Of those who entertained and assisted us during the voyage, thanks are specially due to Mr P. Vaux of Port Blair, for his hospitality to us during our stay in that place;[2] and I am greatly indebted to Messrs O. T. Mason, G. S. Miller, and Dr C. W. Richmond, respectively, for the photographs of the Nicobarese pottery and skirt, for permission to include here much information from the report on the Andaman and Nicobar mammals, and for a list of the new species of birds obtained, which, however, up to the present, have not received specific designations. I have also to gratefully acknowledge the help rendered me by Mr E. H. Man, C.I.E., who, besides volunteering to read through the proof sheets, has given me much information, and corrected a number of inaccuracies. To my sister, for her superintendence of the book since my departure from England, and to my publishers for their kindness and assistance in many ways, I must not omit to offer my thanks.
October, 1902.
CONTENTS
PART I
| INTRODUCTION | |
| PAGE | |
| The Terrapin—Crew—Itinerary of the Cruise—Daily Routine—Provisionsand Supplies—Collecting Apparatus—Guns—Shooting—Path-making—Clothing—Head-dress—AScene in the Tropics—Native Indolence—AttractiveMemories | [1] |
| CHAPTER I | |
| Barren Island and the Archipelago | [9] |
| Shipboard Monotony—Edible Sharks—Calm Nights—Squalls—BarrenIsland—Appearance—Anchorage—Landing-place—Hot Spring—Goats—TheEruptive Cone—Lava—Paths—Interior of the Crater—VolcanicActivity—Fauna—Fish—The Archipelago—Kwang-tung Strait—Path-making—TheJungle—Birds—Coral Reefs—Parrots—Two New Rats—Inhabitants. | |
| CHAPTER II | |
| Port Blair | [19] |
| We enter the Harbour—Surveillance—Ross Island Pastimes—Visit the ChiefCommissioner—The Harbour—Cellular Jail—Lime-kilns—Phœnix Bay—Hopetown—Murderof Lord Mayo—Chatham Island—Haddo andthe Andamanese—Tea Gardens—Viper Island and Jail—The Convicts—Occupations—Punishments—Troops—Departure. | |
| CHAPTER III | |
| Macpherson Strait—South Andaman and Rutland Island | [28] |
| Gunboat Tours—South Andaman—Rutland Island—Navigation—Landing-place—NativeCamp—Natives—Jungle—Birds—Appearance of theNatives—Our Guests—Native Women: Decorations and AbsurdAppearance—Trials of Photography—The Village—Food—Bows,Arrows, and Utensils—Barter—Coiffure—Fauna—Water—New Species. | |
| CHAPTER IV | |
| The Cinques and Little Andaman | [36] |
| Position of the Cinques—Anchorage—Clear Water—The Forest—BeachFormation—Native Hut—Little Andaman—BumilaCreek—Natives—Flies—PersonalDecoration—Dress and Modesty—Coats of Mud—Coiffure—Absenceof Scarification—Elephantiasis—A Visit to the Village—PeculiarHuts—Canoe—Bows and Arrows—The Return Journey—Aslight contretemps—Andamanese Pig—We leave the Andamans. | |
| CHAPTER V | |
| Kar Nicobar | [44] |
| To the Nicobars—A Tide-race—A Change of Scene—Sáwi Bay—GeologicalFormation—V. Solomon—MūsVillage—Living-houses—Kitchens—Fruit-trees—TheNatives—Headman Offandi—"Town-Halls"—Death-house—MaternityHouses—Hospitals—Floods—"Babies'Houses"—Birds—Oil Press—Canoes—Offandi—"Friend ofEngland"—"FrankThomson"—"Little John"—Thirst for Information—Natives'Nick-names—Mission School Boys' Work—A Truant—TheAdvantage of Canoes—A Spill—Our Method of Landing—CollectingNative Birds—A New Bat—Coconuts—V. Solomon—The Nicobareseand Christianity—Water—Area of KarNicobar—Geology—Flora—Supplies. | |
| CHAPTER VI | |
| Tilanchong | [66] |
| Batti Malv—Tilanchong—Novara Bay—Terrapin Bay—Form and Area ofTilanchong—Birds—Megapodes—A Swamp—Crocodile—MegapodeMound—Wreck and Death of Captain Owen, 1708—Leave Tilanchong—FoulGround—Kamorta. | |
| CHAPTER VII | |
| Trinkat | [73] |
| Beresford Channel—A Deserted Village—Jheel—Bird Life—WildCattle—Scenery—Photographs—PortRegisters—Tanamara—Population—Customs—TheShom Peṅ—The Sequel to a Death—Interior of theHouses. | |
| CHAPTER VIII | |
| Nankauri | [78] |
| The Harbour Shores—A Village—Kanaia—Canoe—Feeding theAnimals—Collecting-ground—MangroveCreeks—Preparations for a Festival—BurialCustoms—Malacca Village—Houses—VisitTanamara—Furniture—Talismansand "Scare-devils"—Beliefs—Festivities—A Dance—AnEducated Native—Tanamara and hisRelations—Cigarettes—Refreshments—TheCollections—Geology—Flora—Population—Piracy. | |
| CHAPTER IX | |
| Kamorta | [95] |
| The Old Settlement—The Cemetery—F.H. de Röepstorff—Mortality—Birds—TheHarbour—Appearance of Kamorta—Dring Harbour—Olta-möit—Buffalo—SpiritTraffic—Cookery—Ceremonial Dress—A Visit fromTanamara—Geology—Flora—Topography—Population—Hamilton'sDescription. | |
