Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 2.djvu/202

Rh they are of Rajpoot origin (although they confess that the Rajpoots of the plains hold them impure, on account of their less cleanly habits), and that they had come from the Deccan. But even in this they were not unanimous. When they attempted details, their statements were more varied than satisfactory.

Boksas only intermarry with their own tribe; but there appears to be no restriction within its limits. Their religious profession is Hindoo, to which they conform in an ignorant, unmeaning manner; and the usual rites of that faith are performed on the occasion of births, marriages, and deaths. Marriage, as among the Hindoos, takes place at eight to ten years. In small matters also the Boksas adhere to Hindoo customs. Thus, they do not wear their shoes (when they have any to wear) during cooking, and they kill animals to be used as food by a blow or cut on the back of the neck, not by the throat-cutting "halalkarna" of the Mussulmans.

A considerable proportion of the tribe follow Nanak Matha—that is, have adopted the Gooroo of the Siklis as their—own—and are called Sikhs by their brethren. In some villages they form the majority of the inhabitants.

Among so rude a people as the Boksas, it would be vain to look for any elaborate religious tenets either held or understood by such a sect as these Sikhs; and accordingly their own distinctive mark is the avoidance of spirituous liquor, opium, and charras, which the Boksas in general use freely. The Sikhs will not even smell spirits voluntarily. Tobacco is, however, lawful among these followers of Nanak.

Boksas generally are much addicted to tobacco, which, when they have no hookah by them, they smoke in a twisted-up leaf: and they took kindly to Cavendish, which, however, they found very strong after the light unfermented tobacco they use. All the men who do not follow Nanak, and many of the women, indulge in spirits; but rarely carry the practice, against which their priests in vain warn them, to the extent of intoxication.

The Boksas bear an excellent moral character. For at least three years not one of the tribe had been a party to a suit, either civil or criminal, in the courts of the districts which they inhabit. Any disputes which may occur among them, are generally settled by the head man of their own, or of an adjoining, village.

Their indolence and ignorance are on a par with their inoffensiveness. They have a strong objection to all labour which is not absolutely essential to provide means for subsistence. Near some of their villages immense quantities of manure, of which they well knew the value, were lying unused, the trouble of taking it to their fields being too great for them; and they gave as a reason for not collecting kino in the forest, that it would be a great deal of trouble.

They are excessively greedy after animal food, and then- only amusement seems the pursuit of game, terrestrial and aquatic. They say themselves that