Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-19

They need no rhetoric to make them i'm
pressive, but to those who entertain con-
ventional ideas of morality and red zion, as
well as to students OF criminal anthropol-
ogy. the history of this society pres ants
certain phases os human nature which they
would do well to consider.
The claim is made that the origin
OF Thugee was contemporary with the
creation of mankind. Then a mighty
demon devoured the human race as
fast as 1t appeared. Kali, coasort of silva.
came to its rescue but when she cut down
the destroyer, a new demon sprang from
every drop of his blood In this emergency
the great mother formed two men from
drops or sweat upon one of her arms and
providing them with rocnals. or stranrling
cloths. sent them against the Internal nroye-
ny or the demon, whom they finally de-
stroyed. Thugs or PhansIgars are the Se-
scendants of this pair. ami by way of re-
ward for the merits of their ancestors
Bowanee Doorga. Kali or Kalee Davey. as
she Is indifferently named, gave I'D the pom
uiation OF the world. save some few excep-
tional classes. to be plundered and muir
dered at their pleasure. So runs the legend .
but 1t Is a fact that during three hundred
years. beginning with the commence nent of
tne sixteenth century, about thirty thousand
people were Killed annually. No robbers
nave ever done murder on great a scale
and there Is no other instance of its having
oeen committed with equal impunity In
explanation of the former statement II NAV
De said that their organization was perfect
their numbers great and their opportunities
practically unlimited On the other hand
every Thug, from the Himalayas TO Cane
Cormorin and from the Indus to the Ganpas
contemplated his crimes not only with
calmness. but complacency The omens be-
ing favorable. all private responsibility
ceased, and the murderer became the in
strument Of a divine WILL Furthermore
Phansigars left no witnesses to testify
against them: their country, without high-
ways, or, In fact, any means of intercom-
munication, was pre-eminently adapted to
the successful prosecution Of criminal de-
signs. They found allies and protectors in
all classes of society, and that universal
fate Of strangers also prevented them from
endeavoring to trace friends or relatives
who had disappeared. II 1t was written that
these should reappear. nothing could pre-
could be done.
Children in the Profession.
Children among Phansigars are brought
up to 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 &C.
cupation. But one woman is on record
the wife OF Bukhtawar. Jemedar Of My
sore'-as having, personally, participa led
| in manslaughter. Taking any boy for an
example. the salient points Of his training
may be accurately described. He served a
| regular apprenticeship and the successive
| steps which were necessary in order to ar
| rive at the grade of stranger are perfect
| ly well known. At the age of twelve or
| fourteen years. according to his state of
development, he was freed from his moth
er's control and accompanied the gang upon
| an expedition, the purposes of which were
only partially explained. Appropriate sen.
| timents were carefully instilled into the
neophyte's mind; he saw nothing shocking
and the journey was made as pleasant as
possible in every way. Gradually, the purport
| OF this teaching was unfolded. Abstractly
| the worthlessness of human life the pro-
| priety Of plumber. and those sacred obliga-
| tons which omens imposed had been for
some time subjects Of contemplation How
| he witnessed the places for murder and in
terment selected. heard that those travellers
who Joined his party and afterward disap-
peared were dead. and, to some extent be-
| came himself a sharer in their posse ssions.
Ultimately, the oath of the strangers was
administered. he saw an assassination. and
was then prepared to start on another foray
In the character Of a Thug.
Ready for Departure
| When the proper season arrived-the
months Of November December, January
and February-the gang prepared for depar-
| ture, and as necessary and invariable
preliminary. performed the ceremony of
| taking the auspices. A blanket or sheet
| was spread upon the ground in some suit
able spot, generally a grove near the VII
/ lage which they were about to leave los
tensibly for purposes OF traffic.. and on this
was seated pundit (since Brahmans fire.
| quently leagued with Thugs. as we'll as be-
! came their victims), the leader of the pro-
| tected expedition, and four Phansigars all
strangers eminent for their skill and piety.
| On this covering was also placed brass
| plate holding rice, wheat, and two copper
| coins Presenting this to the diviner, who
had previously consulted the 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, holding
| full lotah, or water vessel by its mouth
and parallel with his right side, and also
pressing clean white handkerchief, tied
INTO nVe knots, containing turmerick to his
breast, moved forward short distance in
| the exact direction indicated by the priest.
| Then he paused. lifted his eyes, and with a
| spirit distracted from all else than his
prayer, he said: Great Goddess! Universal
Mother! If this our meditated expedition Is
| fitting In thy sight, vouchsafe us help and
| the signs of thy appreciation" All repeated
| these words, and II within half an hour the
pilhaoo, that is, the sight or voice of some
! beast or bird by which omens are given oc
curing on the left, was seen or heard II be-
came 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 chosen for seven hours while
| his followers made their final preparations.
For awhile the gang went forward in a
| straight line. but subsequently they march
| ed at will Each man now considered him
| self commissioned to commit murder indef-
| nitely; all were convir ced that everything
which would contribute to plumber and de-
structlon was perfectly Justifable and this,
says Gen. Sleeman, every Thug believed
| from his soul" 1t was a completely or
ganized and perfectly disciplined party All
the important parts were played by men
who held their places on account Of fitness
for their respective positions. They adopt
ed all kinds of DISCUSSES and supported the
characters assumed inmitably. No false or
premature step was ever made, and when
by means of their inveiglers, travellers had
been induced to Join them, all the prepare
tory details were arranged with a delibera-
ton and skill that made failure nearly i'm
possible. Experienced murderers chose the
place for attack in advance skillful lughea 9
dug the graves beforehand where thew