee and other leaders soon proved the fallacy -of Mr. Currie's complacent belief in the efficacy of his repressive -measures. In November, 1830, Bukshee's gang slowly travelled through -Oude, in the disguise of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> Ganges water-carriers, moving in small -parties and encamping in groves to avoid unpleasant interrogatories. -Arriving at the frontiers, they gradually concentrated towards Sursole -in the Cawnpore district, where they were informed by their spies that -a private treasure was on its way from Mirzapore to Furruckabad. Having -cut handles for their axe and spear heads, they crossed the Ganges -in a boat previously purchased for the occasion, and worked by two -well-disposed ferrymen. After reaching the opposite bank they had still -ten miles to go, so that it was almost midnight before they attained -their destination. A sudden rush was all that was then necessary, -though to increase the panic caused by their irruption they deemed it -expedient to wound six or seven of the escort. Breaking open the boxes, -they abstracted twenty-five bags, each containing 1000 rupees (in all, -£2,500), and made off to the river. But by that time it was daylight, -and the ferrymen had run their boat under the shelter of a high bank, -and were fast asleep. Afraid to make a noise by hallooing to them, the -Dacoits buried their treasure in the sands and dispersed themselves -among the neighbouring villages until nightfall. In the meantime the -police had discovered their boat, but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> being assured by the men that -it had brought over only some fodder for cattle, they immediately gave -it up. Soon after sunset the robbers met at the appointed rendezvous, -where they found the boatmen anxiously expecting them. So, digging up -the treasure, they went on board and were safely ferried over to the -other side, presenting each of these men with fifty rupees.</p> - -<p>About the same season of the following year Bukshee again took the -field in his old disguise, and moved down to Allahabad. This was the -place of rendezvous for the different detachments, and here they -made their offerings to the gods, and received the blessings of the -priests and prayers for success in all their undertakings. They then -returned to the left bank and dropped down the river till they came -opposite to Bindachul, where there stood a celebrated temple to Davee. -Again crossing to the right bank they worshipped at the shrine of the -goddess of destruction, and were rewarded for their devotion by the -intelligence that a merchant's shop in Mirzapore, only four miles -distant, promised a rich booty. Accordingly, so soon as it was dusk -they advanced two miles in that direction, and throwing off their -disguise concealed themselves in a hollow till past eight o'clock to -allow the streets to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> get empty. Then they hurried on to the town and -stopped before the house chosen for their operations, every avenue -to which was guarded by parties told off for that purpose. Suddenly -lighting their torches they rushed in at the still open door, stabbing -and slashing right and left, and carried off between four and five -thousand pounds sterling. A few minutes afterwards they were again -clear of the town. Returning to their place of concealment they resumed -their garments, hastened thence to the river, and presented each of -the boatmen with a hundred rupees for conveying them safely across. In -due time they reached their forest homes without hurt or molestation. -Connected with this expedition there occurred a characteristic -incident. To avoid disputes Bukshee had stipulated before hand that -he should receive one-fifth of the plunder in addition to his proper -portion and the repayment of the outlay he incurred in fitting out -and maintaining the gang, in order to ransom his parents who had been -detained in the gaol at Lucknow for the last twelve years. He was no -doubt sincere in his intention to apply these funds in the manner he -had stated, but unhappily he had several wives, who somehow absorbed -the whole amount, and his parents accordingly <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span>remained in confinement. -When reproached with having obtained the money under fraudulent -pretences, Bukshee excused himself by the patriotic remark that his -father was now too old to be of any service to the colony: he did not, -however, offer to refund the eight thousand rupees he had thus obtained.</p> - -<p>The Dacoits do not appear to have possessed the honour that is supposed -to exist among thieves in so high a degree as the Thugs. A notable -instance of the laxity of their mutual engagements was furnished about -the same time that Bukshee successfully defrauded his followers. A -gang of forty Dacoits, under two brothers, named Hemraj and Mungul -Sing, and their cousin Dhurmoo, were lying at Sherghottee, in the hope -of intercepting a treasure then on the way from Calcutta to Benares. -Here they were joined, much against their inclination, by a party of -fourteen under Ghureeba, who threatened to inform against them unless -they agreed not only to admit him into partnership, but also to set -aside a proportionate share of the plunder for a gang of twenty-five -under Bureear, from whom he had recently parted. After considerable -altercation Ghureeba carried his point, and the convention was ratified -by oaths of mutual fidelity.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> Then they all went on together to the -village of Dungaen, at the foot of the hills, where they attacked -the treasure-party at night, and, after killing four and wounding -sixteen of the escort, carried off twenty-eight bags, each containing -2,500 rupees (in all, £6,000). Hemraj and Mungul Sing now adhered -so far to their previous engagements, that they allowed to Ghureeba -and the absent Bureear the shares to which they were entitled, but -refused to burden themselves in behalf of a party who had rendered -them no assistance. Ghureeba expostulated with them to no purpose, and -declared he would hold them answerable for the whole amount. After some -further jangling, it was finally arranged that 30,000 rupees should -be buried until Bureear could fetch them himself, and this labour was -voluntarily undertaken by Mungul Sing. On their return home, Bureear -displayed such indignation at their unfriendly conduct that they were -constrained to pacify him with a present of 2,000 rupees, and a month -afterwards Mungul Sing and some others set out with him to dig up the -treasure. But instead of 30,000, they found only 18,000 rupees. As -might be expected, this discovery of the treachery of his associates -did not tend to mollify the already exasperated<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> Bureear. In his wrath -he applied for redress to Rajah Gung Sing, of Dhera Jugdeespore, in -the kingdom of Oude, and appointed him arbiter. The Rajah proposed to -decide the question by an appeal to heaven, and to this Mungul Sing -and his party were compelled to assent. A blacksmith was thereupon -ordered to make some cannon-balls red hot, and these were placed with -tongs on the palms of the suspected persons' hands, defended only by -a thin peepul leaf. The ordeal was to carry these balls a certain -distance without being burned, but after taking a few paces they all -gave in. They were consequently pronounced guilty, and were sentenced -to refund the money they had purloined, and to pay a fine of 500 rupees -to the Rajah. In default of restitution, they were delivered over in -irons to Bureear, who kept them in confinement for several months, and -threatened to cut off their ears unless they made good his loss. But, -finding that his own followers were opposed to any further severity, -he prudently connived at their escape. "The hands of Boohooa, who -afterwards rose to the distinction of a leader, still (1849) bear -the marks of the burning he got; and, in showing them to me (Captain -Sleeman) one day, he confessed that the 'decision of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> Deity' in -that case was a just one; that he had really assisted Mungul Sing in -robbing Ghureeba on that occasion of 10,000 rupees, by burying them -in a pit at some distance from the rest; and that he, Nundran, and -another of the party, afterwards helped themselves to three out of the -ten thousand, unknown to Mungul Sing." What became of the two thousand -still unaccounted for—the total deficiency being 12,000—he was unable -to say.