The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-12-19
WHAT IS A DACOIT7
The Legal Definition of the Term Adopted
by the English Authorities.

The Legal Definition of the Term Adopted
by the English Authorities.
To begin with the question, What is
a dacoit?" This is the legal definition:
when five or more persons conformity
commit, or attempt to commit, a rob-
berry. each of these persons is said to
commit a dacoity, and becomes dacoit,"
whether he be guilty of the plumber Of
a village, with the murder and torture
of half of its inhabitants, or with the
simple theft of little rice, so long as
the condition exists that it is done by
five or more banded together. In race
or appearance they do not differ from
any other Burman, but are recruited
from the ranks of the villagers.
Dacoity is to many Burmans G spas
modic form of mental alteration, sort
OF sowing of wild oats with which nine
tentbs of them appear to be seized at
some period or other of their lives, and
it depends somewhat on chance whether
they end their days as outlaws or re-
turn and settle down as peaceful cult
vators Of the soil.
In the tor the Burmans) good old
times before the English occupation,
every district had its gangs of dacoits,
and it was almost as necessary for man
to establish his reputation as brave"
by having participated in one or more
noted dacoities as it was for the red In
dian to have fair show of Scalps, or the
head hunter of heads, before he could
hope to be received as q suitor for the
hand of the object of his affections
Among other contributory causes
which have helped to swell the ranks
of the dacoits may DO noted the natural
disinclination of the people for regular
work, poverty, heavy losses through
gambling, or the doeiso for revenge
upon some individual family, or village,
and among the younger men craving
for life OF freedom and Independence
No doubt, in the days before the ''occu-
pation,"a dacoit's life was infinitely
pleasanter than it is to-day. He ran. in
deed, the risk OF being crucified, in the
case of capture, should any village offer
an exceptionally stubborn resistance,
but the chance of such an event was
small. Government officials could gen.
orally be baffled, as energy was not
their strong point, or, if not baflled.
they could always be bought. Thus da-
coity grew to be regarded as one OF the
ways in which Burman might spend
his early manhood. The amassing of
wealth by plumber was his ambition,
but in the meantime the contributions
which were easily extorted from the
neighboring villages afforded him
means of livelihood.
A gang of dacoits headed by it's "Boh,"
or chief. may be likened to a band of
outlaws in the olden days, to Robin
Hood and his Merry Men, Maid Marion.
too, at times not being wanting. To the
Bob belongs the lions share in the
spoil, and the duty of distributing it
among his followers according to their
ranks and duties. He always APP
points some members of the band as his
lieutenants. The distribution of arms
follows the same rule as that of the
spoil. II the gang possesses only a linn
tied number Of guns, these were found
in the hands Of those who were most
noted for courage; IL some of the guns
are of better description than others,
they are carried by the elite of the band,
and so on up to the Bob" who is sure
to be- in possession of any weapon OF
special value, such as double barreled
fowling piece or an English rife. In
each gang there are usually some who
perform quite mental offices, such as
cooks and baggage carriers. Most FREE
quently these men are impressed into
the service, and some gangs have regu-
larly appointed executioners National
Poviou