The day after my adventure with the tiger, I left our village with my
father. We travelled on horseback, and on the fourth morning afterwards
reached Sheopoor, the town from which the grand expedition was to set
out. It was here, too, that I was to be admitted into the band of
Thugs, and I looked forward to my inauguration with much impatience,
and perhaps some dread, for I knew not what ceremonies I had to go
through. We put up in the house of Moedeen, where several other Thug
leaders were also; and after refreshing ourselves, my father bade me
accompany him to the council which was to determine on the future
operations. I was presented to the members, ten in number, who were
the jemadars of the different bands. I could see, from the respect and
consideration with which my father was treated, that he was looked upon
as the chief of the whole; I was gratified by the reception I met with;
and my conduct in the affair of the tiger, the whole circumstances of
which were related by my father, raised me at once to a high station in
their respect.
As it still wanted two days of the festival of the Dasera, my
inauguration was postponed to that day; for it is esteemed a
particularly fortunate one by the Thugs, and indeed by all classes. On
it, you are already aware, that all great undertakings are commenced
by armies, and, in like manner, by us Thugs; for the breaking up of
the rains gives a hope that the adventure will not be impeded by them;
and the continuance of fine weather which follows it, allows the band
to travel in comfort, and with better hope of booty from the chance
of falling in with travellers, who also take advantage of the break
in the weather to commence long journeys. Above all, it is a day
peculiarly sacred to Bhowanee, our patroness and goddess. Still, being
a Moosulman, I could not then see why such respect was paid to the
festival of the Dasera, or indeed why it was kept at all; and I applied
to my father for a solution of my doubts on the subject.
"It is necessary to your fully understanding this," said he, "that
I should give you an outline of our belief in the divine origin of
our profession, which is intimately connected with the faith of the
Hindoos, and by whom we Moosulmans have been instructed in the art of
Thuggee."
"This is wonderful, indeed," said I; "how do you reconcile any
connection between the faith of unbelievers and that of the blessed
prophet?"
"I cannot pretend to solve the difficulty," said my father; "but as
their religion is far more ancient than ours, and no doubt had a divine
origin, there are many points in it which one of the true faith may
follow without offence, so that he does not join them in all their
forms and professions. Indeed, this is impossible, as no one can become
a Hindoo; but, as I told you before, Thuggee is one of the means by
which Alla works out his own ends; and as the profession of it has been
handed down to us from ages, and as it becomes the fate of those who
are called to it to follow it, there is no possibility of avoiding the
profession, though one desired it; and, as a direct consequence, no sin
in associating with Hindoos in the practice of it, from whom it has had
its origin. Do you understand me?"
"Perfectly," said I; "it was not to question its propriety that I asked
the question, but only to know how it was, that Hindoo festivals were
acknowledged and kept by us Moosulmans?"
"The Dasera is the only one," said my father, "which is observed; and
the reason of this is, that it is the fittest time of the year to
commence our enterprises, and has been invariably kept sacred by all
Hindoo Thugs; but I must tell you of the origin of Thuggee, that you
may judge for yourself how ancient it is, and how well the instructions
then given by divine command have been followed up. In the beginning
of the world, according to the Hindoos, there existed a creating and
a destroying power, both emanations from the Supreme Being. These
were, as a matter of consequence, at constant enmity with each other,
and still continue to be so. The creative power, however, peopled the
earth so fast that the destroyer could not keep pace with him, nor
was he allowed to do so; but was given permission to resort to every
means he could devise to effect his objects. Among others, his consort
Devee, Bhowanee, or Kalee, for she is known under these names and many
others, constructed an image, into which, on this occasion, she was
empowered to infuse the breath of life. No sooner was this effected,
than she assembled a number of her votaries, whom she named Thugs. She
instructed them in the art of Thuggee; and, to prove its efficacy,
with her own hands destroyed before them the image she had made, in
the manner which we now practise. She endowed the Thugs with superior
intelligence and cunning, in order that they might decoy human beings
to destruction; and sent them abroad into the world, giving them--as
the reward of their exertions--the plunder they might obtain from
those they put to death; and bidding them be under no concern for the
disposal of the bodies, as she would herself convey them from the
earth. Ages passed on in this manner, and she protected her votaries
from human laws, and they were everywhere found to be faithful; but
corruptions crept in among them with the increased depravity of the
world; and at last, a gang more bold and curious than the rest, after
destroying a traveller, determined--instead of following the old custom
of leaving the body unnoticed--to watch, and see how it was disposed
of. They hid themselves, as they thought, secure from observation in
the bushes by the side of the road, and waited the arrival of the
goddess. But what mortal can escape the eye of divinity? She quickly
espied them, and called them before her. Terror-stricken by her
splendid and terrific appearance, and in the utmost dread of her
vengeance, they attempted to fly; but she arrested their steps, and in
an awful manner upbraided them for their want of faith.
