Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1837-10-04
From the Foreign Missionary Chronicle.
THE HINDU GODDESS KALEE

lr has long been known tha. the most
pcrnlcioas consequences have resulted from
the worship Of this bca'hen demon. To
the black goddess with collar of golden
skulls, as she is eEhibi cd in all her principal
temples, human sacrifices were ancicn,ly
offered, rs the Vedas enjoined. We arc
there told that the blood of man produces
pleasure in her mind, wl,ic,. lasts 1000
years; that BY the b'ood Of three men the
pleasure is extended one hundred thousand
years. kalce, Devce, Dursa, or Bhowanee.
as she is indlfennIy called, is the idol of
the drunkara and the thief; the robbcr.
the murderer, and the prostitute, are her
worshlppcrs; and all delight 10 propitiate
beng whose worship 10 obscrnity, and
who delights in the blood of man and beast.
Until quite lately, however, it was no, known
how very extensive is the system Of rob.
berry and murder perpe,ra,cl under he,
protection, and as Il part Of her horrd wor.
slip.
Ihc numerous robbcrics and murders
commls:ed'in all parts of India b. organ.
Ized bands, awakened the attention Of tho
British government in lplia, and induced
II, in 1880, to take inc most energetic
measures for Their. suppression, and for the
protection Of the lives and property of the
better disposed part Of the inhabitants.-
These murde'crs are called Thugs; and
the system of 7huggee is the mos. ..xraor.
dnary lbat has ever been recorded the
history Of the human race.
a few w.nonths ago q. octavo volume OF
500 pages was received a, the Missionary
Rooms, accompanied by the following note,
from one of the officers of the Bengal civil
SERVICE
81 have tho pleasure Of sending you
very curious und important book, which
has been printed by order Of this govern.
men. 1t contains, | think, Tie most com.
pletc exposure which has ever bce,, mado
of the evils Of idola!ry. Nothing which
the missionari:s ever alleged agaius. it is
so conclusive Us this. I'hugsec is reEe-
ious system, and the Thugs practice murder
just as Christians do charity. ia oseieace
10 the Wli!.ot Their god.
The decisive measures adopted by Lord
VIM, Uentinck, then ihc Governor Gener.
al, resulted in the=arrest Of moro than 1000
Thugs. The record Of the trials is con.
tanned in the volume just referred to. Fiji.
teen hundred were convicted in one hundred
and sixty seven trials, for the murder of
tpo 81
were admitted rs kings evidence. These
men were commonly tried for one particular
case Of murder, pcrpetrated On one cxpe.
dit;on. From the information before the
courts Of justice, it appeared that the
murders for which they were tried were
not more than the one hunarcd.h par, OF
the murders they had committed ia their
career Of crime.
Mankind, in considering the necessity of
restraining those evil Propenstes, which
atEec. the life, property. and character OF
their fellow men, commonl J appeal to three
standards; Is. The will of the deity, as
revealed ;e them in their scriptures, or in.
tcrpreted TO Them by the expounders Of
their religion. %. The moral feelings of
the circles Of society in whom they move.
81. Thcpenal laws in force, and the char.
actcr Of their administration.
lst. TIL: Thug associations hive been
taught by those whom they revere as the
cxpounders Of the Will of their :iry, ha.
the murders they perpe;rate are pleasing TO
her, provided they arc perpcrated under
certain restrictions, attended by Certain
obseryanccs, and preceded and followed by
certain rites, sacrifices, and offerings. This .
deity, who, according to their belief. guides
and protects them, is ever maufesting her
viii by signs; and as long as they under.
stand aad observe these signs, they aii con.
s:dnc themselves rs acIiHg in conGy.ni.v 10