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. 



In 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 Nopal ; 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 witli 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 

 Arians ; and though the Eastern Tharoos arc nearer to Nepalcse 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 bo 

 driven from the plains to the neighbouring jungles, would be probable 

 enough. I 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 



