Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 7.djvu/98

NOOR KHAN. were hunted down: and few escaped capture. Hundreds were hanged, and thousands sentenced to transportation beyond sea, or to imprisonment for life. Some offered service as approvers, and were allowed to live on condition of denouncing all their associates, and proving the crimes alleged against them.

Jubbulpoor was fixed upon as a central jail, where many of the Thug prisoners were to be kept for life; but it became difficult to find employment for them all, and at last a school of industry was formed, and they were patiently taught many trades of a useful nature, weaving cloths of cotton and woollen, making tents for Government and private individuals, &c. The weaving is truly admirable: and from the coarse double thread cotton canvas of which tents are made, to fine towels, horsecloths, tablecloths and napkins, the series is complete. For carpets the wool is dyed, carded, spun, and woven, and fabrics that quite rival Axminster or Persia are produced. They are expensive but durable, far beyond any others. The wives and children of these quondam murderers are allowed to remain with them, and help in the local manufactures. At first some of the Thug approvers escaped; but they were quickly tracked, tried, and hung, and escape is not attempted now. No trace of Thuggee has been found for some years past, and it may be hoped that it is extinguished; but so long as any germ of this atrocious and apparently most fascinating crime exists, the utmost care and supervision is necessary to prevent its being resumed.