1835.] 



History of the Ramoossies. 



35 



from Poomnder. Oomiali proceeded to Nussrapoor, and 

 having been admitted to an interview with the Rajah, he 

 submitted some of his sunnuds* for His Highness's inspec- 

 tion ; upon which Oomiah was informed, that if he had any 

 claims within the Satara ten'itory, they should be investi- 

 gated, and should be restored ta him, provided they were 

 satisfactorily estabhshed. The Rajah happened to observe 

 that Oomiah did not wear a turban, but merely had a ker» 

 chief on his head. He now mentioned to His Highness 

 the circumstance of the vow of his cousin Raggoo (as before 

 explained.) The Rajah seemed pleased with his explana- 

 tion, and presented him with a turban and dress* 



On the 2d of April a gang of Kykaries f plundered a 

 coppersmith's house at Shikrapoor, a village twenty miles 

 north of Poona. The following morning the Shikrapoor 

 Ramoossies traced the gang to Loony, and succeeded in. 

 seizing one of them, with some of the stolen property. Oo- 

 miah's brother Kristnajee, was in the neighbourhood ; he 

 came and took charge of the prisoner, and proceeded with 

 him to Shikrapoor, where the property was identified, and 

 the necessary depositions taken, upon which Kristnajee pro- 

 ceeded with him to Sakoordy. Oomiah obtained informa- 

 tion from this prisoner which led to the apprehension of all 

 the rest of the party. He placed them all in confinement 

 and after some days extorted a fine of four hundred rupees 

 from them. Oomiah was accustomed to tell the owner of 

 the property, that he was preparing the case in order to hand 

 the robbers over to the Magistrate at Poona ; he evidently 

 however had no intention of acting up to his promise, for 

 it appeared to him that these were a description of active, 

 daring, and cunnings rogues, whose services he could 

 turn in a very advantageous manner to his own account. 

 He therefore prevailed on them to reside at Sakoordy; osten- 



■* Credentials, deeds, grants, diplomas. 



t These Kykaries had'gone to Shikrapoor to eapture, if possible, forty thou- 

 sand rupees which some bankers at Ahmednuggur had forwarded to Pooiia; but 

 they found the escort on the alert, and strong ; they consequently retired, and pro- 

 ceeded to a copper smith's house, which they plundered. 



The Kykaries are of a low taste, their profession is basket making, they lead a 

 nomadic life, and frequently commit robberies. A few of them have become per- 

 manent residents both at Poona and Satara, To judge from their language, 

 i aril incliiied to think, they must have come origiaaily from the Karnatik or 

 Mysore. 



