History of the Ramoossies, 



[July 



ringleaders of tbc bund, or insurgents. He fully commimicated his 

 scheme to Amur Sin^h. and obtained his assent to exert himself 

 to aci omplish tiie objecl they ha(i in view. A rumour was now to 

 be circulated tiiat Amur Sini;h was for various reasons to be dis- 

 missed tVom otlioe, to be aecu:?ed of poculation, and want of energy 

 in his admii)i>tration, 6lC. that he might shortly expect his dismis- 

 sal, and who wore b< tier calculated to take charge of the district, 

 and protect it from all external enemies than Bhoany Naik and his 

 cousins, from their known talents and energy of character. The 

 various atrocities tiiev had commiiti d were not all to be credited, 

 and what thev had dune, must have been at the instigation of evil dis- 

 posed persons. A letter conveyim; Amur Singh's order of dismissal 

 was III duo course of time received by him ; and another letter con- 

 tammg a commission was forwarded to Bhaony and his cousins, 

 \vh(j wt*re required to look minutely into the accounts of the district. 

 It was necessary that Amur Singh should prepare an account of his 

 receipts, and disbursements, and hand ov-r charge of his office 

 publicly to the Naiks; then they would grant him the usual receipts. 

 The three Ramoossy Naiks repaired to the village kucherry (or 

 court) accompanied by a large body o( their followers for the pur- 

 pose of assuming charge of their new appointment. All Amur 

 Singh's* adherents were assembled, and on the alert, besides many 

 of the inhabitants were present to liear the new commission read. 

 Amur Singh w.js lounging against the pillows close to the village 

 koolkurny, and the villagers all arranged on one side. When the 

 Naiks were listening to the koolkurny, three of Amur Singh's rela- 

 tions standing at the further end of the court levelled their match- 

 locks at ihe three Naiks ; two of the guns went off, and Bhoany 

 and Hunggoo were shot dead on the spot, but the third burnt 

 priming. Narroo instantly sprung up to run off, but Amur Singh 

 struck a severe blow at him which nearly severed his shoulder from 

 his body ; he succeeded however in running outside and was imme- 

 diately afterwards cut down. When the Naik's followers (about 

 one hundred men^ Rajpoots, Moossulmans, Ramoossies, and Mangs^ 

 learnt that the Naiks had been attacked, they rushed towards the 

 entrance of the kutcherry to rescue their friends. Amur Singh had 

 how<^ver adopted precautions to guard against such a surprise ; ten 

 of the followers were killed, and the rest fled, and tranquillity was 

 re!!toreri m the district. 



• Amur ^iu^5h died a few years ago and his two sons JJappoo and Chee- 

 mun • ingh were the chief instruments employed to persuade the Ramoossies 

 to seize Oomiah Naik. 



