The prospect was grand on account of its extent, though I could not have imagined anything so apparently barren and comfortless: the grass seemed everywhere brown and parched, and innumerable lakes of all forms and sizes gave, with their wan gleam, a melancholy effect to the view. I tried several times, without success, to count the cattle in sight; but, after repeated attempts, gave up the endeavour. The temperature was bitterly cold, although a dead calm; and large icicles were hanging in various fantastic shapes from all the overhanging points of rock.

Before leaving the vessel, we had made arrangements with Mr. Bodie (the master) that we should announce our arrival on the summit of the rock by lighting a fire, the smoke of which would direct him to let fall the topsail, and to fire a gun, exactly five minutes after (to a second). By this sound we expected to get the distance. Collecting what material we could for ignition, and having settled ourselves in comfortable positions to watch with our Dollonds, the word was given to light the fire. In a moment a small column of smoke slowly ascended. (We afterwards heard that the effect, as seen from the vessel, was beautiful; the vapour being visible to the naked eye, and ascending like a tiny thread from the very peak of the mountain to a great height, until dissipated by the upper currents of air.) No sooner was this seen, than it was responded to by a dozen diminutive objects, descried through our glasses, climbing up the rigging like ants. A moment after, a small speck of white became visible, which announced to us the fall of the topsail. As the second-hand of Captain Sulivan's chronometer reached the five minutes, a thin puff of smoke appeared to spurt out of the vessel's side. All was now attention to catch the sound; but we were too far off.

During the time we remained up here, not a single noise disturbed the death-like silence, neither was the solitude invaded by any other living object than ourselves, excepting that a huge eagle alighted to plume himself on a pinnacle within twelve yards of the theodolite.

After descending with some trouble, we picked up our guns, &c., and commenced our return. The homeward journey was a painful one; as our two men, not being accustomed to such long walks, were knocked up, and the wild cattle, as though they knew we were fatigued, were bolder and fiercer than in the morning. One beast chased us to the edge of a morass, in which we were glad to take refuge. Finding from the nature of the ground that he could not get at us, he worked himself into a state of madness, which was not at all allayed by a couple of ounces of lead which we sent into his body. Not wishing to be benighted, we hastened on, and having found the calf we had killed in the morning, got safely on board at seven o'clock to a capital dinner, of which the only fault was a total absence of vegetables.

up

A succession of heavy south-west gales, with snow and sleet, put a stop, during five days, to all out-of-door work. In the evenings we were much at a loss how to find amusement, as all the books in the ship had been read and re-read dozens of times. I hardly know how we should have diverted the tædium vitæ, had I not, before leaving England, luckily provided myself with several single-sticks and hilts from my esteemed friend Mr. H. Angelo, of whom I am proud to acknowledge myself a pupil; and whose skill in the art of offence and defence in the

use of the broadsword is above that of any other professor I ever met with. Our people took great delight in this exercise; and, by imparting the knowledge I had acquired under Mr. Angelo, I so trained my men, that I flatter myself few of H. M. ships could have turned out a crew equal to the Arrow's ship's company in expertness with that thoroughly English weapon, the broadsword.

We were now beset by a succession of heavy gales. I only landed once, and that was abreast the vessel for an hour or two. With the assistance of the crew I managed to haul our little dingy over a small bank, and launch her again in a fresh-water lake, where in a very short time we bagged upwards of sixty teal, and double the number of various other birds not mentioned in the game-list.

On Sunday, the 10th of December, the gale had increased prodigiously. It was well for the little ship, which rode to three anchors, that the holding-ground and our ground-tackle were so good, for, with all our precautions, and though nothing was left to hold wind but the bare lower masts and hull, we were in momentary fear of going adrift. We could hardly hear the church service performed, even on the lower deck, with the hatches down, so loud was the roaring of the gale.

About sunset, as usual, the wind gradually sank to a hoarse murmur, and at midnight we had fine weather once more, the stars shining as brilliantly as if within the tropics. Such sudden alterations form one of

the marked peculiarities of the Falklands.

