Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1888-02-10
THE ROGUES OF INDIA.

Every foreigner is considered fail
game by the natives. While there are
plenty who will not rob him by force,
there is none who will not swindle him
if it can be done. On three different
occasions, in different hotels, l sent out
by walters to make purchases or get
money changed. In each instance they
ran away, although in no case was the
sum over a dollar, and in every case the
native left lucrative employment in order
to bent me. 1t couldn't have been the
idea of gaia 50 much as the idea of get
ting ahead of foreigner. While there
is no positive security from thieves in
India, there is partial security in hiring
chowkadar. This fellow is a thief
from away back. lie is known to be,
and he is employed on this account. II
you pay Li.n s. that he can afford to be
honest, he will keep other thieves away.
1t is point of honor with the fraternity
not to steal from any one employing a
chowkadar His services are a species
of blackmail, but you must either pay
him or be at the mercy of the slicl1est,
slycst set of rascals on earth.
At Bombay 1 had bungalow With
an English artillery Captain on leave OF
absence. As he had with him two SER
wants whom he felt he could trust, we
determined not to employ a chowkadar.
Several called to offer their services, and
all seemed greatly surprised and annoyed
when sent off. One of the fellows was
an old man with a foxy look, and he
protested to the Captain.
81 am great thief, but too sharp for
the officers, who have never yet laid
hands on me. know all the thieves,
and if am with you no one will dare
steal from you"
And if we do not employ you2'
"You will surely be rob bed"
'Wel, we shall try to get along
without you, and if thieves come, some
one may get killed"
The cd man went away with a look
of cunning on his face, and we had nc
doubt that he would be among the first
to seek to lay hands on our goods.
There were but three rooms to our
lung Iowa par,or kitchen, and bed
room. The Captain and myself occupied
the parior as a sitting room, dining
room and bedroom while the cook and
his fellow servant occupied the Other
two. We kept but little money by Us
and had but few goods. The Captain
was experimenting little with new
explosive, and l was making a report tc
the home Government on the various
vegetable poisons of that peninsular.
We therefore had plenty of leisure tc
plan for our protection AID watch ali
suspects.
Ga the second day after the sly old
man was sent away a lame native
woman, leading a boy about years OF
age, sent in word By the servant that
she wanted to see the Captain on i'm
portant business. The pair were ad.
mitted, and she began making inquiries
about her husband, who she said was a
member of the Captains command. She
gave the name of native known to the
officer, and asked so many questions
that she took up fifteen minutes time.
was not much interested in her story,
but was in the actions Of the child. Nc
sooner did she let go Of his hand than
he began running about to inspect
things. We saw afterward how hard
she tried to draw all our attention to
herself The Captain paid no heed tc
the child; but presently, as
watched, l saw the little shaver grab
something from a stand.
He then returned to his mother and
took her hand. After a moment l re-
membered that my field glasses rested
on the stand, and as 1 rose up to look
for them they were not to be seen.
went over to the child, and notwith-
standing the fact that he shrank away
and began to cry, as if scared at me, ]
picked him up and gavo him shake.
The glasses fell to the floor from the
folds of cloth about his waist, an
with them three spoons which he had
stolen in the kitchen. He ran away as ]
put him down, and the woman hurried
after him. 1t was put.up job tc