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profitable trade in this way. Their dealings with the Ramoossies are in general so extremely well managed, that it is seldom they can be detected and punished for disposing of stolen property. Any valuable property that has been plundered in the Poona district, will be sold in the Satara or Ahmednuggur district, and that plundered in the Satara, sold in the Poona district.

There are some Ramoossies who prefer plundering escorts in the day time proceeding with treasure and other valuables-and who seldom, if ever, join in committing Durrorahs at night. The noted old rogue, Hybutty Shertore, at present residing at Wulty near Poona, is one of those who used formerly to be very actively engaged in this way. Many stories are told of his adventures by the Ramoossies. He was patronized and protected by Trimbuckjee Danglia, the great favorite of Bajee Row, the Ex-Peshwa. Hybutty during the time he used to be running about the country to save his life, has had many narrow escapes. He was severely wounded on one occasion by some Arabs employed to assassinate him; one of his three faithful companions was killed on the spot, but his other two friends carried him off in safety from his pursuers. On another occasion he was condenined to be blown from the muzzle of a gun on the hill fort of Lhogur, whither he was sent to undergo the punishment. Hybutty however contrived to elude the vigilance of his guard, and with considerable difficulty, lowered himself over the walls of the fort by means of his turban. He was nearly blind the last

time I saw him.

There are many Ramoossies who are extremely expert at committing petty thefts, and who never venture to join their friends in the commission of a robbery on an extensive scale. In fact they are all thieves with scarcely an exception, and even the most respectable of them in appearance who apparently conduct themselves with propriety, occasionally receive a share of some Durrorah from their friends, or dependants; or the particulars of a robbery having come to their knowledge, a suitable offering is presented to ensure silence and good will on their part.

Durrorahs are only committed on dark nights, or during the wane of the moon, when she rises about three in the morning. This is to admit of their retiring from the house they may have plundered without being seen, and consequently preventing the inhabitants of the village from pursuing them. During the monsoon, or wet weather they seldom make any excursions for plunder, as there would be such a facility of tracking them to the entrance of their own houses,

besides, the risk of being checked in their return by the sudden rise of a nulla or river, from a fall of rain, operates to deter them from venturing out in rainy weather.

CHAPTER III.

They conceal stolen property.-Also money in the hills.-Seldom lend money at interest, dreading the consequences.--Are uncautious robbers.Place great faith in fortune.-Their perplexity when seized respecting how they ought to act.-Their opinion respecting the punishments they have to undergo.-Anecdote of a Koley.-The cruel manner in which they were treated by former Government Jageerdars.-Patells, &c. received a share of plundered property, or a consideration from the Naiks for protection afforded. The mode of punishing those that infringe the rules of the tribe. -Admission of converts from higher classes.-Their character and that of their women-and the deities they worship.

It has been observed before that they seldom conceal stolen property in their own houses (unless it has been brought from a great distance ;) so that if the real robber has been traced, and his house searched, no article is found to prove his having been engaged in the robbery. The money a Ramoossy accumulates, he almost invariably buries under ground in some unfrequented ravine, or thicket;* and the spot is only known to himself.

Although lending money at interest is so very common and profitable a trade at times in India, the Ramoossy dares not venture to traffic with his ill-gotten stock, aware he would be suspected of having in his possession money which he had plundered from some known, or unknown persons, and which might attract the attention of the Police to his dealings. However, after a few years, some of them do occasionally make advances to the farmers at the usual rate of interest; but this is on a very limited scale being unable to keep any accounts operating as a check on such speculations-very few, indeed, of the Ramoossies can read or write; their degraded caste, their idle habits, the nature of their pursuits, and general poverty, presenting obstacles to the spread of education amongst them-although they are not insensible to the advantages derived from it.

In the month of November, last year, in the morning on which they were removing Essoo Neekary, one of Oomiah's principal Naiks from the jail at Poona to the place of execution, he sent to request that the Assistant Judge might speak with him ;-and upon Mr. L. coming towards him, Essoo said, he had a considerable sum of money buried in a hill near the fort of Singhur. (Essoo resided in a small village a short distance from this fort) which he was anxious to have dug up. Mr. L. told him that it was now too late to do any thing about recovering it, as he had no authority to listen to any such representations nor to delay the execution. This explanation had scarcely been repeated when, unexpectedly to Mr. L. the unfortunate man, bent himself nearly double and rushed with great impetuosity towards a pillar, against which he hit his head and dropped down senseless on the floor.

The Ramoossies as robbers, appear at times to be singularly imprudent and thoughtless, neglecting to adopt some ordinary, and to them necessary precautions, by making an early display of the articles plundered, or putting part of the property into the hands of individuals for the purpose of being disposed of who are unacquainted with the particulars of the robbery. There have been instances, of valuable gold ornaments set with jewels, and plundered only at an inconsiderable distance from Poona, having been offered for sale at the verp shop in that capital, from which they had been despatched but a very short time before; thus furnishing the owner with an easy and unexpected opportunity of recovering part of that treasure, which he had considered as lost for ever.

The Ramoossies always speak of their Kuppall, Dyuh, Nusseeb, that is, trusting to fate, destiny, and chance: so much confidence do they place in fortune. There are many chances against its being discovered who committed a robbery, and in favour of the robbers not being caught; then the difficulty of convicting them of the crime, the chances of their being able by means of some friends, to succeed in bribing, or interesting some of the persons in the employ of Government in their behalf; they have still hope of being able to effect their escape, should they be seized, to establish an alibi, or, probably, admitting the truth of some trifling and unimportant part of the charge, they then call out loudly, that their enemies are trying to ruin them, by a most tyrannical proceeding on their part. They offer to produce certain persons who can prove the falsity of the charge, and persons will be produced to swear to the innocence of the prisoner. Perjury is reckoned but a very trifling offence among the natives. It is considered, in general, a meritorious act to save a friend by swearing to an untruth; for which, by the bye many an unprincipled man is well rewarded. It has, hence become a common practice in our Adawluts or courts of justice to invalidate evidence by false testimony. It may be further noticed that when they perceive no hope remaining of their escape from punishment, they will pretend to communicate all the information that may be required of them connected with the robbery, provided they are not molested or injured, that is obtaining a pardon, they make confessions which they often retract. They will admit the truth of them afterwards, and before much time has elapsed, they will again deny the whole.

(To be continued.)

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