1835.] 



History of the Ramoossies. 



3 



task she would impose on them, but they were not in the 

 habit of committing dehberate murder — that the caste of 

 Mangs, were the persons employed for such purposes. The 

 i'efusal however, on the part of the Ramoossies, to conform 

 to this wicked woman's desire, led to their being discharg- 

 ed from the Fakeer's service. But as some of the people 

 from the vicinity of the Poorundur hills joined the gang, 

 (that ultimately destroyed the unfortunate young woman,) 

 and as several of these were subsequently seized, when 

 making off with the rich booty, which they found after they 

 committed the murder, it was immediately rumoured, that 

 the crime had been perpetrated by the Ramoossies, and 

 shortly afterwards a communication was received from the 

 Nizam's deputy at Aurungabad, requesting that the accus- 

 ed men might be apprehended. This proceeding spread 

 alarm and consternation among all the Ramoossy emi- 

 grants, and they prepared to return to their native country. 

 A party consisting of from fifty to sixty men, women, and 

 children, with their flocks and herds, had proceeded some 

 distance on their way back to the Poorundur hills, when 

 they were pursued by some of the Nizam's troops that had 

 been moving about in search of them. The Ramoossies 

 instantly made for some strong ground near them, and di- 

 rected their women and children to drive their cattle, sheep, 

 and goats, into the jungle, and to conceal themselves as well 

 as they could. The grown up men of the party were in number 

 twenty-two, and were partly armed with matchlocks and 

 swords. They determined to make a stand against the 

 horsemen advancing towards them, to give sufficient time 

 to their females to reach a place of security. Although 

 there were upwards of a hundred horsemen, they had not 

 sufficient confidence in their own prowess to charge the 

 Ramoossies, but contented themselves with riding round them 

 at a distance, as if waiting for a reinforcement. Present- 



tara forced Bappoo to the commission of acts, for which he was ultimately ob- 

 lio-ed to seek for protection from Oomiah. He was seized at the same time, 

 and both terminated their earthly career on the same day. . . a ^ 



About nine years ago Aieyla, the sister of Bappoo, lost her husband, to 

 whom she was greatly attached. She wished much to ascend the funeral pyre 

 with the dead body of her husband, but after much entreaty on the part ot her 

 only daughter, and her friends, she was dissuaded from going Suttee at the 

 time Ilowever, as her grief was unceasing, and impossible to be allayed, at 

 the expiration of a year from her husband's death, she announced it to be her 

 determination to follow him; and after the necessary m-eparations were made 

 6ke was buried alive at the village of Borei, south of the Neera. 



