Thug: The True Story Of India's Murderous Cult

by Mike Dash

British in, 1, 2

  Maratha incursions into, 1

  Thugs of, 1, 2, 3

  Two Hundred Days campaign, 1

  Bengal Army, 1

  Bengal Presidency, 1, 2, 3n, 4

  Bentinck, William, 1, 2, 3n, 4, 5, 6

  Berar, Thugs of, 1

  Beseynee, 1

  Beseynee affair, 1

  Bevan, Henry, 1

  bhang (drug), 1

  Bhawanee Jemadar, 1, 2

  Bhopal, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

  Bhowanee (Hindu goddess), 1& n, 2

  Bhugga (Thug), 1

  Bhugwan (Thug), 1

  bhurtote, see Thugs, murder by strangulation

  Bhurtpore, 1, 2, 3, 4

  bhutas (spirits), 1

  Bhyaram Gopal Das, 1

  Bihar, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

  Bindachul, 1, 2

  Bindawa, 1, 2

  Blackston, Lieutenant, 1

  blowing away from guns, 1&n, 2

  Bombay, 1&n, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

  Bombay Presidency, 1, 2

  Borthwick, William, 1, 2, 3

  Bowanee the Soosea, 1

  Brahmins, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

  branding, 1&n

  British, see East India Company

  Brown, Charles, 1

  Bughola (Thug), 1

  Buhram Jemadar, 1, 2

  Bukkee Thug, 1

  Bundelcund, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

  Thugs of, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

  Burwaha Ghat, 1, 2, 3

  Butler, William, 1

  Calcutta, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13

  description of, 1, 2

  Calcutta Gazette, 1, 2

  Calpee, 1

  Candeish, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

  Cape Cormorin, 1

  caste, 1

  see also Thugs, castes of

  Cavendish, Richard, 1

  Cawnpore, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

  Chambel (river), 1

  Chambel Ravines, 1, 2, 3

  as home of Thugs and bandits, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

  resistance to British rule in, 1

  Chatterjee, Amal, 1n

  chaukidars (watchmen), 1

  Cheek, Dr, 1n

  Cheinsah (Thug), 1

  China, 1, 2

  Chittoor, 1, 2

  Chitu (Pindari leader), 1n

  Chotee (Thug), 1n

  Chourella, 1

  chundee pooja (rite), 1&n

  Chupara, 1, 2

  Chutta (Thug ally), 1

  Clive, Robert, 1, 2, 3, 4

  Coharry (river), 1, 2, 3

  collectors, 1, 2&n

  Company, see East India Company

  Confessions of a Thug, 1, 2

  Couperas, Casina, 1n

  Creagh (East India Company soldier), 1

  Criminal Tribes Act, 1

  currency, 1

  cutcherry (magistrate’s office), 1

  Dacca, 1

  dacoits, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

  methods of, 1

  darogahs, see police

  datura (poison), 1, 2, 3, 4

  Davey (Hindu goddess), 1&n, 2, 3, 4

  De Quincey, Thomas, 1

  Deccan, 1, 2, 3

  Thugs of, 1, 2, 3, 4

  Deen, Davey, 1

  Deen, Gunga, 1n

  Deen, Jumulud, 1n

  Dehli Sultanate, 1

  Dekola, 1

  Delhi, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

  becomes British, 1

  ravaged by Sindhia, 1

  Thug origins in, 1, 2

  Dhoba, 1

  Dhoma, 1

  Dhoosoo (Thug), 1, 2

  Dhoree, 1

  Dhunraj Seth Pokur Mal (banking firm), 1

  Dhunraj Seth, 1, 2, 3

  disease, see India, mortality in

  Doab (province), 1, 2, 3, 4 n, 5, 6

  becomes British, 1

  Thugs of, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

  Doolea, 1

  Dorgha (Thug), 1

  Doult (approver), 1

  Dullal (Thug), 1

  Durbhunga, 1

  dysentery, 1

  East India Company

  administration of, 1

  attempts to suppress Thuggee: (1812), 1, 2, 3, 4;

  (1814), 1;

  (1821–2), 1;

