1834.] 



History of the Ramoossies, 



226 



Bamoossies, a distinct tribe.—Robbeiies committed after the British take 

 possession of the country. 



At the same time that the Ramoossies kept advancing in the 

 Joonere direction, they were spreading over the district lying e«st 

 of Poorundur and between the Neera and Bheema rivers. The 

 hereditary Ramoossies of Poorundur resided in hamilets near the 

 hill forts and on the north side, while many of the hereditary Kolies 

 and Mhars, had houses on the hill within the fortifications. These 

 hamlets were deserted when the Ramoossies were obliged to surren- 

 der the fort in 1803, and since these men had their lands and rights 

 restored to them, they have resided in the surrounding villages at 

 some distance from the fortifications. The only person thai showed 

 an inclinatioti to re-occupy the ruined hamlets of their forefathers, 

 was Oomicih. He latterly fixed on the site of his father's dwelling 

 on the north side of the Wazzurgur hill foit, where he built a large 

 tiled house. Government gave him permission to cut down a 

 quantity of the young teakwood timber on the Poorundur hill on 

 this account, in the expectation that by the showing him marks of 

 kindness his indomitable spirit would become more subdued, and 

 his habits more settled. 



During the period of anarchy and confusion that reigned in the 

 Mharatta state, from the dissentions that existed between Mhadeva 

 Row Peshwa and his Uncle, Ragobah Dada, Abba Poorun- 

 dury had charge of the fort of Poorundur. The Killihdar- 

 ship, appears to have been for many years in this Jageer- 

 dar's family, but as Abba had attached himself to Ragobah's inter- 

 est, the Peshwah was particularly anxious to obtain possession of 

 the fort, to strengthen his own interests. Various schemes were 

 now tried to deprive Poorundury of his commandantship, but he 

 being faithful to the cause he had espoused, and suspecting the 

 Peshwah's plans, displaced the Koley Naik, Khundoojee, and his 

 followers, and made them reside in the small villages at the bottom 

 of the hill, fearing that the Kolies might deliver up the place to 

 some of the Peshwah's officers. 



Mhadeo Row's friends now determined to get Khundoojee to enter 

 fully into their views, who accordingly settled his plan of seizing 

 the fort, and placing it in the Peshwah's possession. To facilitate 

 the accomplishment of this important object, ynd remove all suspi- 

 cion of any hostile intention on his part, he represented that the Ko- 

 lie's houses on the summit of the hill, from which they had been 

 lately removed, would all be destroyed by the monsoon rains, un- 



