143 



History of the Ramoossics. 



[ApRit 



CHAPTER IT. 



The secrecy and rapidity with which they commit Durrorrahs or ganj^ rob- 

 beries. — Other castes guilty of similar outrajEjes. — The different terms used 

 by them explained.— The measures pursued by them to obtain information 

 and to ensure success to their plans. — The oatlis they take. — How th-^y 

 dispose of the captured property and the value it is generally estimated 

 at.— The village gold smith and petty Marwary merchants, afford facili- 

 ties for disposing of stolen property. 



The resolution, secrecy, and rapidity with which the Ramoossies 

 concert their schemes, and carry them into execution, are rather re- 

 markable ; for there are at times a few Mhars, and Mangs, hkewise 

 men of the Koonby tribe, associated with them on their plundering 

 expeditions. Yet before much time has elapsed from the commission 

 of tl»e outrage they may have perpetrated, it is pretty well known 

 who were the principal actors in the affair ; — still however, informa- 

 tion is withheld, chiefly from the dread of the delinquents embrac- 

 ing some violent, or malicious measures against such persons as 

 may have become acquainted with their proceedings, and are likely 

 to make known the circumstances to the proper authorities. For 

 such persons as are capable of communicating information have 

 little inducement to do so, — not wishing to incur any risk of danger^ 

 or the inveterate ill will of the robbers, by engaging in matters that 

 do not immediately concern themselves ; — moreover, it frequently 

 happens, that instead of gaining any advantage by becoming inform- 

 ers, they would most likely be put to considerable expense, at 

 all events, to very great inconvenience by being obliged to attend 

 as evidences at a distant Court of Justice, where they might be 

 detained for an uncertain length of time ; — they weigh well all 

 these matters, and consider it best to be silent on the subject, and 

 the robbery in the mean time is partly forgotten, till probably some 

 of the robbers have had a quarrel among themselves about the di- 

 vision of the property, or one of them, from a grudge, or spirit of 

 malice and revenge, has communicated the long wished for infor- 

 mation. 



The method in which they set about gaining intelligence, and 

 carrying their plans into execution, and finally disposing of the 

 property of various descriptions that fall into their hands on these 

 occasions, I shall now relate, as far as I am acquainted with it, ex-* 

 plaining in the first place, the meaning of the term Durrorrah, which 

 it will be necessary to employ very frequently in the sequel. It 

 may be noticed here, that besides the Bheels, Kolies, and Ramoos- 

 sies, the caste of Mangs are in the habit of committing Durrorrahs. 