</p> - -<p>The same Bukshee, of whom so much has already been said, was informed -by his spies, in January, 1833, that the ex-Peishwah Bajee Rao had -hoarded a large amount of gold coin at Bithore, on the right bank of -the Ganges, not far from Cawnpore. He accordingly assembled a numerous -band of Dacoits, who, after receiving their instructions, broke up into -small parties, which concentrated at a particular spot at the appointed -time. They then boldly stormed the ex-Peishwah's palace, wounded -eighteen of his servants, and carried off 50,000 rupees in silver and -15,000 gold mohurs, each worth fifteen rupees. As they approached -their homes they were met by their female relatives in triumphant -procession, to whom they made a largesse of fifteen mohurs and twenty -rupees to lay out in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> sweetmeats for themselves and their children. On -the following day every man in the village received five gold mohurs, -seven rupees, and two four-anna pieces (worth sixpence a piece). A -series of the most shocking debaucheries ensued, which resulted in the -death of Chunda, the second leader of the gang. Six months afterwards -the Oude authorities surprised the colony, when Bukshee and a hundred -of his followers were put to the sword, and nearly three hundred -taken prisoners; a considerable quantity of plunder was seized at the -same time. The Budhuks, however, were soon released, and the king -even entertained the idea of restoring the recovered property to its -rightful owner. But the queen is said to have suggested to his majesty -"that if he suffered the ex-Peishwah to recover his property in this -way, he would expose himself to a demand from the honourable company -for all that had been taken by gangs from the same colonies in their -attacks upon numerous public treasuries and private storehouses in all -parts of their dominions, and add to the grounds already urged for -depriving him of his country; but that if he allowed the property to be -quietly, the noise about it would soon cease, while he would escape all -further responsibility and odium."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> Her majesty's advice was both too -prudent and too palatable to be lightly rejected, and the property was, -accordingly, "quietly absorbed."</p> - -<p>A yet more dashing, though not equally profitable enterprise was that -of the famous Budhuk chief, Gujraj, in 1839. In the absence of the -Rajah of Jhansi, who had gone with nearly all his armed retainers to -a marriage festival in the Duteea Rajah's family, Gujraj, with fifty -followers, scaled the wall of that town, attacked the bankers' shops, -killed one man and wounded another, and finally got off unmolested with -£4,000 worth of plunder. This leader was warmly patronised by the Rajah -of Nurwur, who had always half a dozen of his men to guard him while he -slept.</p> - -<p>In Rajpootana, Gwalior, and Malwa the Dacoits called themselves -Bagrees, or Bagorras. This clan numbered about 1,200 families, -principally settled, or rather bivouacked, on the banks of the Chumbul. -Of their proceedings less is known than concerning those of their Oude -brethren. They were greatly favoured by the native princes and powerful -landholders, and even when they were seized their punishment seldom -went further than a compulsory restitution of the stolen property. -They rarely insulted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> women beyond demanding of them their gold and -silver ornaments, and their reckless liberality made them so popular -with the poorer classes that when some of the petty princes were urged -by the Indian Government to take steps to put down Dacoitee within -their respective territories, they excused themselves on the ground -that it would cause a revolution. They were, besides, much prized as -auxiliaries in the state of perpetual warfare that existed among these -independent princes. When the Alwar Chief, in 1783, renounced his -allegiance to the Rajah of Jyepore, his sword and shield was Kishna, -the great Bagree leader. At a later period, his grandson, Bijee Sing, -rendered an important service to the lord of Alwar, for which he -received an estate worth 4,000 rupees a year, rent free for ever. The -commander of the Jyepoor forces had reduced the Alwar Chief to great -straits, when the latter invoked the aid of Bhart Sing and Bijee Sing, -who came to his assistance with 500 Bagrees, resolute and well armed -men. The Manukpoor Gotra estate was offered as a reward to any one -who would assassinate the enemy's leader. The Dacoits accepted the -adventure. "Bhart Sing approached the tent at night with only four or -five followers, whom he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> left outside. He entered the tent, and found -the minister asleep and entirely defenceless. He could not kill a man -in that state, and taking up his sword, shield, and turban, which lay -by the bedside, he returned with them to Bijee Sing, saying that he -could never stab a brave man in that defenceless state. Bijee Sing then -went, entered the tent which was still without a sentry, and stabbed -the minister to the heart."</p> - -<p>At another time the Rajah of Kerowlie engaged a small band of Bagrees -to assist him in besieging his cousin the Thakoor Luchmun Sing, in the -city of Ameergur. "The duty assigned to us"—said one of them—"was to -cut off all supplies, and at night to attack the advanced batteries -thrown out by the garrison upon elevated places. The commandant allowed -us to select as many as we wanted of his best soldiers on whose courage -we could most rely, and we generally took about the same number as we -ourselves. We then reconnoitred the strongest batteries, sometimes in -the daytime in all manner of disguises, sometimes at night creeping -along the ground like wild animals, till we got up close to them, and -saw all that we wanted to see. After we had become well acquainted -with the positions, in three or four days we entered upon the attack.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> -Well armed with swords, shields, and spears, and some with muskets, we -advanced close to the ground till we got so near that we could rush -in upon them before the enemy could deliver their fire. No man is -permitted to carry a matchlock on such occasions; nor do we, indeed, -ever carry them in our enterprises, because the light of the matches -might warn people of our approach and bring their fire upon us. When -within the proper distance the signal is given, and we start up, and -rush in, and kill every man we can. There are always supporting parties -of troops close behind us, to follow up our attack and keep possession -of the surprised batteries. In this way we in one night surprised and -took three of the batteries which Luchmun Sing had placed upon a hill -near his fort. The night was dark, and we attacked them all at the -same time. We were about forty Bagrees, and we had with us about sixty -select soldiers, and for each battery we had from thirty to thirty-five -men; but we knew every inch of the ground we were to act upon, and we -could rely upon each other. We on such occasions stop all supplies that -they try to get into the besieged fort. We watch for several nights and -permit the people to take in all they please unmolested; and when we -know all the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> roads by which the supplies go in, we attack them all in -one night, and are allowed to keep what we get for ourselves."