the magistrate's ear, have been already explained, viz. his taking a paper to that effect from those he oppressed, and then his shamefully handing over to justice the persons he occasionally employed as the instruments of his tyranny; -again his profound dissimulation and constant professions of innocence, when he was charged with committing or conniving at these outrages, and the ease and ingenuity with which he could prepare his defence, by procuring as many persons as he might require to give evidence on oath on any points which might suit his views; moreover, the anxious wish of the inhabitants to stand aloof from any cause in which they would be required to give testimony against him. All these circumstances operated against the magistrate's becoming fully informed respecting the proceedings which have been described.

The notorious Brahmun Kakajee, who was executed at Ahmednuggur in March, 1830, and who stopped Lieutenant C―, 3d Regiment Native Infantry, on his march from Ahmednuggur to Poona, and plundered him of his horse and watch, &c. passed the rains of the preceding season with Oomiah at Sakoordy. This Brahmun kept his few followers well mounted. He and Oomiah bound themselves by an oath in the temple at Jejoory, to support each other in the plundering system which they engaged to carry on. Kakajee persuaded Oomiah to call on several Patells of villages on the banks of the Neera river, to consult them about furnishing him with a body of horse. When the Patells learnt that it was Kakajee's intention to employ them in committing depredations in various parts of the country, they refused to listen to Oomiah's propositions, aware of the difficulties and dangers in which a compliance would ultimately involve them. After this disappointment, Kakajee continued to act with his small mounted gang with as much secrecy as possible, till they were apprehended near Ahmednuggur.

Oomiah mentioned that Kakajee gave out that his name was Godajee Danglia, a relation of the famous Trimbukjee Danglia's; and that he had come from Bhajee Row, the Ex-Peshwah; that he was determined to destroy and extirpate the English. Oomiah mentioned other particulars

said to have been communicated by Kakajee: he stated that the Brahmun had sent him a hoondy (bill of exchange) for two and a half lacks rupees, on Sahookars at Phultun, which proved to be forgeries; and that he afterwards reported the circumstance to the collector at Poona. This was a story made for the occasion, for Oomiah knew well that Kakajee had not been near Bhajee Row, nor had he any authority from him to act as he proposed. I have seen a man noted for his moral and religious character, who was well acquainted with the proceedings of these robbers, and was present when they pledged their faith to each other, but when interrogated on the subject, he denied it altogether, but subsequently evinced much sorrow for having been guilty of such a falsehood, and added, that it was the dread he entertained of Oomiah, which induced him to withhold the truth.

It may be considered that I have entered too particularly and circumstantially into the history of Oomiah's irregular proceedings when in charge of the police of the Poorundur district; but my object in doing so, has been to represent to the reader the busy, tyrannical, and dangerous character of the Ramoossy. I shall however close this long chapter of his adventures with the following account of his failure in obtaining possession of one of the largest prizes on which he had fixed his attention.

During the period that Trimbukjee Danglia was concealing himself in the Mhadeo hills, after he had escaped from Thanna, the Peshwah Bajee Row kept his favourite well supplied with money, although His Highness publicly denied all knowledge of his place of retreat. A sum of money, to a large amount, having been deposited with some Sahookars in the town of Phulten, for Trimbukjee's use, remained it is said in their hands when hostilities commenced between the British and Mharrattas, in the year 1817; and in consequence of the confusion that ensued, the Peshwah having proceeded to Hindoostan, and Trimbukjee having been apprehended the money remained still unclaimed. If this was really the case, or what afterwards became of it, I do not pretend to say, but only relate what has been communicated to me as fact.

At the time of the first disturbance in which Oomiah was engaged, it is said that two Jageerdars, who were Sirdars (officers) of the Poona Court, and who were acquainted with the circumstance, became anxious to get this money or part of it into their possession, and the plan they adopted to try to secure the prize, and to remove all suspicion from the Sahookars, was as follows.

They prepared the usual bills of exchange with a list specifying the different descriptions of coins, (chiefly gold mohurs,) to which they affixed the Peshwah's seal, which they had in their possession. They then engaged a Goossyne who had lately come from Hindoostan, and partly communicated to this man their scheme, and the part they wished him to act in the plot. Having intrusted him with these documents, he was instructed to give out, that he had come from Bindrabund, (Bhajee Row's place of exile on the banks of the Jumna,) on a confidential mission to some of his friends in the Dekhan. He was now directed to proceed in search of Oomiah, and to impart to him the plot. The papers were to be placed in Oomiah's hands, who was to negotiate the business with the Sahookars. Oomiah was to inform them that the disturbance he had created, and the annoyance he had caused to the British Government, was highly approved of by the Peshwah Bhajee Row, and that His Highness was anxious to furnish him with funds to carry on operations on a more extended scale.