"'You have seen me,' said she, 'and looked upon a power which no mortal
has ever yet beheld without instant destruction; but this I spare you;
henceforward, however, I shall no longer protect you as I have done.
The bodies of those whom you destroy will no longer be removed by me,
and you must take your own measures for their concealment. It will not
always be effectual, and will often lead to your detection by earthly
powers, and in this will consist your punishment. Your intelligence
and cunning still remain to you. I will in future assist you by omens
for your guidance; but this my decree will be your curse to the latest
period of the world.'
"So saying, she disappeared, and left them to the consequences of
their own folly and presumption; but her protection has never been
withdrawn. It is true, the remains of those who fall by our hands are
sometimes discovered, and instances have been known of that discovery
having led to the apprehension of Thugs, at least so I have heard;
but during my lifetime I have never known of one; and it is my firm
belief that such instances have been permitted on purpose to punish
those who have in some way offended our protectress, by neglecting her
sacrifices and omens. You therefore see how necessary it is to follow
the rules which have guided our fraternity for ages, and which cannot
be changed without incurring the displeasure of the divine power; nor
is there anything in our creed to forbid it. We follow the blessed
precepts of our prophet; we say our Namaz five times a day; we observe
all the rules of our faith; we worship no idols; and if what we have
done for ages--ever since the invasion by our forefathers of India--was
displeasing to the apostle, surely we should have had, long ere this,
some manifestation of his displeasure. Our plans would have been
frustrated, our exertions rendered of no avail; we should have dragged
on a miserable existence; and long ere this, should have abandoned
Thuggee, and our connection with its Hindoo professors."
"I am convinced," said I; "for your relation is wonderful. Truly have
you said that we are under the especial protection of Providence;
and it would be sinful to question the propriety of any usages which
have been transmitted from a period so remote, and followed without
deviation. I will allow that I had thought this open connection with
Kafirs as offensive, because I was led to believe them sunk into the
lowest depths of depravity and bad faith, from the representations of
the old Moola who was my instructor; but he must have been ignorant, or
a bigoted old fool."
"I will say nothing more than this," said my father, "that you will be
thrown much into the society of Hindoos, all of good caste, and you
will find them as faithful and as worthy of your friendship as any
Moosulman; such, at least, has been my experience of them."
On the day of the Dasera the ceremony of my inauguration as a Thug
commenced. I was bathed and dressed in new clothes which had never
been bleached, and led by the hand by my father, who officiated as the
Gooroo or spiritual director, and to whom seemed to be confided the
entire direction of the ceremonies. I was brought into a room, where
the leaders of the band I had before seen, were assembled sitting on
a clean white cloth, which was spread in the centre of the apartment.
My father then advancing towards them, asked them whether they were
content to receive me as a Thug and a brother, to which they all
answered, "We are."
I was then conducted into the open air, accompanied by the whole
number, when my father, raising his hands and eyes to the sky, cried in
a loud voice, "Oh Bhowanee! mother of the world! whose votaries we are,
receive this thy servant--vouchsafe to him thy protection--to us, an
omen which may assure us of thy consent."
We waited for some time; and at last, from a tree over our heads, the
loud twittering of the small tree-owl was heard.