</p> - -<p>These Bagrees were as scrupulously devout in their way as the Italian -banditti are said to be, whom they resembled in more than one point. -Ajeet Sing, the leader of a Chumbul gang, in describing a Dacoitee -that had yielded 40,000 rupees, went on to say:—"Four thousand five -hundred rupees were taken to cover the expenses of the road, to offer -to the gods who had guided us, and to give in charity to the poor. For -offerings to the gods we purchase goats, sweet cakes, and spirits; -and having prepared the feast, we throw a handful of the savoury food -upon the fire in the name of the gods who have most assisted us; but -of the feast so consecrated, no female but a virgin can partake. The -offering is made through the man who has successfully invoked the god -on that particular occasion; and as my god had guided us on this, I was -employed to prepare the feast for him, and to throw the offering on -the fire. The offering must be taken up before the feast is touched, -and put upon the fire, and a little water must be sprinkled upon it. -The savoury smell of the food as it burns, reaches the nostrils of the -god and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> delights him. On this, as on most occasions, I invoked the -spirit of Gunga Sing, my grandfather, and to him I made the offering. -I considered him to be the greatest of all my ancestors as a robber, -and him I invoked on this trying occasion. He never failed me when I -invoked him, and I had the greatest confidence in his aid. The spirits -of our ancestors can easily see whether we shall succeed in what we are -about to undertake; and when we are to succeed, they order us on,—and -when we are not, they make signs to us to desist."</p> - -<p>The same Ajeet Sing described a singular superstition that existed -among the Bagrees. One of his comrades happened to be severely wounded -on the wrist, and became so faint from loss of blood that he was -obliged to be carried. As he passed under a Banyan tree, "the spirit -of the place fell upon him, and the four men who carried him fell down -with the shock." The phenomenon was thus explained. "If any man who -has been wounded on the field of battle, or in a Dacoitee, be taken -bleeding to a place haunted by a spirit, the spirit gets very angry and -lays hold of him: he comes upon him in all manner of shapes, sometimes -in that of a buffalo, at others in that of a woman, sometimes in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> -air above, and sometimes from the ground below; but no one can see him -except the wounded person he is angry with and wants to punish. Upon -such a wounded person we always place a naked sword, or some other -sharp steel instrument, as spirits are much afraid of weapons of this -kind. If there be any good conjuror at hand to charm the spirits away -from the person wounded, he recovers, but nothing else can save him. -When the spirit seized Gheesa under the tree, we had unfortunately no -conjuror of this kind, and he, poor fellow! died in consequence. It was -evident that a spirit had got hold of him, for he could not keep his -head upright; it always fell down upon his right or left shoulder as -often as we tried to put it right, and he complained much of a pain in -the region of the liver. We therefore concluded the spirit had broken -his neck, and was consuming his liver."</p> - -<p>Dead bodies were usually burned, and the ashes thrown into the sacred -stream. Sometimes this could not be done, as, for instance, when one -died upon an expedition, and there was no time or means to make a -funeral pyre. In such cases the body would be hastily buried, or, as -once occurred, thrust into a porcupine's hole, and some of the fingers -cut off and carried home<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> to the sorrowing relatives. The part was -then burned for the whole, and the gang presented a widow with money -to distribute in alms, and enabled her to make a handsome offering to -the family priest. Each colony had two or three especial deities, who -were the spirits of ancestors distinguished in the "imperial business," -as they proudly designated their vocation. When they desired to know -who of their forefathers was the most sympathetic, the most interested -in their welfare, they carefully noted the incoherent ravings of a -delirious man, or one suffering from epilepsy. His rambling talk was -attributed to the temporary possession of his tongue by some departed -spirit. If there were any doubt as to whose it was, the family -priest, or a relative of the sick man, would throw on the ground a -few grains of wheat, or coloured glass beads, mentioning the name of -some ancestor, and at the same time crying odd or even. If they cried -correctly two or three times consecutively, they had discovered the -demigod. They then sacrificed a goat, or some other animal, that the -pleasant odour of the culinary operations might gratify the nostrils of -the "daimon," while the assembled friends loudly sang his praises. If -the patient began to amend during<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> the sacrifice, it was deemed a full -confirmation of their belief, and a new "Lar familiaris," or household -god was added to the polytheism of the colony.</p> - -<p>The chief deities worshipped by the Dacoits in common were Kalee -or Davee, and Sooruj Deota or Sun God. Before setting out upon an -expedition, they were always careful to take the auspices; which was -done in this manner. Having procured several goats, the principal men -assembled, and while one of them held some water in his mouth, the -others prayed, "O thou Sun God! And O all ye other gods! if we are to -succeed in the enterprise we are about to undertake, we pray ye to -cause these goats to shake their bodies!" If they do not shake them -after the gods have been thus duly invoked, the enterprise must not -be entered upon, and the goats are not sacrificed. "We then try the -auspices with the wheat; we have a handful of wheat, a large shell, -a brass jug, cloth, and frankincense (<i>gogul</i>), and scented wood -(<i>dhoop</i>) to burn. We burn the frankincense and scented wood, and blow -the shell; and taking out a pinch of the grains, put them on the cloth -and count them. If they come up odd, the omen is favourable; if even, -it is bad. After this,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> which we call the auspices of the Akut, we take -that of the Seearnee, or female jackal. If it calls on the left, it -is good; if on the right, it is bad. If the omens turn out favourable -in all three trials then we have no fear whatever; but if they are -favourable in only one trial out of the three, the enterprise must be -given up."</p> - -<p>The Bowrees appear to have been an off-set of the Bagree Dacoits. -They affected to be descended from Rajpoots, but in truth very little -is known as to their origin. Their peculiar dialect, however, was -Guzerattee, though for generations past they had not even visited -that province, but the circumstance is in favour of the theory that -traces them to Chittore, the capital of Mewar, adjacent to Guzerat, -whence they are believed to have emigrated when Akhbar captured that -city in 1567. According to the deposition of Dhokul Sing, made in -1839, the Bowrees were "not a people of yesterday—we are of ancient -and illustrious descent." Their ancestor, Pardhee, was one of the -companions of Ram in his expedition for the recovery of Seeta. "If," -said this approver, "if any prince happens to have an enemy that he -wishes to have made away with, he sends for some of our tribe, and -says, 'Go, and bring<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> such or such an one's head.' We go, and steal -into his sleeping apartments, and take off the person's head without -any other person knowing anything about it. If the prince wanted, -not the head of his enemy, but the gold tassels of the bed on which -he lay asleep, we brought them to him. In consequence of our skill -in these matters, we were held everywhere in high esteem; and we -served princes and had never occasion to labour at tillage. We who -came to the Delhi territory (they were mostly located about Delhi, -Mozuffernugur, and Meerut), and were called Bowrees, took to thieving. -Princes still employed us to take off the heads of their enemies, and -rob them of their valuables. At present the Bowrees confine themselves -almost exclusively to robbing tents; they do not steal cattle, or cut -into ("dig through") houses; but they will rob a cart on the highway -occasionally—any other trade than robbery they never take to." During -the absence of the men on some thriving expedition, their wives and -families were protected and maintained by the Zemindar, on whose land -they resided, and who likewise was ever ready to advance a small sum of -money to enable his respectable tenants to take to the road—secure<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> -of repayment with usury. Before setting out they sacrificed a goat to -Davee, and offered burnt offerings.