TANAMARA 75 



heavy brown leather, stamped with the arms of the Indian 

 Government, we were often to meet with in future ; one is in 

 the possession of nearly every coast village except those of 

 Great Nicobar, and some of the remarks in them are very 

 interesting ; others are equally amusing, as when some Nakoda/i, 

 vain of his proficiency in English, tries to express himself in 

 that language, to the utter bepuzzlement of any one who may 

 come after "and see what has been written. 



In crossing the island next day, I stampeded the cattle, who 

 are rather shy of any moving object, although later I was able 

 to crawl to within five or six yards of the herd, thus learning 

 how simple a matter it would be for the natives to exterminate 

 it. In the interior there are several deep ditches of running 

 water leading into small swamps where the cattle drink. The 

 shore on the eastern side is formed in places by small bluffs of 

 clay marl, above which can be traced the overlying beds of 

 coral. 



That afternoon, while preparing specimens, we received a 

 visit from a swarthy gentleman in a suit of white drill — the 

 trousers "a world too lof?g" gracefully falling in concertina-like 

 folds about his naked ankles. He saluted us gravely, and 

 tendered a small pocket-book. " What is your name ? " said we. 

 " You will find it," said our dignified visitor, " in the book." So 

 the book was referred to, and he stood revealed as Captain 

 Tanamara, Headman of Malacca, recommended by Mr E. H. 

 Man,* as intelligent and willing to be useful to whoever should 

 stop at Nankauri Harbour. He is certainly more ingenious 

 than the majority of the natives, and speaks English, Hindustani, 

 a little Burmese, Kar Nicobarese, and Malay, which last indeed 

 is known by most of the people from here southwards. 



* The name of Mr Man is one to conjure with in the Nicobars. Every- 

 where we met with expressions of regret that he was about to retire after 

 some thirty years' acquaintance with this group and the Andamans. Now 

 and then we made rather unwarranted use of his reputation — did we want 

 the portrait of a native who was rather nervous at the sight of the camera. 

 "Here, come along, and don't be afraid, Mr Man does this," and it was 

 all right. 



