The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1906-11-30
Wa0fTc
or RAFFLESES
IN FAR INDIA
SNGASASAGs

writes the Lucknow Undia) CORE
-spondent of the New York World.
- ~ Frue the bands of Thugs have been
broken up, the Pindhaseel hordes
have been suppressed, and the Brit
'sish police system is spread over the
whole country, but the criminal
tribes or castles, those whose heredit-
airy 'professiont is robbery and
nothing else, remain, their instincts
strong, only wanting opportunity to
practice their traditional calling,
which the Indian caste system for
bids them to abandon.
These tribes are most numerous
and most wayward in the United
Provinces, in which are Cawnpore
and Lucknow, the cities associated
forever with the Indian Mutiny.
Half of the division is Oudh. the
native province last annexed by Brit
ain, many of whose old men vividly
remember when every "talookdar,"
or feudal chief, lived in fortified
castle and retained a 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 Sanisiahs, the
Doms. the Haburahs, the Aheriahs,
the Banriahs, the Bhatus. Each
f,sh ha 70, i,I
customs.
A singular feature OF Indian life
Is that persons who would be consid-
cred depraved characters in a Euro
pean country and would bear the
stamp of their nature on their faces
are not depraved in their own esti-
nation nor 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 If he escapes the
gallows and Is released after a term
in jail. The universal belief that all
things are decreed by fate accounts
for this amazing state OF feeling. !
Much more, then, are men regarded !
with Indifference or even respect |
whose time honorcd, hereditary and |
natural profession is robbery with |
SO the members Of these tribes go /
In and out OF the towns and villages |
misgivings, and there is not |
a sign in their faces or manner to in
dicate that their business is robbery |
and murder.
People Annoyed But Not Indignant.
When gang encamps outside of a
town the inhabitants feel uncomfort-
able and take precautions, but cher
ish no i'll will against the strangers.
And when robberies and murders oc-
cur almost Immediately within a ra-
dius OF twenty miles they take more
precautions, but regard the Whole af- |
fair as visitation of providence. like |
q food or a fire.
These habitual criminals are not !
depraved in any sense understood by !
the people. They simply have the |
misfortune to belong to trade which !
is unpleasant for the neighborhood !
like dyer's or a tanners. !
They are we'll satisfied with them |
selves, and are as careful as other |
people of their respectability. They |
have no unusual vices, they do not |
get drunk or riotous, they are civil, !
courteous and unassuming. Cruelty
and ferocity are with them neither
habits nor pleasures, but simply
methods Of business.
During the excitement Of sudden
attack, the people, If they do not run
away. will turn out and aid the DO
lice in repelling or capturing the rob-
bers. But ii police inquiry begins
two or three days after the robbers
have done their work unmolested the
people will usually do nothing TO
help in tracing them, and will even
deny that they have lost anything.
For many years past the Govern
ment OF India has worked to induce
these criminal tribes TO settle down
TO peaceable and industrious life.
They have been collected on reserva-
tions, with every regard for their tri-
bal customs and prejudices. They
have been given land and cattle and
seed for sowing. II cultivation was
not to their taste. they have been of
fered a choice of other industries.
And year by year the responsible Off
Ger reports, with a feeble effort at
congratulation, that a few more men
OF this tribe or that are evincinE a
disposition for a settled life.
But progress is very slow: vara-
bondage is bred in the bone and mar
row OF the tribes, and marauding is
their chosen occupation. From time
TO time men will suddenly disappear.
perpetrate several daring dakaitis in
another district and escape over the
border into one of the independent
native States which cluster round
three sides of the United Provinces.
The word "dakaiti," also spelled
"dacoity," means robbery by a gang
OF armed men, and dakait, or da-
colt, is a member of such a gang.