Photographs of India

291 x 215 mm. Group portrait of seven Thugs seated cross-legged on a woven carpet. The inclusion of the carpet in the photograph, and the age of the sitters, makes it appear likely that this photograph was taken at the Jubbulpor School of Industry. This institution was founded by (Sir) William Henry Sleeman (1788-1856) to give employment to ex-Thugs and their dependents and, amongst other productions, was noted for the excellence of its carpets. The practice of ritual murder and robbery known as thugee, endemic in India for hundreds of years although largely ignored in the early years of the East India Company's administration, was brought to public attention by William Sleeman who, as General Superintendent for the Suppression of Thugee in the 1830s and 40s, was largely responsible for the stamping out of the practice. Sleeman's own writings, particularly 'Rambles and recollections of an Indian official' (1844) and 'Illustrations of the history and practices of the Thugs' (1837), give a detailed account of the campaign. General histories include A.J. Wightman, 'No friend for travellers' (1959) and George Bruce, 'The stranglers' (1868). The former includes a portrait of the same figures seen in this print, evidently photographed on the same occasion but in a different pose. Possibly by Charles Shepherd, no. 128.

Indexed