History of the Rafnoossies. 



[July 



inp: liis respects to Gmiirah Raie, and consulting her on some 

 important matters. Kluuuluojt'e Naik Nvas proceeding to the 

 house occupiid by Nana, to visit liim. M'lien Nana heard the 

 Kolie's approach announced as KluMHloojce l^ajah, this circum- 

 stance ot' the Koley's daring- to assume snili a title of rank, gave 

 Nana very g:reat olVcnce, and he was so indijjnanl. ihat he sent peo- 

 ple out to upset the N.iik's palankeen, ohservin^i to those around 

 him, " Who gave the Koley a kiuirdom, that he sliouhl prc^sume to 

 style himself a Rajah?" After detectnip; some of Khuudojee's in- 

 trij:uing; schemes, Nana directed that the Koley should be secured in 

 irons; and he v. as consrcpicntly kept niany years in continement in 

 one of the palaces in Puona 



Several of the Ramoossy Naiks in the Poona district, taking ad- 

 vantage of the very disturbed state of the country, perpetrated many 

 atrocities at the above period. A Naik named Dadjee Ramoossy 

 of Jejoory, but who latterly resided at Sou pah, became notorious as 

 an aciive and darini!; plunderer. He ke[)t up a number of followers, 

 some of tiiern mounted ; and in the disguise of a merchant he was 

 in the habit of making incursions into the Hydrabad and Berar 

 territories and when he plundered a rich man's house at the town 

 he halted at, he loade 1 his camels with the spoils, and returned 

 home making very rapid marches. The Soupah people lived in 

 great dread of him. The Brahmuns as well as other persons were 

 always showing him marks of attention, entreating him to take care 

 of their little property. To ensure his good will he was at times in- 

 vited by them to partake of an entertainment. A stranger Brah- 

 mun hearing his host ask Dadjee to come and sit down in his ve- 

 randah, expressed his astonishment at the circumstance, upon which 

 Dadjee remarked, *' that the Brahmun seemed rather alarmed at 

 being defiled should he approach nearer; the Brahmuns ought not 

 to forget that when the Ramoossies are plundering them at night 

 they search every hole and corner in their houses, and handle * every 

 thing. How do they manage on these occasions ?" ! ! ! 



Dadjee latterly violated the chastity of several Brahmuny wo- 

 men. One of these more determined than the rest, proceeded to the 

 fort of Poorundur and represented her case to Gunga Baie Pesh- 



* If a pot or pan belonging to a Brahmun has been touched by a Ramoos- 

 sy, or person of low caste, he will <hrow away such an article if it is of earth- 

 en ware, but if it is of metal, he gets some f^rass to which he sets fire, and 

 keeps turning the pot in the flame until it has been well heated, and after it 

 has been scoured it is con.nidered perfectly pure. A Koonby is content with 

 washing or sc Mirinj; a brass or copper pot that has been touched by a Ramoos- 

 «y, but an earthen one so defiled, he also will cast away. 



