The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1888-02-02
THE ROGUES OF INDIA.

Every foreigner IS considered lair
game by the natives. While there are
plenty who will not rob him by force,
there is none who will not swindlc him
if it can DO done. On three different
occasions, in different hotels, 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 dollar, and in every case the
native left lucrative employment in order
to beat me. It couldn't have been the
idea of gain so 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
a chowkadar. This fellow is a thief
from away back. He is known to be,
and he is employed on this account. If
you pay him so 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 species
of blackmail, but you must either pay
him or be at the mercy of the slickest,
slycst set of rascals on earth.
At Bombay l 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 chowkadar.
Several called to offer their services, and
all seemed greatly surprised and annoyed
when sent off. Ono of the fellows was
an old man with foxy look, and he
protested to the Captain.
II am great thief, but too sharp for
the officers, who have never yet laid
hands on me. / know all tho thieves,
and if l am with you no one will dare
steal from you"
"And if we do not employ your
''You will surely be robbed"
'FWell, we shall try to get along
without you, and if thieves come, some
one may get killed"
The old man went away with a look
of cunning on his face, and we had no
doubt that he would be among the first
to seek to. lay hands on our goods.
There were but three rooms to our
bung,low---a parlor, kitchen, and bed
room. The Captain and myself occupied
the parlor as 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 I was making report to
the home Government on the various
vegetable poisons of that peninsular.
We therefore had plenty of leisure to
plan for our protection aad watch all
suspects.
On the second day after the sly old
man was sent away, lame native
woman, leading 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
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
I was not much interested in her story,
but was in the actions of the child. No
sooner did she let 60 of his hand than
he began running about to inspect
things. We saw aftcrward how hard
she tried to draw all our attention to
herself The Captain paid no heed to
the child; but presently, as II
watched, saw the little shaver grab
something from 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 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 aud gave him shake.
The glasses fell to the floor from the |
folds Of a cloth about his waist, an |
with them three spoons which he had |
stolen in the kitchen. He ran away as l !
put him down, and the woman hurried |
after him. 1t was put-up job to
pilfer from US. and. while the child did