CHARACTER 227 



rounded tip, has inflated alae nasi, and the plane of the nostrils 

 directed upward.* 



There is often marked prognathism of the dental variety, and 

 the teeth are irregular and blackened, large and projecting — 

 frequently growing outwards at an angle, like those of a rabbit. 



The mouth is naturally large, and its shape is not improved 

 by holding the betel-quid between the upper lip and teeth. The 

 lips are moderately thick, and the lower is often pendulous and 

 turned down, showing much of the mucous membrane. When 

 at rest, the lips are kept apart. 



The chin is usually rather retreating, small, with a rounded 

 and pointed tip ; but the jaw is somewhat heavily hung at the 

 base, and the posterior angle is strongly marked. 



The ears are well formed, moderately large, and lie close to 

 the head, unless drawn out of shape by much use of ear-distenders. 



The Nicobarese have not always been given a good character 

 by their acquaintances. They have been called lazy, inactive, 

 and drunken, cowardly and treacherous, but this last must be 

 taken as applying more to those bands of pirates — with a probable 

 large foreign element — who committed so many crimes during 

 a long period ; otherwise, they are harmless and good-tempered. 

 The accusation of cowardice is made with more truth, and it is 

 a quality they frankly own up to. 



Lazy and inactive they may be from our point of view, but 

 hardly otherwise. Food is abundant all round them, weapons 

 are not necessary, and clothing they do not really need. They 

 show plenty of application and care when making their canoes, 

 building their houses — which in construction are models of neat- 

 ness — and in gathering the toddy, that with betel-nut is, perhaps, 

 their only native luxury. Drunken they certainly are on many 

 occasions, but the state with them is one that, fortunately, does 

 not give rise to troublesomeness. 



They are honest in their commercial transactions, and are 

 most indignant should their integrity be impugned, while the 



* Besides the aquiline noses already mentioned, a distinctly Jewish or 

 Papuan feature is occasionally to be met with. 



