1834.] 



History of the Ramoossies. 



216 



of large bodies of pilgrims. The first Mulhar Row Holkur* ex- 

 pended large sums of money in improving the temple, and forming 

 a large tank in the vicinity, and granting charitable donations for 

 the support of the attendants of the temple and pilgrims visiting it. 

 Khundobah is the chief of their household gods ; he is also the 

 most popular with a large portion of all classes of the population of 

 the Dekhan, but with the Ramoossies he is mercury, or the god of 

 robbers. The worshippers of Khundobah have always in their pos- 

 session a small silver plate on which a likeness of this deity is em- 

 bossed. He is invariably represented as mounted on horseback, 

 with his wife Malsara (an incarnation of Parwutty the spouse of 

 Mhadeva) sometimes sitting behind him, and at other times in his 

 arms, with his dogs running along side of him, he is armed with 

 a sword and trident. The Termeric or Hullud'is sacred to this 

 god, and then termed Bhundar. The goddess Bhoany (kalie Deve) 

 is also very much endeared to the Ramoossies, as well as the god 

 Mhankallay. There are very few followers of Rama, and these ab- 

 stain from animal food. Kunobah (krishna) has a few followers ; 

 when required, they kill a sheep, or a fowl, at the shrines of the in- 

 ferior goddesses, Tookaie, Junnaie, Feringgaie, Nowlaie, Mookaie, 

 and Kallaie, besides Massobah and Muskobah, as well as Vettall 

 (the prince of evil spirits) and Wagobah are not forgotten. They 

 are very punctual in abstaining from food on fast days, particularly 

 on Sunday, the day of the week dedicated to Khundobah. Both 

 the Ramoossy men and women frequently undergo the expiatory 

 penance (operation) of the Bhuggaar or swinging ceremony, when 

 the penitent is elevated to a considerable height and swung round 

 a pole erected in front of the entrance of the temple, supported by 

 a hook run through the skin and sinews of the back. 



The Ramoossies especially those within the British territory are 

 rather notorious for establishing illicit intercourse with the wives 

 and daughters of the Koonbies, &c. and enticing these from their 

 homes to reside with them, the success of their intrigues with wo- 

 men of other tribes, and so much higher than themselves, is no 

 doubt chiefly owing to the Ramoossy being able to indulge Ihem 

 now and then with a present of a new sary, and a few cholies, besides 

 a few trinkets which they had procured by clandestine and violent 

 means. 



» The Sindia family expended part of their wealth, at the same time in a 

 a similar manner on the temple of Jotteeba at KoUapoor. 



