145 



History of the Ramoossies. 



[April 



their wearing apparel, or such valuables as they have in their pos- 

 session, is called Waat parna" and Rahmarna." 



The man that heads a Durrorrah, or employs others to commit 

 one, is alwavs a Naik, or person of considerable respect amongst 

 his tribe, in the particular district in which he resides. 



Previous to the Ramoossies' attempting to commit a Durrorrah, 

 or attack a treasure party, &c. they always manage to obtain the 

 most correct information regarding the house, or place, they mean 

 to attack, — and the number and description of the persons whom 

 they are likely to encounter in their enterprise, — to enable them 

 to make suitable preparations before they set out on their expe- 

 dition. 



When they are particularly anxious to gain correct intelligence 

 about any bullion, or valuable property, that is to be transmitted 

 from one place to another, and they have no confidential person in 

 the place, or among the immediate attendants of the Banker, or the 

 Merchant, which the Ramoossies sometimes contrive to have ; then 

 probably the Naik himself will go in search of intelligence, assum- 

 ing the appearance of a poor wanny, (shop-keeper,) or of a Brah- 

 min, by putting his clothes on after the fashion of those people,* 

 or a couple of smart Ramoossies will be employed. These go prowl- 

 ing about, and enter into conversation with the people in the neigh- 

 bourhood, and rilanage to pick up such information as they may 

 deem necessary without causing suspicion. v 



For the same object, and to examine minutely any wealthy per- 

 son's dwelling, they frequently adopt the dress of a Goossyne or 

 Vyraggy, f who wear clothes of a dark orange, or brick dust, co- 

 lour ; — or of a Waggiah I who carry about with them, in small bags 

 made of tiger skin, a quantity of Bhunder"|| sacred to their deity, 

 and armed with a small spear, &c. Should these emissaries find 

 that the required information cannot be obtained in one day, and 

 that it will take several days to obtain it, they have recourse to pre- 

 tended sickness, as an excuse for remaining in the town or village, 

 and very commonly they tie a rag round their foot or ancle 

 with some leaves, affect to be lame, and moving about with 

 apparent difficulty and pain, beg from house to honse, and shop to 



* Almost all castes are known by the way in which they wear their Tur- 

 bans and Dhotturs. 



t A particular description of devotees. 



i Devotee beggars followers of Khundobah. 



j! Pounded turmeric — curcuma. 



