1835.] 



History of the Ramoossies. 



11 



Naik. — The Bund surprise Sew Naik ; more troops employed. — The Bund 

 enjoy the amusements of singing and dancing. — They descend into the Kon- 

 kan and plunder people passing with merchandize. — The Kolies of Bhyre 

 Waray attacked. — Oomiah has a skirmish with the inhabitants of Pureenchy. 

 — He is dangerously ill, — The Bund shelter themselves in the old hill forts, 

 in Waiedesh, during the monsoon. — Rewards offered for the apprehension of 

 the Naiks. — They communicate with the Rajah of Koilapoor. — BulwuntRow 

 Koley has a skirmish with the Bund.—Oomiah levies large sums of money, 

 from the inhabitants, and forbids them to pay revenue to the English. 



Shortly after Oomiah attained the chiefship, he plun- 

 dered the agent of one of the Putwurdan Jageerdars in 

 the hills south east of Jejoory, when passing from Me- 

 ritch to Poona, to which place he was proceeding to nego- 

 ciate the marriage of his son. The gang threatened to 

 attack the Vakeel's followers ; but he directed his people 

 to offer no resistance, they being comparatively few in 

 number, and made them move to one side, and the Ra- 

 moossies were told to take what they wanted. It is said 

 they carried off property worth about two thousand rupees. 



In the month of April 1826, the gang plundered a 

 Brahmun banker of Punderpoor of a considerable sum o£ 

 money, when passing to the east of Jejoory on his way 

 to Poona. About this time, some alterations were 

 made in the Police of the Poorundur district, Suttoo 

 Naik's father, and uncle, &c. and others had had succes- 

 sively charge of the Police. A Hindoostany Brahmun, 

 named Jowahir Singh, settled at Keekvy, and many years 

 employed in the hill fort of Poorundur, was now nominat- 

 ed to the charge of the Police. The gang had added 

 considerably to their numbers ; but those who latterly 

 joined them returned frequently to their homes. The 

 Police appear to have occasionally exerted themselves to 

 surprise the Ramoossies, but without success. The gang 

 continued to plunder, it may be said, with impunity, and 

 this induced many other idlers and evil disposed persons, 

 to follow their example, who frequently to avert suspicion 

 from themselves, circulated reports that particular robbe- 

 ries had been perpetrated by Oomiah's Ramoossies, 



The family of Byjoba Naik, Jageerdar of Phultun, was 

 plundered on the 16th July 1826, in the hills between 

 Dound and Jejoory on their way to Poona. The princi- 

 pal female of the family was detained for some time by 

 the gang, but subsequently set at liberty ; Oomiah obtain- 

 ed property on the occasion valued at about eight thou- 



