1835.] 



History of the Mamoossies. 



19 



seen near a small village in the hills west of Garaday, and 

 seven miles from Sassoor. Upon this intelligence reaching 

 the latter place, a Naik's party of Captain Davies' Extra 

 Battalion stationed there, marched with a few horsemen in 

 search of them. When passing the village of Garaday the 

 Patell and some of the inhabitants joined the detachment. 

 About sunset, just as they had approached close to the 

 hamlet in the hills, the gang showed themselves on a 

 neighbouring hill ; they called out to the detachment ; asking 

 them where they were going, and what they wanted, at the 

 same time blowing their horns ; they afterwards began shout- 

 ing and giving utterance to the most abusive language, and 

 then commenced advancing rapidly towards the detachment. 

 The latter and the villagers put to the right about, and 

 made for the villages of Garaday, fighting as they retreated. 

 The gang separated into two divisions and exerted them- 

 selves, but unsuccessfully, to cut off the retreating detach- 

 ment. The old Patell, completely exhausted from fatigue 

 and fright, threw himself down in a field of corn, and the 

 gang passed him unperceived, but a sepoy of the Extra, 

 Battalion, who had taken post behind a tree close to a wall 

 was not so fortunate, Bhojajee Naik and Essoo Neekary 

 observed hira and cut him to pieces. The sepoys proceeded 

 rapidly to the Pateil's house, where there was much grief and 

 confusion, when it was discovered that the Patell himself 

 was missing. The Ramoossies being of opinion that ifc 

 would not be judicious on their part to approach the detach- 

 ment now under cover, they took up therefore a position 

 in a mangoe grove south of the village ; yet being anxious 

 to alarm and annoy the parties as much as possible, they 

 presently moved round the place, and approaching the house 

 occupied by the detachment, (which was a large building 

 two stories high,) they set fire to it ; with the exception of 

 the Pateil's daughter-in-law, who was most unfortunately 

 burnt in the flames, the sepoys and the rest of the inmates 

 effected their escape into an adjoining dwelling. 



The gang continued to move about the Foorunder hills, 

 apparently caring little for the numerous detachments posted 

 over the country for the purpose of opposing and subduing 

 them. On the 18th November, a Jumadar stationed at 

 Jejoory with a strong detachment of Infantry and ten horse- 



