Page:Wanderings of a Pilgrim Vol 1.djvu/195

 gangs sometimes form, is certainly calculated to awaken suspicion, but when this happens, it is always lulled to rest by our being all prepared with the same story or explanation.

"Few of us carry arms, indeed, amongst fifteen or twenty persons not more than two or three swords may be found.

"When Thugs, though strangers to each other, meet, there is something in their manner which discovers itself; and, to make 'assurance doubly sure,' one exclaims 'Alee khan!' which being repeated by the other party, recognition takes place, but is never followed by a disclosure of past acts.

"In the division of plunder the jāmadārs receive seven and a half per cent., besides sharing equally with the rest of the gang; but, before any division is made, a certain portion is devoted to Bhawānī, our tutelar deity. This applies only to money in gold or silver; for when the plunder consists of diamonds and pearls, the leader draws blood from his hand, and having sprinkled a little over them, the sanction of the goddess to a division is thereby obtained without any other alienation. But the omission of this ceremony, or neglecting, when success attends us, to propitiate a continuance of Bhawānī's favour by laying aside a part of our acquisitions for her service, would, we firmly believe, bring heavy misfortune upon us.

"The office of strangler is never allowed to be self-assumed, but is conferred with due ceremony, after the fitness of the candidate in point of firmness, activity, and bodily strength, has been ascertained, and a sufficient degree of expertness in the use of the roomal has been acquired by long sham practice amongst ourselves.

"When thus qualified, the person on whom the office is to be conferred proceeds to the fields, conducted by his gooroo (spiritual guide), previously selected, who carries with him the roomal (or handkerchief), and anxiously looking out for some favourable omen, such as the chirping of certain birds, or their flight past the right hand, knots the roomal at each end the moment that either occurs, and delivers it to the candidate, imploring success upon him.

"After this they return, when the ceremony is closed by a