133 



History of the Ramoossies, 



[April 



Hide, Ko.a:urt 

 Seen, Kunlah f 

 Dead, Susslah f 

 Afraid, Erpoo f 

 Seize, Puttoo f 

 Wound, Nurklah f 

 Blood, Nehtooro 

 A corps, MachuU Sussla 

 Quick, Esskur 

 Slow, Geroola 



Fowl Korlaf 

 Stones, Rattal f 

 Good, Jhatore 

 Bad, Yerrvvar 

 Glad, Jhatore, Puddah f 

 Language, Matool f 

 Great Jhatore, Puddah f 

 Small, Sunnud, Sunwar 

 Run, Ookullf 



Run off secretly, Hoorkull f 



There can be little doubt but that the Ramoossies in their primi- 

 tive state, led a roving unsettled life, like many of the nomadic tribes, 

 keeping at some distance from the habitations of the more civilized 

 orders of society, and occasionally, when opportunities offered, plun- 

 dering travellers ; they also attacked at night the houses of the in- 

 habitants of towns and villages near which they halted ; as a mea- 

 sure of precaution, with the view of protecting their property from 

 such troublesome and dexterous robbers, the inhabitants of various 

 places deemed it most advisable, to employ some of these people in 

 the capacity of a preventive police ; and it may be observed, that it 

 has become frequently necessary in many parts of the country, to 

 continue a system perfectly analogous in modern times. 



This led to the institution of the village Ruckwalldar and Jaglahs, 

 (the guardian or watchman,) which, in the course of time, became 

 hereditary. With regard to the pay, fees and emoluments to 

 which a Ramoossy Ruckwalldar, or village watchman, is entitled 

 from long established usage, it is necessary to remark, that one uni- 

 form system does not prevail in the mode of remunerating them. 



In some towns and villages, also in hill forts, the Rukwalldars, and 

 a few of their followers, enjoyed merely a certain quantity of land 

 rent free, for discharging the duties that were assigned to them. In 

 other villages, they only receive an annual allowance in cash, partly 

 levied by an extra cess, and partly paid from the Government reve- 

 nue, under the head of village expences ; and again, in a few villa- 

 ges they only receive the Balottah allowance. — In the Satara terri- 

 tory, the Ramoossy watchmen receive this huk, or allowance, on the 

 same footing as the four members of the first class, or division, of 

 of the twelve Balottahdars ; while those to the north of the Neera, 

 in the Poona and Ahmednuggur collectorates, only receive shares of 

 the Balottah allowance, corresponding with what the four members 

 of the second division are entitled to. 

 The watchmen in a great many villages hold portions of rent free 



