1837.] 



An Account of the Tribe of Mhadeo Kolies. 



263 



his own brothers, who were confined in the hill forts, to death ; other- 

 wise that they would contrive to effect their escape. The sajbahdar at 

 length gave his consent to tfte Koly prisoners being tied up in leather 

 bags and thrown over the most precipitous part of the hill ; the order 

 was punctually carried into execution, except in the case of Soorajee 

 Baumlay and his cousin, both of whom stated to those appointed to 

 superintend their execution, that they were soldiers, and solicited, with 

 the most earnest importunity, that they might not be tied up in leather 

 bags. They asked that swords might be presented to each of them, 

 and that, after they had excited themselves some time by fencing, they 

 would leap over the precipice of their own accord. The demand could 

 not, they were told, be complied with, as it was uncertain what persons 

 placed in such desperate circumstances as they were, would be tempted 

 to do, were they armed with swords. However they were supplied with 

 two sticks, and the poor fellows amused themselves playing at single 

 stick until their blood became heated, and the one sprung down the tre - 

 mendous precipice after the other and were dashed to pieces. This was 

 most distressing intelligence for Jowjee, and it was some time before 

 he recovered from the grief and melancholy which overwhelmed him. 

 His great friends Dewjee Bhauggrah and Dharrow Sablah consoled him 

 with the hope of their getting his family restored. They accordingly 

 went to Joonere, and became securities for Jowjee's family, and had 

 them set at liberty ; both of these Koly Naiks engaged to prevail on 

 Jowjee to return to his du # ty at Joonere, but, owing to the impatience of 

 the authorities there, and Jowjee's being much exasperated and having 

 no confidence in their faith, there was little prospect of his remaining 

 quiet. It was discovered that Jowjee was in the habit of frequently 

 visiting Dewjee Bhauggrah, and the Joonere people sent a party of 

 horsemen to watch his movements, and if possible to capture him, but 

 the horsemen failed in their attempt, seized Bhauggrah and took him a 

 prisoner to Joonere. Jowjee was now on the alert again, and having 

 assembled some of his followers, moved in the direction of Kullumbaie, 

 where he learnt that one of the Sawunts had erected a small wooden 

 building on the boundary between Pakry and Kullumbaie, where he 

 was occupied with a celebrated Goossyne in rendering himself invul- 

 nerable to the infliction of wounds by means of incantations. Jowjee 

 was determined to avail himself of the circumstance, and instantly re- 

 paired to the spot, and attacked Sawunt and the Goossyne and put them 

 both to death. Rajah Sawunt more enraged than ever with Baumlay, 

 when he heard of his brothers death, went immediately to Poona, and 

 represented at court the disturbed state of the Joonere district, and 

 declared that there would be no peace while Jowjee Baumlay remained 

 at large. This induced the Poona government to place between five 

 and six hundred men at Rajah Sawunt' s disposal, for the purpose of 



