159 



History of the Ramoossies» 



[April 



The Ramoossles as robbers, appear at times to be singularly im- 

 prudent and thoughtless, neglecting to adopt some ordinary, and to 

 them necessary precautions, by making an early display of the arti- 

 cles plundered, or putting part of the property into the hands of in- 

 dividuals for the purpose of being disposed of who are unacquainted 

 with the particulars of the robbery. There have been instances, of 

 valuable gold ornaments set with jewels, and plundered only at an 

 inconsiderable distance from Poona. having been offered for sale at 

 the verp shop in that capital, from which they had been despatched 

 but a very short time before ; thus furnishing the owner with an ea- 

 sy and unexpected opportunity of recovering part of that treasure, 

 which he had considered as lost for ever. 



The Ramoossies always speak of their Kuppall, Dyuh, Nusseet, 

 that is, trusting to fate, destiny, and chance: so much confidence do 

 they place in fortune. There are many chances against its being 

 discovered who committed a robbery, and in favour of the robbers not 

 being caught ; then the difficulty of convicting them of the crime, 

 the chances of their being able by means of some friends, to succeed 

 in bribing, or interesting some of the persons in the employ of Go- 

 vernment in their behalf ; they have still hope of being able to effect 

 their escape, should they be seized, to establish an alibi, or, probab- 

 ly, admitting the truth of some trifling and unimportant part of the 

 charge, they then call out loudly, that their enemies are tryiug to 

 ruin them, by a most tyrannical proceeding on their part. They of- 

 fer to produce certain persons who can prQve the falsity of the charge, 

 and persons will be produced to sv/ear to the innocence of the priso- 

 ner. Perjury is reckoned but a very trifling offence among the na- 

 tives. It is considered, in general, a meritorious act to save a friend 

 by sv/earing to an untruth ; for which, by the bye many an unprin- 

 cipled man is well rewarded. Ithas, hence become a common prac- 

 tice in our Adawluts or courts of justice to invalidate evidence by 

 false testim.ony. It may be further noticed that when they perceive 

 no hope remaining of their escape from punishment, they will pre- 

 tend to communicate all the information that may be required of 

 them connected with the robbery, provided they are not molested or 

 injured, that is obtaining a pardon, they make confessions which 

 they often retract. They will admit the truth of them after- 

 wards, and before much time has elapsed, they will again deny the 

 whole. 



(To be continued.) 



