250 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [Oct. 



II. — Notes on a Trip to the Nicobar and Andaman Islands, by 

 V. Ball, Esq., B. A. Part I. The Nicobars. (Abstract.) 



The paper consists in journal form of the author's observations on 

 the people, fauna, flora &c, of the Nicobars, during a stay at the new 

 settlement of eight days. In several appendices, the Geology, Zoology, 

 and Language, are treated more fully. 



Having described the circumstances under which the islands have 

 been taken over by Government, the previous settlements, and the 

 piratical tendencies of the inhabitants, the author writes regarding the 

 choice of the position of the new settlement — 



u If this selection has been made from strategical considerations, or 

 for the purpose of putting a check upon the misdoings of the pirates 

 of Trinkut and Nancowrey, none could have been better. But if the 

 object in view be the formation of a self-supporting colony, it must be 

 characterized as most unfortunate." 



The poor character of the soil and the unsuitability of the greater 

 portion of it for cultivation, are at once made apparent by the large 

 areas which, under the most favorable conditions of a tropical climate, 

 are only able to support dry unnutritious grasses. The occurrence 

 of jungle in certain places is explained in the geological Appendix. 



Both Dr. Rink and Dr. Karl Scherzer, author of the ' Voyage of the 

 Novara', condemn the selection of this place by the Danes and others as 

 a site for colonization. 



In the southern islands of the group, the geological formation 

 resembles that of the Andamans, and the soil is consequently much 

 better, as is testified by the jungle which stretches uninterruptedly 

 from hill top to high water mark. 



The author visited several of the native villages and saw many of 

 the men. In one or two cases, there were some women and children 

 in the houses, but usually they were kept out of sight. Regarding 

 the people he writes — " Owing to the universal habit of pawn-chewing, 

 their teeth are intensely black, those of the lower jaw often protrud- 

 ing in an irregular manner almost like tusks. The tongue, too, is 

 more or less black from the same cause, and in the mouths of some, 

 there appear to be horny lumps formed on the gums and underneath 

 the tongue. They are broad-shouldered, stoutly built men. 



