38 THE CINQUES AND LITTLE ANDAMAN 



miles, and a level verdure-clad surface that rises gradually to a 

 heisfht of 600 feet in the interior towards the south. It has 

 no harbour on its coasts, but on the northern shores two or 

 three creeks run inland for short distances. We brought up 

 off the northern of these, by name Bumila, which seemed to 

 offer a well-protected anchorage ; but when the boat was sent 

 off with a sounding-line to make observations, we found that 

 coral reefs, stretching from either side, so narrowed and com- 

 plicated the entrance that it would be a task of some difficulty 

 to take the schooner in, and one still more so to get her out, 

 against the prevailing breeze. The lead, too, at low tide, gave 

 the greatest depth as 8 feet, and even in the channel large 

 coral heads rose irregularly from the bottom : it was, therefore, 

 decided that we should make a short stay only, and that during 

 it the Terrapin should remain outside. 



Already a group of natives had gathered on the beach, all 

 waving bunches of leaves, and since we had been warned that 

 all the tribes but those at the north end were still hostile, we 

 concluded that this particular band were displaying that token 

 of friendship common to nearly all savages — the green branch 

 of a tree. Very soon, however, we found that the waving 

 leaves were for a far more practical purpose, and that the creek 

 thoroughly deserved its name. Bumila is S. Andamanese for 

 " fly," and I don't think I ever saw so many of those pestiferous 

 insects together at one time. They swarmed round the natives 

 and settled on their naked bodies in hundreds, and no sooner 

 had we landed than we were assailed in so impartial a fashion 

 that we quickly followed the example of the inhabitants and 

 supplied ourselves with defensive branches. 



The Andamanese were quite friendly — although they are 

 said to be treacherous and scarcely to be trusted in the south- 

 western portion of the island — so, after a short survey of the 

 creek, we returned to the Terrapin, accompanied by a legion of 

 flies, together with as many natives as the boat would hold, 

 and the latter were soon at work on as hearty a meal as that 

 made by their countrymen at Rutland Island. The party met 



