DISEASES 235 



One might adduce in support of this theory the fact that 

 superstition and its accessories thrive most strongly in the 

 places where the missionaries as a rule establish themselves — 

 Kar Nicobar and Nankauri Harbour. 



Fever, colic, coughs, rheumatism, and sore and inflamed 

 eyes, are not unfrequent ailments. Syphilis also occurs, and 

 has probably been introduced by the traders, or by the 

 Nicobarese who have visited Calcutta and Moulmein in their 

 vessels. 



Itch {tinea circinata tropica) is in some localities very 

 prevalent among the natives, who are also liable to attacks of 

 a mild form of elephantiasis throughout the Archipelago. It is 

 said that in Chaura from one -third to one -half the population 

 are so diseased in one way or the other. Cases of yaws occur 

 from time to time among children. 



Eno's fruit salt, camphor, castor-oil, turpentine, and quinine, 

 are the principal features of the Nicobarese pharmacopoeia. 



Eno's fruit salt mixed with water, with a little powdered 

 camphor and turpentine added, is given twice a day for colic. 

 For fever, a little quinine is added to the same mixture. 



Sandalwood and jessamine oil are held in great repute as 

 aphrodisiacs, and are purchased from the Burmese traders in 

 small quantities at a very high price. 



Faith, however, is not always placed in the efficacy of 

 mundane remedies. A woman who had been ill for a year, 

 when asked if she would take medicine, replied, "The devil has 

 caused this illness, and it cannot be cured by medicine. Only 

 the tainiliianas can cure me by driving the devil out of me." 

 She preferred sugar and biscuits to drugs. 



Malaria, which is perhaps the indisposition by which they 

 are most frequently attacked, is always attributed to demonic 

 agency. 



Marriage amongst the Nicobarese is of a class that is con- 

 sidered to be a modification of the matriarchal system, and 



