S6 History of the Ramoossies. [JaN; 



nity to make his escape to the jungles, and which he at» 

 tempted to accomplish. Ten or twelve Ramoossies follow- 

 ed him. All eyes were now directed to the sepoy and his 

 pursuers ; but Bhojajee Naik, uttering some abusive language 

 remarked that they were not gaining on him, and he con- 

 sequently sprung on his legs and followed them. By the time 

 they had reached to the distance of five hundred yards, Bho- 

 jajee had headed the Ramoossies, and in a short time 

 came up with the sepoy, whom he cut down, and the Manga 

 were sent to cut his head off. 



The Ramoossies having thus with the ferocity of a tiger 

 glutted their revenge, Oomiah sent for a Brahmun, and or- 

 dered him to address a letter to the Governor, in which it 

 was stated that he had fallen in with some sepoys, who had 

 afterwards been killed fin action,) and that he had cut off 

 their heads and forwarded them, knowing that heads would 

 be acceptable, and that he therefore meant to send some 

 more. He added a postscript to his letter, addressed to 

 the different villages on the route to Sassoor, cautioning 

 the inhabitants to be particular in transmitting the baskets 

 to their destination, and that he woidd burn the village 

 where they should be detained, and punish the inhabitants ; 

 the note was dated the 20th December, 1827. 



The commission of this murderous act on the part of the 

 Bund could scarcely have been expected, even from this 

 licentious gang ; for the Ramoossies, although the most 

 determined robbers, are not in general considered a blood- 

 thirsty race, except under circumstances of peculiar excite- 

 ment, and resistance to the attainment of the object of their 

 desires. Probably their proceedings in this instance may 

 be chiefly ascribed to the mistaken notions of the principles 

 of honor and justice ; it should however be remembered, 

 that there were with Oomiah several persons of influence, 

 viz. Bhojajee, Kristnajee, Wittoojee, Bhoany, and Mhadeo 

 Naiks, men of bold, impetuous, and vindictive dispositions. 

 It is quite evident that these men fell victims to unpitying 

 revenge ; the Havildar and other sepoys were set at liberty 

 two days afterwards. 



The gang now moved southward, along the western 

 face of the Ghauts. When in the jungles near the village 

 of Oomurdy, they were seen by a man who com. 



