The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-06-04
WITH A THUG.

went ogt to India in the service Of
the Company forty years ago. l was a
mere lad at that time, being barely
eighteen. l left England with the deter
mination to make something of myself
in the land to which / was going; and
when l reached my destination, l began
Immediately to apply myself to the
duties of my profession. l labored hard,
and soon made progress.
studied closely the manners, customs
and language of the natives, and spared
no effort to make myself as thorough an
Indian as possible.
1t was slow work at first, but perse-
vered; and when was forty-three, just
fifteen years ago, was colonel OF
cavalry, and fatter myself l was the
best informed officer in the service with
regard to the country in which was
serving.
About that time the authorities of CAL
cutta were making strong efforts to sup
press the sect of Thugs, who you well
know, are band of fanatics, who make
murder part of their religion. They
rarely molested IL European, on account
of the great danger in which it would
have placed them; but they carried on a
regular system of operation against the
natives, and especially against those who
were friendly to us.
Certain sections of the country were
kept in state of the most complete ter
ror by them, and their atrocities had in
creased to such an extent that the auth
critics thought it necessary to at once in
augurate the most prompt and decisive
measures for their suppression.
In the district of Benares, the trouble
was very great, and the Thugs managed
their affairs with so much dexteritv,
that, for time they completely baffled
the authorities. The command of this
district was given to me, on account of
my knowledge of Indian affairs and my
long experience in the county. ] was
given regiment of mounted men, picked
for their long experience in the country,
and at once set out for my new COM
mand, being determined to use no half
way measures when l got there.
Upon reaching the neighborhood of
Benares, we halted and encamped near
the Ganges, about five miles from the
city. | had two reasons for doing this.
One was, that should be able by en-
camping there, to move on the instant
when occasion required it; the other.
that would be freer there from observa-
ton by the spies of the Thugs than |
should be in the city. 1 said nothing,
and permitted my men to say nothing of
the cause of our coming, but at once set
my spies to work.
Through their instrumentality l
learned that my district was infested by
band of Thugs, quite large in number,
and under the direction of leader
named Runjheet. He was described to
me as the most active Of all, and-one of
the most dangerous men the country had
ever known. / set to work at once. l
secured my district, right and left, by
day and night, and with good effect, too.
By the time 1 had been there six
weeks, had sent ten prisoners to Calcut-
ia with their families, had hung twenty
caught in the act of strangling their vie
tins, and had destroyed one of their
towns and temple. With my own hand
l broke the image of their goddess Kali
into a thousand pieces, knowing that this
would be severe blow to them.
This act, together with the rest of my
career there, came near being fatal to
me. The Thugs began to consider me
the cause as we'll as the means of their
misfortunes, and at length made me the
object of their special vengeance.
When | had been in camp for about
two months, my orderly informed me
that there was native waiting at the
door of my tent to see me. / had him
shown in at once. He was tall spare
man, Of about thirty; and my first glance
told me that he was possessed of more
than ordinary strength. There was some
thing unusually quiet and stealthy about
him; and at first I loosened my pistol
and regarded him with a suspicious
glance.
He did not seem to notice this. but sa-
luted me humbly and respectfully. In
reply to my demand to know his busi-
ness, he stated he wish to enter my ser-
vice as spy. He was we'll acquainted
with the country, and was sure that he
could make himself generally useful. He
gave as his reason that his father and
brother had recently been murdered by
the Thugs, and that he desired to avenge
them.
looked at the fellow searchingly, but
could gain nothing from his counte-
nance, which was fixed and devoid of ex-
preston, save a strange and perplexing
glitter in his eyes. He told me his name
was Ali, and said that he was Moham-
medan. / said that if he would come
back at the same hour the next day, !
would give him an answer.
After he left me l thought long and
seriously of his request. did not like
his looks; but I thought he might be of
service to me. l felt confident, that if
faithful, he would make an excellent
spy; and I thought myself competent to
the task of watching him so closely that
he would have no opportunity to play
me false. So after weighing the matter
we'll in my own mind, determined to