AThug，ofpolishedmannersandgreateloquence，beingaskedbyanativegentleman，inthepresenceofCaptainSleeman，whetherheneverfeltcompunctioninmurderinginnocentpeople，repliedwithasmilethathedidnot。“Doesanyman，“saidhe，“feelcompunctioninfollowinghistrade？andarenotallourtradesassignedusbyProvidence？“Hewasthenaskedhowmanypeoplehehadkilledwithhisownhandsinthecourseofhislife？“Ihavekillednone，“wasthereply。“What！andhaveyounotbeendescribinganumberofmurdersinwhichyouwereconcerned？““True；butdoyousupposethatIcommittedthem？Isanymankilledbyman’skilling？IsitnotthehandofGodthatkills，andarewenotthemereinstrumentsinthehandsofGod？“
　　Uponanotheroccasion，Sahib，anapprover，beingaskedifhehadneverfeltanypityorcompunctionatmurderingoldmenoryoungchildren，orpersonswithwhomhehadsatandconversed，andwhohadtoldhim，perchance，oftheirprivateaffairs——theirhopesandtheirfears，theirwivesandtheirlittleones？repliedunhesi-tatinglythatheneverdid。Fromthetimethattheomenswerefavourable，theThugsconsideredallthetravellerstheymetasvictimsthrownintotheirhandsbytheirdivinitytobekilled。TheThugswerethemereinstrumentsinthehandsofBhawaneetodestroythem。“Ifwedidnotkillthem，“saidSahib，“thegoddesswouldneveragainbepropitioustous，andweandourfamilieswouldbeinvolvedinmiseryandwant。
　　Ifweseeorhearabadomen，itistheorderofthegoddessnottokillthetravellersweareinpursuitof，andwedarenotdisobey。“
　　Assoonasanexpeditionhasbeenplanned，thegoddessisconsulted。Onthedaychosenforstarting，whichisneverduringtheunluckymonthsofJuly，September，andDecember，noronaWednesdayorThursday；thechiefThugofthepartyfillsabrassjugwithwater，whichhecarriesinhisrighthandbyhisside。Withhisleft，heholdsuponhisbreastthesacredpickaxe，wrappedcarefullyinawhitecloth，alongwithfiveknotsofturmeric，twocopper，andonesilvercoin。Hethenmovesslowlyon，followedbythewholeofthegang，tosomefieldorretiredplace，wherehalting，withhiscountenanceturnedinthedirectiontheywishtopursue，heliftsuphiseyestoheaven，saying，“Greatgoddess！universalmother！ifthis，ourmeditatedexpedition，befittinginthysight，vouchsafetohelpus，andgiveusthesignsofthyapprobation。“AlltheThugspresentsolemnlyrepeattheprayeraftertheirleader，andwaitinsilencefortheomen。IfwithinhalfanhourtheyseePilhaoo，orgoodomenontheleft，itsignifiesthatthegoddesshastakenthembythelefthandtoleadthemon；iftheyseetheThibaoo，oromenontheright，itsignifiesthatshehastakenthembytherighthandalso。Theleaderthenplacesthebrazenpitcheronthegroundandsitsdownbesideit，withhisfaceturnedinthesamedirectionforsevenhours，duringwhichtimehisfollowersmakeallthenecessarypreparationsforthejourney。If，duringthisinterval，nounfavourablesignsareobserved，theexpeditionadvancesslowly，untilitarrivesatthebankoftheneareststream，whentheyallsitdownandeatofthegoor，orconsecratedsugar。Anyevilomensthatareperceivedafterthisceremonymaybeavertedbysacrifices；butanyevilomensbefore，wouldatonceputanendtotheexpedition。
　　Amongtheevilomensarethefollowing:——IfthebrazenpitcherdropsfromthehandoftheJemadarorleader，itthreatensgreatevileithertohimortothegang——sometimestoboth。Iftheymeetafuneralprocession，ablindman，alameman，anoil-vender，acarpenter，apotter，oradancing-master，theexpeditionwillbedangerous。Inlikemanneritisunluckytosneeze，tomeetawomanwithanemptypail，acoupleofjackals，orahare。Thecrossingoftheirpathbythelatterisconsideredpeculiarlyinauspicious。Itscryatnightontheleftissometimesagoodomen，butiftheyhearitontherightitisverybad；awarningsenttothemfromBhawaneethatthereisdangeriftheykill。Shouldtheydisregardthiswarning，andledonbythehopeofgain，strangleanytraveller，theywouldeitherfindnobootyonhim，orsuchbootyaswouldeventuallyleadtotheruinanddispersionofthegang。Bhawaneewouldbewrothwithherchildren；andcausingthemtoperishinthejungle，wouldsendtheharestodrinkwateroutoftheirskulls。
