256 ©t tLED P'HA'NSrG A'BS. 



the abdomen J asd divide the tendon at the heei. Wounds ^rc also 

 majde between the ribs, into the che ft; and fometimes, if the hole be 

 Ihort, the |£nees are disjointed and the legs turned back upon the body. 

 X^e hole is |:hen jBUed with earth. The body is thus cut and disfigured 

 to expedite its diiTolutioii, as well as to prevent its inflation; which, by 

 raifing or .caufing fip"ures in the :fupenncumbent iand, might attra<ft 

 jaekalsj and lead to the expofure of the corpfe. When the amount of 

 the property is iefs than they expefted to find, the villains fometimes 

 give vent to their difappointmeat in wanton indignities on the dead 

 bodyo 



If.s when a murder. is perpetrated, a convenient place for interring 

 |:he body be not^near^ or if the FhdnsigArs be apprehenfive of difcove- 

 ry, it is either tied in a fack and carried to fome fpot, where it is not 

 likely to be found, or it is put into a well ; or, which is frequently 

 pra<:tice4s a fhallow hole.is.dug, in which the corpfe is burned, till a fit 

 place for interring it can bevdifcovered ; -wteniit ^is removed and cut 

 in the manner already mentioned. If the tTavellef;. hada dog, it is alfo 

 ;^ille4i leil the faithful ani^nrim*! Chould caafe theidifeovery of the bo- 

 dy of his murdered maftero The office of maa»ling the, dead body is 

 ufu lUy affigned to a particular perfon of the gang. The Fhdnsigars 

 are always provided <wi^ . ki;jiives^ and pickaxes, which* .they canceai 

 frQm obfervation. :, „ -« .n.,^, ,,,„^_4j ^^...j^^, Y^inoiior- 



, .From the foregoing account it will.be obvious, that the fyftem pf the 

 P' hdmigdrs 'nhm too well adap'ed for .concealment. The precautions 

 they take, the artifices Xhey pradice, the mode of deflroying their vic- 

 tims, calculated, at once, to preclude almoft the poflibility of refcue or 

 efcape— of witneiTes of the deed — of noife or. cries for help — of efFufio 

 of blood— an4 in general, of all traces of murder:— thefe circumftan 

 cejs conXoire to^hrow a veil of darknefs over their atrocities. 



m 



