1869 ] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society, 251 



In maimer, they are absent and generally unemotional. They are 

 excessively indolent, and since their daily wants are readily supplied, 

 they spend the greater part of their time in sloth, doing nothing. As 

 to their origin, there can be no doubt that they are Malays, possibly 

 modified by a Burmese element, but they possess the characteristics 

 both of face and manner which distinguish the former people." 



Amongst the birds collected by the author, the most interesting was 

 the mound maker, Megapodius Nicobariensis, Blyth, of which three 

 specimens and two eggs were procured. An account of its habits and its 

 measurements taken in the flesh are given in the Appendix on birds. 

 Among the other birds obtained, several are peculiar to the Nicobars, 

 and some have hitherto been found only in the Andamans and Nicobars. 



The belief in the existence of wild buffaloes on Komorta is alluded to. 

 The author could hear nothing definite from the natives on the subject, 

 but anticipates that the fact, if it be one, cannot now long remain 

 doubtful. 



A visit to the Island of Trinkut is described where the party met 

 with some Kling traders bartering with the natives for cocoanuts. 



The Klings said that but for the settlement they would not dare 

 thus to come on shore ; formerly, so far from going on shore, they were 

 obliged to observe the precaution of preventing more than one canoe 

 coming alongside their vessels lest the natives should swarm up the 

 sides and overpower them. 



The paper includes some general remarks on the people, chiefly 

 gathered from the various published works on the Nicobars. 



There are no chiefs, the old men are respected but do not exercise 

 any particular influence in consequence of their age. 



Certain of them called Minlovens perform the duties of priests, 

 physicians and wizards. Their whole energy is concentrated on the 

 exorcising of evil spirits. Their office is not a sinecure, as it is said 

 that if a Minloven is unsuccessful in his cases, and several patients die 

 while under treatment, the people agree to kill him, and he is treacher- 

 ously murdered. 



The principle of their religion as of that of many of the aboriginal 

 races of India consists in the propitiation of evil spirits. According to 

 the Missionaries they seem unable to form a conception of a Supreme 

 beneficent Being. 



