AThug，ofpolishedmannersandgreateloquence，beingaskedbyanativegentleman，inthepresenceofCaptainSleeman，whetherheneverfeltcompunctioninmurderinginnocentpeople，repliedwithasmilethathedidnot。“Doesanyman，“saidhe，“feelcompunctioninfollowinghistrade？andarenotallourtradesassignedusbyProvidence？“Hewasthenaskedhowmanypeoplehehadkilledwithhisownhandsinthecourseofhislife？“Ihavekillednone，“wasthereply。“What！andhaveyounotbeendescribinganumberofmurdersinwhichyouwereconcerned？““True；butdoyousupposethatIcommittedthem？Isanymankilledbyman’skilling？IsitnotthehandofGodthatkills，andarewenotthemereinstrumentsinthehandsofGod？“
Uponanotheroccasion，Sahib，anapprover，beingaskedifhehadneverfeltanypityorcompunctionatmurderingoldmenoryoungchildren，orpersonswithwhomhehadsatandconversed，andwhohadtoldhim，perchance，oftheirprivateaffairs——theirhopesandtheirfears，theirwivesandtheirlittleones？repliedunhesi-tatinglythatheneverdid。Fromthetimethattheomenswerefavourable，theThugsconsideredallthetravellerstheymetasvictimsthrownintotheirhandsbytheirdivinitytobekilled。TheThugswerethemereinstrumentsinthehandsofBhawaneetodestroythem。“Ifwedidnotkillthem，“saidSahib，“thegoddesswouldneveragainbepropitioustous，andweandourfamilieswouldbeinvolvedinmiseryandwant。
Ifweseeorhearabadomen，itistheorderofthegoddessnottokillthetravellersweareinpursuitof，andwedarenotdisobey。“
Assoonasanexpeditionhasbeenplanned，thegoddessisconsulted。Onthedaychosenforstarting，whichisneverduringtheunluckymonthsofJuly，September，andDecember，noronaWednesdayorThursday；thechiefThugofthepartyfillsabrassjugwithwater，whichhecarriesinhisrighthandbyhisside。Withhisleft，heholdsuponhisbreastthesacredpickaxe，wrappedcarefullyinawhitecloth，alongwithfiveknotsofturmeric，twocopper，andonesilvercoin。Hethenmovesslowlyon，followedbythewholeofthegang，tosomefieldorretiredplace，wherehalting，withhiscountenanceturnedinthedirectiontheywishtopursue，heliftsuphiseyestoheaven，saying，“Greatgoddess！universalmother！ifthis，ourmeditatedexpedition，befittinginthysight，vouchsafetohelpus，andgiveusthesignsofthyapprobation。“AlltheThugspresentsolemnlyrepeattheprayeraftertheirleader，andwaitinsilencefortheomen。IfwithinhalfanhourtheyseePilhaoo，orgoodomenontheleft，itsignifiesthatthegoddesshastakenthembythelefthandtoleadthemon；iftheyseetheThibaoo，oromenontheright，itsignifiesthatshehastakenthembytherighthandalso。Theleaderthenplacesthebrazenpitcheronthegroundandsitsdownbesideit，withhisfaceturnedinthesamedirectionforsevenhours，duringwhichtimehisfollowersmakeallthenecessarypreparationsforthejourney。If，duringthisinterval，nounfavourablesignsareobserved，theexpeditionadvancesslowly，untilitarrivesatthebankoftheneareststream，whentheyallsitdownandeatofthegoor，orconsecratedsugar。Anyevilomensthatareperceivedafterthisceremonymaybeavertedbysacrifices；butanyevilomensbefore，wouldatonceputanendtotheexpedition。
Amongtheevilomensarethefollowing:——IfthebrazenpitcherdropsfromthehandoftheJemadarorleader，itthreatensgreatevileithertohimortothegang——sometimestoboth。Iftheymeetafuneralprocession，ablindman，alameman，anoil-vender，acarpenter，apotter，oradancing-master，theexpeditionwillbedangerous。Inlikemanneritisunluckytosneeze，tomeetawomanwithanemptypail，acoupleofjackals，orahare。Thecrossingoftheirpathbythelatterisconsideredpeculiarlyinauspicious。Itscryatnightontheleftissometimesagoodomen，butiftheyhearitontherightitisverybad；awarningsenttothemfromBhawaneethatthereisdangeriftheykill。Shouldtheydisregardthiswarning，andledonbythehopeofgain，strangleanytraveller，theywouldeitherfindnobootyonhim，orsuchbootyaswouldeventuallyleadtotheruinanddispersionofthegang。Bhawaneewouldbewrothwithherchildren；andcausingthemtoperishinthejungle，wouldsendtheharestodrinkwateroutoftheirskulls。