34 Hutory of the Ramoossies. [Jan, 



"by some of the mliabitants, it mattered not what the subject 

 of complaint was, whether on account of property stolen, or 

 connected with quarrels of a domestic nature. All these 

 matters he, with the assistance of some unprincipled persons 

 who found it profitable to reside near him, settled in a 

 summary manner. Koonbies, Ramoossies, Mhars, Mangs, 

 and other persons of low caste, appeared before his tribunal 

 for the i-edress of their grievances, and when they did not 

 present themselves, on the circumstance of their complaint 

 becoming known to him, they were in general summoned to 

 Sakoordy : these people frequently came from the distance of 

 fifteen, twenty-five, and thirty miles. 



The complainants almost invariably paid a small bribe to 

 Oomiah, or to those around him, to insure a speedy and favor- 

 able decision of their case ; and after the trial was over, he 

 was accustomed to fine the defendants a rupee or two, ac- 

 cording to their means of payment. Sometimes he has levied 

 five and ten rupees, and on several occasions as many ag 

 thirty and even sixty, and invariably exacted payment in 

 grain. A decree was then granted to the parties ; but the 

 precaution was adopted, of taking a paper from the defendant, 

 in which he declared that he was satisfied with the decision, 

 and that he would never appeal to any of the Government 

 authorities against the mode in which the business had been 

 arranged. Oomiah moreover informed the parties, that if 

 they acted contrary to their promise, they must abide by 

 the consequence, for that they might rest assured of having 

 their houses burnt, or some severe punishment inflicted 

 on them. 



It was customary foT him to place under restraint such 

 persons as resisted, or even evinced a disinclination, to abide 

 by his judgment. In this way they were detained for several 

 days, sometimes for a fortnight and even longer ; and if deem- 

 ed necessary, they were prevented going beyond the limits 

 of the guard to eat their meals. In fact it may be said that 

 the magisterial duties of the district around Jejoory, and 

 part of the Indapoor Pergunna, were thus usurped by Oo- 

 miah. 



The Rajah of KSatara visited the fort of Singhur about the 

 middle of the month of February 1829 ; on his return from 

 thence he halte d at the village of Nussrapoor, a few miles 



