1865.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 187 



Andamanese maidenhood, was seen hy accident in front of a low cheval 

 glass dancing with boisterous delight, on beholding the reflection of 

 her own loveliness. 



" These interesting, and, as far as we saw of them, very good-tempered 

 foreigners — (albeit they are reported to think little of killing each 

 other with bow and arrow on the slightest provocation,) met with much 

 kindness on all sides during their stay in Calcutta and Howrah. They 

 seemed to appreciate this kindness ; and on my presenting them with 

 a box of cheroots, they led me distinctly to understand that they hoped 

 I would come to the Andamans, and that they would welcome me 

 there ; — of which fact I have not the slightest doubt, provided a sufficient 

 supply of tobacco were simultaneously imported at Port Blair. 



" During their stay in India they had collected a vast store of miscel- 

 laneous wealth, which was deposited in a seaman's chest of huge 

 dimensions. This box was carefully padlocked. In a moment of 

 love and condescension they laid open this El Dorado, that Dr. Colles 

 and I might look and be satisfied. We did so. The trunk, which 

 resembled an ordinary Regimental arms'-chest, and which was pro- 

 bably more than 4 feet in length and 2 feet high, was filled with 

 fragments of cast off European clothing, clay pipes, tobacco, cigars, 

 biscuits, cocoa-nuts, seeds of trees, and many other things which to them 

 were worth more than gold. With all these things they were very 

 happy ; and as these cherished stores consisted of presents freely 

 offered by the white man without any thought of barter, that simple 

 collection of to us worthless articles will probably draw the hearts of 

 those aborigines towards civilization, in a manner altogether satisfactory 

 to the philanthropist. 



" This party of Andamanese returned in the beginning of October in 

 the ' Tubal Cain' with their kind protector Mr. Homfray ; and I only 

 hope that they are as happy now in their jungle homes as they appeared 

 to be in scenes of refinement to which they so readily adapted them- 

 selves." 



