The Internet is a Circle

From a column on James Bond and spies in general comes this tidbit...

The first modern spies were indeed identified with Empire. They were those who played the “Great Game” for imperial stakes on the North West Frontier of India. But they were real people, some of them coming to ends that even Largo, Rosa Klebb and the cat-eating Oddjob might have hesitated to inflict. It was the spies of the Indian Political Service, in direct descent from Sleeman and Malcolm, the infiltrators and destroyers of the Thuggi gangs who infested the north Indian roads, who gave rise to the first great modern spy story — Kipling’s Kim, published in the last gasp of the Victorian era.

...which sounded to me like the kernel of a story far more fascinating than any Bond movie or novel. The kind of story that would make for a ripping historical novel, an engrossing non-fiction read, or a movie. And wouldn't you know, a little digging turned up The Deceivers, a 1988 film (based on a novel) about the infiltration of the Thuggee cult - starring Pierce Brosnan, who as everyone their dog is aware, took a turn as Bond.

This wikipedia entry lists several books on films on the Thuggee. I intend to track some of them down, as it really does sound like a fascinating episode of history.