He did not stop in towns or villages, but camped outside of them and sent his servants in to buy provisions.

There were no habitations between villages.

Whenever he was between villages he was an easy prey, particularly as he usually traveled by night, to avoid the heat.

He was always being overtaken by strangers who offered him the protection of their company, or asked for the protection of his--and these strangers were often Thugs, as he presently found out to his cost.

The landholders, the native police, the petty princes, the village officials, the customs officers were in many cases protectors and harborers of the Thugs, and betrayed travelers to them for a share of the spoil.