The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1893-11-09
THE THUGS OF INDIA.

Thuggee, summarily defined, is, O
rather was, profession by which
century after century thousands o
Indian males, Brahmins and Moham
medans, bound themselves by tn
most solemn oaths, and under religion
ceremonies carried out with the sub
| Unity attaching of old to the Elensin
| ian Mysteries, to unite in secret SO
cletles whose purpose it was to punisl
| the human race. and thus to merit the
appreciation of Bhowanee, by whom
men aud women are abhOrred. Thii
punishment took the form Of enticins
rich travellers to become the compan-
ions of armed bands of Thugs, who
pretending to be merchants. or sold
ler5 seeking srrvice with the Nizam
or with Holkar, Scindiah, or Others
among the powerful feudel princes
offered protection and companionship
to defenceless bunneas, or traders, to
sahoucars (sowears) or bankers, to ze-
mindars on the road from big cities
laden with rupees, bars of silver, OF
bills of exchange, which they had re-
celved 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 of their plunder
All this homicide was wrought by
the simple agency of a silk handker
chief flung from behind over the head
and throat of a victim, who was in
simultaneously strangied, and in most
cases his or her neck dislosated by the
dexterous application of the bhUtOtte,
or strangler's knuckles, under the VIC
tims's ears. One essential prelimin-
airy to the successful and indicted
perpetration Of all these countless
crimes was that the i,tgghdes, or grave
diggers, attached to each band OF
Thugs were sent IN advance by the
commanding officer the organization
of these bands was strictly military
to an indicated spot some miles ahead,
IN order to prepare the grave for the
victims about to be murdered. Great
skill was shown in selecting a fitting
spot for the execution of the murders
and the preparation of the grave, SO
that no evidence Of the crime should
meet the eye The spot selected was
often on the edge of bushy stream
where the unconscious victim was ask
ed to descend from the vehicle in
which he was travelling, 50 as to light
en- the load of the bullocks or horses
which had to climb the high bank on
the other side. Scarcely had the poor
wretch's foot touched the ground be
fore the deadly handkerchief was
round his neck, and the foul deed was
accomplished. The burying party
then ran forward, caught up the body,
and carried it to the grave prepared
for it, either among the bushes or
rocks, or in the bed of the strean.
Every member of the murdered mans
party or escort, including women and
children, was killed simultaneously by
other OhWOiteS or strangers, and
within few minutes the bodies Of all
We're buried together in one long deep
grave, into which huge rocks We're
flung, to prevent the keen scented
jackals from burroWing down and dc
vouring the prey.
The murderous band Of robbers
then betook themselves once more to
the road after delay of few minutes,
and such was their knowledge Of the
country in which they were operating
that, under the dextrous guidance of
their leaders, pursuit was virtually
impossible. Scouts were continually
thrown out in advance, on the flank,
or in the rear of "Bhowanee's faithful
children and such was the skill and
vigilance under which the lives of
thousands of rich victims were sacri-
feed year after year that for centuries
total immunity not only from punish
mont, but even from suspicion. was
the reward accorded by Bhowanee and
her bloodthirsty husband, silva, to
these scourges of the human race.
Meadows Taylor, in his three-vo
umed work entitled "Confessions of a
Thug" tells us that most of the in
formation supplied in his work came
from a ruffian called Ameer Ali. who
told him that, before he turned infor
mer to save his worthless life. he had,
as Thug, put to death with his own
hand 719 5ictim's "Ah, Sahib," he
added, regretfully, IF | had not been
in prison for twelve years, the number
would certainly have been LOCO"
When Ameer Ali was five years old
his father and mother were killed by
Thugs The boy was spared through
the interposition of one Of the band,
and was reared as Thug. A chapter
in Meadows Taylor's work tells how
Ameer Ali killed his first man. Ameer
Ais father had persuaded rich SOW
car to accompany the band of Thugs
which the old man commanded from
the sowcar's home in Nagpoor to Hy
derbad. whittier they We're all bound.
The sowcar imaginining himself to be
III honest hands, informed the head of
the band of murderers that he was
about to carry good deal of treasure,
together with some valuable jewels
and merchandise, from Nagpoor to
HyIprkaI ssIuSt at nirbtfall - SaiI