OF THE MURDERERS 251 



of Skangapatari'^iti'i 799 ; when, about a hundred were apprehended 

 in the vicinity of Bangalore. They did not engage general attention » 

 nor would it appear that they w^re fufpecled to belong to a diflind 

 clafs of hereditary murderers and plunderers, fettled in various parts of 

 Indiat and alike remarkable for the fingularity of their praflicCj and the 

 extent of their depredations. In the year 1807, between C hi Uoor and 

 Arcott kvcvdH P7idnfigdrs were apprehended, belonging to a gang 

 which hadjufl returned, laden with booty from an expedition to Tra« 

 vaiuore: and information was theJi obtained, which ultimately led to 

 th-e develapcment of the habits, artifices, and combinations of thefc 

 atrocious delinquents^ 



The P*hdnfigars that infefted the fouth o^ India a few years agOi,. 

 were fettled in My/ore, on the borders of that kingdom and the Carna* 

 tie, in the BalaghcLt diftrids, ceded to the Com.pa ny by ^ the Nizam in 

 1 800; and they were particularly num-erouis in the /;o//M;wi of ChiitGOi\. 

 The fequedered part of the countrVj, which comprehended ihefe po-^ 

 Mums, maintaining little iotercourfe with the neighbouring diftrids,. 

 abounding in hills and fafltielTe?, and being immediately fubjecl to fe- 

 veral polygars, afforded the P'/idnfigdrs^ a convenient and fecure re- 

 treat ; and the protedioa of the pofygars, was. extended to them, in* 

 common with other clafles of robbers, m contideration of a fettled con- 

 tribution : or^ whicli was more frequent, of Ihirinsv in the fruits of 

 their rapacity* 



It is impofTible that fuch crimimk as Fhdnft'gdrs, living by fyde* 

 matic plans of depredation, could long remain in the fame place in 

 Metyv unlefs their, practices were encouraged' orcOnnived' at by per- 

 fons in authority. M^ence, after the ellabhfbment ^of the Company'^. 

 Gavernment over the C^rrz^^/r, and thfe diflrias. ceded b^ 'the Nizam, 

 and tkc confequcnt extindion of the power and iuflUencb of the po*- 



