136 



History of the Ramoossies. [April 



Sibundies were now obliged to discontinue the cbase^ and 

 retired in the direction of the village of Moray. The gang 

 seemed greatly alarmed, and ascended some rising ground 

 near them, to discover if possible where the rest of the de- 

 tachment was^ for they concluded that these few men were 

 only part of a large force close to them. 



They bent their course towards the Neera, and moved 

 rapidly into the Satara territory. Captain Luyken with a 

 light detachment, and Subedar Luchmungeer with a de- 

 tacliment of the Ahmednuggur Police Corps, being in the 

 vicinity, followed the gang, and pursued them into the hills 

 southeast of Salpie. Oomiah at length met his friends 

 Bhojajee, and Kristnajee here with about forty men. When 

 at Mole on the 4th February, they drew up three proclama- 

 tions, addressed to all the Ramoossy Naiks in the Satara 

 territory, stating that with the concurrence of Government 

 they, Oomiah Naik, and Bhojajee Naick Ramoossy, and 

 and the Kolies and Dheres of the fort of Poorundur, called 

 on them all to repair to the fort of Poorundur, &c. ; stronf^- 

 iy recommending all of them to be of one mind, to act with 

 unanimity, especially if they regarded the rights and emo- 

 luments which they enjoyed, * &c. &c. 



Oomiah with Kristnajee, Ram Row Koley, &c. concoct- 

 ed this production, and Ram Row acted as secretary on 

 the occasion. They found it now difficult to remain above 

 a day or two in the same place, owing to the activity of the 

 detachments ; and as they had latterly suffered much from 

 the w^ant of food, they determined to return among their 

 friends. A few hours, therefore, after they had dispatched 

 these proclamations, (dated 5th February, 1832,) they set 

 out for the Poorundur hills, halting near Walla, where they 

 remained concealed during the day, and in the evening 

 (of the 6th) they proceeded to W^alla, plundered the Bun- 

 ny ah's house there, and wounded a Dherc. The gang 

 were in number about seventy at this time, (although re- 

 ported to be nearly twice as many.) As they entered 

 Yvalla, two men proceeded wiih all possible speed to 

 Dhound, tw^o miles distant, to give information to Jema- 



* 111 the Ramoossy l<(ii<,nu'ge it was written, " Bo careful and keep all thuse 

 matters quite secret from tlio Euio^ cans audit ends with imprecaLiuus. 



