CANOES 53 



branches left projecting, and trimmed in such a way that the 

 whole piece would balance firmly. 



We obtained a number of birds in the trees about the 

 village ; one in particular {Ixora, sp. ?), whose leafless branches 

 bore a quantity of large red flowers, was frequented by flocks 

 of white-eyes {Zosterops (?), sp. nov.), munias, and sunbirds, 

 {Ai'achnechthra (?), sp. nov.), and by the chestnut - rumped 

 myna {Sturnia erythropygia), a bird only known from this island, 

 although we later collected on Kachal a new species that 

 closely resembles it. 



The canoes {dp) belonging to the village were drawn up 

 on the shore of Sawi Bay, for the other beach is fully exposed 

 to the monsoon, and also fronted by an awkward reef. These 

 vessels — all dug-outs — constructed from a single trunk {Calophylliun 



Oil Press (Kar Nicobar). 



spectabile)* are very narrow in proportion to their length, and 

 of graceful shape. After the canoe is hollowed, it is somewhat 

 spread out by cross-pieces of wood, which are lashed from 

 gunwale to gunwale, at intervals of about a foot. To give 

 the requisite stability, an outrigger is attached : — To two pro- 

 jecting spars or wings lashed to the canoe, a log of very light 



* This tree is found only in the southern islands, whence the large 

 sea-going canoes are obtained through the natives of Chaura, who act as 

 middlemen. 



