THE ABORIGINES— TEMPERAMENT 187 



They have words for the numerals " one " and " two " only, 

 but can count to ten by tapping the nose with the finger-tips of 

 both hands, uttering for each in turn the word aH-/vd='' and this," 

 until, when the last is reached, the expression drdi'tru implies 

 " all." 



In disposition they are childish, but bright and merry, though 

 petulant, quick-tempered, and restless, and not capable of much 

 perseverance. Great affection is lavished on children and the 

 young ; old or helpless are held in high consideration. Women 

 are well treated, and not used as drudges or slaves, but are 

 assisted by the men, who assume a fair share of the day's 

 work. 



In the school that at one time existed at Port Blair for the 

 Andamanese, it was found, that, as with all savages, the children, 

 when educated were as proficient up to a certain age as the 

 children of civilised peoples, but that point reached, they possessed 

 no capacity for imbibing further knowledge. 



i.'\s the natives gain by education in intelligence and tracta- 

 bility, they become fat and indolent, while their morals undergo 

 much deterioration through contact with the convicts. The 

 clearance of the jungle has been prejudicial to their health, 

 and excessive tobacco-smoking among both sexes, which has 

 been unrestricted, has seriously undermined their already en- 

 feebled constitutions. 



They possess very little vital power, and readily succumb to 

 diseases, suffering much from febrile disorders, which give rise 

 to pulmonary complaints — the chief cause of mortality among 

 them. Very few reach the age of fifty, and the average duration 

 of life is little over twenty years. Of the lesser ailments, skin 

 diseases are very common. 



Measles, to which over 20 per cent, of the population fell 

 victims in 1877, ^"^'^^ followed by an outbreak of syphilis, both 

 introduced by convicts. The latter disease has caused much 



Andaman Islands, by E. H. Man — a work that deals in a most exhausti\e 

 manner with the subjects indicated in the title, but is now, unfortunately, out 

 of print. 



