of large bodies of pilgrims. The first Mulhar Row Holkur* expended large sums of money in improving the temple, and forming a large tank in the vicinity, and granting charitable donations for the support of the attendants of the temple and pilgrims visiting it. Khundobah is the chief of their household gods; he is also the most popular with a large portion of all classes of the population of the Dekhan, but with the Ramoossies he is mercury, or the god of robbers. The worshippers of Khundobah have always in their possession a small silver plate on which a likeness of this deity is embossed. He is invariably represented as mounted on horseback, with his wife Malsara (an incarnation of Parwutty the spouse of Mhadeva) sometimes sitting behind him, and at other times in his arms, with his dogs running along side of him, he is armed with a sword and trident. The Termeric or Hullud is sacred to this god, and then termed Bhundar. The goddess Bhoany (kalie Deve) is also very much endeared to the Ramoossies, as well as the god Mhankallay. There are very few followers of Rama, and these abstain from animal food. Kunobah (krishna) has a few followers; when required, they kill a sheep, or a fowl, at the shrines of the inferior goddesses, Tookaie, Junnaie, Feringgaie, Nowlaie, Mookaie, and Kallaie, besides Massobah and Muskobah, as well as Vettall (the prince of evil spirits) and Wagobah are not forgotten. They are very punctual in abstaining from food on fast days, particularly on Sunday, the day of the week dedicated to Khundobah. Both the Ramoossy men and women frequently undergo the expiatory penance (operation) of the Bhuggaar or swinging ceremony, when the penitent is elevated to a considerable height and swung round a pole erected in front of the entrance of the temple, supported by a hook run through the skin and sinews of the back.

The Ramoossies especially those within the British territory are rather notorious for establishing illicit intercourse with the wives and daughters of the Koonbies, &c. and enticing these from their homes to reside with them, the success of their intrigues with women of other tribes, and so much higher than themselves, is no doubt chiefly owing to the Ramoossy being able to indulge them now and then with a present of a new sary, and a few cholies, besides a few trinkets which they had procured by clandestine and violent

means.

• The Sindia family expended part of their wealth, at the same time in a a similar manner on the temple of Jotteeba at Kollapoor.

For the native women of all classes, high or low, rich or poor, with very few exceptions, are the most frail and mercenary creatures maginable, their vanity being such, that it renders them inordinately fond of ornaments and fine clothes, and making a show even beyond their means; they are naturally of a warm temperament, and their husbands not being permitted to be the object of their own choice, for they are married when they are mere children, that their after conduct through life, is certainly not to be much wondered at. Their being without the advantages of education, their conversations, their songs, their numerous romantic, lascivious, and love sick stories of heroes and heroines, demi-gods and goddesses, which are familiar to them all, and which they are constantly in the habit of hearing recited in the porches of their temples, and frequently in their own houses by professed itinerant story tellers, and expounders of their legends, may partly account for the state of morality among the Hindoo community of India.

Although the misconduct of the females of a family is of very common occurrence, and very generally known in the different towns and villages. The inhabitants are very backward and cautious, in making allusion to such matters, except, in confidence, even among themselves, and more especially in their intercourse with Europeans, unless it is communicated from malicious motives or mentioned by some tattler, who is either looking out for service or favour.

CHAPTER IV.

The Ramoossies cross to the Poorundur hills.-The period uncertain.-They are actively employed by Seevajee.-Are rewarded by Sahoo Rajah for past services. They become very troublesome and commit great excesses. -Pillajee Jadoo Row nominated Sir Naik, and employed to restore order. -His sanguinary proceedings.-The Ramoossy Naiks engage to continue quiet. They are employed in the Town of Poona as Watchmen.-They advance towards Akolla and Sungumnair.-Become peaceable and industrious farmers and labourers in those districts.

I shall now proceed, to give a sketch of the history of these people after they crossed the Neera river, and settled in the Poorundur hills; from whence they subsequently spread themselves over the Poona district, and kept moving northward, till their progress was arrested apparently by coming in contact with the Bheels on the banks of the Godavery.

It is very uncertain when the Ramoossies first crossed to the north bank of the Neera, for the purpose of residing permanently in the Poorundur district, some of the oldest of them (men between

eighty and ninety years of age,) who have been questioned on this point, say, that they have always understood that there were a number of families settled to the north of the Neera, and about the Poorundur hills, many years before Seevajee was born, but that it was during Seevajee's time, when he commenced his struggles with the Mahomedan states, that the Ramoossies flocked to his standard.

They are said to have always favored Seevajee's interests, and on many occasions to have exerted themselves greatly in his service, causing unceasing annoyance to the Mahomedans, who had detachments stationed in various parts of the country, for the purpose of overawing the evil and disloyal portion of the population, who were becoming at this period, very numerous. The Ramoossies were in the habit of plundering the Mahomedans du ring the night; attacking the houses, or tents, of their principal leaders, and carrying off much valuable property; besides they were very successful in depriving them of their horses and camels, and carrying off some of their elephants. Oomiah's family preserve a letter from the Rajah of Satara, the date of which is uncertain but it is addressed to Wurdojee, one of Oomiah's ancestors, applauding the dexterity with which he had plundered the Mahomedan commandant at Seerwill, and his steady conduct subsequently when he was captured, and directing Wardoojee to repair to "the presence" in order that he might be rewarded for having discharged his duty so gallantly. The old men among them relate a number of anecdotes connected with exploits of their forefathers, when employed under Seevajee.

