Scenery of Tillangschong. — Boat Expedition. 45 



close to the shore did any cocoa-nut pahiis present themselves 

 to the view. Although quite uninhabited at the period of our 

 visit, it was evident, by the traces of abandoned fire-places, split 

 cocoa-nuts, and so forth, that human beings occasionally make 

 this island their abode, albeit the assertion repeated by several 

 writers, that Tillangschong is the Siberia of Nicobar criminals, 

 can only be set down to travellers' tales, or some utter misap- 

 prehension of the meaning of the natives. It would seem 

 that the residents in Chowra and Bampoka come to this 

 island from time to time, for the purpose of collecting cocoa- 

 nuts, and the fruit of the pandanus. By dint of strenuous 

 exertion we made our way along river com'ses, which dur- 

 ing the rainy season must rush down as most violent torrents, 

 through a thick plantation of screw pines, into the forest pro- 

 per, which was overgrown with the most majestic representa- 

 tives of tropical vegetation. To the botanist presented itself 

 a great variety of interesting plants and timber ; to the lovers 

 of sport numerous descriptions of bu'ds, and more especially 

 pigeons, in such quantities that the various messes on board 

 ship were amply provided with them. 



Sundown saw us returned on board, when the anchor was 

 once more weighed. During the night we got so close in with 

 the north side of the island that, on the following morn- 

 ing, a boat well-manned and carefully equijiped was de- 

 tached with one of the officers, who was instructed to round 

 the northernmost promontory, in order to examine the north- 

 ern and eastern sides of the island, and rejoin us on its 



