The Ethnology of India. 49 
would be, I think, desirable not to give up without farther inquiry the 
attempt to find a Tharoo language, though it will be more difficult 
now that, by the transfer of the Oude Terai, the great mass of them, 
and all those least mixed with Hindustanees, are Nepal subjects. 
Tn other respects the habits and manners of the Boksas and Tharoos 
certainly point rather to an Indian than a Thibetan origin. I saw 
something of the Tharoos before they were annexed to Nepal; and 
their general style suggests a good deal of resemblance to the Santals for 
instance. Mr. Robert Drummond, who has served both in Pillebheet 
and in Central India, and who knew the Tharoos well, tells me that 
in many ways they remind him very much of the Aboriginal tribes of 
the Central hills. They have the same simple ways and the same 
religion of Bhoots and familiar spirits. He also mentions a singular 
circumstance, that on looking over a map of the hill country of Bhau- 
gulpore (now called the Santal Pergunnahs), he was struck by the 
occurrence of many names which he had supposed to be peculiar to the 
Tharoos. 
The claim of the Boksas to Rajpoot origin is of course ridiculous, 
but it is clear that all their traditions point to the south and south- 
west as the country of their origin, not to the northern hills. These 
tribes have in fact little intercourse with and no known congeners in 
the hills. The Boksas and Western Tharoos are separated from the 
Thibetan tribes by a great tract of very difficult country occupied by 
Avians; and though the Hastern Tharoos are nearer to Nepalese races 
who show Thibetan blood, it seems hardly probable that inhabitants 
of the hills should be driven out into the Forest below (of which the 
hill-men have a great horror); while, that Aboriginal Indians should be 
driven from the plains to the neighbouring jungles, would be probable 
enough. [am inclined to think that the Tharoos and Boksas are 
probably not Thibetan, farther than the accession of refugees and others 
from Nepal may have introduced a little of that blood. Dr. Stewart 
suggests the possibility that they may be akin to the Indo-Chinese 
races who occupy the lowlands near the Berhampooter; but though 
that may be possible, it seems to be a long way for emigrant tribes to 
find their way up to the Dehra Dhoon in countries where, for so many 
hundred miles, there is no trace of their congeners. On the whole, it 
seems more probable that they are Aboriginal Indians a good deal 
