1846.] Notice of the Nicobar Islands. 353 



kept. After they have fared on the allowance, which consists of two 

 cocoanuts for each, they return to the forest. Although there are many 

 sheds to which the pigs are called in the same manner, those brutes, 

 however, never mistake the place where they have to look for their food. 

 This mode of living, gives to those animals the appearance of wild pigs. 

 I saw some of the young ones variegated, reddish, and whitish. A large 

 pig is sold for four or five rupees ; but if cloth or knives are given in 

 barter, then it may be had at half that amount. White pigs are very 

 scarce. I saw two at Teressa, and the owners would not part with them 

 on any account. Should the authors of culinary books require a new 

 system for cooking meat, I will gratify them with a receipt on that 

 imvigor in use amongst the Nicobarians. Having killed the pig, daub 

 your face with its blood, cut the animal in pieces, put it on the fire 

 for one or two minutes, until the hair is burned off, then take off 

 instantly and eat. 



The fowls are scarce, and if bought with silver, they give but two or 

 three for a rupee ; but the same number may be had for a common table 

 knife, old or new. 



Although there is plenty of fish about the islands, the natives having 

 no nets, catch but very few. Their only mode of fishing is with a 

 basket and harpoon. Great skill is displayed both by old and young 

 in using this instrument ; seldom missing their aim. A part of the fish 

 caught is generally eaten raw on the spot, and the remainder is taken 

 home to the family to be eaten in the same plain manner. 



Different species of turtle are found at Nicobar ; amongst them is the 

 imbricated turtle which furnish the tortoise-shell : the flesh being un- 

 wholesome, cannot be eaten. But it is not the same with the green 

 turtle, whose flesh supplies good food, and whose eggs are fine eating : 

 they are particularly common at Car- Nicobar. The natives take ad- 

 vantage of the time when the turtle deposit their eggs in the sand dur- 

 ing the night, they approach them slowly, and turning them on their 

 carapans, they leave them in that position till next day, when they 

 carry them home. These turtles, lay about one hundred eggs at a time. 



The group of the Nicobar seems to be the land of cocoanut 

 trees. 1 have never seen any country where they grow so well and in 

 such abundance ; the water of the young cocoanuts is superior in flavour 

 to any I have tasted elsewhere. If Providence had not provided those 



