MADRAS JOURNAL 



OF 



LITERATURE AND SCIENCE. 



No. S.—^pril, 1834. 



I — A Sketch of the History of the Ramoossies residing in the 

 Sattarah Territory and in the Poona and Ahmednuggur dis- 

 tricts — By Captain Alexander Mackintosh of the 27th Eegf, 

 M. N. I. Commanding Ahmednuggur Local Corps. 



CHAPTER I. 



Introductory observations. — The origin and migration of tribes.— That of the 

 Ramoossies involved in obscurity. — The limits of the country over Vi^hich 

 they are dispersed. — The origin of the tribe and that of their name vari- 

 ously explained. — The tribe divided into two main branches or clans.-— 

 Two minor families have sprung up since they crossed the Neera.—The 

 number of the tribe.— The remnants of their language . — Their employ- 

 ment as Rukwalldars or village guardians, — The nature of tiie duties they 

 have to perform. — The lands and emoluments they enjoy- 



We are frequently induced, either by motives of interest or curi- 

 osity, to inquire into the character and language, the manners and 

 customs of the inhabitants of a new, or foreign country, whose his- 

 tory is imperfectly known to us, although the result of our re- 

 searches may prove neither entertaining nor satisfactory. The nature 

 of the appointment I have held for many years past, having neces- 

 sarily brought me frequently in contact, I might say, in hostile col- 

 lision, with that portion of the population of the Dekhan commonly 

 distinguished as the predatory tribes, viz. the Bheels, Kolies, and 

 the Ramoossies, and having been recently occupied in suppressing 

 a disturbance in the country around Poona, caused by the latter 

 tribe, I am induced to attempt to give an account of them, in the 

 hope that it may not be unacceptable to those who take an interest 

 in such matters. 



It is generally remarked, that the history of the origin and migra- 

 tions of almost every tribe and nation, is more or less involved in 



