tion, and should this prove to have been the case, he was satisfied. He next made inquiries at Wurgawn, about the Patell's fields having been plundered on a particular night; after having sifted this question well, and learned that no grain had been missed from the Patell's field, the Ramoossy returned to make some further inquiries about Ballah, and seizing him, he charged him with having been engaged in the robbery; for most probably the Ramoossy during his peregrinations received some hints of a suspicious nature respecting this Ballah. In some such manner, or in one very similar to it, a clue frequently was found which led to the detection of the party that were concerned in the robbery, and the recovery, of the plundered property.

In the event of the Ramoossies having thus succeeded in apprehending the robbers, the Rukwalldar was released from the responsibility for which he had given security. Should he, however, after his utmost exertions, have completely failed in laying hold of any of the gang, the Rukwalldar most commonly presented himself before the Patell, and prayed of him to stretch out his powerful and bountiful hand to aid in extricating him from the difficulty in which he was plunged, arrangements were then proposed for adjusting the matter;-and if the inhabitants and the Ramoossies of the village were very poor, (which was but too commonly the case,) the owner of the lost property was, probably owing to the poverty of the people and the hard circumstances of the case, obliged to compound for half, and even much less, of the amount of his loss. To make good the required contribution, the Patell, Karbary, Kookurny, the Wuttundars (hereditary farmers,) and the Ramoossies, paid certain proportions, and in the event of the Government authorities being obliged to interfere, they endeavoured to collect the money with as much consideration as possible for the state of the people. Settling such affairs often caused much annoyance, trouble, and distress, to all those who thus became indirectly connected with the original business.

It is known that the Patells sometimes made the watchman contribute the largest share of the sum they were called upon to subscribe. The character and arts of the Ramoossy Naik being familiar to the Patell, he was threatened, and rather than run the risk of having any of his rogueries brought to light which might involve him in further trouble, he agreed to the Patell's propositions. *

• Government are anxious to guard as much as possible against oppressive

The duties of the village Rukwalldar or Watchman, although they are unceasing, are comparatively of a light nature; and his success depends on his personal character, his activity, and his local knowledge; on his attachment to the village, and his desire of keeping on the best footing with all the inhabitants, and guarding their property from the depredations of others, and above all, on not conniving at the spoliation of any part of it whether within doors or in the fields, by any of his own family, or followers ;-unfortunately, many are the causes of complaint which the villagers, but more es pecially the farmers, have against the watchmen on this account.

These faithless warders not unfrequently carry off during the night, part of the corn that had been cut down and left in the fields, and steal the grain from their Khullies, or Rasses (temporary farmyards,) in the fields, or near their villages;-Yet rather than be at open war with the Rukwalldars, these complaints are seldom, or never, pressed upon the notice of the Government agents.

There are instances of the Ramoossy Naiks who are of a bold and daring spirit, having a great ascendency over the village Patells and Koolkurnies, but which the latter, do not like to acknowledge openly. These dread representing to higher authority the irregularities which the Rukwalldar and his followers are guilty of;-and it sometimes happens that the village officers participate in the profits which the Ramoossies derive from committing such irregularities.

A great number of the Ramoossies and their families live in extreme poverty and wretchedness, dragging on a very miserable existence; many of those in the most distressed circumstances are usually persons, who had come from distant villages, or quitted their native place, in consequence of having been concerned in some theft, or robbery, when most probably, several persons had been badly wounded, or killed; and some of them keep moving about the country in expectation of obtaining some employment.-These Ramoossies when they become inmates of a new village, support acts in levying fines, and to conform, at the same time, with long established usages of the people. I subjoin an extract from the regulations of the Bombay Government, to show how the Magistrates are to act in such cases Reg: XI, of XXX. "When a robbery has been committed within the boundary of a village, or the perpetrators of a robbery have been satisfactorily traced thereto, and neglect or connivance be charged against the inhabitants or the police establishment with regard to prevention, detection, or apprehension, it shall be competent for the Magistrate to investigate the matter as a criminal offence, and if the fact be well substantiated to exact a fine not exceeding the value of the property lost, the whole or part of which may be awarded in compensation to the owner, according as the degree of caution and activity which he evinced on the occasion may deserve, and the Court of Circuit is directed to inquire into such matters.'

their families by selling grass and firewood which they cut in the adjoining hills and jungles, unless they should have succeeded in securing some articles of value, in the commission of the robbery that may have caused their flight from their homes. Should this have been the case, they probably, at the termination of a few months, purchase a couple of bullocks, and take to farming as long as it may suit their purpose.

These new comers, are the persons who are generally guilty of petty robberies in the vicinity of the villages they reside in. They waylay solitary travellers approaching to, or departing from them, in any jungle, or strong ground, a few miles from the place. They rush unexpectedly on the traveller with their faces muffed up, to prevent their being afterwards recognised. They force him to surrender to them any wearing apparel of value which he may have on his person, and whatever other property worth taking he may have in his possession. They then return to the village rapidly, by a circuitous route,—and reach their homes long before any account of the robbery has transpired.

