FISHING IN INDIAN WATERS. 733 



his ardour, that on account of its being a penal settlement, that it is not 

 easy to obtain permission to stay there, unless with friends. All the house 

 accommodation is the property of Government, and no more is provided than 

 is necessary for the requirements of the settlement officers, and all Europeans 

 there resident are officials. In fact, it is a pretty close preserve. One can of 

 course visit the place by taking a passage for the round voyage either from 

 Madras or Calcutta ; but in doing this, though one sees tho beauties of the 

 Islands one gets no time to loaf about, enjoy the place, or fish. Once the 

 steamer has left, it is entirely cut off from the world. As there is no tele- 

 graphic communication acd until the steamer again comes round, they may 

 truly be said to be in, but not of the world. This old world state of atfairs 

 constitutes one of the chief charms of Port Blair, and the Andamans, in 

 these days of rush and skurry to the older generation, though the younger 

 and more ardent spirits often find that time hangs heavy on their hands. 



