he exception of the last six days of this month, there was dew every morning: he 26th instant, thunder was heard. W. GILCHRIST, Assistant Surgeon, OF LITERATURE AND SCIENCE. No. 8.-July, 1835. SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF THE RAMOOSSY CHIEF OOMIAH NAIK, KHOMNEY OF POORUNDUR. Continued from Number 7. I.-A Sketch of the History of the Ramoossies residing in the Sattarah Territory and in the Poona and Ahmednuggur Districts-By Captain Alexander Mackintosh of the 27th Regt. M. N. I. Commanding Ahmednuggur Local Corps. CHAPTER XVI. A detachment arrives from Ahmednuggur.-Troops in motion at Aurungabad, in consequence of the reports circulated by the friends of the Bund.-Oomiah addresses a proclamation to the natives of India, calling on them to destroy the Europeans—The Bund go to Pairgum: several of the Naiks seized.-Oomiah and his adherents greatly alarmed, secret themselves in the ravines. They are discovered in the hills near Pinggory, and attacked. They retire by Hurgooda, wounding several of the inhabitants.-Reoccupy their old haunts south of the Salpie ghaut.-Several parties of Sibundies employed under Patells.-The chiefs of the Bund accuse persons at Poona of causing the disturbance. The greater part of the troops withdrawn.-Government express their high approbation of the proceedings against the Ramoossies.-The Bund occupy the part of the country where the detachments, 8th regiment, were posted.-Many fruitless attempts made to surprise Oomiah.-Bappoo Singh employed.—A skirmish between the Bund and some of the inhabitants near Greem.-A detachment of the 11th regiment attacks the Ramoossies.-The Bund so harassed that they put one of their own men to death, as he was unable to accompany them.-They cross to the south of the Neera river.-Kalloo and his cousins rejoin the Bund. They offer to destroy the chiefs, but are forbidden to do so. On the 12th February, two hundred men under Captain Livingstone, of the 8th regiment, arrived from Ahmednuggur; these men were posted in the country north and east of Jejoory, with directions to keep up a communication with the Mamlutdars (the native collectors) of the districts of the southern boundary of the Ahmednuggur collectorate, and to be guided in their proceedings according to any information that they might receive from them. About this time, a body of horse and foot had shown themselves on the boundary of the Ahmednuggur district, adjoining the Nizam's frontier, and a considerable detachment of Cavalry and Infantry marched in consequence from Aurungabad. Oomiah appeared to be ubiquity itself, for it was insisted that he was every where at the same time-in the Satara territory, in the Konkan, in the Nizam's districts, and in the Nuggur collectorship. His numerous well wishers, aware of the advantages it would be to him to circulate such reports, were most industrious in propagating them, both for the purpose of harassing the troops and annoying the Government. It having become known that an application had been made to head quarters, that some of the detachment should return to their stations to assist in overawing, or acting against those who might show any disposition of favouring or aiding the proceedings of the Ramoossy Bund, a letter was written to Government, setting forth, "that notwithstanding the threatened disturbances at a distance, it seemed the wisest plan to keep the troops concentrated in the Poona district, and to strike first at the root of the evil in the Poorundur hills, in order to eradicate it effectually." Government in reply wrote "The detachment will not be withdrawn: unity of action and command seems essential to success, and these should be vested in Captain Mackintosh, and our means not weakened by our undertaking enterprises distant from him.” The gang proceeded now to the banks of the Bheema, moving gradually down the river; on the 16th February, while they were at the small village of Baboolsur, Oomiah, Kristnajee, and Bhojajee, with the assistance of two or three others, dictated to a Brahmun whom they employed as a scribe, a long declaration addressed to the Rajahs, Jageerdars, Enamdars, and all the inhabitants of Hindoostan, written in the names of Oomiah and Bhojajee, of the fort of Poorundur. This demoniacal production is too long, and there is too much repetition to give a translation of it. It sets forth, that it is by order of Government that the proclamation is published to the whole of the inhabitants of Hindoostan. All rajahs, nobles, and all other persons, are directed to destroy the European gentlemen and soldiers, wherever they can find them; and that such persons as are most active in this work of destruction, shall be presented with Jageers, Enams, and money, by the new Government. It is strongly recommended to all persons who have been deprived of hereditary rights and emoluments, to make themselves useful on the present occasion, that their rights might be restored to them. The whole of the population of Hindoostan. is called upon to rise simultaneously, and cause a general uproar and confusion. The Infantry and Cavalry in the British pay are told to withdraw their allegiance from the Europeans, and to seize them, and that if they act contrary to this proclamation, the new Government will punish them. The property belonging to the Europeans to be plundered and destroyed. All treasuries to be plundered, and no person is required to render any account of what falls to his share. No revenue is to be paid to the Europeans. Such villages as pay revenue contrary to the orders given, shall be destroyed. Terrible imprecations are called down on the heads of all Hindoos and Mussulmans that will not conform to the spirit of the proclamation. It further stated, that it is declared in the Shastres that the reign of the Europeans is at an end. That they are to be extermi nated, and a new and just reign is to be established. The Naiks, at the time they published this proclama |