1 •"> i Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [JuNfi, 



wanderings with the Andamanese around the various stations, look- 

 ing out for the best fishing-grounds. These people worked with 

 us in the jungles amongst the small streams, they speared fish in the 

 harbours, shot them with bows and arrows, or captured them with 

 their hands, or b}' means of small nets in the sea, and elsewhere they 

 collected shells, crabs and reptiles, and in fact appeared desirous of 

 doing whatever the} r were able. 



I do not propose in this paper entering into any speculations re- 

 specting the origin of these people,* but to confine my remarks to 

 their present appearance, manners, customs, language, amusements 

 and methods of providing themselves with food. 



Those now living on the island are estimated to be about 1000 in 

 number, but this must be a guess, as no means are available by 

 which such could be verified or refuted. Around the settlement, 

 there are better means of estimating their strength, and there they 

 appear to be about 400, divided into tribes, rarely above 30 strong, 

 for when they are more, they quarrel. The country is partitioned 

 amongst them, and one tribe does not interfere in the territory of 

 another, in fact such used to cause war between them. Tribes fix 

 upon a spot for a depot, here the sick are tended, and any extra 

 supplies, they may have, are hoarded. On two tribes meeting, the 

 great sign of friendship is the presence of women, for when hostili- 

 ty is intended, the weaker sex are sent to a place of safety. 



Their huts, if they deserve the name, are merely palm tree 

 leaves most loosely put together ; they try and get shelter under I 

 any overhanging trees or rocks. Bones of animals or fish which have 

 been eaten, shells, &c. &c. are all thrown into one heap close by, 

 the smell of which is very offensive. When they can no longer J 

 bear it, they move on, returning when they imagine disagreeable 

 odours have disappeared. 



These people, when guests of Europeans, or expecting presents, I 

 have moderately good tempers, but a very slight offence rouses 



• Some may be of African origin or mixed African descent, their woolly hair I 

 and other Bigna apparently afford such a solution, but some again have entire- 

 ly smooth hair, and but few very thick blubber lips or the Hottentot's project- I 

 ing jaws. Shipwrecked sailors have generally been lulled by the arrows and | 

 spears of the Andamanese, or else the last few survivors have been kept as I 

 slaves and thus assisted in continuing this mixed race. 