The next morning, some time after the surveyors had departed, I was much surprised by observing a large column of smoke rising several miles to the southward. This, naturally enough, caused great excitement amongst us, as we knew our party had gone in an opposite direction. So strange an incident in an uninhabited island brought to my recollection Robinson Crusoe's discovery of the foot-print of a man on the desolate sea-shore. All manner of conjectures were hazarded, and truly some of them were wild enough. The next morning, as soon as I could spare them, I sent off four steady fellows, well armed; but nothing could they discover save the remains of a fire, a few singed feathers, and a very old-fashioned rusty hatchet without a handle. Imagining some shipwrecked mariners might be near, we fired a blue light as soon as it was dark, and then a sky-rocket, but without any result. Who could the adventurers have been?

Two days more were sufficient to finish the Choiseul Sound, and early on the following morning we sent both our boats sounding down towards the entrance. At two o'clock we followed them in the vessel. About twelve miles from the mouth of the sound we perceived a splendid little harbour on the northern shore, where we anchored for the night, intending to leave the next morning; but unsettled and tempestuous weather detained us several days, which, though a grievous infliction to us at the time, was pleasant in its results, as we had a most gallant and satisfactory campaign in our Wild Sports in this part of the Falklands.

In the beginning of the year 1830, a group of men were assembled in one of the groves that intersect every part of India, whose appearance and occupation made them appear to belong to some remote age rather than to the present century. They were engaged in Pagan ceremonies, still followed by the Hindoos; and if any one had witnessed them they would have been filled with horror, for the rites they observed were those practised by the Thugs. One of the party was seated on a blanket spread for him, his face turned towards the west. The rest were seated on each side, looking in the same direction that he did, excepting one young man, whose air of surprise and curiosity proved that he was only

a novice.

My son," exclaimed the leader of the band, "you will be invited into the sacrifice of the Tipoonee, and you must, therefore, pay the most profound attention to what we perform."

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Pray do not doubt my zeal, O my gooroo,* for it has long been my ardent wish to become perfect in these ceremonies."

have taken

"The Tipoonee is of the utmost solemnity; and when you your part in it, you will be prepared for the important work." "To-night I am to taste the consecrated sugar, said the young man, "for the first time, according to your promise.'

"You shall do so; and listen to our invocation while we address the goddess."

of

The leader of the band then made a small hole in the ground near the blanket, upon which was placed the sacred pickaxe, one especially consecrated to the service of the Thugs, a pile of sugar, and a piece silver, as an offering; a little sugar was then put into the hole, and one of the assembly, raising his hands to heaven, said in a supplicatory tone, “Powerful and mighty goddess, who hast for ages vouchsafed thy protection to thy votaries, we beseech thee to fulfil our desires—to him thy protection."

He then presented him with a piece of consecrated sugar, and his inauguration was complete.

The leader of the band then addressed the novice in the following words:

"You have eaten the consecrated sugar, and are now a Thug! Were you to desire to forsake us you could not, such is the power it has, when consecrated as you have seen it, over the hearts of men."

"Do not suppose, my gooroo," replied the novice, "that it would be possible for me ever to change; though the youngest of the party, you will not find me the least zealous."

"I have no doubt of it, my son; for youth is ever eager, and men find apathy comes only with old age. My admonition did not proceed from want of confidence in you, but it was to strengthen your convictions. Be kind to those around you, affectionate to your relations, commiserate the poor, give alms to the needy; but remember that you have vowed destruction to all whom the goddess may throw in your way."

Spiritual teacher.

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"Your words have sunk into my heart," replied the novice; never shall you have to complain of my flinching from my duty."

It might naturally be supposed that the horrible career of the Thugs would render them stony-hearted, insensible to compassion, and, in fact, more like malignant demons than human beings; but they have been found patterns of every domestic virtue-good sons, husbands, and fathers, and exhibiting so much generosity towards their kindred, that they often endure great privations to assist them. If the Hindoos exhibit so many good qualities under a system which prompts wicked deeds of the blackest dye, what virtues may we not expect from them if converted to Christianity?

The ceremonies were continued the next day; the leader of the band repeated incantations over the novice, who was not allowed to take meat, nor any nourishment but milk, while numerous sacrifices were made to the sacred pickaxe; every omen was observed, and as they sat under the trees, scarcely a bird alighted but there was a conclusion drawn from it, and the appearance of different animals was particularly observed. He was inquisitive respecting the meaning of these omens, and inquired of the gooroo, who replied,

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My son, when I was at your age these ceremonies were performed over me to make me fearless and cunning, valiant and active; able to ensnare all who came within my reach, and to avoid my enemies; to make me fortunate, and cause me to win fame."

