272 Professor Fhwer [April 13, 



inches for the women ; but these, it must be recollected, are cal- 

 culated from the length of the femur, U2)on a ratio which, though 

 usually correct for Europeans, may not hold good in the case of other 

 races.* The hair is fine, and very closely curled ; woolly, as it is 

 generally called, or, rather, frizzly, and ellijDtical in section, as in the 

 negroes. The colour of the skin is very dark, although not abso- 

 lutely black. The head is of roundish (brachycephalic) form, the 

 cephalic index of the skull being about 82. The other cranial 

 characters are fully described in the paj)ers just referred to. The 

 teeth are large, but the jaws are only slightly prognathous. The 

 features possess little of the negro type ; at all events, little of the 

 most marked and coarser peculiarities of that type. The projecting 

 jaws, the prominent thick lips, the broad and flattened nose of the 

 genuine negro are so softened down in the Andamancso as scarcely 

 to bo recognised, and yet in the relative proportions of the limb-bones, 

 especially in the shortness of the humerus compared with the fore- 

 arm, and in the form of the pelvis, negro afiinities are most strongly 

 indicated. 



In speaking of the culture of the Andamancse, of course I only 

 refer to their condition before the introduction of European civilisa- 

 tion into the islands. They live ia small villages or encampments, 

 in dwellings of simple and rude construction, built only of branches 

 and leaves of trees. They are entirely ignorant of agriculture, and 

 keep no poultry or domestic animals. They make rude pots of clay, 

 sun-dried, or partially baked in the fire, but these are hand-made, as 

 they are ignorant of the use of the potter's wheel. Their clothing is 

 of the scantiest descrii)tion, and what little they have serves chiefly 

 for decorative or ornamental puri)oses, and not for keeping the body 

 warm. They make no use of the skins of animals. They have fairly 

 well-made dug-out canoes and outriggers, but fit only for navigating 

 the numerous creeks and straits between the islands, and not for 

 voyages in the open sea. They are expert swimmers and divers. 

 Though constantly using fire, they are quite ignorant of the art of 

 producing it, and have to expend much care and labour in keeping up 

 a constant su2)i)ly of burning or smouldering wood. They are ignorant 

 of all metals ; but for domestic purposes make great use of shells, 

 especially a species of Cijrene found abundantly on the shores of the 

 islands, also quartz chips and flakes, and bamboo knives. They have 

 stone anvils and hammers, and they make good string from vegetable 

 fibres, as well as baskets, fishing nets, sleeping mats, &c. Their 

 princij^al weapons are the bow and arrow, in the use of which they are 

 very skilful. They have harpoons for killing turtle and fish, but no 

 kind of shield or breastplate for defence when fighting. The natural 



* See "On the Osteology and AflSnitiea of the Natives of the Andaman 

 Islands" ('Journal Anthropologic il Institute,' vol. ix. p. 108, 1879); and "Addi- 

 tional Observations on the Osteology of the Natives of the Andaman Islands " 

 (ibid. vol. xiv. p. 115, 1884). 



