Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 107

THE KALLA-BANTRUS
this tribe
known by
come the
the name
professional thieves
67
and pickpockets
of Kalla-bantrus.
These people make
a study of the art of stealing, and all the dodges of their
infamous profession are instilled into them from their
youth. To this end their parents teach them to lie obsti-
nately, and train them to suffer tortures rather than divulge
what it is to their interest to hide. Far from being ashamed
of their profession, the Kalla-bantrus glory in it, and when
they have nothing to fear they take the greatest pleasure
in boasting of the clever thefts they have committed in
various places. Those who, caught in the act, have been
badly hurt, or who have been deprived by the magistrates
of nose, ears, or right hand, show their scars and mutila-
tions with pride, as proofs of their courage and intrepidity
and these men are usually the chosen heads of their caste.
They always commit their depredations at night. Noise-
lessly entering a village, they place sentinels along the
different roads, while they select the houses that can be
entered with the least risk. These they creep into, and in
a few minutes strip them of all the metal vessels and other
valuables they can find, including the gold and silver
ornaments which the sleeping women and children wear
round their necks. They never break open the doors of
;
the houses, for that would make too much noise and so
Their plan is to pierce the mud
lead to their detection.
wall of the house with a sharp iron instrument specially
made for the purpose, with which they can in a few moments
easily make a hole large enough for a man to creep through.
They are so clever that they generally manage to carry out
their depredations without being either seen or heard by
any one. But if they happen to be surprised, the Kalla-
bantrus make a desperate resistance and do their best to
If one of their number is killed in the scrimmage,
escape.
they will run any risk to obtain possession of the corpse.
They then cut off the head and carry it away with them
to avoid discovery.
In the provinces which are governed by native princes,
these villains are, to a certain extent, protected by the
authorities, who countenance their depredations in return
for a stipulated sum, or on condition that they pay the
value of half the booty that they steal to the revenue