1834.] History of the Eamoossies. 



128 



euphonical one of Ramoossy. Again some of them maintain, that 

 the name of Ramoossy is derived from Ramvounssy the descendants 

 of Rama ; that he created them wken he was passing through the 

 Dekhan to Lunka, (Ceylon) in search of Seetah. 



The Ramoossy ranks very low among the Wurunu Shunkur, or 

 mixed classes, and far beneath the Pooikush, or Dongry Kolcy, but 

 before the Holar, Mhar, Mang Dhour, &c. These last the' Ra- 

 moossy scrupulously keeps at a respectful distance. There appears 

 to be no record in existence, from which any information respect- 

 ing the habits and customs of this tribe is to be obtained : — such 

 information as is attempted to be given here concerning them, was 

 gained entirely by long direct personal intercourse with the tribe, 

 ^nd especially with the most intelligent of the aged men. They 

 have considerable reluctance, in communicating an account of their 

 habits and customs to persons they are unacquainted with, although 

 they appear to have nothing very peculiar to them, that is not com- 

 mon to the other predatory tribes. Their backwardness in this res- 

 pect, may possibly be partly owing to prejudice, and either self- 

 pride or self-interest, originating in their being generally more civi- 

 lized, and therefore unwilling they should be supposed capable of 

 committing the atrocities for which they are notorious, and partly 

 from the apprehension that they themselves might become too ge- 

 nerally known, and consequently attract the attention of the ruling 

 authorities, which might lead to their being placed more closely un- 

 der the surveillance of the Police, and that, ultimately, the princi- 

 pal although unlawful source from which the majority of them had 

 been in the habit of drawing a subsistence from time immemorial, 

 would be shut up against them. 



By some of the inhabitants, the Ramoossies and Berrurs, or Ber- 

 durs, are looked upon as one and the same tribe ; but it may be 

 presumed, that their considering the two terms synonimous, arises 

 from the great similarity of pursuits and habits that exists between 

 these two classes. Admitting even that they were originally one 

 and the same tribe, they are at present, and have been for ages, a 

 distinct people. 



The Berdurs who inhabit the district of Soorapoor, and are spread 

 over the country east and south of Bejapoor, and the banks of the 

 Toomboodra river, hold no intercourse whatever with the Ramoos- 

 sies who reside in Maundesh, the district east of Satara, nor do the 

 oldest men among the Ramoossies recollect having ever heard, that 

 their fathers considered the Berdurs, and the Ramoossies, as being 