</p> - -<p>They also presented sweetmeats to the goddess, and vowed no stinted -quantity should they return successful from their wanderings. To omens -they paid great regard. A couplet in familiar use among them was to the -effect, that "if the cow and the deer cross from the left to the right, -and the snake from right to left, and the blue jay from left to right, -even the wealth that has gone from thee shall come back."</p> - -<p>Of the cognate tribes of Sanseea and Bereea Dacoits some interesting -details may be gathered from the official reports of the Commissioners -for the suppression of Dacoitee. According to tradition there lived -a long time ago, in the province or Mharwar, two uterine brothers -named Sains Mull and Mullanoor. Sains was very illiterate and found it -extremely difficult to earn a livelihood by his own exertions. So he -went to the god Bhugwan and represented his case. The deity heard him -with compassion and gave him an order upon every village in the world -for the payment of half a crown from each. Returning home the foolish -fellow showed the paper to his brother, who, moved by envy, tore it -in pieces.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> A fraternal squabble naturally ensued, which at length -terminated by both of them repairing to Bughwan. But the god declined -to give a second order, and advised Mullanoor to assume the life of a -mendicant, while his brother was to maintain himself by singing and -dancing. From the former were descended the Bereeas, who wandered -about the country, playing the <i>dhol</i> (a kind of drum), begging and -stealing: the men and women living together in a promiscuous state of -extreme socialism. The descendents of the other brother were called -Sanseeas, also a roving tribe, pretending to deal in cattle, goats, -horses, cloth, grain, or anything else that came into their hands. They -were generally in great request as <i>Bhâts</i>, or Bards at the marriage -festivals of the Jats. Their business was to trace the lineage of their -entertainer to the founders of the Jat family, and celebrate the heroic -virtues of his ancestors. If the host proved a niggard, and refused to -comply with the exorbitant demands of these vagabond minstrels, they -would make an effigy of his father and parade it up and down before -his house;—or even, in extreme cases, suspend it from a bamboo and -fix it over his door, by which means he temporarily lost caste, so -that none of his neighbours would drink or smoke with him. In former<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> -times these Bhâts almost lived upon the Jats, each claiming, as his -peculiar province, fifty or a hundred families who, in succession, -gave him yearly one day's food and two shillings and sixpence in -money. The Sanseeas were divided into two sub-clans, the Malhas and -the Kalkas—the former being descended from Sains Mull's son, and the -latter from his grand-daughter by an adopted son. A Malha could not -marry a Malha, nor a Kalka a Kalka, but the young men of the one family -chose their wives from among the young women of the other. Originally -the Sanseeas confined themselves to mendicancy, minstrelsy, and -cattle-lifting, but after a time, emboldened by poverty or impunity, -they took to Dacoitee, which they reduced to a regular system.</p> - -<p>In their expeditions they left their old men and women, and their -children at home, under the protection of a friendly Zemindar, but -took with them a few young women and such as had children at the -breast, with a view to avert suspicion. When they arrived within two -days' march of the scene of their projected operations, the main body -halted, while the leader with a small party of followers, male and -female, went on to reconnoitre and make the necessary preparations. -Their usual plan was to enter a liquor shop, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> while purchasing -some spirits, to ask the name of some respectable money-changer or -banker. They thus learnt the address of the one who was esteemed the -wealthiest. On the following morning at early dawn they repaired -to his shop, because at that hour he would be obliged to go to his -treasure-chest, whereas, later in the day he would have a small supply -of money beside him for ordinary business. Having now ascertained -where his hoard was deposited, and such other particulars as might be -useful, they proceeded to the bazar and procured a sufficient quantity -of bamboos for spear-staves. These they buried near the town on their -way back to the camp. All things being ready they took some spirituous -liquor and spilling a little on the ground, prayed aloud: "O Davee! -Mother! If we succeed in our business and get a good deal of booty, -we will make a grand <i>poojah</i> (religious festival) to thee, and offer -thee a cocoa-nut!" The goddess being propitiated, the next step was to -assign to every man his particular post: some to act as scouts, others -to guard the avenues, others again to rush into the house, while the -Jemadar, or leader, reserved to himself the task of breaking open the -money-chest with his trusty hatchet. Early next morning they advanced -to an easy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> distance of the place, and some of them went forward for -the spear-staves buried on the previous day. A Sanseea, of approved -tact and intelligence again entered the town to purchase oil for the -torches, and to make the final reconnoissance. So soon as darkness -descended, the gang threw off their clothes and started at a rapid -pace, without once looking behind. If they had reason to expect that -the local police would be vigilant—a rare occurrence—they concealed -their spears in a bundle of reeds or coarse straw, which one of them -carried on his head, followed by another to personate the purchaser of -the fodder. On arriving in front of the shop, the bundle was thrown on -the ground, the cord hastily loosened, the spears extracted and the -torches lighted. Then the Jemadar invoked the aid of his patron deity -and vowed a grateful offering if the chest should at once yield to his -blows. Raising their war-cry <i>Deen! Deen!</i> they furiously assaulted the -bystanders, pelting them with stones, striking them with their spears, -and even wounding them if obstinate. The Jemadar, the torch-bearers, -and four or five determined men, under favour of the tumult, broke into -the house, smashing doors and all other impediments. In a few minutes -afterwards the house was abandoned by the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span>unwelcome intruders, who -moved off to the place of rendezvous as fast as their weighty plunder -would permit them; the Jemadar piously imploring of Bhugwan to send -their pursuers in a wrong direction. Should one of the gang happen -to have been slain, his spirit was likewise invoked, and spirituous -liquor and a goat promised to his manes. At every temple on the road, -and at every stream they had to cross, they threw down a rupee or two -to propitiate the genius of the place. When within a couple of miles -of their encampment they called aloud Koo-Koo. If no response were -heard they pushed on rapidly, occasionally imitating the call of the -partridge: when close at hand they uttered a hissing noise. On their -actual arrival they were certain to find everything packed up and -ready for a start. Mounted on their rough, hardy little ponies they -would cover a distance of sixty to eighty miles in twenty-four hours -for two or three consecutive days, until fairly beyond all danger of -pursuit. Any one was allowed to join a gang on payment of a few rupees, -though not to carry a spear or enter the house until his coolness and -courage had been freely tested. If a Dacoit committed homicide he -was obliged to expiate his blood-guiltiness by making a <i>poojah</i>, at -which he trusted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> his comrades with half a crown's worth of liquor. -In the division of spoils the Jemadar claimed one-tenth in addition -to the repayment of his advances towards fitting out the expedition. -The balance was then divided among the entire gang, the leader again -sharing, and provision was made for the wounded and for the widows of -those who had fallen.