THUGS. 53 



suspicion of Sheriff, who was not long in acting upon these 

 surmises. He was quietly seized one morning and hand- 

 cuffed, whilst reckoning up rupees on a counter in his 

 dwelling. A strict search was made, and upon digging 

 beneath the mud flooring of the hut, a hole was discovered 

 full of every description of property, including ornaments, 

 money, jewels, &c. He admitted at once the fact of his 

 being the chief, as well as receiver and banker, of a band of 

 Phansigars, and offered to point out to the police every one 

 of them, men, women, and children, on condition of his own 

 life being spared. This offer was accepted, and the old 

 assassin, thoroughly disguised, was accompanied by a strong 

 body of police to the different towns arid villages and re- 

 ligious festivals for about fifty miles round the canton- 

 ment of Jaulnah, until he had betrayed about two hundred 

 of his associates into their hands. Once captured, and when 

 they were aware by what means, there was no difficulty in 

 bringing their crimes home to them. Orientals are all 

 fatalists, a"nd when they consider their time is come, or even 

 great danger impends, they do not trouble themselves by 

 trying to avert it, but give themselves up to their fate with 

 the greatest coolness and resignation. A trial took place 

 for form's sake, when the male portion of the band were all 

 condemned to be hung, and the women and children to im- 

 prisonment for life. 



The executions, to the number of about one hundred, were 

 ordered to take place at different towns and stations of the 

 Deccan, so as to strike terror, if possible, into any actual or 

 embryo Thugs that might still be in the vicinity. Ten were 

 to be hung at Jaulnah, and the night previous to their execu- 

 tion I accompanied Sheriff into the cell where these wretches 

 were chained. The conversation was carried on in the Mar- 

 hatta language, of which I was ignorant, but Sheriff informed 

 me ; that upon his questioning them whether they did not feel 



