[56] Vocabulary of the Dialects spoken in the Nicobars and Andamans, Port Blair, 3s. Dictionary of Nancowry and Nicobarese Languages (both parts), Calcutta, 7s. 6d.
[57] This decline of population has been even more marked in the southern group than in the central, and has been found to be due to paucity of births and not to increased mortality. It has been attributed to injury done by the practice among the men of the Central and Southern Islands of fastening the neng or loin-cloth unduly tightly over the organs of generation, whereby these are in many cases rendered impotent. At Kar Nicobar, Teressa, and Bompoka, and Chaura the neng is worn less tightly.
[58] Hamilton's Account of the East Indies, Pinkerton's Collection of Travels.
[59] Vide Père Barbe, Jour. Asiatic Soc. Bengal, vol. xv.
[60] These are all imported, many in order to sell to Kar Nicobarese.
[61] Père Barbe (Jour. Asiatic Soc. Bengal, 1847) mentions other monopolies: lime might only be burnt at Kar Nicobar, boats built only at Nankauri, and to the same island was restricted the sowing of paddy. (The last a possible evidence of local Malay immigration.)
With reference to this note, Mr E. H. Man writes:—
"Lime (by burning certain sea-shells) can be made only in the southern group, Kachal, all villages inside Nankauri Harbour—except Ong-yúang, also the villages in Dring and Expedition harbours.
"Lime (made by burning coral) can be made only at Kar Nicobar.
"Canoes (large and small) are made in the central and southern groups where suitable trees are plentiful.