"Jey Bhowanee! Victory to Bhowanee!" cried the whole of the leaders;
and my father embraced me, saying,
"Be of good cheer, my son; the omen is most favourable. We could hardly
have expected such an one: thy acceptation is complete."
I was then reconducted to the apartment, and a pickaxe, that holy
symbol of our profession, was placed in my right hand, upon a white
handkerchief. I was desired to raise it as high as my breast; and
an oath, a fearful oath, was then dictated to me, which I repeated,
raising my left into the air, and invoking the goddess to whose service
I was devoting myself. The same oath was repeated by me on the blessed
Koran, after which a small piece of consecrated Goor, or coarse sugar,
was given me to eat, and my inauguration was complete. My father
received the congratulations of the assembly on the fortunate issue of
the ceremony, and he then addressed me as follows.
"My son, thou hast taken upon thee the profession which is of all
the most ancient and acceptable to the divinity. Thou hast sworn to
be faithful, brave, and secret; to pursue to destruction every human
being whom chance, or thy ingenuity, may throw into thy power, with the
exception of those who are forbidden by the laws of our profession,
which are now to thee sacred. These are particular sects, over whom our
power does not extend, and whose sacrifice is not acceptable to our
divine patroness; they are Dhobees, Bhats, Sikhs, Nanukshahees, Mudaree
Fakeers, dancing-men, musicians, Bhungees, Tailees, Lohars, Burraes,
and maimed or leprous persons. With these exceptions, the whole human
race is open to thy destruction, and thou must omit no possible means
(but at all times dependent upon the omens by which we are guided) to
compass their destruction. I have now finished: you are become a Thug;
and what remains of thy profession will be shown to thee by our Gooroo,
who will, under the necessary ceremonies, instruct thee in its details."
"It is enough," said I; "I am yours to death; and I only pray that an
opportunity may soon be afforded me to prove to you my devotion."
Thus I became a Thug: had I commenced my career under other and
ordinary circumstances,--I mean, had I not been introduced to my
profession by one so powerful and well esteemed as my father then
was,--I must have entered the lowest grade of all; and had I proved
myself to be active, intelligent and brave, I might have risen in time
to the highest. But this was spared me; and though too young myself to
become a leader, I was in a rank above the rest, and was considered
to be, and looked up to as, the person who was hereafter to fill my
father's place, whenever it should suit him to retire from active
employment.
The business which the Thug leaders had assembled to deliberate upon,
was a plan of my father's, for a large body under himself and two
other leaders (one of whom was Hoosein), to take the high road to the
Dukhun; to advance together as far as Nagpoor, from whence my father
was to proceed to Hyderabad; and the others separating, one to go
to Aurungabad, thence through Khândésh, by Boorhanpoor, to Indore,
and back to Sheopoor; the other also to Aurungabad, but from thence
to Poona; afterwards, if possible, as far as Surat, and from thence
homewards; but if the season should be too far advanced, they were to
get to Boorhanpoor and home in the best way they could; finally, we
were all to meet at Sheopoor by the commencement of the next rainy
season.
No opposition was made to this; on the contrary, it was highly approved
of, as, under the personal direction of Ismail, it could not fail of
success, and as an expedition had not been made to the Dukhun for many
years before. The other gangs were to proceed in various directions
about Hindostan as far as Benares, and round through the Saugor and
Nerbudda country,--their proceedings to be guided by circumstances,
which could not now be foreseen.
Thus planned, but a few days elapsed before we set off on our journey:
with us there were sixty men, with Hoosein forty-five, and with the
other jemadar, whose name was Ghous Khan, thirty; making in all one
hundred and thirty-five.
Before we commenced our journey, however, it was necessary to consult
the omens; and as the ceremonies are somewhat curious, I shall relate
them to you,--observing, that no expedition, whether of a large or
small body, can be undertaken without them.
