Arrival at Kar-Nlcobar. 481 



and dancing according to ancient custom. Jack has an es- 

 pecially good memory for the return of such junketings, and 

 is by no means prone to letting the sensible vicinity of the 

 Equator put him out of his reckoning ; so he danced near the 

 line also, not because he had any pleasure therein, but because 

 it has alWays been his custom to do so at carnival-time ! 



The state of health of the ship's company was excellent, 

 there being but eight on the sick list, of whom only two were 

 seriously ill. 



On the 22nd February towards 10 a.m. the Island of Kar- 

 Nicobar hove in sight, and towards afternoon we found our- 

 selves but a few miles distant. The land seemed for the most 

 part level, only a low eminence thickly covered with frost rising 

 towards the centre. The coast was overgrown with cocoa-nut- 

 palm. In the N.W. and S.E. we could see three Malay boats 

 at anchor. On the beach were some huts of beehive-like 

 shape, in and out of which naked brown figures were seen 

 moving ; while, as night fell, numerous lights glimmered from 

 the shore. 



The following morning, Tuesday 23rd February, 1858, we 

 anchored off the N.W. side of the island, in 14^ fathoms 

 coral sand, about 2 miles distant from the shore, and just 

 between the two villages of Mosse and Saui, each consisting 

 of a few huts. One can approach within 3 or 4 cable-lengths 

 of the shore, where there are still 10 fathoms, with clay bottom. 

 Several natives, some naked, some with their bodies covered in 

 the most ludicrous fashion with cast-off European clothes, 



I I 



