CHAPTER XII 



KONDUL AND GREAT NICOBAR 



The Anchorage — The Island— Villages— We leave Kondul — Great Nicobar — 

 Anchorage — Collecting— Up the Creek— A Bat Camp — Young Bats — 

 Traces of the Shorn Pen — Bird Life — Fish — Ganges Harbour — Land 

 Subsidence— Tupais— We Explore the Harbour— A Jungle Pig — 

 "Jubilee" River— Chinese Navigation — Rainy Weather — Kondul Boys — 

 Coconuts — Chinese Rowing. 



On the same day, we anchored as night fell, close to the island 

 of Kondul, having sailed down the west side of Little Nicobar — 

 a coast of sand-beaches and steep jungle-covered hills — and 

 crossed the St George's Channel, which divides the latter island 

 from Great Nicobar. 



Kondul is 2 miles in length, and half a mile wide, and, while 

 running N.N.E. and S.S.W., lies too far from the larger island 

 to form a harbour, although sheltered water is nearly always 

 to be found on its lee-side. 



We dropped anchor in 7 fathoms, opposite a little beach and 

 some coconut palms on the western shore, and next morning 

 rowed to the village on the other side, meeting on the way a 

 strong tide-rip, off the south-east point, that for long kept us 

 from making any progress. 



The island is about 400 feet high, and its grey cliffs of slate 

 and sandstone rise steep and bare until they meet the dense 

 jungle with which the upper part is covered. Only on the 

 east is there any flat land, and there, on a stretch of coral 

 soil, are situated the houses and gardens of the natives, who 

 now number some 38 individuals. 



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