  (1826), 1;

  (1829–40), 1

  collectors and revenues of, 1, 2&n

  directors of, on Thugs’ guilt, 1

  early history of, 1

  fear of Thug escapes from jail, 1

  ignorance of Thuggee, 1, 2

  magistrates of, 1, 2&n

  opium trade and, 1

  policy regarding Thugs, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

  political officers of, 1

  records of, 1, 2, 3

  and relations with Indian women, 1&n

  relaxation of standards set for arrest and conviction of Thugs, 1

  rewards offered for Thugs, 1

  romanticization of Thuggee, 1

  scepticism of, regarding existence of Thuggee, 1, 2

  sentencing policy of, regarding Thugs, 1

  service with, 1

  spread in belief in hereditary criminal groups among officers of, 1

  transformation into a territorial power, 1

  understanding of Thugs, 1

  see also anti-Thug campaign; police, East India Company; residents

  economy, Indian, depression of 1820s, 1, 2, 3

  Eden, Emily, 1, 2, 3

  Eden, Fanny, 1, 2

  Ellichpore, 1, 2, 3

  Elliott, John, 1

  Ernst, Thomas, 1&n

  Essuree (Thug inveigler), 1, 2, 3

  Etawah, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

  climate of, 1&n

  control passes to British, 1

  dacoit attacks in, 1

  described, 1

  in early 1th century, 2

  history of, 1

  policing of, 1

  reputation of, 1

  resistance to British rule in, 1

  roads of, 1, 2, 3

  Thug murders around, 1

  Everest, George, 1

  exhumations, see Thugs, exhumation of victims of

  fakirs, 1, 2, 3, 4

  Feringeea (Thug leader), 1, 2, 3, 4, 5n, 6, 7

  affection for family, 1

  aliases of, 1

  appearance and character of, 1, 2

  becomes an approver, 1

  captured by Sleeman, 1

  career of: to 1819, 1, 2, 3;

  during 1820s, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7;

  during 1830s, 1

  claims title of jemadar, 1

  escapes capture of his gang, 1, 2

  family captured by Sleeman, 1, 2

  flees half-dressed, 1

  flees naked, 1

  hides in Jhansee district, 1

  homes of, 1, 2, 3

  jailed by Beharee Lal, 1

  jailed on the Nerbudda river, 1

  knowledge of other Thugs and gangs, 1

  murders Mughalanee, 1

  number of victims, 1

  relative success of, 1,

  significance of, to British, 1, 2

  Sleeman’s opinion of, 1

  spares servant girl, 1

  takes service with British, 1

  on Thug omens and proscriptions, 1

  variety of victims of, 1

  ‘fishing fleet’, 1

  Fontenne, Amélie de, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

  Forbes, James, 1

  Foreign Quarterly Review, 1

  Fraser, Charles, 1, 2, 3, 4

  Fryer, John, 1, 2

  Futtehpore, 1

  Ganges (river), 1, 2

  Ganges water carriers, 1, 2, 3

  general warrants, see anti-Thug campaign

  Ghasee Subadar, 1

  Ghazeepore, 1

  godna (tattooing needle), 1, 2

  Golab (Thug), 1

  Gomanee (Thug), 1

  gomashtas (Indian bankers’ agents), 1, 2

  goor (unrefined sugar used in rituals), 1

  Gopulpo
or, Rajah of, 1

  Gordon, Stewart, 1, 2

  Gorha, 1, 2

  Gorruckpore, 1

  gosains, 1

  Graham, Mrs, 1

  Grand Trunk Road, 1, 2

  Great Exhibition, 1

  griffins, 1

  groves, 1, 2

  Gujerat, 1, 2, 3

  Gumboo (Thug), 1

  Gumush Chuprassee, 1

  Gupta, Hirlal, 1

  Gwalior, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9n, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

