TOOLS 245 



In common with the other Malayan peoples, they do not 

 seriously employ the bow and arrow. Crossbows are in use 

 among them for shooting birds, but it is evident that such 

 implements are not the invention of the natives. The stock 

 is fashioned like a gun-butt, and the arrow rests in a groove 

 running along the top of the fore-end, and is kept in position 

 by means of three half-hoop pegs of brass wire. The bow is 

 perfectly round in section, tapering towards the ends, and the 

 release is of the string and peg variety, hitching over the top 

 of the trigger. The arrows, which are unfeathered and half the 

 diameter of a lead pencil, have for point a sharpened nail attached 

 by a wrapping of sheet-tin. 



These bows have either been copied from the weapons of 

 the early voyagers, or, more probably, have been introduced by 

 the Burmese, amongst whom and the Karens -there exists an 

 article almost exactly similar. 



Tools of European model are now common, and for fashion- 

 ing canoes, houses, etc., imported axes, saws, adzes, planes, and 

 spokeshaves are used, in addition to the ddo. 



The latter is never fitted with a handle, and from constant 

 use of it thus, thick ridges of skin and corns form on the inside 

 of the natives' hands. It is found that the bare tang is very 

 convenient for picking up coconuts ; for retaining the weapon 

 when up in the palm trees, by sticking it into the bark, thus 

 leaving both hands free ; for punching two holes in the opposite 

 sides of a nut, through which the water may be extracted by 

 suction ; and for many other purposes. 



The Nicobarese rarely use nets for fishing. Besides occasion- 

 ally employing small casting nets purchased from traders, — the 

 construction of which they never themselves attempt — they make 

 and use a primitive net trap, which is baited and held a foot or 

 two below the surface by the fisherman, who, on seeing a fish 

 nibbling at the bait, promptly raises the trap, thereby catching 

 the fish in the netting. 



The fish are obtained either by hook and line (imported), 

 or by spearing by day or at night with the aid of blazing 



