1835.] 



History of the Ramoossies. 



203 



proaching. It was noticed that the men advancing look- 

 ed like villagers. Some one said they might be sepoys 

 in disguise. Bhojajee Naik, who is able to move at a 

 rapid rate on his hands and feet (all fours,) proceeded 

 to reconnoitre. He soon returned^ having discovered 

 that they were only ignorant villagers. It was proposed 

 that they should secret themselves in a nulla close to 

 them, with the intention of amusing themselves with the 

 Koonbies. The Shaikdar and his followers looked about 

 in every direction in hopes of finding Oomiah, and when 

 they approached the nulla, the gang unexpectedly rushed 

 out on them and put them to flight in a few seconds. 

 One of the Shaikdar's party was killed and two wound- 

 ed ; the Ramoossies pursued them to the village of 

 Greem, when some horsemen and sepoys were descried 

 advancing in their direction, upon Avhich the Bund retir- 

 ed into some strong ground. This occurred at 8 o'clock 

 in the morning. The detachment advancing towards 

 them proved to be twenty men of the 11th regiment 

 under Havildar Gunness Singh, and eight of the Poona 

 horse. The men anxious to surprise the Ramoossies, 

 were fatigued by their rapid march, and they did not all 

 come up at once. As the detachment approached the 

 Bund, the Ramoossies asked the sepoys why they came 

 after them, that the Bund had no wish to disturb them, 

 why therefore run the risk of being shot, for if they (the 

 sepoys) attack them, they must defend themselves. 

 Some of the sepoys told them to stop and not run 

 away. The sepoys were desired to keep at a distance, 

 and Oomiah remarked that they enjoyed good pay, 

 and that as there was no Officer near, why should 

 they expose their lives by attacking them. A sepoy 

 called out to Oomiah that they had come to cut 

 his head off ; upon which Oomiah replied that his 

 head rested on the palm of his hand, that any body 

 might have it who could take it. The Havildar was 



