The Indianapolis journal., 1893-09-17
A RELIGION OF BLOOD
The Thugs of India and the Inspi-
ration of Their Awful Crimes.
Wholesale Murder by Bands of Fanatical
Men Whose Only Religion Was En-
nifty of the Human Race.


minis as we'll as Iohammedens, bound them
selves by the most solemn oaths. and under
religious ceremonies carried out with tte
sublimity attached of old 70 the Eleusin an
MysterIes to unite In secret societies
whose purpose it was to punish the human
race. and thus TO merit the appreciation OF
Bhowanes. by whom men and women are
abhorred. This punishment took
the form of eDticing rich trav-
elers TO become the companions
OF armed bands of Thugs. who. pretending
TO be merchants. or soldiers seeking service
with the Nizam. or with Holkar, Scindiah
others among the powerful fendal
princes. offered protection ent companion
ship TO defenseless bunDeae. or traders. to
sahoucars Isowcsrsl or bankers. TO zeInin-
dars on the road TO big cities. laden with
rupees, bars of silver or bills of exchange.
which they had received in payment for
their crops. Even professional robbers or
dacoits, were followed fOr days and nights
by wary bodies of Thugs. who attacked and
murdered them when a convenient spot in
the road or jungle was reached. and robbed
them OF their plunder.
All this homicide was wrought by the
simple agency of n silk handkerchief flung
from behind oyer the head and throat of u
victim, who was instantaneonsly stIan-
gled. and In moss cases his or her neck dis
located By the deXterous application of the
bhuttote. or strangier's kDuckles under the
victims ears. One essential preliminary
10 the successful and undetected perDetra-
tion of all these countless crimes was that
the IugghR es or grave dlggers, attached to
each band OF Thugs were sent In advance
by the commanding 0tbcer-the orgaDiza-
tion OF these bands WAS strictly military
70 an indicated spot some miles ahead. in
order To prepare the grave for the victims
about to DO murdered. Great skill was
shown In selecting q lifting spot for the
execution of the murders aud the Drepara-
tlOn of the grave so that 10 evil
dence of the crime sEou.d meet the
eve. The spot selected was often on the
edge of busby stream. where the
unconscious victim was asked TO descend
from the vehicle W hich he was travel
ing, so as to tighten the LOAD of tho bull
locks OF horses vi hicb had To climb the high
bank on the other eide. Scarcely had the
poor wretch's toot touched the ground be-
fore the deadly handkerchief was around
his neck and the foul deed was accom-
plished. The huryIng party then ran for
ward. picked mp he body end carried IL TO
the grave repaired for IL. either among the
bushes or rocks. or IN the bed of the stream.
Every member OF the murdered mans party
or escort, including wOmon and children.
was killed simultaneously by other bhnt-
totes, or strangers. and within few min-
utes the bodies oz all were buried together
In one long and deep grave, into which
huge rocks were flung, 10 prevent the keen
scented jackals from burrowlng down and
devouring the prey.
The murderous Dand of robbers then be-
took themselves once more TO the road after
= delay or few minutes. and snch was
Ntheir knOwiedLe of the country in which
they were operating that under the deX-
terOus guidance of their leaders. pursuit
was virtually mposs: bic. Scouts were
continually thrown out In advance, on the
Hank or in the rear of ''Bhowsnees faith
ful children. and such was the skill aud
vigilance under which the lives OF thou
sands of rich victims were sacrificed Year
after year that for centuries total immu-
nifty. not only from punishment, but even
from suspicion, was the reward accorded
by Bhowsnee and her bioodthirsty hus-
band, silva, to these scOurges of the human
race.
KILLED 719 PEOPLE.
Meadows Taylor. in his three-volumed
work entitled Confessions of Thug"
tells US that most of the information sup
piled in his work came from O ruffiau
called Ameer Ali, who told him thst, be-
fore he turned informer to save his worth
less life. he had. as q thug. put to death
with his own hand. 7l9 victims. 'Ah!
Sahib." he added. regretfully. IF had not
been in prison for twelve years the number
would certainly have been one thousand"
when Ameer Ali was live years old his
father and mother were killed by Thugs
sitiOn of one of the band anu was reared
as Thug. A chapter in Meadows Tsy Ior's
work tells how Ameer Ali killed his first
man. Ameer Airs father had persuaded q
sowcar TO accompany the band of Thugs
which the old man commanded from the
sowcar's home in NsgpOOr to Hydernbad,
whittier they were all bound. The sOwcar
imagining himself to be in honest hands
lnfOrmeG Of hp nf m riev-
ers that he vas about to carry a good deal
OF treasure. together with sOme valuable
jewels and mercDandise. from Nag
poor TO Hyderabad. Just at night
fall" said Ameer Ali. "the sow
car came TO our camp In small travelling
cart. with two s-rvants and three ponies
on which his tent and baggage were laden.
and with ten buliOcks and their drivers
Altogether there wero eight men. IncIud-
Ing the sowcar. He was large. unwieldy
man. and thought him good sub ect for
my first trial. My father. TO whom men
toned my thoughts. Was much pleased
with me. Daily did | repair TO
my instructor. old ana accumulated
bhuttOte. in c.der to make myself perfect
in my profession. Our journey lay through
the richest manufacturing districts of Him.
dOstan uDtii We approached OOmraotie. he
tween which and Mungioor three stages in
terDosa. Soon. whispered ms father to me.
L shall decide on the place for ending this
matter among some low hills anu raVlnes
not far ahead. The guiGes were called In
and gave very clear description OF u spot
admiralty adapted tor OGr purpose. Inow
felt that nv time had almost come. Per-
haDs II was youths weakness. but from
tnat moment ] kept out or sight of the
sowcar "A much possible An iDVoluu-
tAry sbuddeF cTeDt over me when did sec
him; but II was too late TO retract. and |
had n character TO gain. It generally
known throughOrB our hand that had the
sowcnr assigned To me-, and all looked for
ward TO my hrst trial. cheering and en-
conraglnR me with few words whenever
j drew near them. The handkerchief WAS
then intrustrd 20 me by the Gooroo with
tho solemn words: Take this sacred
weapnn. my son; put thy heart into it, In
the holy name OF kalee Bbowanee, bid it
DO thy Will.
DETAILS OF A HIDEoUS CRIME.
I'VE remained in conversation some time.
and then threw ourselves on our carpets TO
snatch a brief rest. Before long we were
reused. and all moved out together. The
night was beautiful. the road excellent.
and we pushed on IN high spirits The
booty we were about TO secure. the tact
aged. would mark IL as an enterprise of su-
periOr craft and skill We had proceeded
nbout two coss -four miles, when one of the
scouts made his way To my fathers side.
is the hole clearedP asked ms father. In
shalla. IL Is. See you yon dark out
line OF hillsl A stream rms from
them. and In it's bed We have made
the bhll. or burying place. lou will
huw a l.