3© Voyage of the No vara. 



wliicli, eveu could more time be devoted, would call for im- 

 mense exertion. Om* researches therefore were necessarily 

 confined for the most part to the coast region. 



After several hours of strolling about, collecting and exam- 

 ining as we went on, the naturalists found themselves collect- 

 ed once more on the open space facing Captain John's hut, 

 where meanwhile a pig had been roasted by our sailors in the 

 open air, which we had purchased for three shillings of our 

 corpulent friend Dr. Crisp. The natives had at first protested 

 against this improvised hearthstone, being apprehensive 

 lest the fire should reach their huts, the roofs of which are 

 thatched with dried palm-leaves. "It is as inflammable 

 as gun-powder," remarked the old chief in an anxious 

 tone, when our people had with great want of fore- 

 sight lighted the fire too near the buildings. Captain John 

 and his kindred did not need to be invited twice to partake 

 of our meal, at which they proved . themselves excellent 

 trenchermen. The inhabitants of these islands generally eat 

 vegetables only, the use of meat being for the most part 

 restricted to festive occasions. The use of salt is as yet 

 unknown to them. They only use sea water for the purpose 

 of seething their pigs and hens, by which process the flesh 

 gets a slight flavour of salt. During our luncheon, which 

 had made the natives yet more confiding than ever, we 

 found an opportunity of hearing something about the vari- 

 ous festivals of the Nicobar islanders. 



When a native falls down from a tree, or is bitten by a 



