The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1906-12-20

7 the "PE0fesssOys" ReSsuiF Ehom "a
Become Cruel and FerOcious.
India Is usually spoken of as q land
where life and property have become
safe under British rule. True, the
bands Of thugs have been broken I'M
the Pindharee hordes have been sup
pressed. and the British police system
Is spread over the whole country, but
the criminal tribes or castles, those
whose hereditary profession ia rob
berry and nothing else, remain, their
Instincts strong, wanting only opportu-
nifty to practice their traditional call
Ing, which the Indian caste system for
bids them to abandon.
These tribes are most numerous and
most hayward in the united provinces,
In which are Cawnp4r and Lucknow,
! the cities associated forever with the
Indian mutiny.
/ Half of the division Is Oudh, the ma
tive province last annexed by Britain,
rlany of whose old men wildly re-
member when every "talOokdar." or
feudal chief, lived In fortified castle
and retained Il swarm of armed men.
who received no pay, but lived on the
country. They were official robbers,
and their example gave free scope to
the professional robbers, or, as they
have always been known In India, the
criminal tribes.
These tribes are the SanaurIahs. the
Barwars, the Sansiahs, the Doms, the
Haburahs, the Aheriahs, the Banrlahs.
the Bhatus. Each tribe has Its own
dialect, dress and customs.
singular feature of Indian life ia
that persons who would be considered
depraved characters In a European
country and would bear the stamp of
their nature on their faces are not de-
PRAYED In their own estimation or In
that of the people at large. A casual.
murderer Is not ashamed of himself
nor abhorred by his neighbors, who
welcome him back among them it he
escapes the gallows and Is released
after term in Jail. The universal be-
lief that all things are decreed by fate
accounts for this amazing state Of
Feeling. Much more, then, are men re-
garded with Indifference or even re-
spect whose time honored, hereditary
and natural profession is robbery with
murder.
So the members Of these tribes go in
and out OF the towns and villages with
out mlsgivlngs, and there is not a sign
In their faces or manner to indicate
that their business is robbery and muir.
der
When gang encamps outside of q
town the inhabitants feel uncomforta-
bic and take precautions, but cherish
no Ill viii against the strangers. And
when rObberies and murders occur al.
most Immediately within a radius OF
twenty miles they take more precau-
lions, but regard the whole affair as a
visitation Of Providence. like a food or
a fire.
These habltual criminals are not de-
PRAYED In any sense understood by the
people. They simply have the mis-.
fortune to belong to trade which a |
unpleasant for the neighboFhood-lIhe |
dyes or Y tanners.
They we'll satisfied with thr,u. |
selves and re rs careful as othe~ 40
pie Of their RESP rtPblll.". They I've
no unusual vices: they aot get I, nh
or riotous; they are civil. cOurtc e',s
and unassumlng. Cruelty and fero, Is i
are with them neither habits nor pas
ures, but simply methods Of business.
During the excitement Of a sudden |
attack the people If they do not run
away will turn out and aid the police
In repelling or capturing the robbers.
But IL police inquiry begins two or
three days after the robbers have done
their work unmolested the people viii
usually do nothing 10 help In tracing
them aud viii even deny that thsy h
have lost anything.
For many years past the government II
Of India has worked to induce these
criminal tribes to settle down to q
and industrious life.
But progress is very slow. Vagabond, 4
age is bred In the bone and marrow OF
the tribes, and marauding Is their che
sen occupation. From time to time men
VIII suddenly disappear, perpetrats
several daring dakaltis In another dia-
lrict and escape over the border into
Dne OF the independent native STATES
which cluster round three sides OF the
united provinces.
The word "dakaiti." also spelled ''aA-
'oity." means robbery by a gang OF
Irmed men, and dakait, or dacolt. d
member OF such a gang.
An assault by robbers In India daf-
ers from one In Europe or America In
hat 1t always takes place at night
ND Is accompanied by tremendous
mount of noise. The Indians are a
loisy people at all times, and in a rob
'ery with violence the robbers Object
$ to terribly their victims into a panic;
ence whether travellers be waylald on
lonely road or wealthy MANS
ouse be attacked In village the as
ault Is always made suddenly, with
'ud shouts and yells and in the case Il
village with beating Of druma and