The morning we were to separate on our different destinations,
everything having been duly prepared, we repaired to a spot which had
been chosen on the road, a short distance from the village, and the
whole band was in attendance. Bhudrinath, a man of much intelligence
and respectability, and who was learned in the conducting of
ceremonies, bore the sacred pickaxe, which had been previously duly
consecrated, and was immediately attended by my father and three other
jemadars. My father, as the leader of the whole, carried a lota filled
with water, suspended by a string which he held in his mouth, down
his right side. Had that lota fallen, what a dire omen would it have
been to him! Nothing could have averted his death in that year, or at
furthest in the year following.
We moved slowly, till we reached the spot fixed on, and there my father
stood. Turning his face to the south, the direction we were to take,
he placed his left hand on his breast, reverently lifted his eyes to
heaven, and pronounced in a loud voice the following invocation to
Bhowanee:--"Mother of the universe! protectress and patroness of our
order! if this expedition be pleasing to thee, vouchsafe us thy help,
and give us an omen of thine approbation!"
He was silent, and every mouth repeated the prayer aloud. Now every
one looked impatient for the omens: the band scarcely breathed, so
intensely anxious was the suspense. Long we waited, perhaps half an
hour: no one spoke; and the reverent silence of the assembled numbers
had something exceedingly impressive in it. At last the Pilhaoo, or
omen on the left hand, was vouchsafed; a jackass brayed, and was almost
instantly answered by one on the right, which was the Thibaoo. What
could have been more complete! such an omen had not been known for
years, and promised the utmost success, and splendid booty. Loud and
fervent were the cries of praise to Bhowanee; and each turning to his
companion, congratulated him on the happy prospect.
Seven long hours my father sat on that spot, during which time all was
prepared for the journey. At its expiration he arose, and we took the
nearest road to Guneshpoor.
At the stage where we stopped for the evening, the Thibaoo and Pilhaoo
were heard by Bhudrinath, who carried the nishan, the pickaxe, or,
as it was now called, having been consecrated, _khussee_; and these
renewed favourable omens produced an increased confidence in the
expedition and its leaders. At the first streamlet we passed the next
morning the band all sat down, and some goor and dall, which had been
brought with us, was shared to all. Proceeding, favourable omens were
again seen, and all declared that we should speedily gain a rich booty.
To me this was all strange and unaccountable; but the implicit faith
which every one seemed to place in the omens, and the regularity with
which the ceremonies were conducted, impressed me with a strong idea of
their necessity; though, to my shame I say it, as I acquired confidence
in myself, I scorned them as foolish; until misfortune, no doubt sent
by Bhowanee, brought me to my senses, and made me penitent.
In a few days we arrived at Guneshpoor, and as yet we had no adventure.
On reaching the town, the Sothaees or inveiglers, whose duty it is
to entice travellers into the power of the Thugs, were sent into the
town, while we remained under a mango-grove on the outside. They were
absent most part of the day; and when they returned they were eagerly
questioned for intelligence. The men who had been sent on this duty
were two Hindoos, one by name Bhudrinath, whom I have mentioned before,
a Brahmin, and the other a man of inferior caste, by name Gopal; but
both were persons of the most bland and persuasive manners, and I was
told that they rarely failed in their object. I was, among the rest,
highly curious to hear their adventures in the town, and joined my
father on his taking his place in the assembly.
Bhudrinath told us that he had gone through the whole of the bazar
without success, when he was attracted to a bunnea's shop by a
respectable old man, who was in high dispute with the bunnea. He went
up to him, and the old gentleman, who was in a violent passion at some
attempted exaction on the part of the merchant, immediately accosted
him, and begged him to be witness to the transaction, expressing at the
same time his intention of having the man brought before the Kotwal for
his dishonesty. "The bunnea was very insolent and abusive," Bhudrinath
went on to say; "and after some altercation, I contrived to settle
the matter by dint of threats and persuasions. The old man seemed
highly pleased with me; and it naturally led, after we left the shop
together, to a conversation about whither I was going, and who I was.
