1836/] Customs and practices of the Thugs. .8$ • 



slaves of superstition, and as much directed by the observance of oraens^ 

 in the commission of murder, as the most inoffensive of the natives of 

 India are, in the ordinary affairs of their lives. 



The chief symbol of worship among the Thugs, is aKhodalee, or pick*- 

 axe of iron. It is known among them by the names of Nishan, Kussee 

 and Mahee. With every gang there is carried a Nishan, which is in fact 

 their standard, and the bearer of it is entitled to particular privileges. 

 Previous to commencing an expedition, the Jemadars of the party cele- 

 brate a Poojah to the Nishan^ which is typical of the deity of the wor- 

 ship. The ceremonies differ little from the usual rites of Hindoos on 

 similar occasions. A Hindoo Thug, of good caste, is employed in making 

 a quantity of the cakes called Poories, which, being consecrated, are 

 distributed among the assembly.. The Nishan is bathed, and perfum- 

 ed in the smoke of burning benjamin, and is afterwards made over to 

 the Nishan Wallah,, who recieves it in a piece of cloth kept for that 

 purpose. It is then taken out into the open fields, in the expectation 

 of an omen being observed. The Nishan is deposited in a convenient 

 spot, in the direction the party intends to proceed, and certain persons 

 are deputed to keep watch over it. There are particular birds and 

 beasts, that are looked upon by the Thugs as the revealers of omens, 

 to whose calls and movements their attention is, on this occasion,. parti- 

 cularly directed. Among the number are the owl, the jay, the jackalt, 

 the ass, &c. &c. If one of these calls out, or moves to the right hand 

 side, the omen is looked upon as favourable ; but if to the left, it is con- 

 sidered unfavourable, and the project is abandoned. It is not unusual 

 for the Thugs to look for a favourable omen, previous to the commis- 

 sion of a murder, and they are frequently deterred from carrying their 

 intentions immediately into effect, by the observance of an unfa- 

 vourable sign, such as a snake crossing their path when in pursuit of a 

 victim, or the circumstance of any of the animals, before mentioned; 

 calling out on the left hand side. This,, no doubt, accounts for the 

 Thugs so often keeping company with travellers, for many days pre- 

 vious to murdering them, although they had determined upon their 

 sacrifice, from the moment of their first joining the party. The omen 

 is denominated Sugoo, by the Thugs, a corruption no doubt of the 

 Persian Shugoor* 



In the event of an expedition proving more than ordinarily success- 

 ful, a Poojah is usually made to Bhowanee, and a portion of the spoil, 

 taken by the gang, is set aside, for the purpose of being sent to the 

 the Pagoda before alluded to, as an offering to the goddess. Propi- 

 tiatory offerings are also made, and various ceremonies performed, be- 

 fore the Khodalee or Nishan, should the Thugs have failed in obtaining 

 any plunder for a length of time. 



In every gang of Thugs there are to be found one or more Jemadars 

 who appear to hold that rank, not by the choice of their followers, but, 



