1846.] Notice of the Nicobar Islands. 349 



to each house, and there, by his noise, he compels all the bad spirits to 

 leave the dwelling, and to get into the canoe ; men, women, and chil- 

 dren assist him in his conjuration. The doors of the house are shut; 

 the ladder is taken out ; the boat is then dragged along to the sea-shore, 

 where it is soon carried off by the waves with a full cargo of devils ; those 

 malignant spirits are effectually prevented from taking their abode 

 again in the village by a screen made of pieces of cloth, which keeps 

 out of their baneful sight, the place where the houses stand. This 

 feast, which takes place at the end of the SW. monsoon, is called by 

 the Nicobarians Kew Hivee. In the beginning of the NE. monsoon, 

 all the women are obliged to fast for three or four days. During that 

 time, they dress as mad persons, and go from house to house singing 

 and dancing. The Nicobarians have also in their houses idols of the 

 most ugly shape, representing men and women; some with European 

 dress, and some with the scanty dress of the natives. They have short 

 and thin legs, and a large belly, and from their necks hang spoons, 

 cocoanuts, &c. 



The Nicobarians have such a high idea of the power of Europeans, 

 that to them they attribute the creation of their islands, and they think 

 it depends on them to give fine weather, nice breezes, &c. They are 

 convinced that the Minloven, can cure every disease, make people sick, 

 and also deprive them of life. Should any one be suspected of causing 

 death, the villagers would immediately kill him : this has been the case 

 several times. When the French Missionaries were living at Teressa, 

 the villagers went to them on several occasions, saying : ' Senhor Padre, 

 give us some rain if you please ; our yams are dying, we know you can 

 do it if you like.' And on one occasion, the priests were threatened 

 to be murdered if there was no rain. On the following day, fortunately, 

 a strong shower fell during the night, and the people thanked them 

 most cordially. One of the clergy, being on board of their canoe in his 

 way from Chowry to Teressa, the crew told him — ' Senhor Padre, some 

 breeze if you please' : sometime after, the wind blowing a little fresh, 

 ' basta,' cried they, ' it is enough, do not give any more of it, otherwise the 

 boat will be capsized.' One day, Gold Mohur, who is the most respected 

 man of the Laxis, a village situated at Teressa, went to the Missionaries, 

 telling them — ' You think perhaps that the inhabitants of this place are 

 bad people. I will convince you of the contrary ; to-morrow I will 



