Perspective from Mark Twain in India

Here is the tally-sheet for a gang of sixty Thugs
for a whole season - the gang was under two noted
chiefs, "Chotee and Sheik Nungoo from Gwalior":

"Left Poora, in Jhansee, and on arrival at Sarora
murdered a traveler. "On nearly reaching Bhopal,
met 3 Brahmins, and murdered them. "Cross the Nerbudda;
at a village called Hutteea, murdered a Hindoo. "Went
through Aurungabad to Walagow; there met a Havildar
of the barber caste, and 5 sepoys (native soldiers);
in the evening came to Jokur, and in the morning killed
them near the place where the treasure-bearers were
killed the year before. "Between Jokur and Dholeea
met a sepoy of the shepherd caste; killed him in the
jungle. "Passed through Dholla and lodged in a
village; two miles beyond, on the road to Indore,
met a Byragee (beggar - holy mendicant); murdered
him at the Thapa. "In the morning, beyond the Thapa,
fell in with 3 Marwarie travlers and killed them.
"Between Choupra dn Dhoreea met a Marvarie; murdered
him. "At Dhoreea met 3 Marwaries; took them two miles
and murdered them. "Two miles further on, overtaken
by three treasure-bearers; took them two miles and
murdered them in the jungle. "Came on to Khurgore
Bateesa in Infore, divided spoil, and dispersed.
"A total of 27 murdered on one expedition".


Mark Twain
Following the Equator
Dover, New York, 1897, pg. 432

WAITING FOR HIS BOAT: A fisherman with blue cowboy hat
waits for his boat to arrive at the Punnapra beach
near Alappuzha on Wednesday. Photo: H. Vibhu