The Phansiagars bring up their children to their own profession. To
learn this, the boy is placed under the care of a tutor. Sometimes his
father is his teacher. By him he is taught that it is just as proper to
murder a man, as it is to kill a snake which lies in his path and would
bite him as he passes. He is not permitted at first to see the murders,
but merely a dead body; his mind being gradually prepared for the sight.
After this, the dreadful secret of his trade is, by degrees, told him.
When he expresses a wish to be engaged in this horrid business, they
tell him all about it. In the meantime he is allowed a small part of the
plunder, in order that his desire to commit these murders may be
increased; since it is only by murder that the plunder is obtained. He
is from time to time allowed to assist in some things, while the murder
is taking place, or allowed to be present to see how the business is
managed. It is not, however, until he becomes a man, that he is
permitted to apply the noose. To attain this privilege, he usually
devotes eight or ten years. Before he can commit a murder, his tutor
must present him with a noose. This sets him loose upon the world, as a
licensed murderer.
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