ThatsuchatrocitiesastheseshouldhavebeencarriedonfornearlytwocenturieswithoutexcitingtheattentionoftheBritishGovernment，seemsincredible。ButourwonderwillbediminishedwhenwereflectupontheextremecautionoftheThugs，andtheordinarydangersoftravellinginIndia。TheThugsnevermurderamannearhisownhome，andtheyneverdisposeoftheirbootynearthesceneofthemurder。Theyalsopay，incommonwithotherandlessatrociousrobbers，aportionoftheirgainstothePolygars，ornativeauthoritiesofthedistrictsinwhichtheyreside，tosecureprotection。Thefriendsandrelativesofthevictims，perhapsathousandmilesoff，neversurmisetheirfatetillaperiodhaselapsedwhenallinquirywouldbefruitless，or，atleast，extremelydifficult。Theyhavenocluetotheassassins，andveryoftenimputetothewildbeastsofthejunglestheslaughtercommittedbythatwilderbeast，man。
　　ThereareseveralgradationsthroughwhicheverymemberofthefraternitymustregularlypassbeforehearrivesatthehighofficeofaBhurtote，orstrangler。Heisfirstemployedasascout——thenasasexton——thenasaShumseea，orholderofhands，andlastlyasaBhurtote。WhenamanwhoisnotofThuglineage，orwhohasnotbeenbroughtupfromhisinfancyamongthem，wishestobecomeastrangler，hesolicitstheoldest，andmostpiousandexperiencedThug，totakehimunderhisprotectionandmakehimhisdisciple；andunderhisguidanceheisregularlyinitiated。Whenhehasacquiredsufficientexperienceinthelowerranksoftheprofession，heappliestohisGooroo，orpreceptor，togivethefinishinggracetohiseducation，andmakeastranglerofhim。Anopportunityisfoundwhenasolitarytravelleristobemurdered；andthetyro，withhispreceptor，havingseenthattheproposedvictimisasleep，andinsafekeepingtilltheirreturn，proceedtoaneighbouringfieldandperformseveralreligiousceremonies，accompaniedbythreeorfouroftheoldestandsteadiestmembersofthegang。TheGooroofirstoffersupaprayertothegoddess，saying，“Oh，Kalee！Kun-kalee！Bhud-kalee！Oh，Kalee！
　　Maha-kalee！CalkuttaWalee！ifitseemsfittotheethatthetravellernowatourlodgingshoulddiebythehandsofthisthyslave，vouchsafeusthygoodomen。“Theythensitdownandwatchforthegoodomen；andiftheyreceiveitwithinhalfanhour，concludethattheirgoddessisfavourabletotheclaimsofthenewcandidateforadmission。Iftheyhaveabadomen，ornoomenatall，someotherThugmustputthetravellertodeath，andtheaspirantmustwaitamorefavourableopportunity，purifyinghimselfinthemeantimebyprayerandhumiliationforthefavourofthegoddess。Ifthegoodomenhasbeenobtained，theyreturntotheirquarters；andtheGoorootakesahandkerchiefand，turninghisfacetothewest，tiesaknotatoneendofit，insertingarupee，orotherpieceofsilver。Thisknotiscalledthegoorkhat，orholyknot，andnomanwhohasnotbeenproperlyordainedisallowedtotieit。TheaspirantreceivesitreverentlyinhisrighthandfromhisGooroo，andstandsoverthesleepingvictim，withaShumseea，orholderofhands，athisside。Thetravellerisaroused，thehandkerchiefispassedaroundhisneck，and，atasignalfromtheGooroo，isdrawntighttillthevictimisstrangled；theShumseeaholdinghishandstopreventhismakinganyresistance。Theworkbeingnowcompleted，theBhurtotenolongeranaspirant，butanadmittedmemberbowsdownreverentlyinthedustbeforehisGooroo，andtoucheshisfeetwithbothhishands，andafterwardsperformsthesamerespecttohisrelativesandfriendswhohaveassembledtowitnessthesolemnceremony。Hethenwaitsforanotherfavourableomen，whenheuntiestheknotandtakesouttherupee，whichhegivestohisGooroo，withanyothersilverwhichhemayhaveabouthim。TheGoorooaddssomeofhisownmoney，withwhichhepurchaseswhattheycallgoor，orconsecratedsugar，whenasolemnsacrificeisperformed，towhichallthegangareinvited。TherelationshipbetweentheGoorooandhisdiscipleisaccountedthemostholythatcanbeformed，andsubsiststothelatestperiodoflife。A
　　Thugmaybetrayhisfather，butneverhisGooroo。
