-O^: THE MURDERERS . 253 



gangs, (f) Emerging froin their haunts, they fometimes perform long 

 journeys, being abfent from home ra any months, and prowl along the 

 eallern and weflern coafls to'^Hydcrahcid and CapeComwin* In gcneralg 

 however, they do not roam to fuch a diflance ; hut make one or,, .^w© 

 excurfions every year. Their vidims arc alrooft exclufively travellers 

 whom they fall in with Qn the road. Each .gang has its Jirdar ot leader^ 

 who direds its movements. Of a numerous gang, fome ufually remain 

 at home, while the reft are engaged in the work of pillage aad murder, 

 Thofe that are abroad are often divided intofcparate parties of tee or 

 fifteen perlons ; who either follow each other at fome diftance, or, the 

 parties taking dififerent routes, they rendezvous at an appointed place 

 in advance; meafu res being at the fame time taken to fecure a fpeedy 

 junftion of the gang, fhould this be requifite for the purpofe of at- 

 tacking feveral travellers at once. Different gangs fometimes adl in 

 concert, occajQonally apprifing one another of the approach of travel' 

 lers whofe deftru6iion promifesa rich booty* 



P'HANsi'GARshave the appearance oF ordinary inofFenfive travellers, 

 and feldom affume any particular difguife. They indeed not unfre- 

 .quendy pretend to be traders i and there is reafon to believe, that they 

 fometimes come from the dekhin clothed in the garb of bairagis, 

 •Formerly, when Fhdnslgdry was pradlifed to a greater extent, and in a 

 more daring manner than atprefent, the leader, efpecially if enriched 

 by former fpoliations, often travelled on horfeback, with a tent, and 

 paftl-d for a perfon of cpnfequence or a wealthy merchant : otherwife, 

 he appeared at firft in a more bumble charade r, -and afTumed in the 

 courfe of his rapacious progrefs one of more importance, as he became 

 poffeffed of horfesand bullocks j which, while they afforded him car- 

 riage for the plundered property fubferved the purpofe of giving coun- 

 tenance and fupport to his feigned charafter. 



(f) Hrdiii)ii>, it \a probable, <l • n 't affift in ihc a^ual perpclratlonot inufder» but arc emplojcd (0 j^ro 

 cute iRtcliigencc, hi obraining which ibcii .peculiar priwilcgej afford xhzxa grcit ficiliiics. 



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