Page:Wanderings of a Pilgrim Vol 1.djvu/225

 CHAPTER XV.

THE THUG'S DICE.

The Thug's Dice—Execution of Eleven Thugs.

1830, Oct.—Mr. S, the acting magistrate, has sent me a present of the dice used by the Thugs; they were taken from a Thug in the magistrate's office. There are three dice, made of brass roughly filed. In the sketch entitled "The Thug's Dice," (Fig. 3.) they are represented exactly of the size and shape of the originals, which are all of one size and shape. Two sides are perforated by a large hole that goes through the centre.

Two of the sides are marked with three small circles placed in a triangular form; one side has two circles, and four are on the other side.

When the Thugs are going out on a strangling expedition, they throw these dice to see what days will prove lucky or unlucky.

Oct. 16th.—In the Government Gazette of this evening is an account of the execution of eleven Thugs, in a letter from a man up the country to the editor: the account is so interesting, I cannot refrain from copying it.

",—I was yesterday present at the execution of eleven Thugs, who had been seized in the neighbourhood of Bhilsa, convicted of the murder of thirty-five travellers, (whose bodies were disinterred as evidence against them at the different places along the lines of road between Bhopaul and Saugor, where