1870.] Proceeding* of the Asiatic Society. 1G5 



At the u Home," the following is the manner in which they pass 

 the day. At a very early hour they have something to eat, for 

 about 4 a. m. their uncovered bodies become cold, which necessi- 

 tates their replenishing their fires, and once up eating begins. 

 When residing in the same house, there is no rest after this early 

 hour. About 7 a. m. some of the men go out foraging according 

 to the season : it may be pig-hunting, fishing, or capturing tortoises 

 or turtles. The young men and boys assist in making, paddling 

 and steering canoes. The women in a body go for shells, shell- 

 fish, fruits and bulbs, in which they are assisted by the girls ; whilst 

 the elderly people keep at home, making baskets, nets, bows and 

 arrows, attending the sick, &c. Between 2 and 8 p. m. the foragers 

 return with their spoils, these are as far as possible equally divided 

 amongst all. 



Prior to the advent of the Europeans, the Andamanese lived en- 

 tirely upon the products of the waters and of the jungles, never 

 tilling the soil, and storing up but little for a future day's supply. 

 One of the first questions usually asked respecting these people is, 

 " Are not they cannibals ?" They repudiate the idea, and in return 

 wish to know " why when food abounds should they devour human 

 beings," a feast which they believe would cause their death. 



They eat nothing raw, not even fruit. In cooking meat, they 

 either throw it on the embers, turning it over when the under side 

 appears to be done, or else cooking the flesh of the tortoise, turtle, 

 or pork in unbaked earthen chatties.* Their appetites are large, for 

 they appeared to be easily able to consume 6 lb of fish at one sitting, 

 and after a very short time had no objection to begin again. A large 

 Pinna forms their plate, a Nautilus shell their drinking cup. They 

 have no regular periods for their meals ; when they are hungry they 

 eat, no matter at what time, whilst it is an almost essential com- 

 mencement to give them a good meal before starting for any excur- 

 sion. 



Their principal food at the first or north-sun period is honey, 

 fruit, and turtles. In the rainy season, they do not wander about 

 very much, owing to the difficulty of obtaining shelter, then the 



* I have seen them cook a prawn by placing it inside the bowl of a pipe 

 which they were smoking ! 



