90 



Customs and practices of the Thugs. 



[July 



in consequence of their wealth and influence in their respective villages, 

 and having assembled their immediate followers in the vicinity of their 

 homes. The profits of a Jemadar are, of course, greater than those of 

 his followers. He recieyes 61 or 7 per cent on all silver coin, and 

 other property not hereafter specified, and then shares in the remainder 

 in common with the other Thugs of the party. "When gold is obtained 

 in coin, or in mass, the tenth part is taken by the Jemadar, pre- 

 vious to dividing it, and he has a tythe of all pearls, shawls, gold em- 

 broidered cloth, brass and copper pots, horses, &c. The Jemadar acts 

 as master of the ceremonies when the Poojali is performed, and he 

 assigns to every Thug the particular duty he is to undertake, in the 

 commission of every murder that is determined on. 



These duties are performed, in succession, by all the Thugs of the 

 party, and to the regularity and system that exists among them, is to 

 be attributed the unparalleled success that has attended their pro- 

 ceedings. 



Next to the Jemadar, the most important person is the Buttod*\ or 

 strangler, who carries the handkerchief with which the Thugs usually 

 murder their victims. This implement is merely a piece of fine strong 

 cotton cloth, about a yard long. At one end a knot is made, and the 

 cloth is slightly twisted, and kept ready for use in front of the waist- 

 band of the person carrying it. There is no doubt but that all Thugs 

 are expert in the use of the handkerchief, which is called Roomall or 

 Paloo, but, if they are to be believed, only particular persons are called 

 upon or permitted to perform this office, when a large gang is collect- 

 ed. The most able bodied and alert of their number are fixed upon as 

 Buttoats, and they are made the bearers of the handkerchiefs, only 

 after the performance of various, and often expensive, ceremonies, and 

 only on the observance of a favourable omen. The old and experi- 

 enced Thugs are denominated Gooroo Bhow, and the junior Thugs 

 make a merit of attending upon them, filling their hookahs, shampoo- 

 ing their bodies, and performing the most menial offices. They gra- 

 dually become initiated into all the mysteries of the art, and, if they 

 prove to be powerful men, these disciples of the Gooroo are made 

 Buttoats. 



The Thugs say that if one of their class w r as alone, and had never 

 strangled a person, he would not presume to make use of the hand- 

 kerchief, until he observed a favourable omen. The ceremonies are 

 the same as those described in carrying out the Nishan, in room of 

 which the handkerchief is, on this occasion, substituted, and an offer- 

 ing of pice, cocoanut, turmeric, red ochre, &c. is made. When a 

 murder is to be committed, the Buttoat usually follows the particular 

 person, whom he has been nominated by the Jemadar to strangle, and, 

 on the pre-concerted signal being given, the handkerchief is seized, 

 with the knot in the left hand, the right hand being some inches 



