ON THE ANDAMAN ISLANDS, 4.C9 



to another. Their arms have already been mentioned 

 in part, I need only add that their bows are remark- 

 ably long, and of an uncommon form ; their arrows 

 are headed with fish-bones, or the tusks of wild hogs ; 

 sometimes merely with a sharp bit of wood, hardened 

 in the fire, but these are sufficiently destructive. 

 They use also a kind of shield 3 and one or two 

 other weapons have been seen amongst them. Of 

 their implements for fishing, and other purposes, lit- 

 tle can be said. Hand-nets of different sizes are 

 used in catching the small t'ry t and a kind of wicker- 

 basket, which they carry on their backs, serves to 

 deposit whatever articles of food they can pick up. A 

 few specimens of pottery-ware have been seen in these 

 islands. 



The climate of the Andaman islands is rather 

 milder than in Bengal* The prevailing winds are %\ 

 south-west and north-east monsoons, the former com- 

 mencing in May, and bringing in the rains ; which 

 continue to fall with equal, if not greater, violence till 

 November. At this time the north-east winds begin 

 to blow, accompanied likewise by showers, but giv- 

 ing place to fair and pleasant weather during the rest 

 of the year. These winds vary but little, and are in- 

 terrupted only at times by the land and sea-breezes. 

 The tides are regular, the floods setting in from the 

 west, and rising eight feet at the springs with little 

 variation in different parts. On the north-east coast 

 it is high water at the full and change of the moon at 

 8° 33'. The variation of the needle is 2° 30' east- 

 erly. 



Specimen 



