manner of arts to win their friendship and get their confidence.  At last, when this was accomplished to their satisfaction, the real business began.  A few Thugs were privately detached and sent forward in the dark to select a good killing-place and dig the graves.  When the rest reached the spot a halt was called, for a rest or a smoke.  The travelers were invited to sit.  By signs, the chief appointed certain Thugs to sit down in front of the travelers as if to wait upon them, others to sit down beside them and engage them in conversation, and certain expert stranglers to stand behind the travelers and be ready when the signal was given.  The signal was usually some commonplace remark, like “Bring the tobacco.”  Sometimes a considerable wait ensued after all the actors were in their places—­the chief was biding his time, in order to make everything sure.  Meantime, the talk droned on, dim figures moved about in the dull light, peace and tranquility reigned, the travelers resigned themselves to the pleasant reposefulness and comfort of the situation, unconscious of the death-angels standing motionless at their backs.  The time was ripe, now, and the signal came:  “Bring the tobacco.”  There was a mute swift movement, all in the same instant the men at each victim’s sides seized his hands, the man in front seized his feet, and pulled, the man at his back whipped the cloth around his neck and gave it a twist the head sunk forward, the tragedy was over.  The bodies were stripped and covered up in the graves, the spoil packed for transportation, then the Thugs gave pious thanks to Bhowanee, and departed on further holy service.

The Report shows that the travelers moved in exceedingly small groups —­twos, threes, fours, as a rule; a party with a dozen in it was rare.  The Thugs themselves seem to have been the only people who moved in force.  They went about in gangs of 10, 15, 25, 40, 60, 100, 150, 200, 250, and one gang of 310 is mentioned.  Considering their numbers, their catch was not extraordinary—­particularly when you consider that they were not in the least fastidious, but took anybody they could get, whether rich or poor, and sometimes even killed children.  Now and then they killed women, but it was considered sinful to do it, and unlucky.  The “season” was six or eight months long.  One season the half dozen Bundelkand and Gwalior gangs aggregated 712 men, and they murdered 210 people.  One season the Malwa and Kandeish gangs aggregated 702 men, and they murdered 232.  One season the Kandeish and Berar gangs aggregated 963 men, and they murdered 385 people.

Here is the tally-sheet of a gang of sixty Thugs for a whole season—­gang 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.