</p> - -<p>The religious creed of the Sanseeas was sufficiently simple. "I -believe" said one of them, "in Ram (God), Bhowanee, and Sheik Fureed, -whose shrine is at Gierur, about eighteen miles from Hingunghat. There -we make offerings after a successful expedition. Sheikh Fureed acquired -his saintship thus:—he first performed a devotional penance of twelve -years, carrying about with him a load of wood tied to his stomach, but -that was not accepted: next another, in which he ate nothing but forest -leaves for twelve years—not accepted: lastly, his third trip, he hung -himself up by the heels in iron chains in a Baolee (a well) at Gierur; -then he was taken up and asked what he wanted; he said, to have every -request granted; this was promised, and he disappeared. Many people now -pray to him for luck."</p> - -<p>Like the Thugs and the other Dacoits, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> Sanseeas prided themselves -on the exact observance of omens. They looked upon it as unfortunate to -hear the cry of the jackal or the cat, a kite screaming while sitting -on a tree, the braying of an ass, a flute, or the lamentation over -the dead. It was equally inauspicious to see a dog run away with any -one's food, a woman break a water-pitcher, a hare, a wolf, a fox, a -chamelion, an oil-vender, a carpenter, a blacksmith, two cows tied -together, or a thief in custody. If they encountered a corpse, or if -a turban fell off, or the Jemadar forgot to put some bread in his -waist-belt, or left his spear or axe behind him—the expedition must -be deferred. But nothing could be more promising than to meet a woman -selling milk, or any one carrying a bag of money, or a basket of grain, -or fish, or a pitcher of water. Nor was it less encouraging to see a -calf sucking, or a pig, or a blue jay, or a marriage procession.</p> - -<p>Their most binding form of attestation was by means of a piece of -new cotton cloth, exactly 1¼ cubit square, in which was tied up -half-a-pound of coarse sugar. The accuser hung the parcel upon the -branch of a peepul tree, and challenged the accused to touch it. If the -latter foreswore himself, he would sicken within three days. Another -ordeal was to tie seven peepul<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> leaves, one over the other, on the -palm of the suspected person's hand, on which a red-hot iron plate was -then placed. Unless he carried this seven paces without suffering any -inconvenience and deposited it upon seven thorns arranged to receive -it, he was pronounced guilty. At other times a Punchayut, or Council -of Elders, seated themselves on the bank of a river, when one of them -stepped forward and fired two arrows together from one bow, the one in -the name of Bhugwan, the other in that of the Punchayut. The furthest -one was then stuck upright in the ground, while a man walked into -the stream up to his breast and planted a bamboo in the channel. The -accused also entered the water and laid hold of the pole. A member of -the Punchayut having clapped his hands seven times as a signal for him -to plunge his head under the water, set off at the top of his speed for -the arrow, brought it back, and again clapped his hands seven times. -If the accused had kept his head immersed until this second signal, he -was deemed innocent: otherwise, his guilt was held to be satisfactorily -proven.</p> - -<p>When a male child was born, his head was carefully shaved, with the -exception of a small spot dedicated to Bhugwan. This lock of hair<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> -was all that he was permitted to wear until the completion of his -tenth or twelfth year, when it also was shorn off by the barber, and -his relatives gave a grand entertainment to the tribe. Those who died -before this ceremony were simply buried with the face downwards: -the only solemnity being the preparation of some sweet cakes, of -which three were given to a dog and the rest consumed by relatives -and friends. But those who survived this important epoch of their -lives were, after death, placed on a funeral pyre. When the fire was -extinguished, the ashes were carefully examined and the bones buried on -the spot. Great feasting and jollity then followed, and the spirit of -the deceased, propitiated by an offering of swines' flesh and spirits, -was invoked to aid and protect his family.</p> - -<p>Matrimony was a matter of arrangement between the parents; a Punchayut -deciding the amount of the dower to be given by the father of the -bridegroom to the bride's father. The marriage ceremony consisted in -a libation of spirits to Bhugwan, the Supreme Being, and a public -declaration that the boy and girl were henceforth man and wife; the -whole concluding with a feast. If a man happened to be touched by the -petticoat of his mother-in-law, or <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span>daughter-in-law, he lost caste, -and therefore took care never to go near them. The same result was the -consequence of his being struck by his wife's petticoat in the course -of connubial strife. By thus losing caste he was incapacitated from -joining his tribe in worship, or in funeral rites, though he was still -allowed to eat and drink with them. However, a handsome entertainment -to his brother robbers and a humble offering to the gods removed all -impurities, social and religious.</p> - -<p>The Bolarum Dacoitee committed in 1837 is such an excellent -illustration of the system adopted by the Sanseeas that no apology need -be offered for the length of the narrative, as given to Captain Malcolm -ten years afterwards by one of the Dacoits actually engaged in it.</p> - -<p>"From this place (Sadaseopath) I and four others came on to Hyderabad, -where we looked about us for five days, but finding nothing likely -to suit our purpose, we went to Bolarum, and took up our quarters -at a buneeya's (tradesman's) shop in the village of Alwal, close to -the cantonments. In the cantonments we soon discovered a respectable -looking shop, which appeared well suited for a Dacoitee. Early one -morning I took fifty shuhr-chelnee rupees with me and went to the shop, -where I found the owner transacting <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span>business. I asked him to exchange -the shuhr-chelnee for bagh-chelnee rupees, and when I had agreed -to give him one pice discount on each rupee, he went and unlocked -one of two large-sized boxes, which I saw in an inner room, and out -of which he took the money I required. I also noticed some silver -horse-furniture hanging upon a peg on the wall, and in a niche a dagger -and a pair of pistols." "Having thus obtained all the information I -required as to the exact spot where the property was likely to be -found, I next examined the position of the different guards likely to -interrupt us in the act of breaking into the house. I found that a -guard of eighteen men was stationed at the chowrie (police station) -some distance off, and that a sentry was posted at night at a place -where four streets met, close to the shop I had reconnoitred. From the -latter I feared no opposition, as he could easily be overpowered, and -we calculated upon breaking into the house before the chowrie-guard -could turn out and come to the rescue of the banker."