He looked at Hervey for leave to proceed, and Hervey nodded. (He couldn’t see what business it was of his, but it would at least make for an interesting page or two in his next letter home.)

‘On all occasions they believe these signs to be available if sought after in a pure spirit of faith, and with the prescribed observances; and as long as they are satisfied that they are truly interpreted and faithfully obeyed they never feel any dread of punishment either in this world or the next.’

‘They are all Hindoo?’

‘By no means; it appears that the creed is held by Hindoo and Mussulman alike – of which latter there are many. However, I’ve sometimes observed that when death is at hand, in the case that they fear they’ve not been strict in their observances, they’re apt to believe that a deathbed repentance will appease a justly offended God, and secure their pardon.’

Hervey nodded again. It seemed to him not dissimilar to the beliefs of many a Catholic brigand.

The discourse continued, until Hervey held up a hand to ask what the ryots, the simple peasant people of the villages among whom the thugs must live, made of them.

Sleeman shook his head and sighed. ‘This is perhaps one of our greatest hindrances. In some cases the village communities and the local authorities in the native states have a notion that the thugs are under some supernatural influence, and dread the consequences of being made in any way instrumental to their punishment. Such people oppose their arrest and conviction as they would oppose the killing of a snake or a wolf.’

‘Wolf?’ He knew of the superstition regarding snakes right enough.

‘In many parts a village will lament the killing of a wolf within their boundary as a great calamity, even though it would have taken a child every week. They consider the wolf an instrument in the hand of God, and dread the consequence of any violence to it. Indeed, in some parts the thugs are accustomed to leave the bodies of their victims unburied, having no fear of inquiry or pursuit from the local governments. Though I have to say that in the main they conceal them very thoroughly.’

Hervey frowned. ‘It puzzles me that they should murder as well as rob if there’s no likelihood of arrest, but I suppose you will say that the two are as one to them … But why is their trade so lucrative?’

‘Oh, that is the aspect of the problem over which I can have the least influence. If I may, Colonel?’

‘Proceed.’

‘The practice all over India of sending remittances in precious metals and jewels – whenever the rate of exchange makes it in the smallest degree profitable to do so – by men on foot and in disguise, without any guard or arms to defend themselves, at once provides opportunity. Likewise, I regret to say, the necessity of drawing recruits for our armies from distant provinces, and of granting a certain portion leave to revisit their homes every year during the hot season, when they set out every morning before daylight in order to avoid the heat of the sun during the day.’