1834.] 



History of the Eamoossies. 



223 



about securing the treasure, and adopting such precautions as would 

 . prevent the Kolies retaining any part of it for their own use. The 

 detachment from Poona accordingly separated into several parties, 

 and advanced to take possession of the different gateways. These 

 precautions being taken, they searched the Kolie's houses, digging 

 up the floors, and Collecting as much of the money and other ]3ro- 

 pertyas they could lay their hands upon. This took place A. D. 1764. 



There was a new arrangement now entered into, respecting die 

 pay and allowances to be granted to the officers and men em- 

 ployed in the fort. A large body of Sebundies were employed, 

 and a certain proportion of Kolies and Ramoossies ; little respect 

 however, was paid to the Ramoossies, who were esteemed a degrad- 

 ed caste of vile and incorrigible thieves, compared even to the 

 Kolies, who always experienced more consideration. 



The pay of the different Naiks was fixed at twelve rupees a month, 

 and each of their followers had six rupees ; they were bound, how- 

 ever, according to a custom that prevailed very commonly in India, 

 to do twelve months' duty for ten months' pay, and even from this 

 allowance so many deductions were made by the different authori- 

 ties through whose hands the money passed, that a Ramoossy could 

 scarcely calculate on getting four rupees a month. The two months* 

 pay that was deducted, was shared by the officers in the employ of 

 Government, and other karkoons, or accountants, and the disburse- 

 ment was denominated Durbar kurch, or court expences. 



Sad confusion arose in the Mharata country in the year A. D. 

 1773, when the Peshwah Narrine Row was assassinated. Upon 

 this occasion, the Peshwah's widow, Gungah Bale, was conveyed 

 to the fort of Poorundur by the ministers. Nana Phurnuvees and 

 Sukkaram Bappoo. This lady indue course of time, having been 

 delivered of a son, he was named Mhadeo Row and immediately 

 nominated his father's successor, as Peshwah. Great and continu- 

 ed rejoicings on the hill of Poorundur, celebrated the birth of the 

 young Peshv/ah; splendid palankeens were presented to the Koley 

 Naiks, in honor of this important event ; and the chiefs of the Ra- 

 moossies were also distinguished by honorary gifts in Aftabgeers 

 (superb umbrellas) with suhable allowances to provide bearers for 

 them. 



About this period, the Koley Khundojee Naik began to have 

 some intercourse with Ragoba Dada, and it is supposed he fait dis- 

 posed to listen to Ragobah's proposals. It happened however, one 

 day that Nana Phurnuvees repaired to the fort for the purpose of pay- 