</p> - -<p>"I then returned to my comrades, with whom I remained for two days, -making ourselves acquainted with all the localities about the place, -the roads leading from it, and in fact with everything that might be of -use to us in the enterprise we<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> were about to undertake. Among other -things, we learnt that after gun-fire, or eight o'clock, the guard had -orders to stop all parties entering the cantonments, and we therefore -determined to commence operations before that hour."</p> - -<p>"We then returned to Sadaseopath (forty miles distant), and on relating -the result of our proceedings to the gang, it was determined to risk -a Dacoitee on the Sowar's house at Bolarum. Our next proceeding was -to convey as secretly as possible to the vicinity of that place -sufficient arms and axes to answer our purpose; these were made up into -bundles and entrusted to four men, who proceeded in the night time to -Puttuncherroo, and on the following night, a couple of hours before -daybreak, we reached a small nullah (ravine) behind the mosque near -Bolarum, where the axes and spears were carefully buried in the sand. -The rest of our party in the meantime struck their camp, and, leaving -the high road, made to the village of Tillapoor, about eight or nine -miles from the fort of Golcondah."</p> - -<p>"The gang chosen for the Dacoitee consisted of twenty-four able men, -under Rungelah Jemadar and myself, and left Tillapoor about ten o'clock -in the forenoon, and, in small parties of two and three, reached at -twilight the spot where<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> our arms were concealed. We then procured some -oil from the shop in the cantonments, and, about half-past seven or -nearly eight o'clock, we proceeded in straggling order towards the shop -about to be attacked, and which we reached without being challenged by -any one. The sentry posted near the shop we were about to attack did -not appear to suspect or notice us; and the moment our <i>mussal</i> (torch) -was lighted, he was speared by Baraham Shah and Kistniah, while others -commenced breaking in the doors of the inner room, the outer partition -of the shop having been found open. Three bankers, whom we found -writing their accounts in the outer shop, rushed into the house and -disappeared. The lock of the door yielded to one blow from the axe of -Rungelah, and, on throwing down the planks of which it was formed, we -found the box which I had seen on a former occasion, unlocked and open. -Out of this we took sixteen bags full of money, leaving four, which we -were obliged to relinquish, as we were pressed for time, and had not -sufficient men at hand to remove them. The whole place now was in a -state of commotion and uproar; and, as we drew off as fast as we could, -we were followed by a crowd of camp-followers and Sipahees, to the -place where a number of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> bullocks were picketed. We here struck into -the paddy (rice) fields, and across these our pursuers did not attempt -to follow us. A short distance from Bolarum, two of the bags broke, and -the money fell to the ground; and as it was dark, and we had no time to -search for it, we lost nearly 1,500 rupees." Nevertheless, they got off -with 14,500 rupees, and with silver horse-furniture valued at £15 more.</p> - -<p>The impossibility of guarding against these organized attacks by -large bodies of armed men, through the means of the ordinary police, -induced Lord Auckland in 1838 to appoint Captain Sleeman commissioner -for the suppression of Dacoitee, in addition to his duties as General -Superintendent of measures for the suppression of Thuggee. The task -was a difficult one. Not only were the Dacoits protected and screened -by the native princes, land owners, and magistrates—their own numbers -and determination rendered their apprehension a matter of some danger. -It was afterwards ascertained that in 1839 there were no fewer than -seventy-two leaders south of the Jumna who could gather together 1,625 -followers; and to the north of that river forty-six leaders, supported -by 1,445 men. In the Oude jungles were many powerful colonies, who -were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> usually warned by friendly Zemindars of the approach of danger, -and thus enabled to flee to less accessible fastnesses. On one occasion -1,500 of them escaped into Nepaul where they temporarily dispersed, -to meet again at a given rendezvous. The Commissioner himself aptly -compared their colonies to a ball of quicksilver, which, if pressed -by the finger, will divide into many smaller globules, all certain -to come together again and cohere as firmly as before. However, the -constant alarms to which they were now subjected, compelled them to -conceal themselves in such unhealthy spots that they were decimated by -disease. In the Goruckpore district a gang, consisting of ninety-four -men and 280 women and children, suffered so much from this cause that -they voluntarily surrendered themselves. Others were hunted down from -one district to another, until in despair they yielded themselves -prisoners, or endeavoured to abandon their illegal vocation and -settle down to agricultural pursuits. Many of the prisoners, being -conditionally pardoned, were admitted into the police force, where -they distinguished themselves by their courage and intelligence. It is -a remarkable trait in the character of the Dacoits that they rarely -forfeited their word. If once they pledged <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span>themselves not to revert -to their former evil habits, there was little danger of a relapse. An -experimental colony was formed of the approvers and their families -near Moradabad, at a place called, <i>de nomine facti</i>, Buddukabad. The -result has been satisfactory, though the Dacoits usually complained -of the difficulty of confining their expenditure to the comparatively -small means furnished by honest industry. A Budduk, they would say, -cannot live on eight rupees a month (three rupees being the wages of -an ordinary labourer): he requires at least two rupees a day, because -he eats meat and takes large quantities of <i>ghee</i> and rice, and loves -liquor, and is addicted to polygamy. One of them, who had been ten -years in prison, being asked by Capt. Ramsay if, in the event of his -liberation, he would promise to amend his life, shook his head and -answered with a merry laugh:—"No, no, that would never do. Why should -I become an honest man—work hard all day in the sun, rain, and all -weathers, and earn—what? Some five or six pice a day! We Dacoits -lead very comfortable and agreeable lives. When from home, which is -generally only during the cold season, we march some fourteen or -sixteen miles a-day for, perhaps, a couple of months, or say four, at -the outside—commit a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> Dacoitee and bring home money sufficient to -keep us comfortable for a year, or perhaps two. When at home we amuse -ourselves by shooting, or visiting our friends, or in any way most -agreeable—eat when we please, and sleep when we please—can, what you -call an honest man, do that?"</p> - -<p>Another who had passed a like period within the gaol at Lucknow, -returned to Dacoitee a few months after his release. "I was then -young," said he, "and in high spirits—I had been confined with many -other old Dacoits—and in gaol I used to hear them talking of their -excursions, how they got 50,000 rupees here and 20,000 rupees there; -and I used to long for my release, that I might go on Dacoitee and -enjoy myself." The confessions of both these men would be readily -endorsed by many inmates of our own prisons. Evil associations and -the charms of a contraband career are equally potent in Europe and in -Asia. But among the natives of India the profession of a Dacoit was not -regarded as one of shame and disgrace. Indeed, even the Commissioner -avowed he could see little difference, ethically, between expeditions -in quest of plunder, and those for the purpose of conquest; it was -a question of degree, not of principle.