The reason why this people gash and bury the bodies of those whom they murder, is as follows.  They say that the goddess used to save them the trouble of burying the corpses of their victims by eating them, thus screening the murderers from all chance of being found out.  Once, after the murder of a traveller, the body was, as usual, left unburied.  One of the Phansiagars employed, unguardedly looking behind him, saw the goddess in the act of feasting upon it.  This made her so angry, that she vowed never again to devour a body slaughtered by them; they having, by this one act of curiosity, forfeited her favor.  However, as an equivalent for withdrawing her patronage, she plucked one of the fangs from her jaw, and gave it to them, saying that they might use it as a pickaxe, which would never wear out.  She then opened her side and pulled out one of her ribs, which she gave them for a knife, whose edge nothing could blunt.  Having done this, she stooped down and tore off the hem of her garment, which she gave to them for a noose, declaring that it would never fail to strangle any person about whose throat it might be cast.  She moreover commanded them to gash and bury the bodies of those whom they destroyed.

The Phansiagars bring up their children to their own profession.  To learn this, the boy is placed under the care of a tutor.  Sometimes his father is his teacher.  By him he is taught that it is just as proper to murder a man, as it is to kill a snake which lies in his path and would bite him as he passes.  He is not permitted at first to see the murders, but merely a dead body; his mind being gradually prepared for the sight.  After this, the dreadful secret of his trade is, by degrees, told him.  When he expresses a wish to be engaged in this horrid business, they tell him all about it.  In the meantime he is allowed a small part of the plunder, in order that his desire to commit these murders may be increased; since it is only by murder that the plunder is obtained.  He is from time to time allowed to assist in some things, while the murder is taking place, or allowed to be present to see how the business is managed.  It is not, however, until he becomes a man, that he is permitted to apply the noose.  To attain this privilege, he usually devotes eight or ten years.  Before he can commit a murder, his tutor must present him with a noose.  This sets him loose upon the world, as a licensed murderer.  When the tutor is about to give him the noose, he takes him apart, and solemnly enjoins it upon him to use it with skill, as it is to be the means of his earning his food, and as his safety will depend upon the skill with which it is used.  After he receives it, he tries his skill in strangling a person the first opportunity that offers.

By the course of education which the Phansiagars undergo, they become so fond of their dreadful occupation, that nothing can induce them to quit it.  Some who have been employed in the East India Company’s service, have always returned to their business when an opportunity offered of a successful enterprise.