/ 



1^4 ON THE ISLANDS 



erect their habitations inland *. Their houses are of a 

 circular form, and are covered with elliptical domes, 

 thatched with grass and the leaves of cocoa-nut* 

 They are raised upon piles to the height of six or eight 

 feet above the ground ; the floor and sides are laid 

 with planks, and the ascent is by a ladder. In those 

 bays or inlets which are sheltered from the surf, they 

 erect them sometimes so near the margin of the water 

 as to admit the tide to flow under, and wash away the 

 crdure from below. 



In front of their villages, and a little advanced in 

 the water, they plant beacons of a great height, which 

 they adorn with tufts made of grass, or the bark, of 

 some tree. These objects are discernible at a great 

 distance, and arc intended probably for landmarks ; 

 their houses, which are overshadowed by thick groves 

 of cocoa-nut trees, seldom being visible from afar. 



The JSicobarecDiSy though indolent, are in general 

 robust and well limbed. Their features are somewhat 

 like the Malays, and their colour is nearly similar. 

 The women are much inferior in stature to the men, 

 but more active in all domestic affairs. Contrary to 

 the custom of other natives, they shave the hair of 

 their heads, or keep it close cropt, which gives them 

 an uncouth appearance, in the eyes of strangers 

 at least. The dress of both sexes, their mode of 

 life, and some of their customs, have been so ably 

 described by Mr. Fontana, that little needs to be 



* The. great Nicobar island is perhaps an exception, where, it is 

 said, a race of men exists, who me totally different in their colour 

 and manners. They are considered as the Aborigines of the coun- 

 try. Thev live in the interior parts, among the mountains, and 

 commit frequent depi'edationo on the peaceable inhabitants of the 

 coasts. 



said 



