360 



Memoranda relative to three Andamanese. 



[No.. % 



the stalk in the bazar. When teazed with the numbers looking at 

 them, Crusoe would stride towards the throng, waving them off and 

 calling out in Burmese " a-loong thwa" (go ! all !) They took great 

 pleasure in the pways or Burmese dances, and learnt to imitate the 

 performances with marvellous exactness, to the great delight of the 

 Burmese, who crowded to see them. Sometimes they exhibited their 

 own national dance, which appears to consist solely in lifting their 

 clenched fists above the head, and kicking the ground rapidly and 

 forcibly with their heels. It has a peculiarly savage effect ; but having 

 apparently excited great mirth amongst the spectators, Crusoe and 

 Friday took offence at such notice, and latterly never repeated their 

 exhibitions. With the little hack carriages which ply in Maulmein 

 they soon became familiar, and were treated to rides almost every 

 day : and they would walk up to a pony, and hug it, though once 

 or twice narrowly escaping a bite. When first taken to see some steam 

 saw-mills where elephants were employed stacking timber, they 

 showed no alarm at the huge animals, although the first they had 

 ever seen, and Friday was about to walk up to and pat a large tusker, 

 when the bystanders restrained him. Of fire arms or of anything 

 explosive however, they seem to have some dread. Latterly they 

 learnt very well the use of money, and any cash in their possession 

 was usually spent in the purchase of pork or other meat at the 

 Chinamen's shops. Fruit (except plantains) or sweets, they cared 

 little for ; but were very fond of tea prepared in the English way. 

 Fish they were indifferent to, also to rice : but they ate a great deal 

 of meat and yams, making three hearty meals a day. I generally gave 

 them a fowl when they visited me, and for which they took care to 

 ask by calling out "kookroo koo" and imitating the cries of poultry. 

 They killed the fowl by pressing the chest and neck, and swinging it 

 round and round. They would then pluck, clean, and boil it, their 

 usual mode of cooking anything. Occasionally they broiled meat on 

 the fire : but never eat animal substance raw. But they never set 

 ahout cooking for themselves if they could induce their keeper's wife 

 "Ma Shway" to save them the trouble. At my house they were 

 often allowed to sit at the breakfast table, where they behaved with 

 decorum, but quite at their ease : lolling back in their chairs, and 

 pointing towards anything they wanted. They learnt to use a spoon, 

 knife, and fork readily. 



mm 



