A JUNGLE PIG 137 



At either end, this disappearing beach was hemmed in by rising 

 ground and rocks, which at its eastern termination contained a 

 Httle stream and basin of good water. 



On the 1 2th we rowed about the shores of the harbour, 

 landing every now and then to search for the aborigines. The 

 only signs of man's presence discovered, however, were rows 

 of stakes set up across the creeks in the mangroves. One of 

 these rows we utilised to hang our own net on, and obtained 

 there such an abundant catch of small fish that we returned the 

 greater part to the sea. 



The shore-line is much more indented than the outline given 

 on the chart, and in the shallow water and mud of a little bay, 

 rows of tree trunks still stood, two or three hundred yards from 

 the land. This subsidence, however, is local in its occurrence, 

 for everywhere else in the Archipelago signs of elevation are 

 markedly present, and it is to be attributed to seismic agency — 

 earthquakes having several times been experienced in the group 

 — and not to a general depression of the land. 



The following day we went still farther afield, and crossed 

 the harbour to a beach where stood a grove of coconut trees 

 and a small hut. The trees were without fruit, and the house, 

 though deserted, contained a number of bundles of split rattan, 

 such as a small section of the Shom Peii trade in with the 

 coast people. The plantation was surrounded by hilly country, 

 covered with tall, open jungle : birds were scarce, and a hawk 

 and a megapode were all we obtained in the way of feathered 

 booty ; but, immediately on landing, Abbott caught sight of a 

 couple of pigs, and knocked over the boar with a bullet. Though 

 very similar to the Andamanese pig in size and appearance, it 

 had patches of white on the feet. From it a new species has 

 been described, under the name of Sus nicobaricus. 



While rowing back to the Terrapin, we were overtaken by a 

 blinding squall of wind and rain, which half-filled the boat and 

 made the men (who sat with their feet on the thwarts) very un- 

 easy, lest they should be polluted by contact with the blood and 

 water that swished about in the bottom. 



