Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1885-05-30
INDIAN ROBBERS.

Robbery on the largest scale ever
known was carried on once in India I'M
der the system known rs Thugges. This
was the most extraordinary system OF
crime the world has ever seen. It's op-
eraGons extended over thousands Of
miles Of country. It's victims would
have populated many . small kingdom.
It carried on crime under religious sanc-
tions and with religious ceremonies,
made theft holy. and murder sacred. Il
killed in Q cold-blooded, ruthless, whole
sale way. It held human life as of no
account Il had no respect for weak
ness, ago or innocence. When . COM
pany Of travelers-against whom its op.
erations we're chiefly directed-had come
within it, coil, il allowed none to o..
Aps. Il slew all--the father and
mother, the grandsire and the babe in
axms man, woman and child. II used
no baleful drugs. no deadly weapon. II
dealt out destruction by the simplest OF
al means handkerchief. Though the
confederation numbered thousands Of
members, II carried on it's work Of rob-
berry and slaughter undetected, II NOT
nn:usPected, Ssr years. even under
Bxitish rule.
Gang-robbery with violence was also
very prevalent In India when IL was first
This Il known In India ~ Dacoitee, and
IN many parts d the country all robbers
ana thieves were once called Dacoita.
Oanodtss II Of two kinds. The drst is
Ghs attack on shop, warehouse or pri-
vsts DWELLING. This II not the SAM -
DwgfAxy; for whereas ths burglar entarn
ee@e4lY, end only resorts 70 force h the
- WEsmi&y, The Daooitse Il a apsn
attnck Ay IN armed body a men. The
p1Ace + carried By open assault II Z
elcsed door bars the way Is b simply
burst opsn. The robbers are wall armsd,
aauyh9 swords and ircn-shod cluba,
oud nometimea even matchlockss and ~
oinkanoo tands to wounds and deaths.
Thu Aaexant and open breach d the
~ has besn suppressed in great meas.
~. xhough NOT altogether.
IAe attaok y generally made On ths
hoQso q . xiGh banker or the shop a Z
3swolae n Some small town WHARF tha
1oaioo lcgoo + NOT very strong, or On ~
, houeo a . rich semindax Qandowner) d
ov1Ilaeo. One case a The latter kind,
v3ioh occurred IN . Village q he Tina
vhan lWas encamped not fer from Il,
~ monagod thus. The Gsminda1 waa
reported o have large sum a money
b0xiod n The house. common way q
keeping u In India, The house being
6uflt = Ne usual Eastern faahiou-
namely. round . central courtyard.
he lewee story w. simply IN open ooe.
xldoe az olodsSsr. and WAS used for DO.
1sstio oflcas and the stabling q Gown
end hoepes. end had no Window On IL
ouisida. 10 r. full Insight there w
Scthins but Z smooth surface Of VAN.
1hs upper story, The dwsllinS- plaea
prcper, had windows on The o1fsids
but thssa. z usual, wers vsry mail. and
high mp. When the massive gates vsra
Acaed q N evening the house W.. g
- . fertilization, With the household
~ . Sagzisoa. and entry Wa almost In
H. oA ssmindax and his Two som
usss ssatsa IN he Getsway enjoying III
ooa evening afR. Their Two q threa
nm-seEvantS were busisd about tn
house, inside and oltddA Il va just
Getting dusk vh1a there vs. heard q
h Sead whinh passsd through the VI
lAes ths usual cry a pilgrims proceed
M % some scored shrine: Bon
(ors NaAadso" (0rsat, great = Naha-
dol nj 0sss0a maj II tvs" lVietoey
- H0lh9 0Ango(. And now Tie Arsl
prGxin q Ne company came n dghA
1h1go ~ nothing Suspicious IN his -
posaneA h looked simple pilgrim,
ri ~ baseeooted; IN one hand - ear.
SieA hi ahoss with the other he stssdisd
- lcnG bamboo pole which rested On
Go shoulder, and from eaeh end d
vhdnh hung The wioker-wo9k baAketl
whiah hold The bottles, q rather AAsks.
= VhiGh water Il carried from the scored
sfvarn - aousa far.dinAnpt shrinA. II