  Halhed, Nathaniel, 1, 2, 3, 4

  Halhed, NB, 1&n

  Hanafi school of jurisprudence, 1n

  Hattah, 1n

  Hawkins, William, 1

  Heera (Thug), 1, 2

  Himalayas, 1, 2, 3

  Himmut (Thug), hideous death of, 1&n

  Himmutpore, 1, 2

  Himmutpore, Rajah of, 1

  Hinduism, 1

  Hindustani, 1, 2

  Hinga (Thug), 1

  Holkar (Thug), 1

  Holkar, the (Maratha ruler of Indore), 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

  Hooghly (river), 1

  Hossyn, Gholam, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

  Hsuan Tsang, 1

  Hucarras (messengers), 1&n

  Humeerchund (merchant), 1

  Hunter, William, 1

  Hunter-Weston, Gerald, 1

  Hurda Wallah, 1n

  Hurree (Thug leader), see Singh, Hurree

  Hyder (Thug), 1n

  Hyderabad, 1, 2n, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

  Inaent (Thug leader), see Sheikh Inaent

  income, typical, in 19th century India, 1

  India

  as alien society, 1, 2

  British response to discovery of Thuggee in, 1

  burial practices of, 1n

  climate of, 1, 2, 3, 4

  duration of service in, 1

  famines in 1820s, 1

  food in, 1

  history of, 1, 2

  mortality in, 1

  society in, 1

  tradition of banditry in, 1

  Indian Mutiny, 1n, 2

  Indore, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

  infanticide, 1

  inns, poor condition of, 1

  insects, 1

  Ismail Thug, 1n

  Jadae (Thug), 1

  Jaggat Seths, 1

  jails, 1, 2

  Jhalna, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

  Jhalone, 1

  Jhalone, Rajah of, 1, 2

  Jhansee, 1, 2, 3

  Thug villages in, 1, 2, 3, 4

  Jhansee Ghat, 1

  Jhora Naek, 1

  John Company, see East India Company

  Jomun Sagura, 1

  Joomaree, 1

  Jubber (Thug), 1&n

  Jubbulpore, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5n, 6n, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26

  description of, 1, 2

  poverty of, 1

  Juggernaut, 1

  Jumna (river), 1, 2,

  Thugs of, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

  Jurha (Thug), 1n

  Jypore, 1, 2, 3

  Kalee Bebee (Thug victim), 1

  Kali, 1, 2, 3, 4

  Kallars (cattle thieves), 1

  Kamptee, 1, 2

  Kehree (Thug), 1

  Khaimraj (Thug), 1, 2

  Khan, Akbar, 1

  Khan, Babur, 1

  Khan, Dhurum, 1

  Khan, Dulele, 1

  Khan, Dunnee, 1

  Khan, Futty, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5n

  Khan, Gheena, 1

  Khan, Gubbil, 1, 2

  Khan, Hussain Dost, 1

  Khan, Kalee, 1

  Khan, Kara, 1

  Khan, Khodabux, 1

  Khan, Khuleel, 1

  Khan, Mian Almas Ali, 1

  Khan, Rustum, 1

  Khan, Sahib, 1, 2, 3

  Khan, Subzee, 1

  Khan, Sultan, 1

  Khan, Wajid Ali, see Oudh, King of

  khas-khas screens, 1&n

  Khimolee Jemadar, 1

  Khoman (Thug leader), 1

  Khooba (Thug victim), 1

  Khuluk (Thug), 1

  Khyrooah, 1, 2

  Kisrae, 1

  Korae, 1

  kos minars, 1

  Kotah, 1, 2

  Kuhora (Thug soothsayer), 1

  Kundelee, 1

  Kundul, Rajah of, 1

  Lahra, 1

  Laikairee, 1

  Lal, Beharee, 1, 2

  Laljee (Sindouse zamindar), 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

