164 
TEE ANDAMAN GHOTTP. 
be broTiglit from the Indian ports, otherwise upwards of 
five hundred souls^ includiug many women and children, 
would have perished on this inhospitable coast. Tlie 
fortified camp of the shipwrecked people was repeatedly 
attacked by the natives until the moment of the amval of 
the steamers ; but having abundance of provisions, they 
were able to keep together, and repel their assailants. 
Mr. Colebrooke'a description of the people, among whom 
he appears to have resided for some years, is as follows : 
"The Andaman Islands are inhabited by a race of 
men, the least civilized perl]a])s in the world; being 
nearer to a state of nature than any people we read of. 
Their colour ia of the darkest hue, tbeir stature in general 
small, and their aspect uncouth. Their limhs are ill- 
formed and slender, their bellies prominent ; and like the 
Africans, they have woolly heads^ thick lips, and flat 
noses. They go quite naked, the women wearing only at 
times a kind of tassel, or fringe round the middle ; which 
is intended merely as ornament, as they do not betray 
any signs of bashfulness when seen without it. The men 
are cunning, crafty, and revengeful j and frequently 
express their aversion to strangers in a loud and threaten- 
ing tone of voice, exhibiting various signs of defiance, and 
expressing their contempt by the most indecent gestures. 
At other times they appear quiet and docile, with the 
most insidious intent. They will affect to enter into a 
friendly conference, when after receiving, with a show of 
humility, whatever articles may be presented to them, 
they set up a shout and discharge their arrows at the 
donors. On the appearance of a vessel or boat, they 
frequently lie in ambush among the trees, and send 
