222 THE NICOBARESE 



where but in Great Nicobar — where, because of its size and 

 forest-clad nature they could find a refuge — became either 

 exterminated or absorbed by successive arrivals of colonists 

 that have since made the presence of the former almost in- 

 distinguishable. 



In spite of the partial likeness of type, it is doubtful whether 

 all, or nearly all, the islands were occupied by the aborigines. 

 Tilanchong, for instance, is uninhabited, and it is questionable 

 whether such forestless islands as Kar Nicobar, Chaura, or 

 Kamorta, etc., could be suitable habitats for such a primitive 

 people. In Kachal, Nankauri, and Little Nicobar we have 

 islands of a similar character to Great Nicobar, although in them 

 no traces of a rude people are to be found. It is probably on 

 account of the smallness of these areas that the immigrants 

 succeeded in eradicating the first inhabitants, who, in the other 

 island alone, hostile causes notwithstanding,* have preserved for 

 themselves a separate existence. 



To account for such features as are common to both peoples 

 everywhere, we may conclude, therefore, that while many of 

 the latter aborigines survived separately, the others were 

 absorbed by settlers on the coasts, who, by communication 

 and intermiarriage with islands not possessing an indigenous 

 element, carried the Shom Pen strain throughout the Archi- 

 pelago. 



The arrival of numerous colonists from the eastward would 

 account for the lighter complexion of the Nicobarese ; for it is 

 only natural to suppose that if a separate branch of the same 

 people, the one living in the open on the coast would be 

 darker in complexion than the other, instead of which the 

 contrary is the case. 



As to the component parts of the Nicobarese, various sugges- 

 tions have been made. They are Malays modified by a Burmese 

 element ; f the descendants of Malays before Mahommedanism 

 spread among them (close of thirteenth century), but separated 



■"■ Such hostility being now active on their side only, 

 t Professor V. Ball, Jour. Asiatic Soc.^ Bengal. 



