348 Notice of the Nicobar Islands. [No. 173. 



The Nicobarians appear to have a great facility for learning languages. 

 I do not mean to say, that they speak the languages very well ; but 

 they are able to make themselves understood in many. The Portuguese, 

 spoken in Mergui, is their favourite language ; and the respectable 

 people of the different islands are more or less acquainted with it. The 

 Malay is well understood by some of the people of Nancowry, and the 

 Great and Little Nicobars ; some of the people can speak a little English, 

 Burmese, Chinese, Hindustanee, &c. &c. 



In mentioning the character of these people, I have stated that they 

 are treacherous, and as a proof of it, I shall relate the following facts : — 

 In 1833, a Cholia vessel was cut off in the false harbour of Nancowry, 

 and every person on board murdered. In 1839, the pilot of a Whaler 

 being anchored at the same spot, the captain, some of the offi- 

 cers, and the greater part of the crew, were slaughtered by the na- 

 tives. In 1844, Captain Ignatius Ventura, from Moulmein, command- 

 ing the Mary, anchored on the north side of Teressa, at two o'clock in 

 the afternoon : one hour after, the captain and crew were murdered. In 

 the same year, Captain Law met the same fate at Karmorta. Another 

 vessel, three years ago, after having taken part of her cargo at Katchall, 

 sailed to the false harbour of Nancowry to complete her cargo, 

 there also the captain and crew were slaughtered by the natives. The 

 headman of Katchall, who had given a part of the cargo to the above 

 vessel, related the fact to me. He spoke in the highest terms of the 

 captain of the said vessel, as likewise of Captain Ventura. I was well 

 acquainted with the last mentioned person ; he was most kind and 

 honest, consequently incapable of provoking any person. But it appears 

 that it was not so with the vessel first mentioned, they highly exas- 

 perated the natives by their conduct. 



It does not appear that the Nicobarians have any exact idea of a 

 Supreme Being. They say, it is true that there is a great spirit, whom 

 they call Reos. But I suspect that this word they have received from 

 the Christians of Mergui, who have been visiting these islands during 

 the last two centuries : the words Deos and Reos are so nearly alike, 

 that the one appears to be a corruption of the other. They admit the 

 existence of spirits to whom they attribute sickness, death, and scarcity 

 in the crops ; they offer them pigs, fowls, &c. to propitiate them. Once 

 in the year, and sometimes when great sickness prevails, they build 

 a large canoe, and the Minloven, or priest^ has the boat carried close 