　　Thegoodomensarequiteasnumerousastheevil。Itpromisesafortunateexpedition，if，onthefirstday，theypassthroughavillagewherethereisafair。Itisalsodeemedfortunate，iftheyhearwailingforthedeadinanyvillagebuttheirown。Tomeetawomanwithapitcherfullofwateruponherhead，bodesaprosperousjourneyandasafereturn。Theomenisstillmorefavourableifshebeinastateofpregnancy。ItissaidoftheThugsoftheJumaldeheeandLodahatribes，thattheyalwaysmaketheyoungestThugofthepartykickthebodyofthefirstpersontheystrangle，fivetimesontheback，thinkingthatitwillbringthemgoodluck。Thispractice，however，isnotgeneral。Iftheyhearanassbrayontheleftatthecommencementofanexpedition，andananothersoonafterwardsontheright，theybelievethattheyshallbesupereminentlysuccessful，thattheyshallstrangleamultitudeoftravellers，andfindgreatbooty。
　　Aftereverymurderasolemnsacrifice，calledtheTuponee，isperformedbyallthegang。Thegoor，orconsecratedsugar，isplaceduponalargeclothorblanket，whichisspreaduponthegrass。Besideitisdepositedthesacredpickaxe，andapieceofsilverforanoffering。TheJemadar，orchiefoftheparty，togetherwithalltheoldestandmostprudentThugs，taketheirplacesuponthecloth，andturntheirfacestothewest。ThoseinferiorThugswhocannotfindroomupontheprivilegedcloth，sitroundasclosetoitaspossible。
　　Apitisthendug，intowhichtheJemadarpoursasmallquantityofthegoor，prayingatthesametimethatthegoddesswillalwaysrewardherfollowerswithabundantspoils。AlltheThugsrepeattheprayerafterhim。Hethensprinkleswateruponthepickaxe，andputsalittleofthegoorupontheheadofeveryonewhohasobtainedaseatbesidehimonthecloth。Ashortpauseensues，whenthesignalforstranglingisgiven，asifamurderwereactuallyabouttobecommitted，andeachThugeatshisgoorinsolemnsilence。Sopowerfulistheimpressionmadeupontheirimaginationbythisceremony，thatitalmostdrivesthemfranticwithenthusiasm。CaptainSleemanrelates，thatwhenhereproachedaThugforhisshareinamurderofgreatatrocity，andaskedhimwhetherheneverfeltpity；themanreplied，“Weallfeelpitysometimes；butthegooroftheTuponeechangesournature；itwouldchangethenatureofahorse。Letanymanoncetasteofthatgoor，andhewillbeaThug，thoughheknowallthetradesandhaveallthewealthintheworld。Ineverwasinwantoffood；mymother’sfamilywasopulent，andherrelationshighinoffice。Ihavebeenhighinofficemyself，andbecamesogreatafavouritewhereverIwentthatIwassureofpromotion；yetIwasalwaysmiserablewhenabsentfrommygang，andobligedtoreturntoThuggee。Myfathermademetasteofthatfatalgoor，whenIwasyetamereboy；andifIweretoliveathousandyearsIshouldneverbe。abletofollowanyothertrade。“
　　Thepossessionofwealth，stationinsociety，andtheesteemofhisfellows，couldnotkeepthismanfrommurder。Fromhisextraordinaryconfessionwemayjudgeoftheextremedifficultyofexterminatingasectwhoareimpelledtotheirhorridpractises，notonlybythemotivesofself-interestwhichgovernmankindingeneral，butbyafanaticismwhichfillsupthemeasureoftheirwholeexistence。Evenseverityseemsthrownawayuponthefollowersofthisbrutalizingcreed。Tothem，punishmentisnoexample；theyhavenosympathyforabrotherThugwhoishungathisowndoorbytheBritishGovernment，norhavetheyanydreadofhisfate。Theirinvariableideais，thattheirgoddessonlysuffersthoseThugstofallintothehandsofthelaw，whohavecontravenedthepeculiarobservancesofThuggee，andwhohaveneglectedtheomensshesentthemfortheirguidance。
