The mountain Democrat., 1863-11-28
The Thugs OF India.

panv al some harmless traveller, and at a
suitable moment threw a cord around his
neck and very skillGully strangle him. -
These muIderous thieves arr called Thugs.
The following is an account OF an escape
from their blood thirsty hands, which
might certainly b. regarded as almost mi,
raculOuS
MOban. born in small place near Nee
rut, was at an early date pilgrim. As
such he had visited all the temples on the
western coast Of India, and now started
off again to visit Dude, the city of the di-
vine Rama. In little town not far from
Lucknow, he met with man who at first
sight had the appearance Of pinuS pcni
tent Our pilgrim, who had high re.
spect f"r holy persons, made him rich
presents to secure himself some Of his
Stnre merits.
Thereupon fthe pcnitent gratefully Of
fcrcd to conduct him to the lord and mas
ter, a mighty saint, who surrounded by
his followers, had pitched his camp in a
lonely wood, far from the noise of the
world, not vOuchSating to every one the
cditying view Of his countenance or his
instructive conversation. Mohan was en.
chanted with this exceedingly kind invi-
tation, and walked many miles with him
to the woods. They reached them at
nishtiall; an impenetrable thicket sur
rounded them.
AS Mntan looked around him for a mo.
mcnt, his eyes rested upon couple Of
new made graves. He soon suspected
what it all meant, and when next day
about fifty fellows came by, and in n GOV
ert manner asked his companion, chow
have you succeeded, brothcr!" all doubt
was at an end. He had fallen into the
hands of those murdcrcrS who are the
terror Of the lonely Traveller in India. To
run away, however, was impossible; night
had concealed everything in the deepest
Sha1 ", ana human habitation was not
I" be found in Il great distance. They
compelled him reluctantly to make his
bed ia their very midst, and then proceed
ed with their evening worship, which was
performed before Kali, that bloody god
dr>S whom the Thugs have chosen for
th'i patron and protect How did
ne lrcl as he heard the robbers, in lam
gnag" winch he happened to understand,
return thanks t. the goddess for 80 gra-
cinu>ly conduct4g aLuther victim To
them.
Mohan had caught a severe cold and
these men Of blood ieigned the tendrrest
sympathy with him. They even prepared
him medicinal drink and bid hi Ii try it.
But the sick man knew better than to ac-
ccpt the poisonous potion. At 10 o'clock
81. I d., 1
hand upon a long hatchct which he al
ways carried with him in his travels, re.
mained in "A sitting ro>ition. in n state of
inir >ciibabIc excitement. lie had scarce
j.: any c.v1%,fa.: cir, drr' tS@>'~4}cteHsAcf'
niGht> il n",Ihcrn India, 80 near to the
SHOW covered heights Of the Ilimal9rn>
are not the Warmcst Yet for all this the
p.I>piIa,ion rolled OF "t him il: pc, feet
u cau.S.
After time he heard >i.It rustlius
in the hvighhn'iu. thickrt; it was ~ If
~"n'e one Was digging a grave for hin
This continued for half an hour, then Il
form appeared from the thir ct.
Have Nun nahr the h"d:" said voice
from the midst Of his hail. sleeping com
radrS.
YES" was the answer, that picrc, d
Mohan'> soul like ii two edged sword.
lie sprauE up and looked around him
with strained attention. At lcLgth he
saw Il man creeping tow ards him; he was
only distant IL foot when Mnhan swinging
his nx thund, r,d out:
Away, he off or will stretch YOU
upon the earth know he continued
with vnice that trcmblcd with mortal
fear. who you are and what you intend.
Take my money aud my clothes, but
leave my life"
So speaking, he threw everything he
had with him to the ground. But the
other answered with dreadful conlnc>S,
lyon need not get excited, We will have
it all in good time"
With fixed AK the doomed man kent
his place and babe them take pnSSeS>ion
OF his goods aS he had thrown them on
the ground. But they stood a. if di>con-
certcd and urged each other to the attack.
No one made the attempt
lIn, there" cried the chief, "all to-
gethcr! right upon him :"
No one stirred. 4 mercifnl God had
Smtten them all %ith coWarlice.
As Mohan stood. so he remained all
night long - with beating heart, streaming
with pcrSpiration, his AK uplifted. Oh
what a struggle was meanwhile going on
within. Many as were the temples he
had already visited he had found no peace
for his c0nsciencc-that trembling aspen
leaf!
Now, too, he intended a pilgrimage to
the remaining places Of salvation in the
north, in the hope Of finding there peace
for his troubled and hurdened soul. But
here he was, with his plan unaccompliSh
ed, upon the borders Of the grave and
eternity. Then arose, struggling from his
bosom, earnest prayers, and still more
earnest SighS to the Unknown God.
At last, at last the dark night drew to
a close. Twilight appeared and in Mo-
hans soul too there glimmered twilight
of hope for lite, as he caught the sound OF
company Of traders passing by. But
how should he make them aware Of his
desperate condition? If he should raise
a cry for help, the mnrdererS who had
him in their net, would be cmboldcned by
sheer necessity to take his life OH the in
stant
The sun had already appeared above
the horizon, for in India he follows close
upon the heels Of daybreak.
Nov make short work With him J"
exclaimed the hlOodhoundS
M"han was blind in the right eye As
he suddenly turned to the right he saw
the well known "Silken handkerchief with
the noose." descending upon his neck
He had just time enough by throwing up
his arm to save his neck from the cord.
But the moose fell upon his arm and cat