4SU ABBOTT COLLECTION FROM ANDAMAN ISLANDS. 



rows on rafters supported on four posts, the two front posts varying 

 in height from *> to 9 feet and the two rear ones from 2 to 3 feet. Huts 

 intended to last for a few months only arc somewhat similar to the 

 above, but smaller and covered with thatch of inferior quality. These 

 lints are made by the men. They always sleep on a mat (PI. II, fig. 

 ID) or a bed of leaves spread under a shelter of one of the three classes 

 above described. 



The inhabitants of Little Andaman make beehive shaped huts with 

 roofs coming close to the ground. They probably learned to construct 

 these from their neighbors, the Nicobarese. In the houses skulls of 

 pigs, turtles, and fishes, often ornamented with red paint, are found 

 (PI. I, tigs. 1 and 7), and in the vicinity of encampments shell heaps 

 invariably occur. 



FIRE. 



They preserve fire with great care, as they haze not the art of pro- 

 ducing it. In leaving an encampment with the intention of returning 

 after a few days, besides taking with them one or more smoldering 

 logs, they remove a large burning log or faggot to some sheltered spot, 

 where it will smolder for a long time, in each inhabited hut is a fire, 

 not only to keep the owner warm, but to drive away the insects, to cook 

 food, and to smoke provisions. Fires are generally kindled by fanning 

 the embers with a frond of the bird's-nest fern (Aspleniwn nidus). 

 Torches (PI. II, fig. 5) are made by the women by wrapping resin 

 obtained from a species of Sterculia in the leaves of a lily {Crinum 

 lorifolium). These are used when fishing or traveling, or when danc- 

 ing at night. An inferior kind of torch (PI. II, fig. 14) is made of 

 rotten wood. 



TOOLS AND UTENSILS. 



Stones arc used as anvils and hammers, clam shells (Cyrena sp.) 

 in a variety of ways (PI. II, tig. 12) — as knives for cutting palm leaves 

 used in thatching, for making the ornamental incisions on bows, pad- 

 dles, etc.. for planing and smoothing bows and the wooden portions 

 of arrows, for sharpening bamboo and cane knives and boar's tusks 

 (PI. II, tig. 13), for preparing fibers, and as spoons for eating. Area 

 shells are employed for dressing the surface of pottery; pinna shells 

 also as knives, as receptacles for white clay, and as plates for food; 

 nautilus shells serve as drinking vessels. 



The bamboo is made into water holders (PI. II, tig. 18) and recepta- 

 cles for cooked food when traveling; into shafts for turtle harpoons; 

 knives (PI. II, tig. 7). which are narrow pieces hardened over a tire 

 and sharpened by means of a cyrena shell; netting needles; tongs 

 (fig. 17). which consist of a strip of bamboo bent double and pointed 

 at the ends; and Bambusa nana furnishes the shafts of the wooden and 

 iron -pointed arrows. 



