Nistorf/ of the Ramoossies. [JuLT 



to put five Ramoossies to death daily with it. Here we can per- 

 ceive strot^j: indications of what the feelinirs of the people were to- 

 wards the Ramoossies and which has continued much the satne after 

 a lono: series of years. When they had been greatly distressed, and 

 thinned in numbers, by reason of the proceedinirs that had been car- 

 ried on asrainst them several of the chief Naiks found it necessary to 

 petition the newly constituted Sir Naik to pardon them, promising 

 that they would behave themselves in a more bccominp^ manner for 

 the future ; they were therefore shortly afterwards employed by the 

 Peshwal/s directions to put down some gam^s of plunderers that in- 

 fested both banks of the Bheema river. Their successful conduct 

 on this service attracted the notice of Government ; and, as rob- 

 beries were constantly taking place in the town ^ Poona, it was 

 thought advisable to select five of the most respectable of the Naiks, 

 with a portion of their followers, to act as watchmen of that capital ; 

 accordingly, the following Naiks were selected for this duty : Ab- 

 bajee, of Gaiedurra, near Wulty ; Malley of Allundy ; Bhyrejee, of 

 Mallsirruss ; Jannoojee, of Looney (Kallburs,) and Sukkrojee, of 

 Oondry. These had an annual allowance in cash paid to them, 

 besides being put in charge of ten, fifteen, and twenty of the villages 

 near their own place of residence. Of these villages they became the 

 Sir Naiks or head watchmen, and received yearly an allowance of 

 grain, a sheep at theDursra festival and a pair of shoes from each village. 

 The Naiks emplpyed some relations, or followers of their own, to reside 

 in these villages, to discharge the duties of Rukwalldar, who receiv- 

 ed the Ballotah allowance from the inhabitants. When the Sir 

 Naik had to move about the district on duty, the inhabitants of the 

 villages they happened to halt at during the day, provided the Naik 

 and his few followers with the requisite quantity of provisions for his 

 entertainment, or gave him money sufficient to purchase the same. 

 This disbursement was inserted, however, in the amount of village 

 expenses, and deducted in due season from the gross revenue of 

 villages, but the Patell and his friend, the Koolkurny, very likely 

 collected the grain, or money, at the time from the ryuts, but 

 never afterwards made them any allowance in return, at all events, 

 only to such of them as understood contending for their own rights. 

 It was in such a way as this, that the heads of villages had the pow- 

 er of acting the part of the embezzler.* 



• By charging in the account expenses for a Naik, &c. for six days al- 

 though he had only halted three days in the village ; the same, for one or 

 two of the Sirkar** horsemen arriving on duty at the village, travellers of 

 fank. &c. &c. 



