ABKOTT C0LLP:CTI(>N FUOM ANDAMAN ISLANDS. 479 



Imt tlii^ dirt'oiTiue nuiy bo attributed to their cotitiu't from time to 

 time with tiieir nei«^h])ors, the Nico))!ire.se, from whom the}' doubtless 

 learned to build houses. 



The Andamanese can not well endure fastinj»' or thirst. They 

 appear to l)e verv sensitive to cold as well as to the direct action of 

 the sun's rays, from which thev shield themselves with the greatest 

 care, often usin^i' a j)alm-leaf screen (tio-. 20, PI. II) for this purpose, 

 as well as covering' their l)ody with a coating" of clay. 



The voice of the men is described as })eing of medium loudness, 

 growing deeper and fuller in tone with age. After having passed 

 their prime, which is apparently al)out 35 years, it becomes rough, 

 husky, and tuneless. The boj^s and women have clear, pleasant voices, 

 but in singing, the voices of the women are of bad intonation. Fal- 

 setto singing is common in both sexes, though nasal intonation is not 

 so marked as in many Oriental races. The prevailing male voice is 

 barytone, the compass usually about an octave. All of the notes of 

 the Avomen are head tones. 



FOOD. 



Although the Andamanese do not practice agriculture nor rear ani- 

 mals. 3'et thev do not lack a bountiful supply of food, which is yielded 

 to them b}' the forest, the shore, and the sea. This thev obtain with 

 very little exertion, and, according to Mr. ^Nlan, their eagerness in the 

 chase is induced almost as much by actual Ioac of sport as b}' the 

 necessity of obtaining food. Were this not the case they would 

 hardly be found spending so much time in dancing and singing, in 

 personal decoration, and in the preparation of their meals, while they 

 reject with aversion anything that has become at all tainted. Further, 

 it may be fairly estimated that one-third of the food dail}^ consumed 

 by them consists of edible roots, fruits, and honey. The remaining 

 portion of the food is the flesh of one or more of the following, 

 namely: Pig, paradoxurus, iguana, turtle, fish, and mollusks, with rare 

 additions of pigeons and jungle fowl. 



Their mode of eating meat is to cram a large piece into the mouth, 

 and then to cut otf whatever is in excess with a bamboo or cane (now- 

 adaj's generall}' a steel) knife (PI. II, tigs. 6, 7, and 11). Water is 

 their only beverage. If very thirsty while on a fishing expedition, and 

 all the fresh water-supply is exhausted, the Aryotoda pour water over 

 their heads or jump overboard, and even at times try to alleviate their 

 sufferings by swallowing salt water. 



The fruits of mangroves are eaten occasionally. They are first 

 cooked as found, then peeled and soaked in water for a couple of da3"s 

 to remove the bitterness, after which they are either baked or boiled. 



Some fruits are merely sucked for their flavor, others have fine wood 

 ashes added to them, the alkali of which reduces their acidity, while a 



