Chapter THAKOOR to THUG of T by The Hobson Jobson Dictionary

Indian romances also, Memoirs of a Thug (1839), has served to make the name and system familiar. The suppression of the system, for there is every reason to believe that it was brought to an end, was organised in a masterly way by Sir W. (then Capt.) Sleeman, a wise and admirable man, under the government and support of Lord William Bentinck. [The question of the Thugs and their modern successors has been again discussed in the Quarterly Review, Oct. 1901.]

c. 1665.—“Les Voleurs de ce pais-là sont les plus adroits du monde; ils ont l’usage d’un certain lasset à noeud coulant, qu’ils savent jetter si subtilement au col d’un homme, quand ils sont à sa portée, qu’ils ne le manquent jamais; en sorte qu’en un moment ils l’étranglent…” &c.—Thevenot, v. 123.

1673.—“They were Fifteen, all of a Gang, who used to lurk under Hedges in narrow Lanes, and as they found Opportunity, by a Device of a Weight tied to a Cotton Bow-string made of Guts,…they used to throw it upon Passengers, so that winding it about their Necks, they pulled them from their Beasts and dragging them upon the Ground strangled them, and possessed themselves of what they had…they were sentenced to Lex Talionis, to be hang’d; wherefore being delivered to the Catwal or Sheriff’s Men, they led them two Miles with Ropes round their Necks to some Wild Date-trees: In their way thither they were chearful, and went singing, and smoaking Tobacco…as jolly as if going to a Wedding; and the Young Lad now ready to be tied up, boasted, That though he were not 14 Years of Age, he had killed his Fifteen Men.…”—Fryer, 97.

1785.—“Several men were taken up for a most cruel method of robbery and murder, practised on travellers, by a tribe called phanseegurs, or stranglers…under the pretence of travelling the same way, they enter into conversation with the strangers, share their sweetmeats, and pay them other little attentions, until an opportunity offers of suddenly throwing a rope round their necks with a slip-knot, by which they dexterously contrive to strangle them on the spot.”—Forbes, Or. Mem. iv. 13; [2nd ed. ii. 397].

1808.—“Phanseeo. A term of abuse in Guzerat, applied also, truly, to thieves or robbers who strangle children in secret or travellers on the road.”—R. Drummond, Illustrations, s.v.

1820.—“In the more northern parts of India these murderers are called Thegs, signifying deceivers.”—As. Res. xiii. 250.

1823.—“The Thugs are composed of all castes, Mahommedans even were admitted: but the great majority are Hindus; and among these the Brahmins, chiefly of the Bundelcund tribes, are in the greatest numbers, and generally direct the operations of the different bands.”—Malcolm, Central India, ii. 187.

1831.—“The inhabitants of Jubbulpore were this morning assembled to witness the execution of 25 Thugs.…The number of Thugs in the neighbouring countries is enormous; 115, I believe, belonged to the party of which 25 were executed, and the remainder are to be transported; and report says there are as many in Sauger Jail.”—Wanderings of a Pilgrim, i. 201–202.

1843.—“It is by the command, and under the special protection of the most powerful goddesses that the Thugs join

themselves to the unsuspecting traveller, make friends with him, slip the noose round his neck, plunge their knives in his eyes, hide him in the earth, and divide his money and baggage.”—Macaulay, Speech on Gates of Somnauth.

1874.—“If a Thug makes strangling of travellers a part of his religion, we do not allow him the free exercise of it.”—W. Newman, in Fortnightly Rev., N.S. xv. 181.


[Tavernier writes: “The remainder of the people, who do not belong to either of these four castes, are called Pauzecour.” This word Mr. Ball (ii. 185) suggests to be equivalent to either pariah or phansigar. Here he is in error. Pauzecour is really Skt. Pancha-Gauda, the five classes of northern Brahmans, for which see Wilson, (Indian Caste, ii. 124 seqq.).]