DAMPIER^S SOJOURN IN GREAT NICOBAR 259 



might learn aboard of their ships passing by this place ; for 

 when these men see a sail, they do presently go aboard of them 

 in their canoes. I did not perceive any form of religion that 

 they had ; they had neither temple or idol, nor any manner of 

 outward veneration to any deity, that I did see. 



" They inhabit all round the island by the seaside, in the bays, 

 there being four or five houses, more or less in each bay. Their 

 houses are built on posts, as the Mindana)^ans. They are small, 

 low, and of a square form. There is but one room in each house, 

 and this room is about 8 feet from the ground ; and from thence 

 the roof is raised about 8 feet higher. But instead of a sharp 

 ridge, the top is exceeding neatly arched with small rafters 

 about the bigness of a man's arm, bent round like a half-moon, 

 and very curiously thatched with palmetto leaves.* 



" They live under no government that I could perceive, for 

 they seem to be equal, without any distinction ; every man 

 ruling in his own house. Their plantations are only those 

 coconut trees which grow by the seaside, there being no 

 cleared land farther in on the island ; for I observed that 

 when past the fruit-trees, there were no paths to be seen going 

 into the woods. The greatest use which they make of their 

 coco-trees is to draw toddy from them, of which they are very 

 fond. 



" The melory trees seem to grow wild. They have great 

 earthen pots to boil the melory fruit in, which will hold I2 or 

 14 gallons. These pots they fill with the fruit, and, putting in 

 a little water, they cover the mouth of the pot with leaves to 

 keep the steam while it boils. When the fruit is soft, they 

 peel off the rind and the pulp from the strings, with a flat 

 stick made like a knife, and then make it up into great lumps 

 as big as a Holland cheese, and then it will keep six or seven 

 days. It looks yellow, and tastes well, and is their chiefest 

 food ; for they have no yams, potatoes, rice nor plantains (except 

 a very few), yet they have a few small hogs, and a very few 



* This type of house is still built. See photograph taken at Pulo Milo, 

 p. 124. 



