3864,] Account of Natives of the Andaman Islands. 



31 



Account of further intercourse with the Natives of the Andaman Islands. 



(Extract from a letter from Col. Tytler, Superintendent of Port Blair, 

 dated the 14th January , 1863.^) 



I enclose notes from our daily interview with the aborigines ; 

 though not very interesting, still they may afford some idea. I think 

 the time has now come when we may reasonably expect a friendly 

 intercourse with them ; — pray let me know your views ; this is the first 

 time they have ever been so friendly, and their women are now 

 coming forward. Smith and his crew have beyond all doubt gained 

 their confidence, so I will encourage him as much as possible in this 

 important duty. 



For upwards of a month a body of aborigines have been seen at 

 North Point and in their canoes in North Bay, and when boats have 

 gone near them, they have evinced a friendly feeling towards Europeans, 

 although they are distrustful to natives, and on one occasion they 

 entered a boat containing a crew of Europeans, and danced ; this has 

 induced me to desire that some, if possible, could be persuaded to visit 

 Ross Island in order by kindness to establish a friendly intercourse ; 

 accordingly I suggested to a party of the Naval Brigade to carry 

 out if possible my views ; and on the 7th inst., Smith a Petty Officer 

 went over with six men in the jolly-boat, and found the natives very 

 friendly ; they came down to the boat, and received bottles, plantains 

 and pieces of old iron which were given to them, and in return they 

 gave six bows and a lot of arrows and waist belts ; this is a large party, 

 and a fresh arrival here, they are all evidently strangers. 



January 8th. — Smith and the same party of Europeans went over 

 again in the morning and had a long interview with them, they gave 

 their bows and arrows, and anything else they had about then:), willingly 

 in exchange for biscuits and plantains ; this is the first time they have 

 ever parted with their bows in such numbers. At noon, Smith aid the 

 same crew went across again to induce some to come over to Ross 

 Island ; though about 24 came down to the boat they did not like 

 staying in her ; at last two of them, a boy and a man, got into the boat, 

 and as they shewed an inclination to cross over, they were brought to 

 Ross Island where they had clothes given to them ; they then walked 

 up the hill to the Superintendent and then to the barracks ; they shewed 

 no signs of fear, only did not like being separated ; they were much taken 