"In all these you have succeeded?"

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Thanksgiving to the goddess, I never failed; and we may all entertain great hopes of you; everything is going on to my complete satisfaction, for I have not observed one unfavourable omen. We shall soon admit you to the most important business of our holy profession." "What will that be?"

"I shall place the handkerchief in your hands, to give you some instructions in the art of strangling."

The next day the novice was requested to bathe with peculiar care, and was anointed with fragrant oil. They next made a mark on his forehead with vermilion, and declared him to be a votary of Bowanee.

The gooroo then gave him a handkerchief, having tied a large knot at one end, with a piece of silver inserted in it; this he held in his left hand, the plain end being in his right, and about as much space between them as would nearly compass a man's neck; the closed hands had the palms uppermost.

"Now," said he, "mark this; and when you throw the cloth from behind, and have got it tight, suddenly turn your knuckles into the neck, giving a sharp wrench to either side that may be most convenient. If done with precision, instant death ensues."

When at Hydrabad, the superintendent of Thuggee mentioned to me that a noted Thug had been sent to him as an approver, and that he could bring him to me if I felt inclined to see him. Wishing to see this monster, on the same principle that we desire to behold a shark, I availed myself of this opportunity, expecting to witness a man of hideous appearance, and representing in his outward aspect the reflex of a life of murder.

My surprise was great to see a benevolent and venerable-looking person enter the apartment, whose snow-white beard corresponded with

his air of benignity and placid demeanour. His manners were gentle and polite; in fact, he had every outward sign of a particularly amiable character. He wore a green turban and a rosary round his neck, which showed that he had become a faqueer; even Lavater must have acknowledged that his system of physiognomy would not hold good in India, where men do not act in conformity with their natural disposition, but from the dictates of a dark system of idolatry. The Thug in question informed me, with a bland smile, that he had killed a hundred men; and on seeing me shrink from him with horror, he added that since becoming a faqueer he had quitted his former profession, but did not speak of it with the least confusion or remorse. He showed me the manner in which the fatal knot was tied, and how the handkerchief was used in strangling, precisely in the manner described above.

We must return to the novice. He required some practice before he could attain dexterity in his new profession; but in a short time he soon satisfied the rest of the band that he was competent to perform his task. The next thing was to learn to be a sotha, as those Thugs were denominated who were employed to decoy travellers into situations where they could be easily strangled.

"It does not appear to me," observed the young man, can be much difficulty in the character of a sotha."

"that there

"That is not the general opinion; men are proud of excelling in it, for they require the greatest tact and powers of dissimulation, ability to support characters and disguises, a smooth tongue and polite demeanour. All men have not these qualities; indeed, we may even consider them very rare."

"I am afraid, O my gooroo," replied the young man, "that it will require a great deal of experience before I can become a sotha."

"Do not be afraid, my son; your manners are pleasing, and your juvenile appearance will produce the idea of a simple and artless being. It is my intention to send you this evening to a rich merchant, who is established at the neighbouring village for a day or two to rest on his journey." "What am I to do?"

"You must entice him to join our party, that we may be enabled to strangle him."

"But how?"

"Have

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you never seen a spider preparing to catch flies ?"

Yes," answered the young man; "first of all it weaves a net." "And you must do the same. We hear the merchant is immensely rich, and greatly alarmed at the idea of robbers.'

"Indeed!"

"Well, you must work upon his fears, and state that having heard he is passing by, we are anxious to proceed on our journey with him, to ensure our mutual protection. He will be immediately caught by this pretext, and when he has joined our party we can strangle him this very evening, by practising the gan-kurna."

"I never heard you speak of that ceremony."

"It is performed in the following way," replied the gooroo :-" One of the party feigns sickness; the others say a charm will restore him, and beg the stranger to join in counting a certain number of stars: while thus engaged, it is easy to find an opportunity of strangling the newlyarrived guest."

These horrible instructions were obeyed; the Thug went to seek the