1835.] 



History of the Ramoossies. 



133 



from the Dekhan to the Konkan, and were in close com- 

 munication with the officers above the Ghauts. 



Several prisoners v/ere no\Y seized, and information ob- 

 tained that Oomiah was to receive provisions at the small 

 village of Peerapry (nearly two miles south of Sassoor and 

 close to the hills) on the night of the 24th January. As 

 provisions are always placed in the vicinity of water, two 

 detachments moved from Sassoor early in the evening, in 

 opposite directions, with orders to approach a circuitous 

 route, a well and a pool of water, both being between the 

 village and the hills, and then to conceal themselves as well 

 as the ground would admit of. The night was beautifully 

 bright, and they returned at two o'clock in the morning, 

 without having seen any thing of the gang. It may how- 

 ever be mentioned, after Oomiah was seized, he one day 

 observed that he had been deprived of his food at Peempry^ 

 for that as they were approaching the place, they saw the 

 detachment, and consequently proceeded to a village two 

 miles distant. 



This portion of the gang having now moved into the 

 AUundy range of hills, rumours of large bodies of men 

 being seen during the night time in the villages east of 

 Poona, were in circulation. The gang concealed them- 

 selves in the day time, among the prickly -pear bushes on 

 the hills ; and, wrapped up in their black kumlies (blankets) 

 resembled so many wild hogs (as they have often themselves 

 described.) They were not permitted to move from the 

 spot they occupied, under any pretext whatever, unless 

 their concealed sentries announced the approach of some 

 danger. 



For the purpose of procuring provisions, they usually 

 proceeded in the evening to the vicinity of some village, 

 and then they sent one or two men to announce to the 

 Patell that a supply of provisions was required for the 

 gang ; all of them afterwards entered the place, if it v/as 

 a small village, or if they had relations or friends among 

 the inhabitants, and provided there was no chance of their 

 being surprised. In the event of any danger being appre- 

 hended, two or three baskets containing a sufficient quan- 

 tity of bread to admit of each man having two or three 