　　Totheirneglectofthewarningsofthegoddesstheyattributeallthereverseswhichhaveoflateyearsbefallentheirsect。Itisexpresslyforbidden，inthecreedoftheoldThugs，tomurderwomenorcripples。ThemodernThugshavebecomeunscrupulousuponthispoint，murderingwomen，andevenchildren，withunrelentingbarbarity。
　　CaptainSleemanreportsseveralconversationsuponthissubject，whichheheldatdifferenttimeswithThugs，whohadbeentakenprisoners，orwhohadturnedapprovers。Oneofthem，namedZolfukar，said，inreplytotheCaptain，whoaccusedhimofmurderingwomen，“Yes，andwasnotthegreaterpartofFeringeea’sandmygangseized，afterwehadmurderedthetwowomenandthelittlegirl，atManora，in1830？
　　andwerewenotourselvesbothseizedsoonafter？Howcouldwesurvivethingslikethat？Ourancestorsneverdidsuchthings。“Lalmun，anotherThug，inreplytoasimilarquestion，said，“Mostofourmisfortuneshavecomeuponusforthemurderofwomen。Weallknewthattheywouldcomeuponussomeday，forthisandothergreatsins。
　　Wewereoftenadmonished，butwedidnottakewarning；andwedeserveourfates。“Inspeakingofthesupposedprotectionwhichtheirgoddesshadextendedtotheminformertimes，Zolfukarsaid:——“Ah！wehadsomeregardforreligionthen！Wehavelostitsince。AllkindsofmenhavebeenmadeThugs，andallclassesofpeoplemurdered，withoutdistinction；andlittleattentionhasbeenpaidtoomens。How，afterthis，couldwethinktoescape？****Daveeneverforsookustillweneglectedher！“
　　Itmightbeimaginedthatmenwhospokeinthismanneroftheangerofthegoddess，andwho，evenincustody，showedsomuchvenerationfortheirunhappycalling，wouldhesitatebeforetheyturnedinformers，andlaidbarethesecretsandexposedthehauntsoftheirfellows:——amongthemorecivilizedruffiansofEurope，weoftenfindtheonechivalroustraitofcharacter，whichmakesthemscornarewardthatmustbeearnedbythebloodoftheiraccomplices:
　　butinIndiathereisnohonouramongthieves。Whentheapproversareasked，ifthey，whostillbelieveinthepoweroftheterriblegoddessDavee，arenotafraidtoincurherdispleasurebyinformingoftheirfellows，theyreply，thatDaveehasdoneherworstinabandoningthem。
　　Shecaninflictnosevererpunishment，andthereforegivesherselfnofurtherconcernaboutherdegeneratechildren。Thiscowardlydoctrineis，however，ofadvantagetotheGovernmentthatseekstoputanendtothesect，andhasthrownalightupontheirpractices，whichcouldneverhavebeenobtainedfromothersources。
　　AnotherbranchoftheThugabominationhasmorerecentlybeendiscoveredbytheindefatigableCaptainSleeman。ThefollowersofthissectarecalledMEGPUNNAS，andtheymurdertravellers，nottorobthemoftheirwealth，butoftheirchildren，whomtheyafterwardssellintoslavery。TheyentertainthesamereligiousopinionsastheThugs，andhavecarriedontheirhideouspractices，andentertainedtheirdismalsuperstition，foraboutadozenyearswithimpunity。ThereportofCaptainSleemanstates，thatthecrimeprevailsalmostexclusivelyinDelhiandthenativeprincipalities，orRajpootanaofUlwarandBhurtpore；andthatitfirstspreadextensivelyafterthesiegeofBhurtporein1826。
　　TheoriginalThugsneverorrarelytravelwiththeirwives；buttheMegpunnasinvariablytaketheirfamilieswiththem，thewomenandchildrenbeingusedtoinveiglethevictims。PoortravellersarealwayschosenbytheMegpunnasastheobjectsoftheirmurderoustraffic。Thefemalesandchildrenaresentoninadvancetomakeacquaintancewithemigrantsorbeggarsontheroad，travellingwiththeirfamilies，whomtheyenticetopassthenightinsomesecludedplace，wheretheyareafterwardssetuponbythemen，andstrangled。
　　Thewomentakecareofthechildren。SuchofthemasarebeautifularesoldatahighpricetothebrothelsofDelhi，orotherlargecities；