56 KAR NICOBAR 



as he neared the schooner, took from his pocket an old silk 

 cravat and arranged it round his neck. 



After a few coconuts or oranges had been handed up, the 

 old man would come below and shake hands all round. " I 

 want smoke cigar, I want drink rum," was followed by a prompt 

 refusal of anything smaller than a tumbler. Then would come 

 the invariable preamble : " You my friend, I your friend ; we give 

 presents and make return," — with reference to the coconuts ; 

 followed by demands for medicine, turpentine, camphor, quinine, 

 scent, and Eno; and as all his wants could not be satisfied, he 

 professed he could not understand why on earth we had come 

 without these things. When we came again we were to bring 

 all of them, and we should then be great friends. He desired that 

 we would convey the following to every one at home — foreigners 

 he did not like : — " You go tell all men — Come here, come here, 

 come here. I Friend of England, I good man. You bring much 

 medicine, you give me — we be great friends, I make return. I 

 plenty good man ; I speak true, I no lie ! " 



He carried a large number of cliits from officers of ships 

 that had called here during many years past, and was very 

 anxious that we should add to the number.* 



* Letters of recommendation : — 



{a) " The bearer of this, Friend of England, is a very worthy young man- 

 He supphed me with a great quantity of nuts last voyage, and he can be 

 trusted to any amount under 6000 pairs. 



loth March 1853, (Sd.) R. MiDDLETON, Commander. 



Off Lapati Village, Car Nicobar. Barque Colonel Broivn." 



{b) "This is to certify that I have traded with Friend of England, a native 

 of this island, in coconuts, fruits, etc. Since I have found him to be trusty, 

 honest to his agreements, therefore, I feel pleasure in saying that you can trust 

 him with the truth before heaven. 



North-West Bay, Island of Car Nicobar, Barque Rochester of London. 

 March 3rd, 1857. (Sd.) W. J. Green, 



Master of the above-named ship." 



{c) " On our visit to the north side of Car Nicobar, I found the bearer. Friend 

 of England, an honest, inoffensive man, and very willing to afford all the 

 assistance in his power to us during our stay. 



H.M. Steamer Undaunted, (Sd.) W. L. C. Beresford, Commarider. 



January 1873." 



