History of the Ramoossies. 



[July 



vounded on both sides. The Ramoossies very frequently sallied forth 

 from the fort to perpetrate their Durror.ihsin some of the neighbour- 

 ing- villages, but they chiefly visited the houses of the wealthy resi- 

 dents of the town of Poona-and robbed travellers thyt went along 

 the roads leartino^ throuu:h any part of the hilly range in the day 

 time ; — while the Kolies were principally employed in carrying off 

 train from the surrounding villages for the use of those in the fort, 

 — for they kept their families and all means of subsistence with 

 them upon the hill. 



All attempts to capture the place having failed, the Peshwah made 

 an application to the British Resident at Poona for the assis- 

 tance of a detachment of the subsidiary force to co-operate with 

 his troops in subduing the rebel Naiks who held possession of Poo- 

 rundur; uj)on which an application was made to the Ex-Peshwah 

 Amrut Row, for an order to the Ramoossies and Kolies to deliver 

 up the place to Bajee Row, — when this document reached Poona, 

 a detachment from the subsidiary force with some guns, moved to- 

 wards Poorundur, and in the name of the Peshwah, summoned the 

 garrison to surrender. The rebel Naiks, seeing the danger now im- 

 pending over them, came to the resolution of obeying the order, 

 and in the course ot the two following days the fort was evacuated. 

 The Peshwah immediately gave direction for all the Ramoossies 

 and Kolies, that were engaged in the rebellion to quit the district, 

 the authorities of which were directed to sequestrate all the Enam 

 lands, and all rights and dues, which the Ramoossies and Kolies 

 had hitherto enjoyed, at and near the Poorundur fort. 



The greater portion of these people, went to some distance from 

 their native place of residence, to obtain a livelihood by performing 

 service, or to subsist as their wits might enable them. 



Before the Ramoossies descended from the fort, Ragoojee Khom- 

 ney, a nephew of Dadjee Naik's, (the father of Oomiah) proceeded 

 to the shrine of the god Kidary, (one of the tutilary deities of the 

 fort, which is on the most elevated part of the hill,) and taking off 

 his turban, he cast it aside, and tied a kerchief on his head, and 

 declared in the presence of the image, that he would never wear a 

 turban again, till he and his tribe were restored to the rights and 

 privileges of which they were now deprived, and which their ances- 

 tors had enjoyed, and handed down to them. He implored the 

 god to listen to his prayers, and aid the Ramoossies in their present 

 difficulties, and recal them again to reside in the abode of their fa- 

 thers, protesting that upon this taking place, he would make a suit- 

 able offering to the god. 



