1834.] 



Histori/ of the Ramoossies, 



142 



their families by selling grass and firewood which they cut in the 

 adjoining hills and jungles, unless they should have succeeded in 

 securing some articles of value, in the commission of the robbery 

 that may have caused their flight from their homes. Should this 

 have been the case, they probably, at the termination of a few 

 months, purchase a couple of bullocks, and take to farming as long 

 as it may suit their purpose. 



These new comers, are the persons who are generally guilty of 

 petty robberies in the vicinity of the villages they reside in. They 

 waylay solitary travellers approaching to, or departing from them, 

 in any jungle, or strong ground, a few miles from the place. They 

 rush unexpectedly on the traveller with their faces muffed up, to pre- 

 ♦'ent their being afterwards recognised. They force him to surrender 

 to them any wearing apparel of value which he may have on his per- 

 son, and whatever other property worth taking he may have in his 

 possession. They then return to the village rapidly, by a circuit- 

 ous route, — and reach their homes long before any account of the 

 robbery has transpired. 



It may be mentioned, that the Rukwalldars give encouragement 

 to such persons, but warn them against molesting the inhabitants 

 of their own villages, and plundering any travellers, except strang- 

 ers, and persons, from a distance. When two, or three of these 

 start to commit a robbery on a few travellers halting in, or near the 

 village, they have been known to reverse their shoes, on some occa- 

 sions, when returning with their plunder. 



It is but justice to remark, that the Rukwalldars of some few 

 places, have established a character of zeal and activity in the dis- 

 charge of their duty, — and that in their villages a robbery has not 

 been heard of for years. These effectually prevent the intrusion of 

 any persons for the purpose of plundering ; and, should any rob- 

 bers be bold enough to assail the house of any person in their 

 village, and carry off" any property, the Rukwalldar Naik himself 

 ■will go the whole way upon the track, passing through the bounda- 

 ry of the various villages the robbers may have passed in their route, 

 one or two persons of those villages merely accompanying him ; for, 

 being enraged and indignant at the insult offered to him, he is in- 

 duced to take all this trouble himself, in the hope of being more 

 completely revenged on those who dared to bring disgrace upon 

 him. 