I took advantage of this, to convince him that the town was no safe
residence for a traveller, even for a night, and discovered that he was
a Persian mootsuddee, or writer in the service of the rajah of Nagpoor,
whither he was travelling with his son. I of course alarmed him as much
as I could with accounts of the thieves and Thugs on the road, and
represented ourselves to be a company of travellers proceeding also to
Nagpoor, on our way to the Dukhun, and associated together for mutual
protection; and that we always rested outside the villages, as being
the safest places when our number was so large. He seemed so struck
with the proposal I made to him to come out and join us, that I lost no
time in pressing him to leave the town, and I have succeeded. I have
left Gopal, who joined us, to show him the way out, and assist him in
packing up his things, and I have no doubt they will be here before
sunset."
"Barik Alla!" exclaimed my father; "your face is bright in our eyes,
Bhudrinath; and I have no doubt, lads," said he to the knot of
listeners, "that the old Khayet has abundance of money and jewels,
and his plunder will help to see us on to Nagpoor: so if he does not
come to us of his own free will, we must even waylay him, and that too
in the next march. A short time will decide this; and if he does not
come, some of you Lughaees must be off to prepare the bhil or place of
burial."
But we were saved the trouble; for the Khayet came into our camp, as he
had said, by sunset, and was met at the confines of it by my father,
and the two other jemadars. The respectability of his appearance struck
me forcibly; he was evidently a man of polished manners, and had seen
courts and good society. After arranging his travelling-cart to sleep
in, by placing some tent walls around it for protection to his women,
he and his son, an intelligent handsome-looking youth, came to the spot
where my father and the other leaders had spread their carpets; and
many of the band being assembled, there ensued a general conversation.
Who could have told, Sahib, the intentions of those by whom he was
surrounded! To me it was wonderful. I knew he was to die that night,
for that had been determined when he arrived in our camp, and while he
was arranging his sleeping-place. I knew too that a spot had been fixed
on for his grave, and that of those with him; for I had accompanied my
father to it, and saw that it was begun; and yet there sat my father,
and Hoosein, and Ghous Khan, and many others. The pipe and the story
passed round, and the old man was delighted at the company he had
fallen into.
"I thank you," said he to Bhudrinath, "that you brought me out of
that unsainted village; truly here is some enjoyment in the society
of gentlemen, who have seen the world: there I should have been in
perpetual dread of robbers, and should not have slept a wink all night,
while here I need not even to be watchful, since I am assured by the
Khan Sahib," pointing to my father, "that I shall be well taken care
of."
"Ay!" growled out in a whisper an old Thug who sat behind me, "he will
be well taken care of sure enough, I will see to that."
"How?" said I.
He gave the sign, by which I knew him to be one of the Bhuttotes or
stranglers who had been selected.
"I have an old grudge against him," he continued, "and the time is come
when I can repay it."
"Tell me how it happened," said I in a low tone, for the man's face
wore a savage expression as he said it.
"Not now," said he, "how can I? I will tell you to-morrow night when we
meet in the mujlis: that man is Brij Lall, as great a rascal as ever
lived, one who has committed more murders and more villanies in his
life than any of us Thugs. But his cup is full, his breath is already
in his mouth; one squeeze from me, and it will go forth never to
return."
"And the boy," said I, "that fair, fine boy,--surely he will be spared."
"To tell all he saw, I suppose," said the man; "to deliver us up at the
first place we come to! No, no, Mea, we know better, and so will you
one of these days." And he went round and seated himself just behind
the old man, who turned about as though he were intruded upon.
"Sit still, sit still," said my father; "it is only a companion: in an
open camp like this every one is privileged to hear the conversation
of the evening mujlis, and we usually find some one among us who can
enliven the evening with a tale, until it is time to rest for the
night."
So the old Thug sat still: I could see him playing with his fatal
weapon, the handkerchief, now pulling it through one hand and now
through the other; and I gazed on the group till my brain reeled again
with excitement, with intense agony I might call it with more truth.
