172 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [June, 



On tho 11th, we left Viper for a fresh water creek with 20 of the 

 people. On arriving at the landing place, we saw a storm rising, and 

 the aborigines waved about their hands and arrows, to beat or flog 

 away the evil spirit which was creating the disturbance ; neverthe- 

 less they were unsuccessful, and it poured all day. We landed at 

 one of their deserted encampments, but the fleas and other vermin 

 were so plentiful, we had to retreat to our boats. Their huts were 

 palm leaves, supported on sticks in the most primitive style. "We 

 took a few fish and bivalves up the creek, but the weather became 

 so severe that we were compelled to return. The Andamanese 

 asserted that a large fresh water lake exists in the island, but too 

 far away for us to go to. As we were going back, the boat hook 

 catching in a tree went overboard ; instantly one of the Andamanese 

 boys darted overboard and recovered it. 



On the 13th we went across to the Andamanese Home, a long 

 thatched shed, the head quarters of one of their tribes. On one 

 side of the entrance was a large heap of the bones of tortoises, 

 turtles, dugongs, and also a few shells, the refuse of their meals. 

 Inside were people and dogs, the latter as regards feeding evident- 

 ly considering all were on an equality, whoever could take 

 the food first being the lawful owner. Here we again had to give 

 them fruit and sugar-cane, which was equally divided under the 

 inspection of their queen, a quiet looking venerable old woman. 

 Having distributed pipes and tobacco, we at last induced them to 

 start for a cruize through the jungle, in order to ascertain what 

 fish there were in the fresh water streams, and what specimens of 

 natural history we could collect. 



The distance across country was five miles, but the road a mere 

 jungle foot track. "We told the aborigines to obtain fish, shells, 

 reptiles and grasses, and the}' set to work to collect. We had not 

 gone far, when those ahead called out to us to come on, and point- 

 ing to a tree asserted, they saw a snake between the bark and the 

 stem. The fissure was scarcely noticeable, but having removed the 

 dead bark, out came a snake (Lycodon aulicus) which we secur- 

 ed. They also obtained from the streams, specimens of Golius 

 f/ inn's, II. 13., Ophiocephalus gachua, H. 13., Ilaplochilus panchax, H. 

 B., and Murcena maculata, H. 13., also some Crustacea, many land 



