1834.] 



History of the Ramoossies, 



146 



shop. — When they approach the house*^ which they v;ish to recon- 

 noitre, they endeavour to excite the sympathy of the inmates espe- 

 cially of the females, calling out, that any thing they may bestow 

 in charity, will be restored to them a hundred fold, and praying 

 that both their famiUes and riches may increase, and that they may 

 never become widows. The sly rogues are all this time, making 

 their observations, and probably trying to form an acquaintance 

 with some of the domestics of the family, or one of the children, 

 in order that, should they afterwards meet either near the tem- 

 ple, or the village well, &c., they may the less suspectedly enter 

 into conversation with them — Having acquired such knowledge 

 as was wanted upon all points, they quit the place, and re- 

 'turn with all speed to their homes — or rejoin those who em- 

 ployed them. These spies are sometimes so successful, that they 

 produce to the Naik a list of the property, v;ith the value of each 

 article inserted, whether it is money, or jewels ; the date on which 

 it is to be dispatched, the number of the escort, and how armed, with 

 Other particulars ; should it be the description of a ho use that was 

 required, all that they observe is mentioned — besides that, on a par- 

 ticular night, the owner is to have a few friends at his house, to hear 

 a portion of the shasters read. This is a very material point to be 

 learnt ; for if the house be a very strong building, with a large gate- 

 way, the wicket is kept open, or indifferently fastened, on occasions 

 like that alluded to, and this gives the Ramoossies an opportunity 

 of rushing into the interior, which very likely they could not accom' 

 plish under other circumstances, owing to the strength of the place. 



The Naik determines on the number of men, to be employed, — 

 whether ten, twenty, or thirty, or double that nvimber. This will be 

 regulated by the nature of the service on which they are to be en- 

 gaged, and the number of friends he can reckon on, together with 

 the influence he possesses over them. Should twenty men be con- 

 sidered equal to the enterprise, and the Naik probably able to mus- 

 ter only five or six m.en in his village, he sends to apprize the ne- 

 cessary number of his friends, that he requires their attendance at 

 his house on a certain night, for some particular service. They ac- 

 cordingly assemble at the appointed time at his house, and after 

 some consultation, they separate.- Two, three, or four of the guests 

 (as they are termed) take up their quarters in the houses of each of 

 the Naik's relations, and they remain concealed there all the follow- 

 ing day. A supply of bread is prepared for the party, sufiicient for 

 one, two, or more days, according to the distance they may have to 