There sat the old man; beside him his noble-looking boy; behind them
their destroyers, only awaiting the signal; and the old man looked so
unconscious of danger, was so entirely put off his guard and led into
conversation by the mild, bland manners of my father, that what could
he have suspected? That he was in the hands of those from whom he was
to meet his death? Ah, no! And as I gazed and gazed, how I longed to
scream out to him to fly! had I not known that my own death would
have followed instantaneously, I had done it. Yet it would have been
of no use. I turned away my eyes from them; but they returned to the
same place involuntarily. Every movement of the men behind seemed the
prelude to the fatal ending. At last I could bear the intensity of my
feelings no longer: I got up, and was hurrying away, when my father
followed me.
"Where are you going?" said he; "I insist on your staying here; this is
your initiation; you must see it, and go through with the whole."
"I shall return directly," said I: "I go but a pace or two; I am sick."
"Faint-hearted!" said he in a low tone; "see you do not stay long, this
farce must soon end."
A turn or two apart from the assembly restored me again, and I returned
and took up my former place, exactly opposite the old man and his son.
Ya Alla! Sahib, even now I think they are _there_ (and the Thug pointed
with his finger), father and son; and the son's large eyes are looking
into mine, as my gaze is riveted on them.
Ameer Ali looked indeed as though he saw them, and stared wildly; but
passing his hands across his eyes, he resumed,--
"Taajoob!" said he, "wonderful! I could have sworn they both looked
at me; but I am growing old and foolish." Well, Sahib, as I said, I
gazed and gazed at them, so that I wonder even now, they saw nothing
extraordinary in it, and did not remark it. But no: the old man
continued a relation of some treaties the Nagpoor Rajah was forming
with the English, and was blaming him for entering into any league
with them against his brethren, when my father called out "Tumbako lao
(bring tobacco)!" It was the signal! quicker than thought the Thug
had thrown his handkerchief round the neck of the old man, another
one his round that of the son, and in an instant they were on their
backs struggling in the agonies of death. Not a sound escaped them
but an indistinct gurgling in their throats; and as the Bhuttotes
quitted their fatal hold, after a few moments, others, who had been
waiting for the purpose, took up the bodies and bore them away to the
already-prepared grave.
"Now for the rest," cried my father in a low tone: "some of you rush on
the servants; see that no noise is made; the bullock-driver and others
can be dealt with easily."
Some of the men ran to the place the _khayet_ had chosen, and
surrounded the unsuspecting cart-driver and the other servants, who
were cooking under a tree. I saw and heard a scuffle; but they also
were all dead ere they could cry out.
"Come!" said my father and Hoosein, taking me by the arms and hurrying
me along; "come and see how they are disposed of."
I went, or was rather dragged along, to one side of our encampment,
where there was a ravine some feet deep, in the bottom of which a hole
had been dug, and by the side of which eight bodies were lying. The
father and son, his two wives, the bullock-driver, two male servants,
and an old woman; also a servant, who was in the inclosure with the
women. The bodies were nearly naked, and presented a ghastly spectacle,
as they lay in a confused heap, but just visible from the brink of the
ravine.
"Are they all here?" asked my father.
"Yes, Khodawund," said one of the Lughaees, whom I knew.
"Then in with them!" cried my father; and they were quickly deposited
in their last resting-place, the head of one over the feet of another,
so that they might lie close.
"We had better open them," said the Lugha, "for the ground is loose and
they will swell."
So gashes were made in their abdomens, and the earth quickly filled in
on them; it was stamped down, the top smoothed, and in a few moments
no one could have discovered that eight human beings had been secreted
beneath the spot. We turned away from it, and every one betook himself
to repose.
Sahib, can I describe to you how I passed that night? Do what I would,
the father and son appeared before me; the old man's voice rung in my
ears, and the son's large eyes seemed to be fixed on mine. I felt as
though a thousand shitans sat on my breast, and sleep would not come
to my eyes. It appeared so cold-blooded, so unprovoked a deed, that
I could not reconcile myself in any way to have become even a silent
spectator of it. Yet my father had joined in it--my father whom I
loved intensely, and Hoosein too. But all would not do; I could not
tranquillize myself. I crept from beneath our little tent, and sat down
in the open air. The moon shone brightly as ever, as now and then she
emerged from beneath a passing cloud, and there was a cool breeze which
fanned my burning face and soothed me. I watched her as she appeared to
travel along in the heavens, till she became overcast; and a few heavy
drops of rain, as if she wept over the deed she had witnessed, drove me
again under the tent. I crept close to my father, who was sound asleep,
and embracing him with my arms, sleep came to my eyelids, and I woke
not till the usual hour of prayer arrived, when I was roused by my
father to join in the morning supplication.