| CHAPTER X | |
| Kachal and Other Islands | [103] |
| Heavy Surf—Teressa—Bompoka—A Native Legend—Hamilton—Chaura—Wizardry—Pottery—Kachaltypical of the Tropics—NicobareseDress—West Bay—Lagoon—Mangroves—Whimbrel—Formation ofKachal—Birds—Visitors to the Schooner—Fever—Chinese Junks—Thatch—Relics—TheReef—Megapodes—Monkeys—Full-dressedNatives—Medicine—A Death Ceremony—Talismans—Fish and Fishing—Geology. | |
| CHAPTER XI | |
| Little Nicobar and Pulo Milo | [118] |
| A Tide-rip—Islets—A Cetacean—Pulo Milo—Timidity of the Natives—LittleNicobar—Geology—Flora—Population—Site for a Colony—JungleLife—Banian Trees—The Houses and their Peculiarity—TheNatives—Practices and Beliefs—The Shom Peṅ—The Harbour—Weascend a River—Kingfishers—Water—Caves—Bats and Swallows—Nests—AJungle Path—Menchál Island—Collections—Monkeys—Crabs. | |
| CHAPTER XII | |
| Kondul and Great Nicobar | [131] |
| The Anchorage—The Island—Villages—We leave Kondul—Great Nicobar—Anchorage—Collecting—Upthe Creek—A Bat Camp—Young Bats—Tracesof the Shom Peṅ—Bird Life—Fish—Ganges Harbour—LandSubsidence—Tupais—We Explore the Harbour—A Jungle Pig—"Jubilee"River—Chinese Navigation—Rainy Weather—Kondul Boys—Coconuts—ChineseRowing. | |
| CHAPTER XIII | |
| Great Nicobar—West Coast | [141] |
| Pulo Kunyi—Area of Great Nicobar—Mountains—Rivers—The Village—TheShom Peṅ—Casuarina Bay—An Ingenious "Dog-hobble"—Inthe Jungle—A Shom Peṅ Village—Men of the Shom Peṅ-A LazyMorning—The Shom Peṅ again—Their Similarity to the Nicobarese—Food—Implements—Cooking-vessel—TheDagmar River—CasuarinaBay—Pulo Nyur—Water—A Boat Expedition—The Alexandra River—ShomPeṅ Villages—Kópenhéat—More Shom Peṅ—Elephantiasis—PetMonkeys—Anchorage. | |
| CHAPTER XIV | |
| Great Nicobar—West and South Coasts | [154] |
| "Domeat"—Malay Traders—Trade Prices—The Shom Peṅ Language—PlaceNames—Pulo Bábi—The Growth of Land—Climbing a PalmTree—Servitude—Population—Views on Marriage with the Aborigines—Towardsthe Interior—A Shom Peṅ Village—The Inhabitants—Canoe-building—Barter—TheWest Coast—South Bay—Walker Island—Chang-ngeh—Upthe Galathea River—Water—We leave the Nicobarsand sail to Sumatra. | |
PART II
| CHAPTER I | |
| The Andaman Islands and their Inhabitants | [167] |
| Position—Soundings—Relationship—Islands—Area—Great AndamanMountains—Little Andaman—Rivers—Coral Banks—Scenery—Harbours—Timber—Flora—Climate—Cyclones—Geology—Minerals—Subsidence—Earthquakes—History—Aborigines—Convictsand the Penal System—Growth and Resources of the Settlement—Products andManufactures. | |
| CHAPTER II | |
| The Nicobar Islands and their Aborigines | [201] |
| The Nicobar Islands and their Aborigines—The Islands—Coral Banks—NankauriHarbour—Population—Geology—Earthquakes—Climate—Flora—History—TheShom Peṅ: their Derivation, Appearance,Houses, Gardens, Cooking-vessel, Domestic Animals, Manufactures,Trade, Clothing, Headmen, Position of Women, Disposition, Diseases. | |
| CHAPTER III | |
| The Nicobarese | [221] |
| The Evolution of the Nicobarese—Description—Character—Language—Legendsof Origin—Origin of Coco Palms—Invention of Punishments—SuperstitiousBeliefs—Diseases—Medicines—Marriage—MatriarchalSystem—Divorce—Polygamy—Courtship—Property—Takoia—Headmen—SocialState—Position of Women and Children—DomesticAnimals—Weapons—Tools—Fishing—Turtle—Food—Beverages—Narcoticsand Stimulants—Cleanliness—Clothing—Ornaments—Coiffure—Amusements—Artsand Industries—Cultivation—Produce—Tradersand Commerce. | |
| CHAPTER IV | |
| Dampier's Sojourn in Great Nicobar, and Voyage thenceto Acheen in a Canoe | [254] |
| CHAPTER V | |
| An Old Account of Kar Nicobar | [276] |
| CHAPTER VI | |
| Some Customs of the Kar Nicobarese | [285] |
| The Feast of Exhumation—A Scene in the Graveyard—"Katap-hang"—"Kiala"—"Enwan-n'gi"—FishCharms—Canoe Offerings—"Ramal"—"Gnunota"—Conversewith the Dead—"Kewi-apa"—"Maya"—"YintovnáSíya"—Exorcism—"Tanangla"—Other Ceremonies—The "Sano-kuv"—The"Mafai"—The "Tamiluana"—Mafai Ceremonies—Burial—Mourning—BurialScenes—The Origin of Village Gardens—Destructionof Gardens—Eclipses—Canoe-buying—Dances—Quarrels—"Amok"—Wizardry—WizardMurders—-Suicides—Land Sale andTenure—Dislike to Strangers—Cross-bow Accidents—Canoe Voyages—CommercialOccupations—Tallies. | |
| CHAPTER VII | |
| The Fauna of the Andamans and Nicobars | [320] |