132 KOXDUL AND GREAT NICOBAR 



We landed behind a projection of the reef which afforded 

 shelter from the swell, and were met by the headman " Dang," 

 who brought with him the shipping register. 



Some of the buildings were round, others rectangular in 

 shape, and supported by leaning-posts in addition to the piles ; 

 and here and there were erected a few slightly carved and 

 painted stumps, draped with bunches of palm leaves. 



The headman's house contained small figures of a man, 

 woman, and child, and some painted nuts, also a large mirror 

 in a gilt frame — a useless object probably obtained from the 

 Chinese in return for some thousands of coconuts. We learned 

 that there were many Shorn Pen on the neighbouring coast, 

 but that they were very nomadic, and badly disposed towards 

 strangers. 



Our talk over, we left the house and rambled about, behind 

 the village, in a plantation of coco palms, bananas, and limes 

 growing in rich alluvial soil ; and then, proceeding along the 

 shore, crossed a little stream, and making a detour round a 

 mass of broken rocks, reached a further village of three houses. 

 Here the people were rather nervous at first, especially when 

 asked to stand for their photographs, and needed much 

 reassuring before we got on satisfactory terms ; but Jangan takot, 

 kita orang baik (Don't be afraid, we are good men), and similar 

 expressions, before long brought about more friendly relations. 



After purchasing a supply of coconuts, limes, and as many 

 chickens as could be obtained, we returned to the schooner and 

 sailed for the north coast of Great Nicobar, known to the natives 

 as " Sambelong," or " Lo-ong." 



With the wind ahead, it was once more evening before we 

 reached the little bay where we had decided to stop. Anchoring, 

 at first temporarily, at the mouth, in 5 fathoms, the dinghy went 

 off to sound, and ascertain whether we might enter. The bottom 

 was sand and coral, and shoaled rapidly, until at the mouth we 

 found a sandbar that almost dried at low tide. Of a village which 

 we expected to see, since it was marked on the chart, there was no 

 trace. 



