141 



History of the Ramoossies* [April 



The duties of the village Rukwalldar or Watchman, although they 

 are unceasing, are comparatively of a light nature; and his success 

 depends on his personal character, his activity, and his local know- 

 ledge ; on his attachment to the village, and his desire of keeping 

 on the best footing with all the inhabitants, and guarding their pro- 

 perty from the depredations of others, — and above all, on not con- 

 niving at the spoliation of any part of it whether within doors or in 

 the fields, by any of his own family, or followers ; — unfortunately, 

 many are the causes of complaint which the villagers, but more es- 

 pecially the farmers, have against the watchmen on this account. 



These faithless warders not unfrequently carry off during the 

 night, part of the corn that had been cut down and left in the fields, 

 and steal the grain from their Khullies, or Rasses (temporary f irm- 

 yards,) in the fields, or near their villages ; — Yet rather than be at 

 opea war with the Rukwalldars, these complaints are seldom, or 

 never, pressed upon the notice of the Government agents. 



There are instances of the Ramoossy Naiks who are of a bold and 

 daring spirit, having a great ascendency over the village Patells and 

 Koolkurnies, but which the latter, do not like to ackno^v ledge open- 

 ly. These dread representing to higher authority the irregularities 

 which the Rukwalldar and his followers are guilty of; — and it some- 

 times happens that the village officers participate in the profits 

 which the Ramoossies derive from committing such irregularities. 



A great number of the Ptamoossies and their families live in ex- 

 treme poverty and wretchedness, dragging on a very miserable 

 existence ; many of those in the most distressed circumstances are 

 usually persons, who had come from distant villages, or quitted 

 their native place, in consequence of having been concerned in some 

 theft, or robbery, when most probably, several persons had been 

 badly wounded, or killed ; and some of them keep moving about 

 the country in expectation of obtaining some employment. — These 

 Ramoossies when they become inmates of a new villag:e, sn'^^nort 



acts in levying fines, and to conform, at the same time, with long ebiaox-,i..ca 

 usages of the people. I subjoin an extract from the regulations of the Bombay 

 Government, to show how the iMagistrates are to act in such cases Reg : XI, 

 of XXX. " When a robbery has been committed within the boundary of a 

 village, or the perpetrators of a robbery have been satisfactorily traced there- 

 to, and neglect or connivance be charged against the inhabitants or the police 

 establishment with regard to prevention, detection, or apprehension, it shall 

 be competent for the Magistrate to investigate the matter as a criminal of- 

 fence, and if the fact be well su':)stantiated to exact a fine not exceeding the 

 value of the property lost, the whole or part of which may be awarded in 

 compensation to the owner, according as the degree of caution and activity 

 ■which he evinced on the occasion may deserve, and the Court of Circuit ia 

 directed to inquire into such matters.'* 



