1834.] History of tJie Bamoossies, 158 



besides, the risk of bein^ checked in their return by the sudden rise of 

 a nulla or river, from a fall of rain, operates to deter them from ven- 

 turing out in rainy weather. 



CHAPTER III. 



They conceal stolen property. — Also mo"ney in the hills. — Seldom lend mo- 

 ney at interest, dreadins; the consequences. — Are uncautious robbers.— 

 Place great faith in fortune. — Their perplexity when seized respecting how 

 they ought to act. — Their opinion respectin<r the punishments they have to 

 undergo. — Anecdote of a Kolry. — The cruel manner in which they were 

 • treated by former Government Jageerdars. — Patells, &c. received a share 

 of plundered property, or a consideration from the Naiks for protection 

 afforded. — The mode of punishing those that infringe the rules of the tribe. 

 — Admission of converts from higher classes. — Their character and that of 

 their women— and the deities they worship. 



It has been observed before that they seldom conceal stolen pro- 

 perty in their own houses (unless it has been brought from a great 

 distance ;) so that if the real robber has been traced, and his house 

 searched, no article is found to prove his having been engaged in 

 the robbery. The money a Ramoossy accumulates, he almost inva- 

 riably buries under ground m some unfrequented ravine, or thicket;* 

 and the spot is only known to himself. 



Although lending money at interest is so very common and pro- 

 fitable a trade at times in India, the Ramoossy dares not venture to 

 traffic with his ill-gotten stock, aware he would be suspected of hav- 

 inginhis possession money which he had plundered from some known, 

 or unknown persons, and which might attract the attention of the Po- 

 lice to his dealings. However, after a few years, some of them do occa- 

 sionally make advances to the farmers at the usual rate of interest ; 

 but this is on a very limited scale being unable to keep any accounts 

 operating as a check on such speculations — very few, indeed, of the 

 Ramoossies can read or write ; their degraded caste, their idle habits, 

 the nature of their pursuits, and general poverty, presenting obsta- 

 cles to the spread of education amongst them — although they are 

 not insensible to the advantages derived from it. 



* In the month of November, last year, in the morning on which they were 

 removing Essoo Neekary, one of Oomiah's principal Naiks from the jail at 

 Poona to the place of execution, he sent to request that the Assistant Judge 

 might speak with him ; — and upon Mr. L. coming towards him, Essoo said, 

 he had a considerable sum of money buried in a hill near the fort of Singhur. 

 (Essoo resided in a small village a short distance from this fort) which he was 

 anxious to have dug up. Mr. L. told him that it was now too late to do any 

 thing about recovering it, as he had no authority to listen to any such repre- 

 sentations nor to delay the execution. This explanation had scarcely been 

 repeated when, unexpectedly to Mr. L. the unfortunate man, bont himself 

 Hearly double and rushed with great impetuosity towards a pillar, against 

 wkich he hit his head and dropped down senseless on the floor. 



