Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-06-03
THE THUGS OF INDIA.
A REMARKABLE SECT WHOSE RELIGION
WAS MURDER AND THEFT.
Human Lives Taken by the Noted Or
ganizatioD-Strange Cercmonials.
(Washlngton Star.D

OF Ramasee, a secret language. slang, or
argot used by the assassIns themselves
They need no rhetoric 20 make them i'm
prcsslve. but to those who entertain con-
ventional ideas Of morality and religion,
as well as to students Of criminal an
thropology. the history Of this society pre-
sents certain phases OF human nature
which they would do well to consider.
The claim Is made that the origin Of
Thugee was contemporary with the crea-
ton OF mankind. Then n mighty demon
devoured the human race as fast as 1t
appeared. Kali consort Of silva, came 10
It's rescue but when she cut down the
destroyer new demon sprang from every
drop Of his blood. In this emergency THE
great mother" formed two men from
drops Of sweat upon one OF her arms. and
providing them with rOomals. or strang-
ling cloths, sent them against the In
fernal progeny OF the demon, whom they
finally destroyed. Thugs or Phansigars
are the descendants OF this pair, and by
way OF rewards for the merits Of their
ancestors. Bowanee. DOOrga, Kali, or
kalee Davey as she Is indinerently
named, gave UP the population OF the
world. save some few exceptional classes,
pleasure.
So runs the legend. but IL IS n fact
that during 800 years. beginning with the
commencement of the sixteenth century,
about thirty thousand people were Killed
annually. No robbers have ever done
murder on so great q scale. and there Is
no other instance OF it's having been COM
mitted with equal impunity In eXpla-
nation OF the former statement IT may
be said that their organization was per-
feet. their numbers great, and their OPP
pOrtunities practically unlimited. on the
other hand. every Thug. from the Hima-
layas 10 Cape Cormorin and from the
Indus TO the Gauges. contemplated his
crimes not only with calmness. but COM
placency. The Omens being favorable, all
private responsibility ceased, and the
murderer became the instrument Of a d.
vine will Furthermore, phansigars LETT
no witnesses 10 testify against them; their
country, without highways. or I'm fact.
any means Of intercommunicaton, was
pre-eminently adapted 10 the successful
prosecution of criminal designs. They
found allies and protectors in all classes
Of society. and that universal fatalsm,
which made men callous to the fate OF
strangers also prevented them from en-
deavOrng to trace friends or relatives
who had disappeared. 1t was written
that these should reappear. nothing could
prevent IT; II their kismet was evil, no.
thing could be done
CHILDREN IN THE PROFESSION.
Children among Phansigars are brought
up 10 the profession of their fathers. that
Is TO say boys are thus educated, for the
female portion of a Thugs family not only
take no active part in his misdeeds, but
are very frequently ignorant OF his real oc-
cupatiOn. But one woman is on record
"the wife OF Bukhtawar Jemedar OF My
sorc'-aS having, personally, participated
In manslaughter. Taking any boy for an
example. the salient points or his training
may be accurately described. He served a
regular apprenticeship, ana the successive
steps which were necessary IN order 10
arrive at the grade OF stranger are per
fcctly well known At the age OF l. or
il years. according to his state Of develop
ment he was freed from his mothers con-
troll and accompanied the gang upon an
expedition, the purposes or winch were
only partially explained. Appropriate sem
timeuts were carefully inStillcd into the
noephyte's mind: he saw nothing shocking
and the journey was made as pleasant as
possible In every way. Gradually the pur-
port Of his teaching was unfoldod Alb
Stractiy. the wOrthleSSneSS of human lie,
the prOpTiety of plumber, and those sacred
obligations which omens imposed had been
for some time subjects Of contemplation
How he witnessed the places for murder
and interment selected. heard that those
travellers who Joined his party and after
ward disappeared were dead, ana, To some
extent became himself sharer In thSiI
possessions Ultimately. the oath or the
strangers was administered, ne saw an
assassination. and was then prepared 10
start on another fOTdy in the character
of Il Thug.
READY FOR DEPARTURE.
When tho proper season arrived-the
months of November, December January,
and FobruaTy-the gang prepared for de-
parture, and. as necessary and inNd-
riable preliminary, performed the cere-
mony of taking the auspices. y blanket
or sheet was spread upon the ground IN
some suitable spot, generally a grove near
the village which they were about 10
leave (ostensibly for purposes Of traihc).
and on this was seated pundit tsincc
Brahmans frequently loagued with Thugs,
as well as became their Victims. the
leader OF the projected expedition. and
four Phansigars. all strangers eminent
was also placed brass plate holding rice
wheat and two copper coins. Presenting
this to the diViner, who had previously
consulted tho stars. he was asked the
result OF his calculations, and he then
communicated the lucky day and hour for
their departure as well as pointed out
the direction which they should pursue.
This ended the rite for the time being
and they dispersed TO reassemble upon
the day which had been pointed out
Having in the interval equipped them
selves for their journey they reunited at
the appointed place, and the leader, hold
ing a full lotah, or water vessel, by its
mouth. and parallel with his right side,
and also pressing a clean white handker-
chief. tied into FIVE knots, containing tur-
merck, TO his breast, moved forward a
short distance in the exact direction indi-
Gated 10y the priest Then he paused,
lifted his eyes, and with a spirit alb
stracted from all else than his prayer,
he said: Great Goddess! Universal
10
Is fitting i'm thy sight, vouchsafe us help
and the signs of thy appreciation" All
repeated these words. and If within half
an hour the pilahoo-that Is, the
sight or voice of some beast or
bird by which omens are given
occurring on the left-was seen or
heard il became "A sign that Kalee would
lead them with her left hand. Should this
be followed by the thibaoo, or similar
auspice on the right. Bowanee offers both
hands TO her servants Then the lotah
was placed on the ground, and their
leader sat facing in the direction chos n
for seven hours. while his followers made
their final preparations For awhile the
gang went forward In a straight Inc, but
subse entity they marched at Will. Each
mar rpw considered himself colnmis..
sior > commit murder indefinitely; all
wel convinced that everything when
would contribute to plunder ana destruc-
ton was perfectly justifiable. and this,
saws General Sleeman. every Thug be-
lieved from his soul" 1t was com
pletely- and perfectly-discplined
marty All the important parts were
played by men who held their places on
account OF fitness for the respective posi-
tions They adopted all kinds OF dis
cuises. and supported the characters as
sumed inimitably. No false or premature
step was ever made and when. by means
of their inveglers. travellers had been
| induced TO Join them. all the preparatory
| details were arranged with de!iberatloh
and skill that made failure nearly I'M
possibl- Experienced murderers chose
| the place for attack In advance, sklllIu'
| lucheas dug the graves beforehand, Whert
| they were well nigh undscoverable aho
when all was ready ana their Nlcuns
had been lulled into feeling OF apSoiuts
security by these unequalleq actors, lie
| header gave the secret signal Tor the as
| sassins to take their places, ana theh tit
| order to attack In an instant every on
hands were held by shumse-as anu tNtiS
| throat was encircled by the deadly roo
NAL determination OF the entire party
almost always ensied for II any. escaped
| the strangers, they were cut down py
| the swords Of those associates detailed io'
| this duty.
RELIGIOUS RITES.
Scarcely was the slaughter over whef
! the Thugs. who, as il has been SAD Wet,
mons persons. bethought them 10 thSu
| religiot,s duties and FASTENED 10 oner th'
81 In this which WAS III