　　Darkandforbiddingasisthepicturealreadydrawn，itwillbecomestilldarkerandmorerepulsive，whenweconsiderthemotiveswhichpromptthesementosystematicmurder。Horribleastheirpracticeswouldbe，ifloveofplunderaloneincitedthem，itisinfinitelymorehorribletoreflectthattheideaofdutyandreligionisjoinedtothehopeofgain，inmakingthemthescourgesoftheirfellows。Ifplunderweretheirsoleobject，therewouldbereasontohope，thatwhenamemberofthebrotherhoodgrewrich，hewouldrestfromhisinfernaltoils；butthedismalsuperstitionwhichhecherishestellshimnevertodesist。Hewassentintotheworldtobeaslayerofmen，andhereligiouslyworksouthisdestiny。Asreligiouslyheeducateshischildrentopursuethesamecareer，instillingintotheirminds，attheearliestage，thatThuggeeisthenoblestprofessionamancanfollow，andthatthedarkgoddesstheyworshipwillalwaysproviderichtravellersforherzealousdevotees。
　　ThefollowingisthewildandstartlinglegenduponwhichtheThugsfoundthedivineoriginoftheirsect。Theybelievethat，intheearliestagesoftheworld，agiganticdemoninfestedtheearth，anddevouredmankindassoonastheywerecreated。Hewasofsotallastature，thatwhenhestrodethroughthemostunfathomabledepthsofthegreatsea，thewaves，evenintempest，couldnotreachabovehismiddle。Hisinsatiableappetiteforhumanfleshalmostunpeopledtheworld，untilBhawanee，Kalee，orDavee，thegoddessoftheThugs，determinedtosavemankindbythedestructionofthemonster。Nervingherselffortheencounter，shearmedherselfwithanimmensesword；
　　and，meetingwiththedemon，sheranhimthroughthebody。Hisbloodflowedintorrentsashefelldeadatherfeet；butfromeverydroptheresprangupanothermonster，asrapaciousandasterribleasthefirst。Againthegoddessupraisedhermassivesword，andheweddownthehellishbroodbyhundreds；butthemoresheslew，themorenumeroustheybecame。Everydropoftheirbloodgeneratedademon；
　　and，althoughthegoddessendeavouredtolapupthebloodereitsprangintolife，theyincreaseduponhersorapidly，thatthelabourofkillingbecametoogreatforendurance。Theperspirationrolleddownherarmsinlargedrops，andshewascompelledtothinkofsomeothermodeofexterminatingthem。Inthisemergency，shecreatedtwomenoutoftheperspirationofherbody，towhomsheconfidedtheholytaskofdeliveringtheearthfromthemonsters。Toeachofthemenshegaveahandkerchief，andshowedthemhowtokillwithoutsheddingblood。Fromhertheylearnedtotiethefatalnoose；andtheybecame，underhertuition，suchexpertstranglers，that，inaveryshortspaceoftime，theraceofdemonsbecameextinct。
　　Whentherewerenomoretoslay，thetwomensoughtthegreatgoddess，inordertoreturnthehandkerchiefs。ThegratefulBhawaneedesiredthattheywouldretainthem，asmemorialsoftheirheroicdeeds；andinorderthattheymightneverlosethedexteritythattheyhadacquiredinusingthem，shecommandedthat，fromthenceforward，theyshouldstranglemen。ThesewerethetwofirstThugs，andfromthemthewholeracehavedescended。TotheearlyThugsthegoddesswasmoredirectinherfavours，thanshehasbeentotheirsuccessors。Atfirst，sheundertooktoburythebodiesofallthementheyslewandplundered，upontheconditionthattheyshouldneverlookbacktoseewhatshewasdoing。Thecommandwasreligiouslyobservedformanyages，andtheThugsreliedwithimplicitfaithuponthepromiseofBhawanee；butasmenbecamemorecorrupt，theungovernablecuriosityofayoungThugoffendedthegoddess，andledtothewithdrawalofaportionofherfavour。Thisyouth，burningwithadesiretoseehowshemadehergraves，lookedback，andbeheldherintheact，notofburying，butofdevouring，thebodyofamanjuststrangled。Halfofthestillpalpitatingremainswasdanglingoverherlips。ShewassohighlydispleasedthatshecondemnedtheThugs，fromthattimeforward，toburytheirvictimsthemselves。Anotheraccountstatesthatthegoddesswasmerelytossingthebodyintheair；andthat，beingnaked，herangerwasaggravatedbythegazeofmortaleyesuponhercharms。Beforetakingafinalleaveofherdevotees，shepresentedthemwithoneofherteethforapickaxe，oneofherribsforaknife，andthehemofhergarmentforanoose。Shehasnotsinceappearedtohumaneyes。
