1865.] On the Bohsas of Bijnmir. 171 



only were then alive, and in only one of these, had so many as three 

 persons reached manhood. 



The statements given ahove, however, though significant enough as 

 indications, may not be very definite or on a sufficiently large scale to 

 convince ; the following facts do not labour under the latter defect. 

 Seven Boksa villagas have become extinct, and no new Boksa settle- 

 ments have been formed within our limits, in the memory of living 

 men, and as the Boksa does not emigrate from the forest, the question 

 arises " What has become of their former inhabitants ?" There is no 

 trace of any of them having migrated to the villages of the eastern 

 Boksas beyond the Baingunga, and only a very few from the western- 

 most extinct village Lullutpore, appear to have crossed the Ganges 

 into the Boon Boksa settlements, so that naturally one might expect 

 the existing villages to have increased. But the fact is that of seven 

 of the villages, where special inquiries were made as to increase or 

 decrease of the population of late years, the largest of all (Bugnulli) 

 had slightly increased, two others had remained stationary, while the 

 remaining four had decreased from 50 to 90 per cent., and either figure 

 will leave a margin, even for the irrepressible inexactness of the 

 oriental. 



While trying not to exaggerate the importance of these facts and 

 indications, I cannot resist the impression that these western Boksas, 

 the far outliers, as I presume, of one of the aboriginal races, are surely 

 and not slowly, dying out. Several causes seem to contribute to this 

 process. First among these may be put the unhealthy climate of the 

 forest-tract, although it is impossible to say how, or to what extent, 

 it acts in impairing the health of the race, or to separate its effects 

 from those of the other agents in operation. Second, and most 

 palpable, is the miserable diet on which most of the tribe habitually 

 subsist ; and third, the effect of epidemics is most fatal among a 

 people whose blood is impoverished, and their strength impaired by the 

 preceding causes. It has been seen that epidemics of small-pox, in 

 particular, are frequent, and often fatal among the younger Boksas, 

 and, had I remained longer in the district, I meant to have taken 

 steps for sending vaccinators amongst them, so that the severity of this 

 scourge might be lessened in its future visitations. It is possible, 

 however, that ere this time the Boksas have come within the range 

 of the general vaccine operations for Bohilklmnd. 



