Al Biruni

Our Time machine has now started its journey to the depth of today's Madhya Pradesh in the beginning of Nineteenth century. What is known today as the Heart of Incredible India, was then a densely forested land infested with THUGs--the merciless murderers who killed people with a piece of cloth and a coin. It was the relentless efforts of Colonel W.H. Sleeman and his soldiers that finally contained this menace in the third decade of 19th century AD. Amir Khan, one of the captured Thugs who turned a state witness to save his own life, gave a long statement about his entire life of crime in front of one Captain Meadows Taylor who made it into a book in 1839. Ameer Khan himself had killed seven hundred and nineteen Humans in course of his career as a Thugee. Our story continues, based on excerpts from that famous statement called "CONFESSIONS OF A THUG".

We started the next morning. Our two acquaintances and their men joined us at a mango grove outside the village, where they had been encamped, and we proceeded on our journey. In this manner we traveled for two days, and my friend performed his promise of taking me up before him on his horse; he would even dismount, and lead him, allowing me to remain on the saddle; and as the animal was a quiet one, I used to enjoy my ride till the Sun became hot, when I was put into the dooly (A kind of Palanquin - editor) with my mother. On the third day I remember my friend saying to my father, as they rode side by side, "Yusoof Khan, why should you take these poor lads of yours on to Indoor with you? Why not send them back from the stage we are now approaching? I and my men are ample protection to you; and as you will belong to the same service as myself, there can be no harm in your trusting yourself and family to my protection for the rest of the journey; besides, the dangerous part of the road , the jungle in which we have been for the last two days, is passed, and the country before us is open. The only fear of Thugs and thieves existed in them, and they are now far behind."

"It is well said," replied my father; "I dare say the lads will e thankful to me for sparing them a part of the long march back, and they have accompanied us some fifty or sixty coss. (Coss is an ancient Indian measure of distance. One Coss is equivalent to two miles. - Editor)"

On our arrival at the stage, my father told the lads they must return, at which they were highly pleased; and on their departure about noon, I gave many kind messages to my old companions and playfellows. I remember too giving an old battered rupee to be delivered to my little sister, and of saying she was to hang it with the other charms and coins about her neck, to remind her of me. I found it again, Sahib; but, ah! Under what circumstances!

At this period of his narrative, Ameer Ali seemed to shudder; a strong spasm shot through his frame, and it was some time before he spoke; at last he resumed:
"The juwans (means soldiers - editor) had been gone some hours and it was now evening. My friend came to our abode, and told my father that the next were two short stages, and if he liked they might be made in one, as it would shorten the distance to Indoor; but that we should be obliged to start very early, long before daylight, and that bearers who carried the dooly could easily be persuaded to make the march by promise of a sheep, which the Potail (Potail means village headman—editor) of the village he proposed going to would supply free of cost, as he was a friend of his. My father seemed to be rather indignant at this idea of his taking a sheep for nothing, and said that he had plenty of money, not only to pay for a sheep , but to give them a present if they carried us quickly.

"Well," said my friend, "so much the better, for we Sipahees (means soldiers - editor) have rarely much about us but our arms."
"True", returned my father; but you know that I have sold all my property at my village, and have brought the money to aid me in our service. Indeed, it is a good round sum."
And my father chuckled at this idea.
"What! Have you a thousand rupees?" I asked, my ideas of wealth going no further.
"And what if it should be more?" said he, and the matter dropped; but even now I think I remember that my friend exchanged significant glances with his companion.

It was then arranged that we should start with the rising of the moon, about the middle of the night.
We were roused from our sleep at the hour proposed; and after the men had had a pipe all round, we set off. I was in the dooly with my mother. The moon had risen; but as well as I can remember, there was little light, and a slight rain falling, which obliged us to travel very slow. After we had proceeded a few coss, the bearers of the dooly put it down, saying that they could not get on in the dark and the mud, and proposed to wait till daylight. My father had a violent altercation with them; and as I was now wide awake, and it had ceased to rain, I begged to be taken out of the dooly, and allowed to ride with my friend. He did not assent as readily as usual; yet he took me up when the bearers had been scolded into going on. I remarked to him that some of the soldiers, as I thought them, were absent. My remark attracted my father's notice to the circumstances, and he asked our companion where they were. He replied carelessly, that they were gone on in advance, as we have travelled as yet so slowly, and that we should soon overtake them.

We proceeded. We came at last to the deep bed of a river, on the sides of which there was some thick jungle, when my friend dismounted, as he said to drink water, and told me the horse would carry me over safely. I guided him on as well as I could; but before I had got well across the stream, I heard a cry, and the noise as if of a sudden scuffle.

(To be continued)