  imprisoned for life, 1

  Laljoo (Thug), 1

  Lalmun (Thug), 1

  lathials (‘clubmen’), 1

  law, anti-Thug, 1, 2, 3

  law, British, 1, 2, 3

  law, Islamic, 1, 2

  Lodaha Thugs, 1, 2

  London, 1

  Low, Colonel, 1

  Lucknadown, 1, 2

  Lucknow, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

  Lushington, RT, 1

  McLeod, Lieutenant, 1

  Macnaghton, William, 1

  McNair, JFA, 1

  Madras, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

  Thugs and Phansigars of, 1, 2, 3

  Madras Presidency, 1, 2n, 3, 4, 5

  magistrates, see East India Company, magistrates of

  Mahanand Ram Puran Mal (bank), 1

  Maigal (Thug), 1

  Makeen Lodhee, 1

  Makun (Thug), 1n

  Malagow, 1, 2

  Malcolm, John, 1&n, 2

  Malwa, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

  Manoolah (guide), 1

  Maratha territory, 1, 2

  Maratha wars, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

  Marathas, 1, 2

  administration of, 1

  border with Company lands, 1, 2

  and East India Company, 1

  military power of, 1

  relations with Thugs, 1, 2

  Marwaris, 1

  Maunsell, John, 1, 2

  Mauritius, 1, 2

  Meerut, 1, 2

  Megpunnas (child stealers), 1, 2

  Metropolitan Police, 1

  Meyes, H., 1n

  Minto, Lord Gilbert, 1n

  Mirzapore, 1, 2, 3

  missionaries, 1

  mofussil, 1, 2, 3, 4

  Mohammed (prophet), 1

  Mohammed, Bakh (Thug), 1

  Mohna (Thug), 1n

  Molony, Charles, 1

  monsoon, see India, climate of

  Moonshees, 1, 2

  Morlee (Thug), 1

  Motee (Thug), 1

  Mozuffurpore, 1, 2

  Mughal emperors, see Akbar; Aurangzeb

  Mughal Empire

  apogee of, 1

  decline of, 1

  legal standards in, 1

  postal service, 1&n

  Mughalanee (Thug victim), 1, 2

  Mukka (Thug), 1

  Mundesur, 1

  Murder of Forty, 1

  Murnae, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

  destroyed by Company forces, 1, 2

  rebuilt, 1

  Murshidabad, 1

  Mynpooree, 1

  Naga robber bands, 1

  Nagpore, 1, 2, 3n, 4, 5, 6n, 7, 8, 9

  Nanha (Rajah of Jhalone), 1

  Nasik, 1, 2

  Nasir (Thug), 1, 2

  Native Infantry, 1

  23rd Regiment of, 1

  see also sepoys

  Native States, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

  justice in, 1

  Thugs prefer to operate in, 1, 2, 3

  Nawab Subzee Khan, see Khan, Subzee

  Nepal, 1, 2, 3

  Nerbudda (river), 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

  Nizamat Adalat, 1, 2, 3, 4

  nujeebs (mounted militiamen), 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

  Nursingpore, 1, 2

  Ochterlony, David, 1

  omens, see Thugs, superstitions of

  Omrow (Thug) 1

  Oomroutee, 1, 2

  opium, 1, 2, 3

  Orissa, 1

  Ormea (Thug), 1

  Oudh, Kingdom of, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
7, 8

  King of, 1, 2, 3

  Thugs of, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

  Patna, 1, 2

  Paton, James, 1&n, 2, 3, 4

  dialogues with Thugs, 1, 2

  plots Thug beles on map, 1

  Peerbuksh (Thug), 1

  penal colonies

  Andaman Islands, 1

  Malaya, 1

  Mauritius, 1, 2

  Sumatra, 1

  Perry, Thomas, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

  and Thugs, 1, 2, 3, 4

  Persaud (Thug), 1, 2n

  Persia, 1

  Pfirmann, Gustav, 1

  Phansigars, 1, 2, 3, 4

  meaning of term, 1

  Phoolsa (Thug leader), 1

  pickaxe, see Thugs, rituals of

  Pindaris, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

  police

  darogahs of, 1, 2

  East India Company, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

  Indian, 1

  political officers (‘Politicals’), see East India Company, political officers of

  polygars, 1

  Poona, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

  Pooree, 1

  Popham, Captain, 1

  Port Blair, 1

  pricking the garter, 1&n

  Pringle, John, 1

  Punchum Jemadar, 1n, 2

  pundits, 1

  Punjab, 1, 2

  Punkahs, 1&n

  Punna (Thug), 1n

  Punna (village), 1&n