1835.] 



History of the Ramoossles. 



33 



his condemnation was brought about by suborned testi- 

 mony.* 



Some robberies having been committed in the Mawills^ 

 Kristnajee and Wittoo Naik with some other Ramoossies were 

 sont by Oomiah into that part of the district to seize the plun- 

 derers. The Naiks succeeded in seizing several of them^ 

 and after this service they returned to Sakoordy, and Oomiah 

 had a chour (120 beghas) of land bestowed on him by Go- 

 vernment in enam, and on the 1 7th January 1829, his pay 

 was settled as follows, by Mr. Mills, the acting collector of 

 Poona : Oomiah was to receive thirty rupees, Bhojajee twen- 

 ty-five, five Naiks at twelve rupees, one Karkoon at ten, and 

 s«venty-two men at five rupees per month. 



Oomiah (until about this time) had considerable suspicion 

 with respect to the proceedings of Government towards him, 

 still fearing that some treacherous measures were contemplat- 

 ed, and that he should be treated in the same manner that 

 many of his tribe had been before him, by the former rulers 

 of the country. He however gained confidence now that the 

 pay of his Police establishment was settled, and was satisfied 

 reliance might be placed with perfect safety in the faith of 

 the British Government. He accordingly resolved on 

 mancBUvering so as to keep clear of all imminent danger, but 

 at the same time to indulge in his old habits. 



It is to be recollected he had been intrusted with the peace 

 of the district, and with the lives and property of the inhabi- 

 tants, but we shall presently see what was the flagitious line 

 of conduct which he chose to follow, and the distress and in- 

 jury he caused to many of the inhabitants from having been 

 armed with authority as he now was at Sakoordy. 



A considerable number of the unemployed and discharged 

 soldiery of the country, and other needy persons, resorted 

 now to Sakoordy, and Oomiah supplied them with grain for 

 their subsistence. Many of these remained with him not 

 only for days, but weeks and months, in the hope of getting 

 employment through his favor. About the same time, Oomiah 

 began to listen to and investigate complaints made to him 



* I understand that Dhoondoo Punt, who was tried before the Session Judge of 

 Poena, was sentenced to suffer death, but Government commuted the punishment 

 to imprisonment for life, and he died in confinement about the time it had been 

 finally resolved to employ the troops to disperse the large body of armed men Oo- 

 nais^h was assembling at Sakoordy, near Jejoory, in the month of January, 1831. 



