1865.] On the Boksas of Bijnour, 171 
only were then alive, and in only one of these, had so many as three 
persons reached manhood. 
The statements given above, 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 Ramgunga, and only a very few from the western- 
most extinct village Lullutpore, appear to have crossed the Ganges 
into the Doon 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, im 
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 Rohillkhund, 