It may be mentioned, that the Rukwalldars give encouragement to such persons, but warn them against molesting the inhabitants of their own villages, and plundering any travellers, except strangers, and persons, from a distance. When two, or three of these start to commit a robbery on a few travellers halting in, or near the village, they have been known to reverse their shoes, on some occasions, when returning with their plunder.

It is but justice to remark, that the Rukwalldars of some few places, have established a character of zeal and activity in the discharge of their duty,-and that in their villages a robbery has not been heard of for years. These effectually prevent the intrusion of any persons for the purpose of plundering; and, should any robbers be bold enough to assail the house of any person in their village, and carry off any property, the Rukwalldar Naik himself will go the whole way upon the track, passing through the boundary of the various villages the robbers may have passed in their route, one or two persons of those villages merely accompanying him; for, being enraged and indignant at the insult offered to him, he is induced to take all this trouble himself, in the hope of being more completely revenged on those who dared to bring disgrace upon him.

CHAPTER II.

The secrecy and rapidity with which they commit Durrorrahs or gang rob. beries. Other castes guilty of similar outrages.-The different terms used by them explained.--The measures pursued by them to obtain information and to ensure success to their plans.-The oaths they take.-How they dispose of the captured property and the value it is generally estimated at.-The village gold smith and petty Marwary merchants, afford facilities for disposing of stolen property.

The resolution, secrecy, and rapidity with which the Ramoossies concert their schemes, and carry them into execution, are rather remarkable; for there are at times a few Mhars, and Mangs, likewise men of the Koonby tribe, associated with them on their plundering expeditions. Yet before much time has elapsed from the commission of the outrage they may have perpetrated, it is pretty well known who were the principal actors in the affair;-still however, information is withheld, chiefly from the dread of the delinquents embrac ing some violent, or malicious measures against such persons as may have become acquainted with their proceedings, and are likely to make known the circumstances to the proper authorities. For such persons as are capable of communicating information have little inducement to do so,-not wishing to incur any risk of danger, or the inveterate ill will of the robbers, by engaging in matters that do not immediately concern themselves;-moreover, it frequently happens, that instead of gaining any advantage by becoming informers, they would most likely be put to considerable expense, at all events, to very great inconvenience by being obliged to attend as evidences at a distant Court of Justice, where they might be detained for an uncertain length of time;-they weigh well all these matters, and consider it best to be silent on the subject, and the robbery in the mean time is partly forgotten, till probably some of the robbers have had a quarrel among themselves about the division of the property, or one of them, from a grudge, or spirit of malice and revenge, has communicated the long wished for information.

The method in which they set about gaining intelligence, and carrying their plans into execution, and finally disposing of the property of various descriptions that fall into their hands on these occasions, I shall now relate, as far as I am acquainted with it, explaining in the first place, the meaning of the term Durrorrah, which it will be necessary to employ very frequently in the sequel. It may be noticed here, that besides the Bheels, Kolies, and Ramoossies, the caste of Mangs are in the habit of committing Durrorrahs.

The Mangs in the north west and the southern boundary of the Ahmednuggur Collectorate, and those around Sholapoor, and in the eastern quarters of the Poona district, are very desperate robbers and not unfrequently commit murder, or inflict the most severe wounds on persons that offer resistance to them while plundering, and sometimes for the purpose of striking terror into the people in the nighbourhood of the house they are going to plunder, they will without the least hesitation cut down any persons they may encounter in the road. The Mangs along the country between Satara and Kolapoor are likewise a very bold and cruel set of robbers: Kykaries commit robberies also in gangs; these people will be alluded to in the Sketch of Oomiah's life,-Koonbies (farmers) also try to realise money in this way.-These in general join some of the other castes in such excursions, but there are some noted men near Poona who venture to plunder occasionally in the Mawils by themselves. The Bunjaras who are a bold and formidable race, when traversing the country with herds of bullocks, transporting grain or salt, sometimes perpetrate robberies in gangs-and they are not over scrupulous in committing murder on such occasions, if they meet with opposition or deem it necessary for their future security. The Dheres, alias Mhars, alias Purwarries, although in general a very trust worthy and most useful class of persons, occasionally commit gang robberies-but it is seldom that these people are guilty of such crimes to any great extent, unless they have quarrelled with the Patell and other villagers-they consequently strike work till they obtain redress. During this period, the Balot. tah perquisites are withheld from them and they are very apt to subsist by foraging on the property of others.

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The word Durrorrah is used by the inhabitants of the Dekhan to express a night attack made on a house or tent by a body of armed men for the purpose of plunder. Daka" is the Hindoostany term and the word used by the Ramoossies, is "Tutch," which conveys the same meaning in their language.

Attacking an escort marching in the day time with money, jewels, &c. for the purpose of capturing the same, they term "Rokurparna" ;-and attacking a body of merchants proceeding along a road with a quantity of cloth or goods of any other discription-also attacking any number of travellers, to plunder them of

The vallies between the hills branching eastward from the Syeedry. range of mountains so called.