We spread our carpets, and I repeated the form with him; but my
thoughts were with the old man and his son, and the event of the
preceding night. Immediately after it was over our horses were saddled,
and we set out on what proved to be a long march; for it was necessary
to get as far as possible from Guneshpoor, that no suspicion might
attach to us. In due time we arrived at the stage, and a man was sent
into the town to purchase one rupee and a quarter's worth of goor or
coarse sugar: what this was intended for I could not imagine, but it
was soon made known to me when I asked my father.
"This," said he, "is the sacrifice of the Tupounee, in which we all
join after any adventure similar to what you saw last night; it is a
rite of the utmost solemnity, and must never be neglected."
The man returned with the sugar, and a place having been chosen,
Bhudrinath, the bearer of the khussee, was seated on a blanket spread
for him, his face towards the west. All the best men and noted
Bhuttotes seated themselves on each side of him, looking in the same
direction as he did. My father then made a small hole in the ground
near the blanket, upon which was placed the sacred pickaxe and the pile
of sugar, and a piece of silver as an offering. A little of the sugar
was then put into the hole by my father; he raised his clasped hands to
heaven and in a supplicatory manner cried aloud--
"Powerful and mighty goddess! who hast for ages vouchsafed thy
protection unto thy votaries, and who particularly to Joora Naig and
Khudeek Bunwaree gavest one lakh and sixty thousand rupees in their
need, we beseech thee in like manner to aid us, and fulfil our desires!"
This prayer was devoutly repeated by all around, and my father taking
water in his hand sprinkled it upon the pickaxe and into the hole; he
then took pieces of the sugar and presented them to each of the Thugs
in succession, who ate it in silence. They then drank some water, and
the pile of sugar was distributed among the rest of the assembled band,
who likewise ate their portions in silent reverence--all except myself;
for not having as yet strangled a man, I was not eligible to partake of
it with the rest. However, my father had reserved a portion of his own
for me, which he made me eat. After I had swallowed it, he said--
"You have eaten the goor, and are now a Thug in your heart; were you
to desire to forsake us you could not, such is the power it has, when
consecrated as you have seen it over the hearts of men. Were any one
to find a portion and eat it, whatever might be his rank or condition
in life, he would assuredly become a Thug; he could not avoid it, the
power it would exercise over him would be irresistible."
"This is wonderful indeed," said I; "have such things been known?"
"I could relate hundreds of instances, had I time," he replied; "but
ask Hoosein, or any one, they will all tell you the same."
In the evening, when all were assembled as usual, my father took me to
task about my faint-heartedness, as he termed it. "This will never do,
my son," said he; "you who ran in upon the tiger so nobly ought not to
shrink from such child's-play as this; you must be a man, and behave
better, and remember you have eaten the goor."
"For shame, brother!" said Hoosein; "do not speak so to the Sahib-zada;
remember you were no better yourself at first; do you not recollect the
business at ----, and what difficulty I had to persuade Gunesha that
you were in reality good stuff? Let the Sahib-zada but see one or two
more of these affairs, and he will be quite a different person, he will
become a tiger at the work. I do not fear, my son," said he, turning to
me and slapping me on the back; "worse men than you have begun better,
and ended in being chicken-hearted fellows, only fit to dig graves and
be scouts. Old Hoosein never yet was mistaken in any one, and you,
Inshalla! will surpass your father. Only let him," continued he, again
addressing my father, "let him see one or two more affairs, and then
try his hand himself; you will then see whether I am wrong or not."
"It is well," exclaimed my father; "believe me, my son, I meant not to
upbraid you, but I was fearful the feeling you displayed might grow
upon you; be kind as you will to those around you, affectionate to your
connections; pity the poor, give alms to the needy; but remember that
you are a Thug, and have sworn relentless destruction to all those whom
Alla may throw in your way."
