68 Voyage of the Novara. 



are figures sculptured In wood, Eewee-charms, which espe- 

 cially are found in the interiors of the houses in such numbers 

 and in such quaint costumes, that one is almost tempted to 

 imagine the inhabitants of these huts must be proprietors of 

 some Marionette-theatre. We also found here various objects 

 carved in soft wood, among others a large serpent, a tortoise, 

 and several di'oll figures, as also a seven-holed flute of bam- 

 boo-reed, the model for which had evidently been supplied 

 by some of the Malay sailors from Pulo Penang. 



The same evening we weighed anchor, and shaped our 

 course along the eastern shore of Lesser-Nicobar, which is 

 thickly covered with swamp and forest. On the morning of 

 19th March, we were abreast of the island of Montial in St 

 George's Channel, and by evening had anchored on the 

 northern side of Great Nicobar, S. E. of the island of Kondul, 

 which also lies in the Channel. Already before sunrise the 

 boats were lowered and everything got in readiness for a visit 

 to the small but delightful island of Kondul, which, though 

 on the N.W. side so lofty and rocky as to be almost inac- 

 cessible, presents on its E. side a tolerably secure landing- 

 place, situated according to our observations in 7° 12' 17" N. 

 and 93° 39' 57" E. Here we found a number of huts, but 

 not one single native was visible. We now endeavoured, by 

 following up a torrent bed, to climb to the highest point of 

 the island, which has an elevation of 350 to 400 feet. In this 

 we only succeeded after most severe exertion, occasionally 

 having to avail ourselves at the steepest parts of the ascent 



