# The Indians — The Moonstone character guide

> The Indians in The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Indians, Hindus, The Hindus

**First appearance:** 0003-ii

## Snapshot

Three Hindu priests in European dress who track the stolen Moonstone across England, patient, courteous, and utterly implacable in their mission.

## Who they are

They are the diamond's rightful guardians, sworn to return it to the temple from which Herncastle tore it, and they pursue it with quiet, methodical devotion. One visits Murthwaite disguised as a client, offering a jeweled casket as security and asking only how long a loan might run, his grave politeness barely concealing the assassin beneath. Their watchful presence shadows the Verinder household from the moment the Moonstone arrives, turning a family celebration into a contest over a sacred object.

## In the story

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moonstone_se/chapters/iii)

Three Indian officers of the palace are found dead or dying in the treasury; one prophesies vengeance on Herncastle.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moonstone_se/chapters/iii)

Three Indian jugglers who perform a scrying ritual with a boy to see Franklin Blake's approach.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moonstone_se/chapters/vii)

Suspected by Betteredge of lurking about the house; a small bottle of thick black liquor is found on the walk, linking them to the earlier juggling trick.

### [Second Narrative](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moonstone_se/chapters/second-narrative)

Still lurking near the Verinder estate, believed to be connected to the Moonstone's theft.

### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moonstone_se/chapters/ii)

One of the three Indians, likely the chief, visits Mr. Bruff disguised in European clothes, seeking a loan.

### [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moonstone_se/chapters/iii)

Central to the discussion; their pursuit of the Moonstone is analyzed, including their imprisonment and subsequent moves.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moonstone_se/chapters/ii)

Identified as the three Hindu conspirators likely responsible for the murder and theft of the Moonstone.

### [I: The Statement of Sergeant Cuff’s Man (1849)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moonstone_se/chapters/i-the-statement-of-sergeant-cuff-s-man-1849)

Three Indian men suspected of murder, who evade pursuit by disembarking at Gravesend and sailing for Bombay.

### [II: The Statement of the Captain (1849)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moonstone_se/chapters/ii-the-statement-of-the-captain-1849)

Three Hindu passengers who escaped the ship by stealing a boat and rowing ashore.

### [III: The Statement of Mr. Murthwaite (1850)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moonstone_se/chapters/iii-the-statement-of-mr-murthwaite-1850)

The three Brahmins who appear at the ceremony; recognized by Murthwaite from the Verinder estate.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moonstone_se/characters/the_indians
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moonstone_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moonstone_se/characters