186i<.] Account of Natives of the Andaman Islands. 



33 



ruffled it a little. I mention this trifling incident to shew that they 

 are not devoid of feeling, however savage they may have become from 

 their miserable wild life, and I have no doubt but that the time has 

 now arrived when we may reasonably hope to reclaim and civilize these 

 children of nature. As they trust Smith and his crew, who certainly 

 have gained their confidence, I will endeavour through their agency 

 to accomplish my object. 



lOtJi. — It was some time this morning before any natives 

 came down to the boat on its going across ;= — they probab- 

 ly were gorged with all they eat yesterday, for they had also kill- 

 ed and eaten the pig that had been given to them ; but by going 

 into the jungle to their camp, some were soon induced to come 

 down, and also one of their women and two men ; the woman came 

 into the boat, and came to Eoss Island ; one of the men had been over on 

 both the former occasions, and although clothes had been given to him 

 each time, still he came over in a state of nudity ; the woman also, 

 with the exception of a waist belt, with a buff passing between her 

 thighs, was quite naked ; she was very timid and kept a tight hold of 

 the man's hand, and was very observant of every thing ; a large pig 

 was shot for them to take away, and they stood by when the gun was 

 fired, without expressing any fear or wonder as to how the pig was 

 killed. — On taking them back, the natives crowded round the two 

 that had been to Eoss Island and had a long talk ; they evidently 

 had been afraid that we should have kept the woman, and were delighted 

 to see her safe back ; the woman was about 20 years of age, smaller 

 in height than the men, very black and excessively African looking 

 • — no hair on the head but a thin line in the shape of a long horse 

 shoe extending from the centre of the head downwards, so, Q , and 

 the skull dabbed over with clay ; for decency's sake, the sailors put a 

 sort of jacket and gown around her. One of the men had his right 

 foot amputated, and his right ear nearly cut off, — evidently an old 

 warrior, and about 40 years of age, but not grey in his woolly head of 

 hair ; — the sailors made a crutch for him with which he was delighted 

 and used it well ; — the other man was about 30 years old. 



11th.' — Two men and a woman were taken this morning up tq 

 Chatham Island, and were there photographed, they were then 

 brought over to Eoss Island — the woman was very lively, and laughed 

 a great deal, going about any where without the slightest alarm. 



