1870.] , Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 169 



pear to have caused unqualified satisfaction, whilst on faults being 

 committed the lash was freely resorted to. On June 12th, 1864, 

 three convicts at the North outpost, in a most unprovoked manner 

 were ruthlessly murdered, so all hospitality and friendship was 

 withdrawn, they were prohibited entering our stations, unless un- 

 armed, and if seen plundering, the sentries were directed to fire upon 

 them with slugs. In those times the aborigines distrusted us as 

 much as the convicts feared them, and on coming into the settlement, 

 they kept their arrows in their bows ready for immediate recourse 

 to, and whilst some parleyed, others stood watching a few yards off, 

 ready for a fight, or to secure a retreat. 



Owing to the hostility of the Andamanese, convicts had to be 

 restricted within bounds, no one could venture into the jungles. 

 About the middle of June, some of the aborigines visited Haddo, 

 food was given them, and they were asked to bring some bam- 

 boos, which they promised to do, but only brought a few dead ones. 

 They were evidently merely spies, for after a day or two, they enter- 

 ed Aberdeen and Phoenix bay stations in force, plundered the gar- 

 dens and carried off some convicts' clothes. However, towards the 

 end of the month, they appeared inclined to become more friendly, 

 they brought in some escaped convicts, whom, however, they first 

 plundered, besides removing every bit of iron from the boat in 

 which they had escaped. On being taxed with this, they at first 

 pleaded surprise, then said, they would make restitution, and brought 

 a canoe as an exchange for the mischief they had done to the 

 Government boat. At first this was not quite understood and the 

 canoe was sent back, but they returned it the next day, explaining 

 that they desired it to be kept as a reimbursement for the injury 

 they had done to the Government boat, so no longer considered the 

 canoe theirs. 



A Home was kept up on Eoss island, but those who had been en- 

 gaged in plunder, were not permitted to land there, thus Moriarty, 

 who had assisted in killing the Tollidar (already referred to), was 

 considered ineligible, which caused very great dissatisfaction. The 

 women and children made rafts of bamboos and so floated to Eoss, 

 or even swam over on the support of a single bamboo. In October 

 this year, they again plundered Aberdeen and its neighbourhood, 



