46 Mr Alexander's Notice regarding the 



in a row round the walls were the smoked skulls of a diminutive 

 hog; the canine teeth shorter than in the other species of sus in 

 eastern countries, the jaws fastened together by strips of rattan, 

 (Plate 1. fig. 1.) From the roof a piece of red and white chequer- 

 ed cloth was suspended, seemingly of Madras manufacture. In 

 conical baskets pieces of jack-fruit were found, and a nut re- 

 sembling a chesnut, besides several roots. In a corner I found 

 several large mangroves. At a fire the following shells were 

 roasting : The green Murex trihulus, Trochus telescopium, Cy- 

 prcea caurica, and several varieties of mussel. The drinking 

 cups seemed to be the nautilus. The weapons were a bow 

 from 6 to 7 feet in length, which is pulled with the feet, and a 

 hand-bow of 4 feet ; the strings are made of the dark red fibres 

 of a tree. The arrows are 3 and 4 feet in length, the upper part 

 pf a very hard white wood, inserted in a stock of cane. The 

 soldiers shot several of them at a tree ; they penetrated a couple 

 of inches into the solid timber, and it required the joint strength 

 of tw;o men to pull them out, and even then the points were un- 

 injured. Several arrows were found with two, three, and four 

 prongs. No canoes or rafts were seen, and no idols of any de- 

 scription. The hand-nets were formed of the black filaments of 

 a tree. In one of the baskets, carefully wrapped up in a cloth, 

 were the head of a harpoon with two barbs, a Malay chopping 

 knife, and several spike-nails and ring-bolts ; these last were pro- 

 bably from the American ship Dover, Captain Duffin, which 

 was wrecked here several years ago. 



Naturally concluding that there was water near the hut, we 

 penetrated into the jungle, consisting of Dammer trees, red- wood, 

 the Alexandrian laurel, aloes, rattans, and a very lofty and 

 straight tree, about 15 feet in girth, which, if not too heavy, 

 would answer admirably for masts. Having advanced about 

 30 or 40 yards from the beach, came to a pool of good water ; 

 but, from its being at an inconvenient distance from the vessel, 

 we retraced our steps, and, on coming opposite the boats, dis- 

 covered a party of 50 or 60 natives waiting our approach in am- 

 bush. We advanced to them, in order to get them to point 

 out a more convenient watering place. So little intention had 

 we of molesting or injuring them, that we had brought with us 

 several looking-glasses, cloth, and baubles to give them. How- 



