142 GREAT NICOBAR— WEST COAST 



irregular in disposition, and there are broad alluvial plains 

 between their bases and the sea. 



" Both in vegetation and geological formation it resembles 

 Little Nicobar, but is the only island of the group that possesses 

 navigable rivers ; for, when their bars are passable, the Dagmar 

 and Alexandra rivers on the west, and the Galathea River in 

 the south, can be ascended some distance towards the interior. 

 " The coastal population is barely two-thirds what it was 

 computed at in 1886, and now numbers 87 only. In the 

 interior are the Shom Pen, who, liberally estimated, may number 

 from 300 to 400 ; but, as a few friendly families alone are all with 

 whom communication has been held, it is impossible to arrive 

 at any definite conclusion. 



" Great Nicobar is the least known of all the islands ; the 

 Government steamer seldom visits it, on account of its few 

 inhabitants, the rough weather frequently met with on its coasts, 

 and the absence of harbours near the populated districts. 



" As we sailed along the north-west portion, we perceived it 

 to be low and flat for some distance inland, but towards the 

 south the land rose in irregular forest-clad hills. 



" The village of Pulo Kunyi lies along the shore of a small 

 bay, from either end of which two long reefs of coral stretch 

 out seaward to form the harbour. This is further protected by 

 a submerged coral bank which lies across the mouth, leaving 

 only two narrow passages to north and south, of which the 

 former is the more practicable. 



" With a man in the cross-trees and a lead from the junk, we 

 got in safely — finding 6 fathoms in the middle of the entrance — 

 and brought up in 3^ fathoms, in a well-sheltered anchorage where 

 there was plenty of room for several small vessels to lie, 



" As soon as all was shipshape on board, we went ashore 

 with our guns. In the village, which consists of five buildings 

 (sheds and houses), we met but two men — women and children 

 had disappeared from fear of the Chinese and ourselves ; but 

 there are probably not more than ten inhabitants altogether. 

 " The Chinese were already at work, busily appropriating all 



