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Account of Natives of the Andaman Islands. [No, 1 



with a looking-glass, and kissed it to see what it was, and then looked 

 behind it to see who was there; the wooden floors of the bungalows 

 and barracks astonished them at first ; they seemed to wonder at the 

 noise made when walking. They soon however got over that, and then 

 danced vigorously, thumping as hard as they could and slapping their 

 chests, at the same time singing ; the boy was about 18 years old and 

 the man about 25 ; the former shewed great intelligence, and both 

 appeared docile ; after remaining two hours they were taken back with 

 lots of presents. 



9th. — Smith and his crew going across this morning, the natives 

 came down without hesitation, and several wanted to be taken to 

 Ross Island ; five were brought over, one of whom was over yesterday ; 

 all the way across he was talking to the others and pointing out 

 the different places, and on reaching Ross Island he took the lead on 

 shore. On coming into the officers' quarters where they were at 

 breakfast, they wanted every thing they saw on the table, and did not 

 scruple to help themselves to whatever they fancied. They were all 

 young men, very short, from 4 ft. 6 in to 4 ft, 10 inches in height, 

 roughly tatooed, very black, and all except one quite bald ; the hair 

 is very woolly, and very thick and short ; the hair of those that were 

 quite bald had evidently been shaved ; — one had a little crop of hair 

 on his head ; they were taken to see the pigs and were very much 

 astonished at seeing such large ones, and seemed to wonder why they 

 were shut up, A box was put up for them to shoot at with their bows 

 and arrows ; — they shot very well at 80 yards, but beyond that they 

 were uncertain, though they shot with considerable force. A pig was 

 given to them to take away, and some dogs ; on taking them back, 

 three women were seen, the first that have ever shewn themselves to 

 Europeans, and some of the men went on shore, and into the jungle ; 

 the natives wanted Smith and his crew to stop with them and sleep ; 

 they made signs that they would soon make a hut and bed ; their 

 huts are the simplest things possible — three or four ratans stuck in the 

 ground and bent together at the top, and a few leaves laid on loosely 

 at the top ; the height of them from the ground is only three feet, and 

 for all the shelter they afford, one might as well be under a tree or 

 bush. The fondness they evince for children was unmistakeable ; when 

 they saw mine, they stroked the head of my little son, who has long 

 flaxen hair, and carefully^ tried to re-part the hair when they had 



