I recollect a curious circumstance that happened in 1783, at Bankypore, when the tent of a staff-officer was entered, during the night, by a fellow of this description, who, it being moon-light, and one part of the tent only closed by a cheek, was discovered by the gentleman as he lay in bed. Seeing his property on the move, he sprang up to disengage a hog-spear that was tied up to that pole of the marquee which was nearest the bed; but the thief got the start of him, by seizing the officer’s sword, which was suspended by a hook that buckled on to the other pole. The adventurer being thus armed, prevented the gentleman from getting possession of the spear: after one or two menacing flourishes, he darted out of the tent, sword in hand, and was speedily beyond the reach of pursuit.
Another very ludicrous circumstance occurred some years antecedent to the above. A gentleman who inhabited a small bungalow, on the banks of a river, and who was very ill of that complaint ‘the liver,’ for which he was under a course of mercury, perceived, in the dusk of the evening, a thief prowling about the apartment in which he was sitting. The fellow was extremely industrious: and threw a number of articles, not even sparing the bed-linen, out at a window that stood open. The gentleman affected to take no notice, but resolved, when the thief should follow his booty, to take him by surprize, while in the act of collecting them from under the window.
This was, by no means, an imprudent resolution, as it appeared probable that the rogue might be secured, at the same time that the property should be recovered. At length, after having thrown out whatever was convenient to his purpose, and having peeped out of the window, the thief made suddenly towards the gentleman, and snatched from his head a beautiful shawl, with which he skipped out of the window.
This feat demanded instant action; the gentleman called lustily for his servants, who, awaking from their slumbers, ran to obey the vociferated summons, and were just in time to see a small dingy (or boat) pulling away to the opposite bank, with the goods, the thief, and his accomplices, on board!
All who travel by land, should be on their guard never to allow jugglers, or show-men, of whatever description, to enter their tents; which they will endeavor to do, under pretence of shewing off their mummeries, with the intention of ascertaining the posture of whatever moveables may be within. In this, they are sometimes mistaken; it being usual to have all boxes, camp-baskets, &c., assembled about the foot of the tent-pole, at night, and to secure them by means of a chain passing through their respective handles, &c.; the ends of the chain being furnished with a padlock.
In fair weather, the safest mode is to have all the things moved out of the tent, and placed in a heap, under charge of a sentry, who then need pay little attention to any other object, as the thieves are most intent on those trunks, &c., which they suppose to contain money, plate, &c.: as to articles of apparel, they are of little value, and would, probably, lead to discovery; the handles of swords, and breast-plates, of officers, being generally of solid silver, may be placed among the furtive desiderata, therefore, should be placed in a state of security.
When I speak of discovery, it is not to be understood that the same dread is entertained on that head, as prevails among the thieves of this quarter of the world. In India, whole villages are inhabited by thieves, who keep the country around in a state of perpetual terror and of vigilance: hence, when a jemmadar furnishes chokey-dars, he often does it with great reluctance, under the apprehension of a visit from some neighbouring gang of notoriety, who act with greater confidence, from the consideration, that the village, at which the robbery may take place, will be accountable for whatever property may be stolen.
Hence, a party is always safest when encamped near a village of professed thieves, who will, ordinarily, forbear to depredate under that circumstance; conscious that the value put upon the several articles stolen, must necessarily be, at least, tenfold their value to the robbers; though not in the least exaggerated by those from whom they were stolen.
Here it is to be observed, that, in order to render the claim to remuneration clear and decisive, it is proper that a requisition should have been made to the jemmadar for chokey-dars; otherwise, it may be argued, that the property was not under his protection. Sometimes, by way of cavil, a jemmadar, of such a description, will find fault with the position of an encampment, and use many pleas for the purpose of raising objections, whenever the losses sustained may be laid before the collector, or judge of the district. If, however, he should refuse to grant chokey-dars, it will be necessary to keep a very sharp look-out; it being a strong indication of intended mischief.
Almost every jemmadar of character will reprobate the indulgence of that kind of curiosity which leads gentlemen, on their first arrival, to pay the smallest attention to the performances of mountebanks, jugglers, puppet-show-men, &c.; all of whom are notorious thieves, and are attended by numerous confederates, whose business it is to patrole about under the semblance of country-bumkins, come to view the camp, and to take advantage of whatever opportunities may arise, in consequence of servants, &c., quitting their several charges, to witness the exhibitions of the attractive portion of the gang.