28 Voyage of the Novara. 



in Green's handwriting, and some encomiums upon tlie in- 

 habitants of Kar-Nicobar, " The most virtuous people that 

 Captain Green had fallen in with during eight and thirty 

 years' sea-faring;" closing with the remark, "What a pity 

 they have no missionary ! " 



In trutli, the inhabitants of Kar-Nicobar are among the 

 most perfect of human-kind. In their commerce with us they 

 showed themselves to be child-like and ignorant, yet virtuous, 

 trustworthy people, without ambition or the thirst of know- 

 ledge, but also without jealousy or envy. If ever any breach 

 between themselves and the Europeans has been pushed the 

 length of violence, such has pretty certainly resulted rather 

 from their being in a measure suddenly incited to self-de- 

 fence than from any open predisposition to mischief. Wlien 

 we inquired of one of the natives in what manner breach of 

 faith is punished on the island, he replied with the utmost 

 naivete; — "We never have such — we are all good; — but in 

 your country there must be many evil men, else what for 

 would you require so many guns ? " 



In company with some of the natives we had proceeded 

 upon a stroll through the magnificent cocoa-forest along the 

 beach, in the course of which we reached several huts 

 scattered at random through the thicket, the inhabitants of 

 which received us in the most cordial manner. Their wives 

 and children however had all retired in a body, and during 

 our entire stay never once made their appearance. Indeed 

 the natives, in the hope of hastening our departure, pretended 



