1846.] Notice of the Nicobar Islands. 347 



feet. The flooring, which is made of planks, has a circular form, and 

 the roof, which has the shape of a bee-hive, is covered with grass called 

 Lalung by the Malays, about a foot thick. They are without windows, 

 nor have they any partition. The entrance is from below : these 

 houses will last from ten to twelve years without repairs ; and there is 

 no other furniture but earthen pots, cocoanut- shells to carry water, a 

 round piece of wood which they use for a pillow, spears, knives, swords, 

 and the ika, which is their general food. 



Their boats vary in size from six to twenty feet long, and from two 

 to four feet broad, having an outrigging : they are generally safe : two 

 or three poles support their sails. It is a pleasure to see how well 

 these natives manage their canoes when meeting the surf. 



These Islanders are lazy and inactive, cowardly, treacherous, drunk- 

 en, and I am sorry to say, that crimes against nature are not un- 

 known to them. Every evening the villagers meet in one of the houses, 

 and there they spend part of the night in drinking, singing, and dancing. 

 Like children, they desire every thing they see, without troubling 

 themselves whether the object be useful or not. When a vessel arrives, 

 the headman of the village in his best dress goes on board, accompani- 

 ed by some other persons, whom he always calls his children. They 

 offer to the captain young cocoanuts, yams, and plantains. If asked 

 what they wish to have in return, their answer is — Hahekienten man, 

 which means, ' You are my father.' Although they seem to have no 

 wish for all that they see, yet they expect to get drink or some- 

 thing else. The headman then hands the certificate he has received 

 from former captains. It is impossible to avoid laughing when 

 the high sounding names of Byron, Smith, Rodney, Nelson, &c. are 

 given to the bearers of the certificate. If a captain treat some of 

 them very kindly, and make to them some presents, he is sure that some 

 of the Islanders will be called after his name. In the year 1832, I saw 

 at Rangoon two persons from Car-Nicobars ; they paid a visit to the 

 Italian Bishop who was there, and they were so much pleased with 

 some trifle they received from him, that the old man told him, 'My 

 name being Captain John, I cannot take your name ; but my son not 

 being Captain yet, he shall be henceforth called Captain Bishop.' The 

 Nicobarians have different names. If they go on board an English 

 vessel, they take an English name ; if on board a junk, they take 

 a Chinese name, &c. 



3 a 