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> They themselves gloried in -their calling. "Ours," they said, "has been a <i>Padshahee Kam</i> (an -imperial business); we have attached and seized boldly the thousands -and hundreds of thousands that we have freely and nobly spent: we have -been all our lives wallowing in wealth and basking in freedom, and -find it hard to manage with a few copper pice a day we get from you." -So energetic, however, and persevering were the measures adopted for -the suppression of this "Padshahee Kam" that within a very few years -after their inauguration, there existed in the Upper Provinces scarcely -even the nucleus of a gang. The few who still remained at liberty were -known by name and personal appearance, and only escaped apprehension -by leading simple and inoffensive lives, gaining their daily bread by -their daily labour.</p> - -<p>The task of suppression in the Lower Provinces has been attended with -so many peculiar difficulties, from the natural configuration of the -country, that Dacoitee can hardly yet be said to be extinguished. But -its days are numbered, and a marked diminution of cases is observable -every year. The apathy of their victims has, undoubtedly, been one -great cause of the impunity so long enjoyed by these daring marauders.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> -This reluctance to prosecute, though partly owing to a well founded -dread of incurring the vengeance of the comrades of convicted Dacoits, -is chiefly attributable to the repugnance felt by all respectable -natives to appear in Court even as complainants. The tedious -formalities of legal proceedings appear to them in the light of studied -annoyances, and their dignity is offended by the distrust with which -their statements are necessarily received. Perhaps, the ancient mode of -administering justice would be, after all, the most efficacious, and -certainly most in accordance with the native character. The elders of -the town, or village, seated at the gate, or beneath the grateful shade -of stately trees, and presided over by an English gentleman conversant -with their habits and language, and possessed of tact, patience, and -good sense, would probably dispense more evenhanded justice than is -obtained by all the costly paraphernalia of courts of law founded on a -totally different phase of civilization. Be this as it may, enough has -now been said to disprove the vulgar allegation of indifference to the -welfare of their fellow subjects so flippantly and frequently urged -against the Government of the East India Company. And these are only -two out of many instances that might be adduced to show that their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> -administration has been one of continued and consistent progress. It is -reserved for posterity to admire the gratitude that seeks to reward the -annexation and improvement of a vast empire by maligning the motives -of those to whom this country is indebted for the brightest gem in the -imperial crown, vilipending their services, and depriving them of power -and patronage.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span></p> - -<h2>The Mangs.</h2> - -<p>Some curious and interesting information has been furnished by Captain -C. Barr, of the Bombay Native Infantry, with regard to the Mangs, or -Kholapore Dacoits. It is needless to observe, that Kholapore was one -of the early divisions of the Mahratta empire, or that it separated -from the main body in 1729, under the auspices of one of the younger -branches of Sivajee's family. The Mangs occupied the very lowest -grade in the ladder of society—or, rather, they were looked upon as -outcasts, and quite beyond the pale of society. They harboured in wilds -and forests, and lived upon carrion, roots, and wild fruits. Their -real occupation, however, was that of border robbers; and yet it was -a source of pride among them that their wives should remain ignorant -of the nature of their pursuits. They never robbed or defrauded one -another; they even believed that the spoliation of "the Gentiles" -necessitated an expiation, which usually assumed the form of a gift of -a pair of shoes to a Brahman, and alms<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> to the poor. Experience had -taught them the expediency of employing a peculiar dialect—perhaps -it was the original language of their race. Their leader, or headman, -was called the Naïk, and was selected by the majority of votes for -his skill in planning an expedition, his bravery in carrying it out, -and his integrity in the division of the spoils. The office was, -consequently, not hereditary; but they so far believed in the efficacy -of blood, as to allow considerable weight for a father's merits. The -Naïk's person and property were alike inviolable. On all ceremonial -occasions his precedence was allowed; in disputes, his decision was -final; and on him devolved the duty of laying out plans for robberies. -To every band was attached an informer, who was also the receiver -of the stolen goods. These scoundrels generally pretended to be, -and perhaps were, bangle-sellers, dealers in perfume, goldsmiths, -jewellers, &c., &c. In this capacity they were admitted into women's -apartments, and so enabled to form a correct notion of the topography -of a house, and a shrewd guess as to the wealth of its inmates. Their -mode of conducting a Dacoitee was in all respects similar to those -already described. The only persons exempt from their depredations -were bangle-sellers and agricultural labourers, who, in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> return, -afforded them refuge and hospitality in the hour of need. After a -successful foray, each of the gang contributed one-fourth of his share -to the Naïk, towards the common fund for defraying the expenses of -preparation, absolution, and feasts of triumph. The informer was not -entitled to any specific sum; but, as he enjoyed the privilege of -pre-emption of the booty, his interests are not likely to have been -overlooked.</p> - -<p>Like all barbarous tribes, and all persons addicted to criminal -practices, the Mangs were extremely superstitious. They never, for -instance, set out upon an expedition on a Friday. The new-born child -was bathed in a spot previously prepared for the purpose, and baptized -by the Brahman, in the name of the deity presiding over that particular -hour. In the family, however, and throughout life, the neophyte sinner -was known by some household name. Danger was encountered at an early -period of life. The mother and another woman stood on opposite sides of -the cradle, and the former tossed her child to the other, commending -it to the mercy of Jee Gopal, and waited to receive it back in like -manner, in the name of Jee Govind.</p> - -<p>The Mangs usually married young in life. If a girl happened to hang -heavy on hand, she was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> married, at the age of puberty, to the deity. -In other words, she was attached as a prostitute to the temple of -the god Khundoba, or the goddess Yellania. Those belonging to the -service of the latter were wont, in the month of February, to parade -the streets in a state of utter nudity. It was customary, previous to -a secular marriage, for the parents of the bridegroom to ask for the -hand of the bride. A test of the aspirant's address was then demanded. -In one instance, the father of the maiden filled a silver vessel with -water up to the brim after carefully suspending it over his head in -bed, so that the slightest touch would be certain to splash the water -on to his face. The suitor, however, was not daunted by the difficulty -of the enterprise. Procuring some dry porous earth, he employed it as a -sponge, carefully applying it to the surface of the water. Having thus -reduced the level of the surface, he cut the strings, carried off the -vessel, and next morning claimed his bride. The marriage ceremonies -were by no means interesting, except when a bachelor wooed a widow. -In this case he was first united to the <i>asclepias gigantea</i>, which -was immediately transplanted. Withering away and dying, it left him at -liberty to marry the charming widow. If a lady <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span>survived the sorrow -caused by the death of two or three husbands, she could not again enter -the holy state unless she consented to be married with a fowl under her -armpit—the unfortunate bird being afterwards killed to appease the -manes of her former consorts.