The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1857-12-30

THE THUGS OF INDIA.

A writer in the Household Words"
describing his wandsrings in India,
gives the following curious account Of
the Thugs peculiar tribe, whom he
met at Monghyr. on the Ganges. Sew
eral Of the most notorious characters
we're there-not imprisoned, but per-
mitted to move about. having been par
doned on condition that they would be-
come informers,. and to a certain extent
detectives in the suppression of Thug
gee in the British dominions. He
says: r.
1T was curious feeling to be in con-
versation with men who had each com.
mitted his ninety or q hundred MUIR
ders-to see the fingers that bad
strangled so many victims-to watch
the process, for they were good natured
enough to act it. There was the un-
suspecting traveller with his bundle
the decoy Thug, VINO engaged him in
conversation the two men, who, at the
given signal. were to seize him the
executioner, standing behind with the
handkerchief, ready to stranglc the vic
tim. They even went through the op-
Grafton of searching the deceased"
upon whom they found nothing in this
case but they assured me this fire.
quently happened in reality. The rea-
der is of course aware that it is a part
Of the Thugs religion not to rob live
body. The crime of murier must pre-
cede that of theft. The play-the
tragedy--over. to those domesticared
demons it was a mere farce, they
laughed at the solemn expression which,
l doubt not, was stamped upon my fea-
lures. ...... ...E. ,-.
'.These Thugs were permitted to
have their families at Monghyr; and
one morning, when l strolled down to
their camp, an old man made five chill
dren. the eldest boy not more than eight
years old, 60 through the business Of
strangling and robbing a victim. In
one respect these urohins outdid their
progenitors in the acting. They not
only went through the ceremony Of
searching the dead body. but that done,
they dragged j. by the legs to a well,
and, in dumb show, threw it down, and
then uttered prayer to Heaven!
"Was that good % said one Of the
children. running up to me for applause
and reward. l scarcely knew what
to reply. Before 1 had time to give
any answer, the child's father said
No /; it was not good. You used
the handkerchief before the signal was
given. Go through it again, and re-
member, this time, that you must have
patience The boy began again. much
in the same spirit that an actor and ac-
tress would 60 through the strangling
scene in 'Othello,' to please a fastidi-
Gus manager.
"Approaching . very interesting
looking woman, of about two and twen-
ty years of age, l said to her-"what
do you think of this p ... ..,a .. ..r
She replied in proverb-'The man.
60 always falls beneath the shade Of the
parent tree .. ~. a..
But the crime said I. What think
you Of that ? s'H .'s.- .
She looked up with as lovely pair Of
eyes as ever saw the light, smiled, and
responded Heaven will hold US all,
Sahib = ... .-.
L was about to reason with her, but
her husband, with an expression Of
pride, interfered, and Informed me that
she had taken eighteen lives.
| 'Twenty-one = she exclaimed.
Eighteen only said he.
Twenty -one !! she persisted, and ran
them over, counting on her fingers the
places aud the dates when the MUIR
ders were committed. Her husband
then admitted that she was in the right,
and, turning to me remarked-'She is
q very clever woman, Sahib.'
"Were your victims men or women .
said to her. '4 4-
'All women she answered me. Some
old and some young
II was tempted to ask her to show
me how it was done /; and, after con-
siderable coaxing, she complied with
my wishes. To my surprise. she was
the only actor in the scene, except the
victim, with whom she went through
the process Of strangling with piece Of
cord. The victim, another Thuggess,
was supposed to be sleeping when the
operations was performed, and l could
not help admiring - horrible as the
sight was-the accuracy with which
she performed the throes aud agony Of
of death. TO borrow an idea from Ju-
MUS, None but those who had frequent
ly witnessed such awful moments could
! describe them so well.' s ra
| A~~A oo,k.:,, ,.onl Ill W..