　　Theoriginaltoothhavingbeenlostinthelapseofages，newpickaxeshavebeenconstructed，withgreatcareandmanyceremonies，byeachconsiderablegangofThugs，tobeusedinmakingthegravesofstrangledtravellers。Thepickaxeislookeduponwiththeutmostvenerationbythetribe。Ashortaccountoftheprocessofmakingit，andtheritesperformed，maybeinteresting，asshowingstillfurthertheirgloomysuperstition。Inthefirstplace，itisnecessarytofixuponaluckyday。ThechiefThugtheninstructsasmithtoforgetheholyinstrument:noothereyeispermittedtoseetheoperation。Thesmithmustengageinnootheroccupationuntilitiscompleted，andthechiefThugneverquitshissideduringtheprocess。Whentheinstrumentisformed，itbecomesnecessarytoconsecrateittotheespecialserviceofBhawnee。Anotherluckydayischosenforthisceremony，carebeinghadinthemeantimethattheshadowofnoearthlythingfalluponthepickaxe，asitsefficacywouldbeforeverdestroyed。AlearnedThugthensitsdown；andturninghisfacetothewest，receivesthepickaxeinabrassdish。Aftermutteringsomeincantation，hethrowsitintoapitalreadypreparedforit，whereitiswashedinclearwater。Itisthentakenout，andwashedagainthreetimes；thefirsttimeinsugarandwater，thesecondinsourmilk，andthethirdinspirits。Itisthendried，andmarkedfromtheheadtothepointwithsevenredspots。Thisisthefirstpartoftheceremony:thesecondconsistsinitspurificationbyfire。Thepickaxeisagainplaceduponthebrassdish，alongwithacocoa-nut，somesugar，cloves，whitesandal-wood，andotherarticles。Afireofthemangotree，mixedwithdriedcow-dung，isthenkindled；andtheofficiatingThug，takingthepickaxewithbothhands，passesitseventimesthroughtheflames。
　　Itnowremainstobeascertainedwhetherthegoddessisfavourabletoherfollowers。Forthispurpose，thecocoa-nutistakenfromthedishandplacedupontheground。TheofficiatingThug，turningtothespectators，andholdingtheaxeuplifted，asks，“ShallIstrike？“
　　Assentbeinggiven，hestrikesthenutwiththebut-endoftheaxe，exclaiming，“Allhail！mightyDavee！greatmotherofusall！“Thespectatorsrespond，“Allhail！mightyDavee！andprosperthychildren，theThugs！“
　　Ifthenutisseveredatthefirstblow，thegoddessisfavourable；ifnot，sheisunpropitious:alltheirlabouristhrownaway，andtheceremonymustberepeateduponsomemorefittingoccasion。Butifthesignbefavourable，theaxeistiedcarefullyinawhiteclothandturnedtowardsthewest，allthespectatorsprostratingthemselvesbeforeit。Itisthenburiedintheearth，withitspointturnedinthedirectionthegangwishestotakeontheirapproachingexpedition。Ifthegoddessdesirestowarnthemthattheywillbeunsuccessful，orthattheyhavenotchosentherighttrack，theThugsbelievethatthepointoftheaxewillveerround，andpointtothebetterway。Duringanexpedition，itisentrustedtothemostprudentandexemplaryThugoftheparty:itishiscaretoholditfast。Ifbyanychanceheshouldletitfall，consternationspreadsthroughthegang:thegoddessisthoughttobeoffended；theenterpriseisatonceabandoned；andtheThugsreturnhomeinhumiliationandsorrow，tosacrificetotheirgloomydeity，andwinbackherestrangedfavour。Sogreatisthereverenceinwhichtheyholdthesacredaxe，thataThugwillneverbreakanoaththathehastakenuponit。Hefearsthat，shouldheperjurehimself，hisneckwouldbesotwistedbytheoffendedBhawaneeastomakehisfaceturntohisback；andthat，inthecourseofafewdays，hewouldexpireinthemostexcruciatingagonies。
　　TheThugsarediligentobserversofsignsandomens。Noexpeditioniseverundertakenbeforetheauspicesaresolemnlytaken。UponthissubjectCaptainSleemansays，“Eventhemostsensibleapprovers，whohavebeenwithmeformanyyears，aswellHindoosasMussulmans，believethattheirgoodorillsuccessdependedupontheskillwithwhichtheomenswerediscoveredandinterpreted，andthestrictnesswithwhichtheywereobservedandobeyed。OneoftheoldSindousestocktoldme，inpresenceoftwelveothers，fromHydrabad，Behar，theDooah，Oude，Rajpootana，andBundelcund，that，hadtheynotattendedtotheseomens，theynevercouldhavethrivedastheydid。Inordinarycasesofmurder，othermenseldomescapedpunishment，whiletheyandtheirfamilieshad，fortengenerations，thrived，althoughtheyhadmurderedhundredsofpeople。’This，’saidtheThug，’couldneverhavebeenthecasehadwenotattendedtoomens，andhadnotomensbeenintendedforus。Therewerealwayssignsaroundustoguideustorichbooty，andwarnusofdanger，hadwebeenalwayswiseenoughtodiscernthemandreligiousenoughtoattendtothem。’EveryThugpresentconcurredwithhimfromhissoul。“