76 TRINKAT 



The population, he told us, was decreasing : formerly each 

 house was occupied by a number of people, as is still the 

 condition of things in Kar Nicobar, but now there are at most 

 three or four to a hut,* He and many other men have no 

 children, the usual number of which is but one or two in each 

 family. Occasional polygamy and easy arrangements for 

 divorce prevail here, and the custom of the husband residing at 

 his wife's house is also in vogue, but in the case of an influential 

 man, or a headman, it is otherwise. He was much interested 

 in a kingfisher {H. occipitalis) that was being skinned, and 

 begged for the eyes, which, he said, formed a valuable specific 

 in cases of sleeplessness ! 



One of the most attractive features of the Nicobars is the 

 existence of a wild inland tribe — the Shom Peiif — in the interior 

 of the southern island. These people are known by reputation 

 all over the group, and seem to fill the part of a national 

 " bogey man." From Tanamara, who has visited Great Nicobar 

 in the station steamer, we obtained a few details. He had 

 never seen them, and owned with much candour that he was 

 "plenty 'fraid," and for that reason did not go on shore. He 

 told us, however, that they are similar in appearance to the 

 Nicobarese, but v/ear garments of rattan and bark only. They 

 are friendly until they see any article belonging to the coast 

 people which they may covet, and then a raid is made, and 

 murder generally ensues in getting possession of it.;^ 



The abandoned condition of the houses near which we 

 landed was caused by a death which took place in one of 

 them a short time previously. This was followed by immediate 

 desertion, which, however, is only temporary. Everything going 



* "The number of inhabitants on any one of the (central) islands does 

 not exceed 700 or 800. Ten or twelve huts form a village. Each village 

 has its ' Captain.' A woman who bears three children is very fruitful ; 

 few bear more than four. No men seem older than forty or fifty ; women 

 live longer." — Fontana, Asiatic Researches, vol. iii., 1778. 



t Pronounced like pain (French). 



X We were told on the west coast of Great Nicobar, that no valuables 

 were kept in the village there for fear of the Shom Peii, but that all 

 treasured possessions were stored in boxes, at Pulo Kondul. 