At the period of Seevajee's first occupying the fort Singhur, or according to the natives, Seogur, he was extremely anxious to get possession of the fort of Poorundur (one of the many names of the god Indur, and not Poonadhur, as written by some Europeans,) a detachment proceeded from Singhur accompanied by a party of Ramoossies to surprise, if possible, the Mahomedan garrison, and capture the place;-after much difficulty and labour they scrambled up a steep part of the hill unobserved, and a Ramoossy contrived to ascend the wall, to the top of which he attached the rope ladders, which they had carried with them. The Ramoossies armed with swords and spears, were now ascending the fort wall when the sentry in the vicinity descried them, and lost no time in cutting the ropes; upon which the escalading party were all precipitated to the

• This must have been from about one hundred and fifty to one hundred and seventy five years ago; for Seevajee was only born A. D. 1628.

bottom, by falling on each others arm, several of them were killed, and the rest desperately wounded, among the latter was Mallmhyputty, a very active and enterprizing man, and brother to the before mentioned Wurdoojee Khomney. He, however, managed to crawl away from the spot, and conceal himself under some bushes, and during the following night he creeped to a small village in the neighbourhood, where he had a friend who took care of him, and dressed his wounds; at the expiration of two months he recovered sufficiently to enable him to return to Singhur, where he learned the melancholy tidings of his wife having destroyed herself. The detachment on reaching Singhur, after their failure at Poorundur, mentioned, that 80 many had been killed of their party, and the rest so badly wounded, that they could not move from the place, and as a detachment from the garrison had sallied forth to attack them, they would of course, put to death any wounded men they might have discovered. These sad tidings so afflicted and distressed the wife of Mallmhyputty, that she resolved on not surviving her husband, and made up her mind to terminate her existence as a suttee, which she accordingly did.

Seevajee soon made another effort to gain the Poorundur fort, and succeeded. The Kolies residing near the hill fort, as well as the Mhars have been employed many years as watchmen to guard the approaches to the place, and the Ramoossies must have been included in the list of hereditary servants and defenders of the fort about this time.

After Seevajee's death, as he could not, during his active and bustling life, reward all those who had faithfully and ably served him; and his son's (Sumbajee) misfortunes prevented him doing so. Sahoo Rajah determined on bestowing suitable rewards on the descendants of those who had contributed to the establishment of his grandfather's kingdom; and on the part of the Poorundur Ramoossies, Dhollia Bhandolkur (an ancestor of the Naiks of Sassoor, and father of Cheembajee, who was killed at Sassoor,) a shrewd and intelligent man, was deputed to Satara to wait on the Rajah, upon which occasion His Highness issued orders for a considerable quantity of land being granted to the Poorundur Ramoossies, together with the mookkassa of the village of Sakoordy, which they still enjoy, and a portion of the land. It is said that when the Ramoossy Naiks laid the Rajah's order for the above grants before the Peshwah, Ballajee Visswanath (who was, in fact, at this time supreme ruler,) told them that the Rajah must have committed some mistake, for that

he could never have intended to let them have lands to such an extent, and that, in consequence, a much smaller quantity (about five chours of a hundred and twenty begahs each) was allotted to them; remarking, at the same time, that there was a great deal of grass and firewood on the hills which they could cut and sell: about this time, seventy five thousand rupees had been sanctioned for the annual expenses of the fort; and the Ramoossies were informed, that their pay was included in that sum, and that it should be issued to them monthly.

About the year 1730, of the Christian era, the Ramoossies became extremely troublesome in the Poorundur district and around Poona, assembling in large bodies, and plundering in all directions. The intercourse, even between the chief towns in the district was partly interrupted, and travelling along the roads, that led through the hills, was quite unsafe. The Satara Rajah (at this time a complete pageant,) at the instance of the Peshwah, nominated Pillajee Jadoo Row, to be Sir Naik of the Ramoossies, a man who had on many occasions distinguished himself; having been chiefly instrumental in rescuing the Peshwah, and the Poorundury chief, the Peshwah's staunch friend, from the hand of the plunderer Dhumajee. Poorundury to save the Peshwah from being tortured, told Dhumajee that his master (the Peshwah) was not to blame, and that what had taken place (an expedition against Dhumajee) had been at his instigation. The consequence was, that Poorundury was repeatedly made to stand bare footed on heated iron, (that is always used for baking cakes of bread,) and obliged to submit to be pinched all over the body with heated pincers. This led to the Poorundury becoming a sworn brother of Ballajees, and obtaining the rank of the Peshwah's deputy. The new Sir Naik received strict injunctions to act with the greatest vigour in restoring the country to order; and inflict summary punishment upon such of the Ramoossies as merited it.

Pillajee resided in a small village at the top of the Devy Ghaut four miles north of the fort of Poorundur. He was well acquainted with the localities of the country, and with the habits of the Ramoossies. He seized a number of them, and had them executed forthwith. It is said he used to kill many of them himself, by beheading them with his own sword, the Ramoossies having been placed in a row for the purpose and it is further stated, that the Rajah presented Sumbajee, a younger brother of Pillajees, with a sword, telling him at the same time, that he had his free permission