ON THE ANDAMAN ISA*ND3. 403 



islands*; consisting of black rich mould, white and 

 dark coloured clays, light sandy soil, clay mixed with 

 pebbles of different colours, red and yellow earth; but 

 the black mould is most common. Some white cliffs 

 are met with along the shores, which appear to have 

 been originally clay, with a mixture of sand, har- 

 dened by time into the consistence of stone, but might 

 be cut, and would probably answer for building. 

 Near the southern extremity of the great island, where 

 it is mountainous and rocky, some indications of mi- 

 nerals have appeared, particularly of tin. There is 

 also a kind of freestone, containing a yellow shining 

 spar, resembling gold dust. Some of the hills bor- 

 dering the coasts exhibit blue shistous strata at their 

 bases, with the Brescia or pudding-stone; and some 

 specimens of red ochre have been found, not unlike 

 cinnabar. 



The extensive forests with which these islands are 

 over-run, produce a variety of trees fit for building, 

 and many other purposes. The most common are the 

 poon, dammer, and oil-trees ; red wood, ebony, cot- 

 ton-tree, and buddaum or almond-tree ; soondry, 

 chingry, and bindy ; Alexandrian laurel, poplar, and 

 a tree resembling the sattin-wood ; bamboos, and 

 plaas, v, ith which the natives make their bows; cutch, 

 affording the extract called Terra Japonic a ; the Me- 

 lori y or Nicobar bread-fruit ; aloes, ground rattans, 

 and a variety of shrubs. A few fruit-trees have been 



* T am indebted to Major Kvd and Captain Archibald El air 

 for many of the subsequent remarks. The latter was employed by 

 rnment in surveying these islands, and has the credit of having 

 tiiruished the first complete and correct Chart of the A>:Jama?is. 



D d 2 found 



