1870.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 153 



— From the Government of India, Correspondence* on certain 

 excavations of cairns and stone circles at Khairwarah in the 

 Wurdah District. 



The following papers were read : — 



I. — Observations on the Anclamanese, by Surgeon Francis Day, 



F. L. S. and F. Z. S. 



[Received 2nd March, read 1st June, 1870,] 



The inhabitants of the Andaman islands have for many years 

 been looked upon with great curiosity by Ethnologists,! by mari- 

 ners, and by the Indian Government, in consequence of their vici- 

 nity to our convict settlement of Port Blair. Exaggerated accounts 

 have been given of their appearance ; they have been regarded as 

 cannibals ; pieces of flint, now used for shaving or tattooing, have 

 been described as arrow-heads for shooting fish; in fact their show- 

 ing themselves on the shore has given rise to as much awe as that 

 of large wild carnivorous animals bent on mischief. Merchant ves- 

 sels generally kept many miles to the East of Barren island, in 

 order to avoid contact with the aborigines. 



Having been lately directed to proceed to the Andamans for the 

 purpose of making certain investigations respecting the fisheries^ 

 I took the opportunity of obtaining as much information as I could 

 respecting the aborigines. In my enquiries I was warmly seconded 

 by Mr. H o m f r a y§ the energetic officer who, (amongst his other 

 duties,) has charge of these people and their " Homes," and who 

 alone, amongst the foreign races, has mastered their language. I 

 also carefully went through Mr. Homfray's monthly reports. 

 Consequently a large amount of the information, contained in the 

 following, was derived from him, whilst he accompanied me in my 



* The publication of this Correspondence has been postponed until more 

 extensive information can be obtained. 



t It is stated at the Andamans, that many skulls of convicts have been sent 

 away as those of the aborigines, whilst a tame monkey, received from India, 

 and given to the crew of a passing man-of-war, has lately received a new 

 specific name in London as being indigenous on these islands ! 



X Much of this information is contained in my report on the fisheries of the 

 Andaman islands. 1 have, however, drawn it up more in detail, as the former 

 is not available for the general reader. 



§ Known to the Andamauese as Myo-jolali, " master of masters." 