</p> - -<p>Each family had its household god, but all agreed in the common worship -of Davee, as the tutelar deity of the tribe. Their chief festival was -the Dusserah, on which day they usually set out on their expeditions, -armed with sword and shield, and iron crowbar. Unhappily, the Mangs -must be spoken of in the past tense. The servants of the East India -Company, actuated, no doubt, by mercenary motives, have put an end -to their depredations and compelled them to resort to honest and -common-place industry. Thus are sentimentality and romance crushed at -the India House.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span></p> - -<h2>The Oothaeegeerahs</h2> - -<p class="bold">or</p> - -<p class="bold2">Professional Thieves.</p> - -<p>In the year 1851 it was accidentally discovered that the British -territories had long been infested with gangs of thieves from the -Banpoor States. These Sunoreahs, or Oothaeegeerahs, who extended their -depredations into the very heart of Calcutta, had carried on their -vocation with impunity for many generations. Their existence was well -known, however, to the native authorities, from whom they received -protection and encouragement. The head man of each village was <i>ex -officio</i> chief of the Sunoreahs, and kept a registry of the various -"nals," or gangs under his own jurisdiction—usually from seven to ten -in number. In Tehree they were estimated at 4,000, in Banpoor at 300, -and in Dutteeah also at 300. There were in all twelve villages occupied -by them, presided over by a Government officer, whose duty it was to -act as umpire in all disputes arising out of the division of spoils.</p> - -<p>Shortly after the Dusserah festival the chiefs<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> of each village -repaired to their favourite Brahman priest to ascertain in what -direction they were to bend their steps. This having been duly -indicated, together with the auspicious day and hour, they started -off in a body to some place of considerable note. Here the gang, -consisting, probably, of fifty or sixty men, was subdivided into -parties of ten or twelve, and detached to adjacent towns and villages, -while the leader, with a strong party, remained at the point of -separation. Hither they all returned in the month of July; and, if -their joint exertions had produced fifty or sixty rupees for each -man, they then hastened home to prepare their fields for the summer -crop. But should fortune have proved unfavourable they again took to -the road, while their leader alone hastened back to the village laden -with plunder for their respective families. The office of Mookeea, or -leader, was hereditary, and, in default of male issue, descended to -females. If among the booty there happened to be any object of peculiar -elegance or value, it was ceremoniously presented to the chief of the -state. Thus, the head of the Tehree Government acknowledged a present -of two valuable pearl nose ornaments, by bestowing on the thief a grant -of land, rent free, in perpetuity;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> and the Rajah of Banpore was known -to have accepted two handsome watches and a pair of arm ornaments. -There was no mystery in the disposal of their stolen goods. These were -openly sold in the market places and bazaars at half their value, and, -during the absence of the Sunoreahs on their thieving expeditions, -the village money-lender unhesitatingly supplied their families with -whatever they might require. Of course, care was taken never to commit -any depredations within the territories of their protectors and patrons.</p> - -<p>The Sunoreahs had "chounees," or depôts in all parts of India, where -they could always find a ready sale for their effects. Near Calcutta -their head quarters were at the serai of the Rajah of Burdwan, whose -ostentatious hospitality oftentimes maintained as many as 200 of them. -Though usually possessed of ample means, they never scrupled to accept -alms with the Byragees, or religious mendicants at Burdwan. No matter -how widely they might have roamed from their native villages, they -always found ready purchasers for their pilferings, and they themselves -easily recognised each other by means of a peculiar "bolee," or slang.</p> - -<p>When their proceedings first became known to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> Major P. Harris, -Superintendent of Chundeyree, that officer immediately addressed the -Rajah of Banpoor on the subject, and elicited from him a most naïve and -characteristic reply, the following extract from which well exemplifies -the native notions of morality and good government:—</p> - -<p>"I have to state that from former times these people following their -profession, have resided in my territory and in the states of other -native princes; and they have always followed this calling, but no -former kings, or princes or authority have ever forbidden the practice; -therefore these people for generations have resided in my territory -and the states of other princes; proceeding to distant districts, to -follow their occupation, robbing by day for a livelihood for themselves -and families, both cash, and any other property they could lay hands -on. In consequence of these people stealing by day only, and that -they do not take life, or distress any person, by personal ill-usage, -and that they do not break into houses, by digging wells or breaking -door-locks, but simply by their smartness manage to abstract property; -owing to such trifling thefts I looked on their proceedings as petty -thefts, and have not interfered with them. As many States as there may -be in India, under the protection of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> the British Government, there is -not one in which these people are not to be found, and it is possible -that in all other States who protect them, the same system is pursued -towards them as in my district; and besides, these people thieving -only by day, the police officers in the British territories are not -expected to exert themselves, the loss having occurred simply through -the owner's negligence. Owing to this circumstance, your friend looking -on their transgressions as trifling, I have not caused my police to -interfere with them. The British Government, who issue orders to all -the native powers in India, have never directed the system of Sunoreahs -to be stopped. From this I conclude that their offence is looked upon -by the British Government, as trifling; and probably this is the -reason that neither the British Government, nor any other authority, -have ever directed me to stop their calling; and on this account, from -property that they have brought home, and I have heard that it suited -me, or that they themselves, considering the article to be a curiosity -from a distant province, have presented to me through my servants; -thus, viewing the offence as trifling, that there was no owner to the -property, I received it from them, and gave them a trifle in return."</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span></p> - -<p class="center">LONDON:<br />LEWIS AND SON, PRINTERS, 21, FINCH LANE, CORNHILL.</p> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Popular Account of Thugs and -Dacoits, the Hereditary Garotters and Gang-Robbers of India, by James Hutton - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A POPULAR ACCOUNT OF THUGS *** - -***** This file should be named 60503-h.htm or 60503-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/0/5/0/60503/ - -Produced by deaurider, Martin Pettit and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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