18 History of the Ramoossies. [Jan. 



granting receipts occasionally for greater sums than they re- 

 ceived. This undoubtedly was intended as a stimulus, to in- 

 duce the Patells the more readily to comply with their de- 

 mands. By the continuation of such a system of mis-rule, the 

 heads of villagers expected to be gainers. It recalled to the 

 recollection of many the period of former disturbances, which 

 produced a favourable harvest to the subordinates employed 

 in the fiscal departments. 



CHAPTER X. 



Oomiah, determined to punislji the Kolies, proceeds to Bhyre "Waray, burn* 

 the village to the ground, and prohibits any assistance being aftordod to th« 

 miserable families. — Oomiah's endeavours to get the people to salute him by 

 title of Rajah. — Skirmish, with a detail of the Extra Battalion and a sepoy 

 killed near Garaday. — A detachment from Jejoory surprise the gang in the 

 hills near Sakoordy, but the detachment retires to Jejoory.— The gang pro- 

 ceed to the Syadry range of mountams. — They plunder some sepoys. — The 



fang have a fight with a detachment near Sonapoor, and two Ramoossies are 

 illed. — Bulv/untRow Koley tries to surprise Bhojajee Naik. — Some account of 

 Bhojajee. — He rejoins Oomiah after having exchanged a few shots with the 

 detachment at Keekvy. — Captain Davies follows the Bund to Koary. — They 

 proceed westward and descend into the Konkan. — They seize a Havildar 

 and four sepoys and murder three of the latter. — They have a skirmish with 

 the troops at Oomardy. 



As the Poorundur Kolies continued staunch in the dis- 

 charge of their duty, and Oomiah had failed in every attempt 

 to win them over to his cause, he paid them another visit 

 at Bhyrewara, early in November, and burned the village to 

 the ground. He on this occasion addressed a proclamation 

 to the inhabitants of the district, calling on them at their 

 peril, not to afford any protection to the wives and children 

 of such persons as joined the Kolies, (to act against the 

 Ramoossies ;) and that all who should be found to have dis- 

 obeyed his orders should be put to death. 



A considerable force was employed at this period in the 

 Kolapoor country ; without doubt Oomiah's ultimate object 

 in thus plundering and levying contributions, and in pro- 

 moting the Rajah's cause, was to render his own character 

 and reputation more prominent, and to attract more general 

 attention on himself. He made an effort about this time to 

 exact from the inhabitants some of the respect and atten- 

 tions they are accustomed to exhibit in paying homage to 

 their Rajahs ; and he endeavoured to induce his followers 

 and the lower orders to salute him by that title. 



On the morning of the 9th of November, the gang were 



