78 
THE ORIENTAL ANNUAL. 
municate with one another, without attracting the 
notice of the uninitiated. But enough has lately 
been written upon this subject to render a general 
description of the system unnecessary in this place ; 
although it does not appear to be commonly known 
that even the most flourishing and wealthy merchants, 
as well as private individuals of otherwise irreproach- 
able character, were, in numbers incredible, not only 
privy to, hut actually practitioners of, the diabolical 
art. Captain Sleeman s reports mention an instance 
of a shopkeeper of excellent character, who had for 
several years served the officers and soldiers in can- 
tonments, at Hingolee, being convicted as a leader 
of thugs ; and persons of high rank have also been 
implicated in the practice. It is mentioned in the 
evidence of one culprit, that the thugs considered it 
their greatest security to be conspicuous persons, 
either in trade or office ; as, in cases of discovery, 
the public would never think of looking for mur- 
derers among those whom they were accustomed to 
see daily, and to converse with, in so different a 
capacity. It is natural to suppose that intrepidity 
and boldness of demeanour would be the most valu- 
able qualifications for the perpetration of such deeds 
of horror, and those best calculated to cover the 
criminals from detection ; but these are qualities 
altogether unknown to the thugs , and they refer 
their long impunity to their characteristic timidity, 
which has driven them to unwearied caution. The 
