164 On the Boksas of Bijnour. [No. 3, 
these forests. The plant of which this is the root is the Dioscorea 
bulbifera, L. (D. versicolor Wall; Helmia, Kunth) which is common 
in the Sub-Siwalik belt as well as in the Himalaya to some distance 
inward. It is of the same genus as the West Indian yam, and as the 
ratdlu which is cultivated for its tubers in most parts of India. The 
tubers of various other wild Dioscoreas are eaten in different parts 
of this country, and Buchanan Hamilton mentions one, with a similar 
native name gength, as being largely consumed by the savage Bhars 
(Tharoos?) of the Goruckpore jungles. The plant is a graceful 
climber having large handsome, heart-shaped leaves, and with little 
bulbs (whence the specific name) in the axils of the leaf stalks. The 
- Boksas say the plant is always produced from these bulbs rather than 
from seed, and as the tubers examined had exactly the same kind of 
markings on them as the former, this is probably for the most: part 
the case. The tubers themselves are found at varying distances, from — 
a few inches to several feet, under the surface of the ground. The 
plant is luxuriant from the commencement of the rains in June, till 
about March, after which, as the stem dies away, there is no clue by 
which to find the tubers, so that, for at least three months of the year, 
they are seldom if at all dug. The Boksas declare that the githa 
will not keep for more than a few days, after which it dries up or gets 
rotten, but,-from various circumstances, it seems not unlikely that this 
was merely given as an excuse for their having none stored up. 
These tubers weigh from an ounce to (it is stated) five or six 
pounds, averaging perhaps a pound. For cooking, they are peeled and 
cut into phanks (slices), which are put into an earthen vessel with 
water and ashes, the latter being added in order to remove the excessive 
bitterness of the rawtuber. They are then cooked over a slow fire for 
from six to ten hours, generally in the night-time, and are afterwards 
washed before being eaten. An adult, it is said, will get through from 
two or four pounds at a sitting, using as a relish flesh (kahya) or 
pulse. r 
The Boksas themselves assert that they always prefer the cereals 
as food when they can get them, and that it is only necessity which 
drives them to eat the githi. They say the latter merely acts as 
pet-boja and has no strength (kwwat) in it, and in the more prosperous 
villages it is never consumed except in time of famine. In some of 

