1835.] 



History of the Ramoossies, 



217 



ing the attachment of the Hetkurries and Ramoossies 

 to Bhojajee. He in reply stated, that the fidelity and 

 honour of the Hetkurries were great, indeed proverbial, 

 and not to be suspected^ but that equal reliance could 

 not probably be placed on the Ramoossies. He fre- 

 quently declared that he never would have been caught, 

 had it not been for the deception practised on him by 

 Kalloo and Nana. When he afterwards was told that 

 one of the Hetkurries had surrendered himself, he im^ 

 mediately remarked, " The instant the circumstance 

 becomes known to Bhojajee, he will separate himself 

 from them." This turned out to be the case. 



That Oomiah was a person of very considerable abi- 

 lity can scarcely be doubted, for without talent and judg- 

 ment, he could not have secured to himself the respect 

 and terror of the population of the district. By his in^ 

 fluence and conduct, he rendered himself very popular 

 among the men of his own tribe, and a portion of the 

 lower orders of the population. Many of the unemploy- 

 ed military admired him for his hospitality, and respect- 

 ed him as a successful leader, while the numerous reli- 

 gious mendicants, and other needy persons who visited 

 Sakoordy, were singing his praises in all directions for 

 his charitable donations to themselves ; for the Vyrag- 

 gies and Goossynes who visited the temple of Jejoory 

 paid their respects to him, and he invariably presented 

 something to each of them, telling them at the same 

 time, that he bestowed all that his means could afford.* 

 He has frequently been seen to take part of his own 

 wearing apparel or that of his wife's that might be near 

 him, and cast it to some poor and needy creature. Al- 

 though a reckless and a hardened robber, he had little 

 pleasure in accumulating money, and his wife often re- 

 monstrated with him in vain on the subject of his pro- 



* To the Krahmuns at Jejoory he made an allowance of five rupees a 

 jBionth. which he pimctu*lly sent to them ou receiving his pay. 



