Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1858-01-09
The Thugs Of India,

OF the Ihugs-a peculiar tribe whom
he met at Monghyr on the Ganges.
Several Of the most notorious char
acters We're there-not imprisoned,
but permitted to move about, hay
ing been pardoned on condition
that they would become infor1ners,
and to certain extent, detectives
for the suppression Of Thuggee in
The British doninions. lie says j:
It was a curious feeling to be in
conversation with men who had
each committed his ninety or a hun
dred murders-to see the fingers
that had strangled so many victims
to watch the process, for they
were good-natured enough to act it.
There was the upsuspecting travel
er with his bundle; the decoy Thug
who engaged him in conversation !;
the two men, who, at the given sig
nal, were to seize him; the excel
toner, standing behind with the
handkerchief ready to .strangle the
victim. They even: went through
the operation Of searching the :sde-
ceased" upon whom they fonnd
nothing in this case; but they as
sured me this frequently happened
in reality. The reader is of course
aware that it is a part of the Thugs
religion not to rob a live body. The
crime Of murder must proceed that
Of theft. The play-the tragedy
over, Ito these domesticated de-
mons it was a mere farce,) they
laughed at the solemn expression
which, I doubt not, was stamped
upon my features.
"These Thugs are permitted to
have their families at Monghyr :;
and the morning, when I strolled
down to their camp, an old man
made five children, the eldest boy
not more than eight years old, g,
through the business Of strangling
and .robbing q victim. In one res
pect, these urchins outdid their pro-
genitors in the acting. They not
only went through the ceremony of
searching the dead body, but, that
done, they dragged it by the legs
to a we'll, and in dumb show, threw
it down, and then uttered a prayer
to Heaven! -,y
"sW as that good?' said one of the
children, running up to me for ap-
plause and a reward. I scarcely
knew what.to reply. Before I had
time to give any answer, the. .ehild's
father said, NO; it was not good.
You used the handkerchief Before
the signal was given. Go through
it again, and remember, this time,
you must have patience? The boys
began again, much in, the same
spirit that al actor and actress would
| 90 through the strangling scene in
|SOthello,' to please a fastidious
manager. 81 u '1>sE5 's1T>s ~ !.
| "'Approaching very interesting
looking woman, Of about two and
twenty years Of age, I said to her,
+ What do you think Of that 2
"She replied in a proverbS The
mango always falls beneath! the
shade Of the parent tree xr -7.
I "tBut the crime : said I. what
think you Of that 2 ':''. > " '."
"She looked up with as lovely a
pair Of eyes as ever saw the light,
smiled, and responded, Heaven
will hold us all, Sahib Z rss.;...:, T..
.'1 was. about to reason with her,
| but her husband, with an expression
Of pride, interfered, and informed
me that She had taken r. eighteen ghte,ee'n
lives. = @~8...l -, -.'+i ,...e. 49,
Eighteen only nsaid be.
| "sTwenty-onetr she persisted,
and ran them over, counting on her
fingers the places and the. dates
when the murders were committed.
Her husband then admitted that
she was in the right, and turning to
me, remarkl--sShe is a very clever
woman, Sahib..' sz".>s 7**. i s'&55<:.,
-8s sWere yoar victims men or wo.
Emena' [ said ito. her.. : =.$s':5 & ss'S
Esoz" sAllswomen,' she answer d me
Some old and some young.'t :a'<55
at5s<zI was tempted to ask her t.