This Goossyne proceeded to Jejoory, but after a considerable lapse of time he did not succeed in meeting the Ramoossy Naik. A short time after this Oomiah was pardoned; he and Kristnajee Naik had an interview with these Sirdars, (one of them is since dead,) and they told him that he should have a large portion of the money, if he succeeded in getting it out of the Sahookar's hands.

Oomiah sent on one of his brothers to make some inquiries and he then gave the papers to the Patell of Bhewndy, who proceeded with an escort to Phultun to demand the money; but as the Sahookars started some objections, the party returned to Sakoordy, and afterwards proceeded a second time to Phultun. It is stated, that

the Sahookar was on the point of handing over the money to Oomiah's people, when something took place which excited his suspicion; and in consequence he went to the Mamlutdar and reported the circumstance, and eventually denied having any money in his hands belonging to the Peshwah. The affair being referred to the Rajah of Satara, he directed that Ocmiah's people should be sent to him. A few days after the party reached Satara, they all absconded, with the exception of the Patell; and after some detention he was also set free. The failure of this scheme was a grievous disappointment to Oomiah. The Sahookar states now, that he informed Oomiah's people and the Rajah's officers that he had no money belonging to Bhajee Row-that he would pay double the amount demanded if such could be proved.

About eight months after this, the Phultun Sahookar came to Baramutty to settle some private affairs, which circumstance no sooner came to Oomiah's knowledge, than he dispatched a dozen Ramoossies, who arrested him, and brought him a prisoner to Sakoordy. This took place in the beginning of 1830. When the Sahookar had been eleven days in the Hetkurries guard at Sakoordy, after many threats and intimidations he agreed to give Oomiah nine hundred rupees; and upon giving security for the payment of this sum he was permitted to return to his home. In the mean time his family had represented the circumstance to the Rajah, and a communication was consequently made to the magistrate of Poona. The Sahookar was subsequently sent for by the magistrate who repaid him the nine hundred rupees, the amount having been deducted from Oomiah's pay.

CHAPTER XV.

When Oomiah absconded from Poona the collector called on the Ramoossy Naiks, &c. to seize him and to bring him back to the capital-The Naika deny all knowledge of his place of retreat.-Discussions with the Naiks.They are warned of the consequences, in case of their disobeying the orders of Government. -Some horsemen wounded.-The Ramoossies disposed to begin to plunder. A detachment from Poona marches to Sassoor, and from Satara to the Salpie Ghaut.-Detachment advances to Jejoory.-Oomiah and the Bund proceed to Bhore, plunder Bazar wary, and seize two Brahmuns, Skirmish with Captain Boyd at Mandurdeo.-The Bund separate; their distress.-Oomiah returns to the Poorundur hills.-Several of the gang seiz

ed-Detachments from Shollapoor, and from the Konkan, to secure the passes in the Syadry Ghauts-An attempt to surprise Oomiah failed.-Rewards offered for the apprehension of the Naiks.--Oomiah surprised near Goo linchy. He rejoins his brother and Bhojajee Naik in the hill south of the Neera. They address proclamations to all the Kamoossies, calling upon them to join them at the fort of Poorundur.-The Bund are surprised near Walla. -The Kolies quit it.

The circumstance of Oomiah's having absconded from: Poona on the 16th of December, became no sooner known to the collector, Mr. Giberne, (who at the time was in the district sixty miles east of Poona,) than he called on the Ramoossy Naiks in the pay of Government, and the Patells who were security for Oomiah, to seize him, and take him back to the capital. These men replied, that they were ignorant of Oomiah's place of retreat, but that they would endeavour to discover it, and that he (the collector). might depend on their discharging their duty faithfully— at the same time observing that Oomiah must have been persuaded by some persons in the pay of Government to fly from the place.

Some of the Naiks subsequently visited Poona; they invariably pleaded ignorance of Oomiah's place of retreat, stating that as no information could be gained respecting him, it was evident he must have proceeded to a great distance, and most probably into the territory of some foreign prince.

Towards the end of December, accounts from Sakoordy stated that the men employed there (the Ramoossy Naiks and their Sibundies) had quitted the village, and were residing in the adjoining hills, and that a number of persons were assembling from different parts of the country. The Naiks showed considerable backwardness now in visiting Poona; and although they still boldly denied knowing any thing concerning Oomiah, all the people of the district who took an interest in the matter, were quite satisfied that Oomiah had joined his friends at Sakoordy.

Government was well acquainted, from long experience, with Oomiah's talent for carrying on with singular success a predatory system of warfare, and was anxious to avoid the consequent trouble and expense that would necessarily follow, if hostilities were commenced against him; although, at the same time, fully convinced of the necessity of crush