CHAPTER IV 



dampier's sojourn in great nicobar, and voyage thence 

 to acheen in a canoe 



I DO not think any excuse is needed for here giving in full 

 Dampier's narrative of his experiences on Great Nicobar, and 

 of his voyage thence to Acheen in a native canoe. 



His "Voyages" are but little read nowadays; and not only 

 are the chapters extracted of much interest in themselves, but 

 they contain a careful record of his observations on the natives 

 and their life and customs that, in spite of changes, is fairly 

 accurate even for a description of things at the present day, 

 with which it may be compared. 



Dampier's account of the Nicobars is by far the most full 

 that we have of the islands in past times, but I have nowhere, 

 in any reference to them, seen attention drawn to his adven- 

 tures in their neighbourhood. His voyage in the canoe was 

 also a very interesting as well as a somewhat bold under- 

 taking, for there are times in the south-west monsoon when 

 it is by no means pleasant to be caught in a small open boat 

 on that stretch of sea, where, too, the currents run very strongly. 



The fever which prostrated himself and companions on 

 their arrival in Sumatra was doubtless aggravated by exposure 

 in the canoe, but was in all probability contracted during 

 their sojourn in Great Nicobar, for all who spend any length 

 of time on shore there seem certain to suffer from it.* 



* {a) Of thirty individuals of the Galathca's crew engaged in an exploring 

 expedition up the Galathea River, and caught one night in a rain-storm 



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