Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1858-02-26
MIS- CE l. l. A n Y.
THE THUGS OF INDIA.

Thugs were race Of bandi,,i peculiar to
India, who made business OF robbing and
numbering, and who, By dintoi Praciieing,
the art IRON generation to generation, had
attained very high degree OF skill at the
time their career was happily cut sort by
the Government Of India.
Tho origin of Thugcc" is, like many
better things. hidden in the night Of time.
The legend 'aiih that the irst Thug. werc
Ilinlo1s. and that no one could become
member Of the holy fraternity ualess he was
lull.hl1odcd aihcrcni Of Brihma. How
ever this be-, in modern times Mohammedans
have been found among the Thugs as well
~ lIlndoos but all Thug, whatever their
faith, have profcs'sd belief in, aud vencrn-
ton fora CERTAIN Ilinl,o goddess, who is
believed 10 preside over the polite arts Of
murder and robbery. pi,iy isa drug, as
W. sac. in India
IL was at tho close Of the last century that
the English c,uIucror. Of India Gr,t su'.
psc,,d the existence Of rhugs'c. They had
hc,rl lop. before, of the prevalence Of MUIR
der anl robbery on the highways, hat en-
,eriaincd n, very high opinion Of the Hin
doo col, of morality, and hearing Of no vic.
tins ol Thugsec save Ilinions. they troubled
Themselves ss little as possible upon the sub
jet. 4. the eighteenth century was closing.
however. .omc Encli.hmcn were Pot out ol
the way m mysterious manner, AMI the
Government began 10 look into tho subject.
An English officer of rank and family had
undertaken a journey towards tho head.
water, Of the G,ngrs. On the way BE- had
fallen In with a very agreeable and polished
llIudoo; be- had agreed u travel in company
with his new Acquaintance TIE pair, with
their servants, had departed early one morn
Ing from % small town. and neither had been
heard of since. Another Encli.hmrn had
met On the road from Allahahii with Hin.
doo lady IN an agony Of grlcf-her husband
hal di,l. her .on Lnl been stolen from her.
her purs' had boon l,.i-,ho did not know
how shewas TO regain her fathers home near
Delhi. As she was young and beautiful
,rc gallant Ensishman ol rel to b. her
escort on tho way The last that wa. s'cn
othm va, disappearance some twenty miles
from Alhh,hll riding on his horse With las
fur Dr5'sgt, eq Group, behind him.
Thc.s and similar incidents attracted at
tention o. the interior police Of India, and
Mr thc Grst time thc idea that there was an
organized band Of murIergrs and robber. in
the country laWncI upon the Government.
Inquiry va. set on foot, AMI tho leading
feature ol Thussco was brought TO light.
Early in the presgn, century the existence
OF the fraternity aud IL, cardinal principles
wgr, known to the Indian Government.
Yet. notwithstanding their thoroucl knowl-
cise Of th, .y.irm-lhe fact illustrates the
nature Of the Government IN Indn-oycr a
quarter OF century elapsed before steps
w,rc taken to put down Thugsoc.
|, WI. in the early par, Of the century
iha, a young Enslishman departed FROM
Calcutta for journey into the Northern
regions Of lliull.t,n (the story !. to be found
in the British Parliamentary Blue Books. }
He was q man of for,uno-'pruns from a
high hm.ly in Enslhnd-was travelling sole
" in orlcr to enlarge hi' mind. H. left
Calcutta with the bes, letters from the Gov.
crnmcnt. and had. as is usual m India, a
large rctinur ol servants and cattle. llchad
not been two day. gone when he fcll in with
a beautiful llindoo girl. travelling alone in
the same direction as himself. On inluiry
b, found that ,ha va. much terrified at the
idea OF forming the journey alone, and would
b,ctcrual.y grateful it ihc Engli.hman would
allow her u follow IN the wake or hi. party.
She was s., gentle, :, pretty and 80 defence
l.,s. that the stranger odrcl her one ol his
horses anl place at his table. ILL., was
struck hy her beauty; her large black eye
ral,l at him with such tenderness and mel
ancholy that young John Bull began To wish
,la, she were white or he bronri. She
rode beside him and taught him her native
tongue. lie could no, separate from her.
She soon became the virtual chiei Of the
caravan.
Only Alim, the holy-seryant, viewed the
fair stranger with distrust. lie warned his
master against her, and more by siens-by
uassing his hand across his throat-than by
words, in,ima,cd that no good was to come
OF their acquaintance. 10 all which the
Enslishman replied sco6nsly that he was
able to take care OF himself.
They had travelled together for three or
four days, and the Englishman was positive
ly enamored Of the fair Ilindoo. They were
sitting under the shade OF banyan'trec, in
the cool Of the evening Runa-the lady
was singing a plaintiff song, and the Log.
li,hman, intoxicated with tlio magic Of the
scene and the delight Of her society, was
lounsins idly by her side, with one Of her
small in his hands, when suddenly AIim
shouted, or rather screamed. His master
called:
What's the matter p
"Look there-dOwn there !" cried Runa,
pointing in the direction Of the forest.
The Enslishman turned to look, and
strained his eyes to see. At that moment
he lelt round hi. throat cord. which was
drawn tighter and tighter, till he lost con-
s.;o,,sosss nj. last recollection was Ol that