APPEARANCE OF THE NATIVES 31 



little stream, and after following its course to the sea, tramped 

 along the shore, and so came back once more to the boat. 



A large fire had been made on the beach, and near it, 

 in spite of the hot sun, the men sat fraternising with the 

 members of the native party — five men and boys, three women, 

 and three children. 



In this little company there proved to be the three biggest 

 men we saw among the Andamanese ; in height they stood 5 feet 

 4f inches, 5 feet 3^ inches, and 5 feet 2 inches respectively.* 

 Although possibly a little weak proportionately in the legs, 

 where the skin covering the knee was so thickened and cor- 

 rugated as to almost resemble callosities, the members of 

 the party were well built and not ungraceful, but spoilt in 

 m.ost cases by a varying degree of distension of the abdomen : 

 this state of things is caused by the immense amount of food 

 they will, when possible, consume at a sitting ; but the striking 

 appearance of the eldest matron of the tribe was a more or 

 less temporary feature, principally due to the interesting con- 

 dition in which she was. 



It was a pleasure to photograph these people, for they sub- 

 mitted to the operation most docilely ; and when, after taking 

 a series of pictures, I gave a graphic invitation to breakfast — 

 pointing to my mouth, and rubbing that portion of the figure 

 situated in the middle front — the men of the party all accepted 

 the offer, and, reinforced by them, we returned to the Terrapin. 



Arrived on board, they were at first rather inquisitive, but 

 after inspecting the schooner and spending a little time below 

 watching us at work, they went forward, and seemed quite 

 comfortable amongst the men. As soon as it could be pre- 

 pared, a large pailful of boiled rice was placed before them, 

 and this was finished without any sign of flagging being shown. 

 What a convenience the absence of tight clothing must be at 

 such times ! 



The next few hours were passed by them lying on deck 

 in the sun, where, out of regard for their feelings, we left them 



* See Appendix F. 



