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



take all the inhabitants to you, and by examining their hands, you will 

 see that there is not a single murderer amongst them.' When I was at 

 Katchall, speaking to some of the people about the murder committed 

 on board of vessels, every one of them showed me the inside of their 

 hands, saying, ' Is there any spot of blood on them ?' These people are 

 convinced that Europeans, by looking into their hands, know if they 

 have been guilty of some crime. 



The population of the Nicobar Islands is from six to seven thousand 

 souls. The whole of them live on the sea-shore : their villages, which 

 are surrounded by cocoanut and betelnut trees, are small ; seldom more 

 than three or four houses are seen on the same spot. The men have only 

 one wife with the exception of those of Chowry island. The women enjoy 

 the privilege of divorcing when they think proper ; so, should another 

 man captivate their heart, they send away the first husband, and associate 

 with the man who has been fortunate enough to please them. Not 

 having children being considered as a curse, in that case the separation 

 always takes place. I saw at Teressa, a woman who had been married 

 on that account nine times. It is the custom for young people to live 

 one year as husband and wife before the marriage ceremonies take 

 place. Should they live on good terms, and be happy during that period, 

 then the couple is united in the presence of the villagers, and of the 

 Minloven. A feast is given to all the friends and relations ; large pigs 

 are killed ; those that are invited daub their faces with the blood, &c. 

 Should the husband die, the wife is seldom married again. 



The women during their course, daub the whole of their body with 

 the blood of pigs and fowls ; and they drink freely the water in which 

 they have infused several roots. When enceinte dancing and singing 

 are not allowed in their village ; nor can the relations sell pigs or 

 fowls to make curry. When a child is born, it is a great rejoicing 

 amongst them : they feast for several days. When a person is sick, they 

 hang to his neck young cocoanuts, a spoon, and small carved figures, 

 to amuse the spirit ; small baskets filled with betel leaves are suspended 

 to the trees, and the Minloven is sent for. He never gives any medi- 

 cine, but excites friction on the different parts of the body : he binds 

 the members of the sick in different directions ; claps his hands, and 

 makes a great deal of noise. He gives orders to the relations to cut 

 some of the trees, and to tie to the posts of the house some of their 



