Group of Thugs, 1865 (c).
Photograph from a photograph album of 254 photographs taken by Samuel Bourne (1834-1912), 1864.
Associated with the Thuggee Cult, India.

The Thuggee cult was devoted to Kali, the Hindu goddess of death and destruction. For many years they carried out thousands of murders by strangulation. They would befriend travellers and when a favourable opportunity occurred, strangle them by throwing a noose around their necks. They then robbed and buried them. This was done according to special religious rites.