22 



History of the Ramoossies. 



The gang subsequently removed the bodies, and buried 

 them a few koss from the place, and then Oomiah marched 

 into the Mawils, levying contributions from all the villages 

 he approached, whether belonging to the British or the Punt 

 Suchew. 



Bhojajee* Naik having in the meantime collected about 

 sixty men, of various tribes, was advancing to rejoin Oomiah 

 with this new levy. Bulwanta Koley, had been latterly re- 

 inforced with a Havildar's party of Infantry, and having 

 gained information of Bhojajee Naik's movements, he was 

 anxious to intercept him if possible, and take his revenge 

 for the rough treatment he had experienced from this Naik 

 on former occasions. Bulwunta Koley, being aware that 



* Bhojajee is an extremely active, bold, rash, and sanguinary character, but 

 is not a person well calculated to become the successful leader of a gang. He 

 does not possess the firmness, patience, prudence, and conciliatory qualifications 

 requisite for such a situation, and is in other respects deficient in capacity He 

 was married to a cousin of Oomiah's, but being of an amorous disposition, and 

 being enamoured of a Ramoosseen the wife of an acquaintance, he assassinated 

 the liusband. This woman has shown great attachment to Bhojajee. She and 

 other female friends have frequently aliorded him timely aid, when he has been 

 in imminent danger. After he joined Oomiah in his plundering excursions, he 

 became so turbulent and violent in his conduct, that Oomiah had great difficulty 

 in controlling him. He appears however to have been sensible of his want of 

 capacity for acting independently, and submitted quietly to Oomiah's directions; 

 he subsequently became devotedly attached to him, Bhojajee being so active and 

 daring in the skirmishes in which the Bund were engaged with troops or Police, 

 many persons, and even some of the sepoys, have supposed that he possessed 

 some magical powers, as they could not hit him when thev fired at a distance of 

 from forty to eighty paces. 'He during this time continued jumping about waving 

 his large sword before him, and abusing the sepoys, and challenging them to 

 advance nearer. At the period Oomiah was employed in the Police at Sakoordy, 

 and when he paid a visit to the Magistrate at Poona, Bhojajee used always to 

 accorapany him, with a select party of their followers within a short distance of 

 the place, and remained prepared to make a dash to rescue, his chief, in case it 

 miffht be considered necessary to put him under restraint. Since the first dis- 

 turbance was settled in 1828, Bhojajee has neyer slept in his house, apprehensive 

 of some act of trsachery. He was in the habit of taking his morning and even- 

 ing meals vv'ith his family, but invariably slept in the Sakoordy hills, always 

 keeping ten or fifteen men with him. He is a capital marksman with his matcli- 

 loctc, and esteemed an expert swordsman ; he is particularly fond of att;ickin<^ 

 tigers, whenever opportunity offers. His father was shot whilst engaged in kilt- 

 ing a tiger. The tiger, when hunted, is very apt to take refuge from his pur- 

 suers in any small dense thicket in his vicinity, and is not at times easily driven 

 from such shelter. The matchlock men in general surround the spot, and make 

 a hideous noise, shoutiag and firing their matchlocks to force the animal to quit 

 his retreat; and should ho dash out furiously amongst them, (as I have seen 

 some tigers do,) all of them level their guns, and in the confusion that takes 

 place, the chances are, that they shoot some one of themselves instead of the 

 tiger. Bhojajee has always declared that he will never surrender himself or 

 suljmit to be taken aliv?, and ihdt if he saw there was a prospect of his being over- 

 powered and seized, that he vfouid teriniu'ite his own existence. 



Since writing this, Bhojajee, with his five friends the remnants of the Bund, 

 hiis been surprised by Kim Singh, (who on one occasion surprised and nearly 

 captured Oomiah,) with his party'ox Sibundies, and a few horsemen of the Hin- 

 doost-m iiijisaiuih. Bh ijajee and one of his followers were overtaken and 

 wounded by tho horsemen, and they died daring tho niglit. Tlie Ramoosies 

 having previously boL^u called on to iUirrender aud give up their arms, their reply- 

 was, Only with our lives," 



