CENSUS, NICOBAR ISLANDS

Islands.1901. 1886.
Villages.Huts.Men.Women.Boys.Girls.Total.Foreigner. Villages.Huts.Population.
Total14612971996183811489805962201158...5935
Car Nicobar137481126999704622345118113...3500
Chowra613017217810072522...594690
Teressa11112179165158122624...8109571
Bompoka218292516878...21586
Camorta30981701648569488726106359
Nancowry13489386242122471478222
Trinkat4254239129102183485
Kachal3464104109313728113766183
Great Nicobar15254235648712345138
Little Nicobar and Pulo Milo15212524711671192774
Condul381414553813827

From these figures it appears that, on the whole, the population has remained fairly stationary since the last census. With regard to Chowra, I am inclined to believe that the decrease is due not only to the fact that many of the natives have migrated to Camorta and other islands of the group, but to the number of the children now on the island having been understated to the enumerators. Much of the increase shown in the central group and Teressa is attributable to immigration, and very probably also to incorrect information having been furnished to the enumerators, either at this census or the last one. As to the Shom Peṅ, it is still impossible to ascertain their numbers.—E. H. Man—Supp., And. and Nic. Gazette, March 2, 1901.


APPENDIX I

TRADE ARTICLES AND THEIR VALUE IN THE NICOBARS

List of the principal articles imported by the traders for sale to the Kar Nicobarese:—

Price in Coconuts.
Nickel-silver soup-ladle500pairs.
" long spoon500 "
" table spoon and fork500 "
" dessert spoon and fork300 "
" tea spoon and small fork120 "
" mustard spoon200 "
Tumblers20-40pairs, according to size.
Decanters60-80 " " "
China plates40-80 " " "
" bowls40-80 " " "
Enamelled plates40-80 " " "
" cups40-80 " " "
Matches, packet of 12 boxes24pairs.
Needles, 1 dozen12 "
Thread, 1 dozen balls12 "
Chinese tobacco, 1 packet40 "
Tobacco, 1 bundle100 "
Red cloth, 1 piece1200 "
" 1 piece (Turkey)1600 "
White calico, 1 piece800 "
Chinese black cloth, 1 piece600 "
Madras handkerchiefs, 1 piece800-2000pairs.
Fancy coloured chintz and saris
" Bombay handkerchiefs
Rice (1 bag of 2 maunds, Calcutta)300-500pairs.
" (1 bag of 3 maunds, Burma)500-600 "
Chattis and pots10-40 "
American knives80-120 "
" " clasp20-60 "
Burmese dáos40-200 "
Table knives40-160 "
Two-anna pieces8 "
Rupee30-50 "

Wooden and tin clothes-boxes, looking-glasses, sugar, camphor, Epsom salts, Eno's fruit salt, turpentine, castor oil, cabin biscuits, etc.