1835.] 



History of the Ramoossies, 



233 



collectorates in the Dekhan to be satisfied of this. I 

 know many deep and large ravines, hilly and jungly parts 

 of districts, well known as being celebrated lurking places 

 for robbers, which are distant from eighteen to twenty- 

 five and thirty miles from the Thanna of the district 

 within the boundaries of which they are situated^, while 

 the same places are not above six to twelve miles distant 

 from another or nearer Thanna. These circumstances 

 may appear of little importance to many persons, but 

 they are inconveniences which should be remedied to 

 render the Police efficient ; they greatly interrupt a zea- 

 lous officer in discharging his duties, while to the rob- 

 bers they too frequently afford opportunities of evading 

 the Police. In the letter before alluded to, some obser- 

 vations were made respecting the necessity of employing 

 a greater portion of the predatory tribes as local police of 

 districts, whilst it was suggested, that they should be 

 posted in small parties where their services might be re- 

 quired ; and that the Naiks should not possess any great 

 extent of authority, but that they should be liberally paid^ 

 and kept independent of each other, and only to be con- 

 trolled by the Mamlutdars, whose duty it would be to 

 watch their conduct closely, to prevent them exacting 

 improper dues from travellers, or entering into a com- 

 promise with robbers. 



The duties of many of the Naiks, Bheels, and Kolies, 

 (and formerly of the Ramoossies,) from the arrangements 

 which it has latterly been found necessary to make, 

 in reducing the number of Mamlutdars (native collectors 

 of revenue) extends at present over tracts of country in- 

 cluding at times a portion of several pergunnahs, so that 

 they are liable to be called upon, by two or probably 

 three Mamlutdars at the same time. This is of course 

 objectionable for very obvious reasons, it enables the 

 .Naiks to show too great a spirit of independence, which 

 must prove detrimental to the public interests, should 



