26 PORT BLAIR 



sent to the islands who has less than seven years to serve, and 

 many here, perhaps, are those, who, but for some flaw in the 

 evidence which convicted them, might long ago have paid the 

 last penalty for their crimes. 



Viper Island is elevated in parts with a somewhat broken 

 surface, and the Jail, with its grey-and-white walls, standing 

 among a group of trees, shows picturesquely from the summit 

 of a hill. A number of convicts are confined to the island, 

 besides those in the prison, and to accommodate them barracks 

 have been erected in various spots. 



We landed on a jetty, and, passing by the guardhouse at its 

 foot, soon climbed the little hill, on the top of which the prison 

 is situated. First, and grimmest sight of all, came the con- 

 demned cells and the gallows, and then we passed — accompanied 

 by a guard of police — through room after room full of men 

 reclining on slabs of masonry. The shackled inmates of these 

 wards, who rose unwillingly with clanking irons at the word of 

 command, are under the control of promoted convicts made 

 responsible for their behaviour. The effect of our entrance 

 varied with different individuals ; some, apparently apathetic 

 and sullen, took no notice whatever, while others seemed to 

 evince the liveliest curiosity. 



As the day of our visit was a Sunday, no work was being 

 done : all the inmates were undisturbed, save a few whose heads 

 were being cropped, and some convalescents receiving their 

 midday ration — a chapdti^ and an ample portion of coarse 

 boiled rice. 



The scope allowed for employment in the prison is somewhat 

 limited, for, while the work must be of sufficient severity to act 

 as a punishment, it must of necessity be of such a nature that 

 the tools accessory to it are not of a kind that can be used by 

 those handling them in an attack on jailers or fellow-prisoners. 

 Among the tasks set are coir-pounding, in which a certain 

 quantity must be produced and made into bundles every day : 

 the heavy mallets used are fastened, for safety, by a short 

 lanyard to the beam on which the husk is broken up. Again, 



