86 History of the Ramoosdes, [Jan. 



sibly for the purpose of following their trade of basket mak- 

 ing. Oomiah kept the stolen articles for his own use which 

 they had plundered at Shikrapoor, the owners not daring to 

 make any representation to the Magistrate on the subject. 



On the 28th of June, Oomiah sent these Kykaries to 

 plunder the houses of two Brahmuns at the small village of 

 Pinggory in the hills south of Sakoordy. They secured 

 gold and silver ornaments, with some clothes, altogether 

 worth upwards of one thousand seven hundred rupees. The 

 footsteps of the gang were traced the next morning into the 

 boundary of the village of Sakoordy, and the Patell of Sa- 

 koordy was called on to deliver up the robbers, if he could 

 not prove that they had passed beyond the limits of his vil- 

 lage. The Patell consulted Oomiah as to what he should 

 do : the latter demurred, consequently the Brahmuns went 

 to Poona and stated the whole alfair to the Magistrate. 



The inhabitants of Sakoordy were now informed, that 

 unless they could prove that the robbers had quitted the 

 boundary of their village, they must according to the long 

 established usage of the country, become responsible to the 

 owners of the property for the value of the same ; and Oo- 

 miah, whose duty it was to apprehend such delinquents^ 

 was directed to set diligently to work to seize them, or to 

 recover the property. The villagers of Sakoordy entered 

 into an agreement to make good the loss within the space 

 of fifteen days, or to seize the robbers, and all returned 

 from Poona to their village. 



After a few days had elapsed, Oomiah seat a sepoy for 

 the two Brahmuns and the Patell of Pinggory ; and as they 

 had been detained all day, they represented that in conse- 

 quence of fasting so long they wished to return to their 

 houses, which they were permitted to do. Being frequent- 

 ly annoyed and harassed in this manner, and obliged to feed 

 the sepoys who came to summons them, they began to think 

 it was hopeless to expect to recieve anything from Oomiah, 

 and they listened the more readily to his proposals in order 

 to get rid of the trouble he unceasingly caused them. They 

 therefore granted a receipt in full of all demands against 

 the villagers of Sakoordy, and they were then permitted to 

 rest at peace : they had however been previously warned 

 against making any complaint to the Magistrate, and threats 