"I am rebuked," said I, "and your words have sunk into my heart; never
more shall you have to say of me that I flinched from my duty. Whenever
you think fit I am ready to take the handkerchief." And to turn the
subject, I said, "I beg to represent, that Mahomed the Bhuttote
promised to tell me some history of the man who died last night, and I
call on him to fulfil his word."
"Well spoken!" cried a dozen of the men; "Mahomed is a sure hand at a
story--let us have it."
Mahomed, after stuffing a large quantity of pan-leaf and tobacco into
his mouth, crunched it several times between his teeth, and after a
copious discharge of red saliva, settled himself upon his heels, and,
addressing my father, spoke, as nearly as I can remember, as follows:--
"I was born at Boree, which is a small village in the Nagpoor
territory: my father was a Thug, as you all know, and my ancestors were
the same for generations before. Tales of their feats have been handed
down in our family from father to son, and they are worth relating,
but they have nothing to do with my story. They had been prosperous,
however, and had saved money enough to give a large sum at the court of
Nagpoor for the office and lands of the Patelship (chief magistracy) of
our village; nevertheless they pursued their profession of Thuggee. My
grandfather, Kasim, as many of you know, was as notorious a leader of
Thugs as any one has been since he died; and my father, who was then
young, succeeded to his property and situation. Long he held it, and
none arose to dispute his claim.
"But his prosperity was not fated to last. Well do I remember the day
when some soldiers, sent by order of the peshkar of the court, arrived
at the village with an order to bring him to 'the Presence.' My father
vainly endeavoured to learn from them the reason of this sudden call
for him, as he was regular in his payments to the government; and
finding reasoning would not avail, he strove to bribe the leader of
the party into conniving at his absence. But all would not do; he
was obliged to accompany them, and he took me with him at my earnest
entreaty. I was then a young man, probably about the age of the
Sahib-zada there. We reached Nagpoor after some long marches, and on
our arrival we were cast into a vile prison, our legs loaded with
irons, and we were denied the commonest comforts. We had no paun or
tobacco, no clean clothes, were not allowed to see any one, and were
given the coarsest and most wretched food to eat. In this manner we
passed four long months. My father in vain entreated to know what he
was accused of, or who was his accuser; and equally in vain were his
attempts to have his situation made known to his family and friends. We
wearied ourselves in our lonely prison with conjectures as to what the
cause of the misfortune could be, but without success. At last, one day
that wretch Brij Lall, who died last night by my hand, came into our
prison attended by soldiers. My father gave himself up for lost, and
thought his hour of death had arrived; but recovering, he appeared to
recognise Brij Lall, and instantly assailed him with imprecations and
abuse.
"When he had finished, Brij Lall, eyeing him with a grim look, said,--
"'Pateljee! perhaps you will now condescend to give the government some
account of the effects of Jeysookhdas, the merchant, who lived in your
village, and about whose affairs you well know I was sent some years
ago. You may also remember the reception and treatment you gave me, for
which, by the blessing of God, I will now see whether I cannot effect a
return.'
"'Thou art a liar, and a base-born rascal of a mootsuddee!' cried my
father, 'and not one word shalt thou ever know from my lips: send some
one more fit to confer with Kasim Patel, and he will tell what he
knows; but not one word to thee, thou dog and son of a dog.'
"'We will see,' said the vile wretch; and making a sign to the soldiers
with him, my poor father was seized; and a horse's nose-bag filled with
hot ashes being tied over his head, he was thumped violently on the
back till he was forced to inhale the hot dust, which nearly killed
him. This was repeated several times, on every refusal to tell to Brij
Lall what he desired to know. At last nature could bear no more, and he
fainted. The wretch then left the prison, particularly ordering that no
water should be given. But in this his vile intentions were frustrated;
for fortunately some had remained from our morning's supply, and after
sprinkling my father's face, and forcing a draught into his mouth, he
recovered sufficiently to sit up and drink some more, which revived
him."