234 History of the Ramoossies, [July 



the country be of a naturally strong description. The 

 pay of these people upon the occasion of a robbery taking 

 place, was liable to be stopped for an unlimited period of 

 three, six, or twelve months, or till the stolen property 

 was recovered. As the men employed under these 

 Naiks were in general adventurers 3 and persons in very 

 distressed circumstances, when deprived of their pay, it 

 is well known that many of them were driven at times to 

 commit the crimes which it was their duty to prevent, 

 A different mode of paym.ent was proposed, by making 

 a small deduction from their pay monthly, and coming to 

 a settlement by discharging the arrears once in every si% 

 months, according to the ancient usage of the country. 

 From the balance thus to be retained in hand, deducti- 

 ons were made to meet the losses sustained by gro&s 

 neglect of duty on the part of the PoHce | much villany 

 continues to be practised by many of these Naiks and 

 their followers, but should it at any future period be con- 

 sidered advisable to limit the extent of their duties, I 

 would by no means lessen their pay, to defray the ex- 

 pense of establishing any number of additional Naiks. 

 This is too common a practice under our Government in 

 almost all departments, and it seldom proves economical^ 

 It renders the persons whose pay is reduced, discontent- 

 ed, and makes them exert their wits to make up the loss 

 from some other often unlawful source. As these Naiks 

 receive some perquisites, (ballotah, &c.) which of course 

 they forfeit all claim to, in certahi villages, when they 

 act as guardians no longer to these places — it would be 

 most advisable and just, to increase their pay ra- 

 ther than diminish it, notwithstanding their duties 

 have decreased. Although it is necessary to lessen 

 the expenditure, still it is necessary to be particular in 

 the inquiries set on foot, to ascertain in what par- 

 ticular department, and from whose pay the deductione 

 are to be made. The character of the persons, the situ- 



