206 



lU-storij of the namoossies. 



[July 



ft having' boon announoed that it was intendod to 

 "svitlulraw the great or part of the detachments in the 

 field, employed against the Ramoossies, on the 8th of 

 October, a letter was addressed to the Government, re 

 questing that the detachment might he permitted to 

 continue for some short time longer in pursuit of the 

 gang, as measures were in progress by which it was 

 hoped that Oomiah might be taken. Accordingly an 

 order that had been issued for the recall of the greater 

 part of the detachment. Government was pleased to 

 suspend for the time. 



It is to be noticed, that several of the prisoners had 

 been executed, and the impression made on the public 

 mind was such as so severe an example might be ex- 

 pected to produce. Still a portion of the well disposed, 

 and others of the inhabitants who had shown a dispo- 

 sition to aid us during the operations against the Ra- 

 moossies, felt a considerable degree of uneasiness and 

 distrust, in consequence of the reports in circulation that 

 the troops were to be v/ithdrawn. 



The Hetkurries had been latterly pressing Oomiah 

 for their pay, and for permission to Cjuit the gang and 

 to return to their hoines, being heartily tired of the dan- 

 gers and privations to which they had been so long ex- 

 posed.* 



Bhojajee proposed to Oomiah to plunder some rich 

 man's house, in order that he might obtain means to 

 satisfy the present demands of the Hetkurries, but this 

 counsel was declined and the gang proceeded to the 

 Bhore ghaut, having sent in advance two men to obtain 

 information respecting any treasure that might be pass- 



* One of theiv nuaa.ci, who had been severely wounded and taken 

 prisoner, had a very narrow escape, a? th-3 Ramoossies were about to cut off 

 his head, (according to their usual custom on such occasions.) wiicn a Ijvo- 

 ther interfered (who placed him under some bushes.) and said that he would 

 recover sufficiently to join them in two days at the Kiiurry PiUhur. By 

 this means, the man'i life was saved. 



