166 GREAT NICOBAR— W. AND S. COASTS 



and the pair of nutmeg pigeons will already eat chopped coco- 

 nut from our hands. 



" The monkeys, however, are of most interest, and are given 

 daily exercise on deck. The male is an adept at the most 

 horrible grimaces, but is an arrant coward, and, when startled, 

 rushes to his companion, and, although the heavier of the two, 

 puts his arms around her and is carried back downwards all 

 over the place. When it is time to re-cage them, we have only 

 to drive them together and they run into each other's arms, 

 clasp convulsively, and incontinently roll over, when, as they 

 lie squealing and grimacing on deck, they may be picked up 

 and put back in their box. On one occasion this manoeuvre was 

 executed on the rail, and they fell overboard, sinking without 

 a struggle, locked in a close embrace. 



" Fortunately for them, the Terrapm was becalmed at the 

 time, and they were recovered, to be very subdued for a time 

 after the rescue, but none the worse for their experience. 



" At 6 P.M. a light breeze sprang up, with signs of a squall 

 from the north, and carried us along at a 2 to 3 knot pace 

 through the night. A porpoise was harpooned under the bow, 

 but broke away before it could be secured. 



" On the 2nd the wind was light all day, save for a squall that 

 compelled us to lower the foresail. Towards evening. Mount 

 Thuillier, bearing W. by N., was just visible 50 miles away. The 

 breeze freshened, and with darkness the last sign of the Nicobars 

 dropped below the horizon, while daybreak revealed ahead of 

 us the rounded summit of Pulo Bras." 



