ABBOTT COLLECTION FROM ANDAMAN ISLANDS. 483 



The only thing 1 resembling :i musical instrument made by the Anda- 

 mar.ese is a shield-like drum, upon which the performer keeps time 

 by striking it with his foot. 



From the drupe of a pandanus a paint brush is made by removing 

 the pulp with a eyrena shell. This brush is used for painting- the 

 ornamental stripes on their baskets, baby slings, vtr. Neither skins 

 of animals nor thorns of trees or creepers are utilized by the Anda- 

 manese in their arts. Fly flaps are made by attaching vegetable fiber 

 to a wooden handle (PI. II, tig. 1). 



IKON WORK. 



Forging is unknown to the Andamanese. They obtain iron from 

 wrecked ships, from old hoops, etc., and make knives (PI. II, fig. 11), 

 arrowheads, harpoon points, and adzes (PI. II, tig. 1) of it, resting the 

 piece of cold metal on a stone anvil, beating it with a hard, smooth 

 stone to the required thinness, and shaping it by bending back the 

 edge and beating it until broken off. The jagged edge is then ground 

 down on a hone until the required shape is obtained. 



POTTERY. 



Clay suitable for making pottery is found only in a few places. 

 This is cleaned of stones, mixed with water, and kneaded to the proper 

 consistency. The base of the pot is made in the form of a cup. To 

 this roll after roll of clay is added, and the sides built up, care being 

 taken to insure uniformity and a proper thickness, and the inner and 

 outer surfaces are smoothed off with an area shell, after which the 

 vessel is ornamented with wavy, checkered, or striped designs by 

 means of a pointed stick, when it is dried and baked by placing pieces 

 of burning wood both inside and around the vessel. 



BASKET WORK. 



Baskets (PI. II, tigs. 22 and 23) are made of cane, called pidgada, 

 which is cut into lengths of 3 or 1 feet, the skin split into strips. 

 Baskets are much used by men, women, and children. Natives are 

 seldom seen without them. Specimens were forwarded by Dr. Abbott 

 both of wicker (tig. 23) and of wrapped (tig. 22) basket work. 



WOODWORK. 



In addition to the sounding-boards used for keeping time, the Anda- 

 manese make food trays (PI. II, tig. 2) and buckets (tig. 21) for holding- 

 food. 



