A NEW PENAL SETTLEMENT 183 



thus combining a headquarters, from whence the pacification of 

 the aborigines might be undertaken, with an abode of punish- 

 ment for such mutineers and others whose offences had not 

 merited the death penalty. 



It was at this date that Dr F. J. Mouat, who has given an 

 account of his visit in Adventures and Researches among the 

 Andaman Islanders, was sent, as head of a Commission, to 

 examine the islands and select a suitable locality for the estab- 

 lishment of a penal settlement. The Commission spent about 

 three weeks steaming about the coasts of the Archipelago, and 

 finally decided on Old Harbour, to which they gave the name of 

 Port Blair, in honour of its former resident. 



A rather amusing incident occurred during the visit : — A 

 nervous and imaginative member of an exploring party brought 

 news of the proximity of a native village and a lurking body 

 of aborigines. The doctor, without waiting for further infor- 

 mation, or to be attacked, addressed his followers in a warlike 

 speech, and gave the order to charge, which the company forth- 

 with did with such vigour that two fiery spirits were knocked 

 senseless by contact with burnt tree-stumps — a number of which 

 the party had mistaken for natives. The expedition had, 

 however, several serious conflicts with the aborigines, in which 

 a few of the latter were killed. 



On return of the Commission to Calcutta their advice was 

 soon acted on, and the late General (then Captain) H. Man was 

 sent to Port Blair to formally re-annex the Andamans and put 

 matters in train, and following him a body of convicts arrived 

 in charge of Dr J. P. Walker, who was appointed first Superin- 

 tendent. 



For some years the death-rate was excessive (averaging i8 

 per cent.), owing to the necessity of pushing forward clearing 

 and building operations, and it was not until 1868, soon after 

 the appointment of Colonel Man as Superintendent, that it fell 

 to a more normal level (average for ten years, 2.7 per cent.). 



The pacification of the natives, by means of Homes, a school, 

 and visits paid to the tribes by the Station gunboat, went 



