1834.] 



History of the Ramoossie$. 



130 



but he intermarries with the Chowan and the remaining families of 

 this stock ; as well as with the Jadoo, and all the families of that 

 branch. 



The Goorgool is an adopted son of the Chowans. He therefore 

 does not intermarry into the Chowan family, but he does into all 

 the other families of this branch — and into the Jadoo, and ail the 

 families of that stock. 



The GooTgool might have been an infant of some one of the four 

 principal classes of Hindoos, and reared in the Chowan's house, 

 and subsequently admitted into the Ramoossy caste ; and, very 

 probably, the Rorray family originated in the same manner — or he 

 might have been the offspring of a Bhandollkur, and a Shelky by 

 ' illicit intercourse, but admitted into the caste after the parents had 

 performed the required penance. 



The Chowan is considered the most eminent and pure of the Ra- 

 moossies ; therefore, on all occasions of ceremony and the adjust- 

 ment of affairs of importance, connected with their caste, the Chowan 

 Naik obtains the precedence, and the presence of one of them 

 is always deemed necessary on such occasions. 



From register rolls prepared for me by the native local authorities 

 of all the districts in the Satara territory, and in the Poona and 

 Ahmednuggur collectorates — and, from information communicated 

 by members of the tribe, tables have been drawn up to show the 

 number of Ramoossies, both hereditary and temporary residents 

 (Oopries) of villages, above the age of sixteen years, with an ac- 

 count of the lands they enjoy in Enam, (or freehold,) as well as the 

 amount of their pay and the other perquisites they receive ; from 

 this return, it appears there are 3,011 men in the Satara territory, 

 1,949 in the Poona, and 573 in the Ahmednuggur collectorates, 

 exclusive of 203 Holgah Ramoossies along the banks of the Seena 

 river. Two or three Enam, or foreign villages, may have escaped 

 enumeration, and there are a few Ramoossies settled in His High- 

 ness the Nizam's villages, on the western boundary of the Ahmed- 

 nuggur and Poona districts. 



According to tradition, the districts around Kuttow, Musswur, 

 Malloura, Nullgoond, the hill fort of Mymungur, in Maundesh, and 

 east of Satara, also the town of Phultun, are the tracts in which 

 the first traces of the tribe are found, and there can be little doubt, 

 that their permanent location there must have occurred many hund- 

 red years' ago. 



