1834.] 



History of the Ramoossies, 



154 



remarks on the unfair division of the spoil, or the unjust estimation 

 of the exertions and merits of individuals, — such disputes might lead 

 to blows, and some of the villagers might learn all the particulars con- 

 nected with the robbery, and report it. 



Sometimes the inmates of a house attacked by a gang of Pcamoossi- 

 es, make a bold and resolute stand in defence of their property, and 

 prevent the gang from entering into the interior of the dv/elling, and 

 we find that the inhabitants are so spirited as to turn out to support 

 their friends, and consequently, a skirmish takes place between the 

 villagers and plunderers. It is only on the occasion of such a gene- 

 ral alarm and being closely pressed, that the gang are induced to 

 bring their match-locks into play, as they prefer pelting the people 

 with stones, &c. to firing their mxuskets, which would be heard at a 

 distance and probably lead to their being surrounded by all the in- 

 habitants. In the event of a Ramoossy being killed in one of those 

 skirmishes, the gang carry the dead body with them. However 

 should they be so pushed by the people of the town as not to be a- 

 ble to effect this, they cut the head off and take it with them; even 

 should one of the gang be badly wounded, and likely to be captured, 

 by the pursuing party, they will cut his head off to prevent the body 

 being recognised. Should they have sufficient time to carry off 

 their dead, they bury the body in a thicket, or in the bed of a nul- 

 lah in some unfrequented spot. I know several instances of their 

 having acted in this manner, since we took possession of the country. 



It has been observed before, that when the Romoossies go to a 

 distance from their homes to plunder, they do not always cover their 

 faces. However, they speak to each other in their own language- 

 yet they never mention each others names at such a moment. But 

 if one of them discovers where valuable property is concealed, he 

 calls out in their own speech, tell the head man that there is gold 

 or silver here;" when they plunder a house at no great distance from 

 their own village, they muffle their faces up very closely, and fre- 

 quently speak to each other in the Hindoostany language, or make 

 use of a few Kanarese words. Their intention in doing so, is of 

 course, to make it be supposed that they could not have been 

 Ramoossies, who committed the Durrorah, and that they must have 

 been strangers. 



They sometimes approach a village in small parties from different 

 directions, and if it is necessary for any of them to advance to re- 

 conoitre the place they intend to plunder, they communicate their 

 movements to each other when at a distance, by imitating the bark- 



