viii PREFACE 



fections, may stimulate some more competent observer and 

 chronicler than myself to visit the latter islands — for the Anda- 

 mans have already been described* in an admirable monograph 

 by one who dwelt there for many years — before it is too late. 

 Ethnically, much remains to be done, and every day that goes 

 by produces some deterioration of native life and custom. To 

 this end I have added many details about supplies, anchorages, 

 etc., that might otherwise seem superfluous. 



Of those who entertained and assisted us during the voyage, 

 thanks are specially due to Mr P. Vaux of Port Blair, for his 

 hospitality to us during our stay in that place ; f and I am 

 greatly indebted to Messrs O. T. Mason, G. S. Miller, and Dr 

 C. W. Richmond, respectively, for the photographs of the Nico- 

 barese pottery and skirt, for permission to include here much 

 information from the report on the Andaman and Nicobar 

 mammals, and for a list of the new species of birds obtained, 

 which, however, up to the present, have not received specific 

 designations. I have also to gratefully acknowledge the help 

 rendered me by Mr E. H. Man, CLE., who, besides volunteering 

 to read through the proof sheets, has given me much information, 

 and corrected a number of inaccuracies. To my sister, for her 

 superintendence of the book since my departure from England, 

 and to my publishers for their kindness and assistance in many 

 ways, I must not omit to offer my thanks. 



* The Aboriginal Inhabitants of the Andaman Islands, by E. H. Man, 



1884. 



t On February 24th of this j'ear Mr Vaux was killed while leading a puni- 

 tive expedition against a section of the Jarawa tribe, who had recently murdered 

 some wood-cutters. He rushed the last of several hostile camps by night, and 

 took a number of prisoners ; but, treading in the ashes of a smouldering fire at 

 the moment of success, he caused it to blaze up, and being seen by a retreating 

 native, was shot through the chest with an arrow, and died almost immediately. 



October, 1902. 



