256 



An Account of the Tribe of Mliadeo Kolies. 



[April 



Kheng clan, a member of the Wunnukphuil Kool, held the Sir Naik- 

 ship Or chiaf rank among the Kolies, and was the principal authority 

 under whom the members of the Goturany adjusted their civil and re- 

 ligious affairs. The Kolies speak of a very great innovation having 

 been introduced in the mode of collecting the revenue of the Koly vil- 

 lages 5 that in some places their fields were minutely measured, and the 

 value of each fixed, and many other matters investigated, all of which 

 led to much oppression among them, and they resolved on resisting the 

 establishment of the new system. There can be little doubt but that 

 the Koly tradition here either alludes to the measures of reform that 

 were introduced about 220 years ago throughout the kingdom of Ah- 

 mudnuggur, by that able and celebrated financier Mullik Umber, or the 

 financial system of the famous Todur Mull, which was established in 

 several parts of the Dukhun by the emperor Shaw Jehan. The Koly 

 Sir Naik Kheng and all of his clan, with many other influential Naiks, 

 thought the time favourable to make an effort to throw off the Mahome- 

 dan yoke. We know much dissension reigned among the Mahomedans 

 of the Dukhun at the above period, but the Kolies were dreadfully 

 punished for their temerity. The Mussulmans were highly indignant 

 and enraged at the Koly conspiracy, not only to resist and thwart the 

 orders of their rulers, but to endeavour to establish their own indepen- 

 dence, or to transfer their allegiance to a person of Hindoo origin. The 

 insurrection took place during the reign of the emperor Shaw Jehan, 

 and the Kolies may have wished to transfer their allegiance to young 

 Sivajee. An army was marched into the hilly country, and the inha- 

 bitants slaughtered wherever the troops could overtake them. With 

 the exception of one or two Kolies of the name of Kheng, who con- 

 trived to conceal themselves, the Sir Naik and his kinsmen of the 

 Kheng clan were annihilated. All the hill forts were thoroughly 

 repaired, and a large body of troops left to garrison each, for the 

 purpose of controlling the Kolies more effectually, and with the 

 view of making a more lasting impression on them ; all of those 

 that had been apprehended were executed, their heads heaped to- 

 gether, and a platform built over them at Joonere. The place known 

 by the name of the Kalachubootra is said to be the identical spot. 

 After the recollection of this disturbance had passed away, Loomajee 

 Bhokkur, Naik of Peeplegown Mhur Korha, wished to get the 

 people to elect him their Sir Naik ; and he was also desirous to ob- 

 tain the approval of the government authority for his assuming it. To 

 secure the favour of the latter, he reported that the rebels in the fort of 

 Koary had a singularly handsome horse of a noble breed in their pos- 

 session, which he would try to capture for the emperor, provided he 

 could be furnished with a supply of money from the royal treasury. 

 A large sum was sent to the Koly Naik, Loomajee Bhokkur, who assem* 



