242 THE NICOBARESE 



Before this epoch, everybody seems to have been on a footing 

 of complete social equality, as, with the exceptions above-noted, 

 is the case to-day. 



Everyone, even children, is his own master ; but persons who 

 have been abroad, by virtue of their experience, are respected and 

 have some authority, as also have the aged and wealthy. But 

 there is no one who has power to exercise control over even a 

 single village, save in the way of carrying out popular ideas. 



A " primitive form of socialism exists. Chiefs are unknown. 

 Certain individuals, by force of character . . . have more influence 

 than others . . . but this influence seems to be at best but slight, 

 and each person is obedient to himself alone, or to some unwritten 

 code of public opinion " * — really the essence of the whole system. 



The position of women is, and always has been, in no way 

 inferior to that of the other sex. They take their full share in the 

 formation of public opinion, discuss publicly with the men matters 

 of general interest to the village, and their opinions receive due 

 attention before a decision is arrived at. In fact, they are con- 

 sulted on every matter, and the henpecked husband is of no 

 extraordinary rarity in the Nicobars. 



In Kar Nicobar, where the villages are divided into groups 

 of several houses, a woman occasionally succeeds her late 

 husband as sub-chief, on account of the knowledge she may 

 possess of the regulations in vogue, the property and customs 

 of her neighbours. 



Women take a fair share in the day's work. They do the 

 cooking, and the whole family eats together ; the men build 

 the houses, canoes, etc. ; both sexes may be seen working in 

 company in the plantations, fishing on the reefs, and paddling 

 the canoes. 



It is only the women in Chaura who manufacture pottery ; 

 but as the art is a monopoly, they must be looked on as rather 

 privileged than otherwise. 



In fine, there is no actual division of labour, but all assist 

 in whatever has to be done, from their earliest years. Although 

 * Dr Guillemard on "The Papuans," Australasia, vol. ii., 1894. 



