Historical 39 



and in the course of the inquiry another dacoit was brought 

 home to this gang, both cases resulting in conviction. 



" 2. Autumn of 191,1, a dacoity was committed at mid- 

 night in Saharanpur District. A bullock cart in which 

 was some police was attacked by dacoits. The dacoits 

 were Sanasias (an aboriginal tribe of criminal propensities). 

 One dacoit was wounded, and the night being dark, the 

 others succeeded in getting away. My dog was put on 

 the trail, ten hours subsequent to the crime. Some indis- 

 tinct footprints were found on the scene and leading to 

 some fields to the south of the road. One of the dacoits 

 was recognized at the time of the occurrence as being by 

 name Mara (Sansia). He, however, managed to escape. 

 The bloodhound was put on the trail of their footprints, 

 which, however, ceased after twenty yards. The hound 

 ran the trail across country until he came to a canal, which 

 he skirted until he came to a bridge over which he crossed. 

 Then he continued the trail along the bank of a feeder 

 canal ; then leaving this, he struck across four rice-fields, 

 which had been irrigated from the canal. 



" The water was about four inches deep and growing 

 rice about five inches above the water. (This was a par- 

 ticularly good piece of work.) 



" On arriving on the other side of the rice-field, he 

 journeyed across country until he came to a village, through 

 which he passed, and ended up at a house in a Sansia 

 settlement to the far side of the village. Not a single 

 Sansia man was present in the settlement, only women 

 and children. On making inquiry, I ascertained that the 

 house in question was that of Mara. Mara was arrested 

 the following night. 



" An amusing episode occurred when Mara and the 

 other dacoits were on trial before the judge. Mara denied 



