421 
of Edinburgh, Session 1879 - 80 . 
used by them as “ chirut ” for cheeroot, “ kaptan ” for captain, 
“ jomodar ” for “ jemmadhar,” a native polieeman, &c. 
As an instance of their inventive powers for new names for new 
objects, I may give — 
Birmalakabangda, a steam-boat. 
When asked the name of any, to them, strange objects, they readily 
extemporise one, as the other day when they were shown a thermo- 
meter and at once gave it a name ! Doubtless, if the name they 
gave could be analysed, it would be found to mean “ glass-stick,” 
glittering ball, or some such tangible name, as they could form no 
approximate conception or idea of measuring heat. 
As I before mentioned, these people are not deficient in brain- 
power; it rather lies dormant and unused in their savage state. 
When I had charge of the Andamanese Hospital, there was a patient 
in it called Jerry, an Andaman lad of twelve, who had been con- 
verted to Christianity and educated in the Ross school. He was of 
pure Andaman parentage, and had not attained the age of puberty, 
yet he could read English and Oordoo (Hindustani) fluently, as well 
as speak and write in both of these languages, — retaining also a 
knowledge of his Andaman language, — and had a fair knowledge of 
arithmetic. A number of these lads are being so educated, and the 
intelligence they display when the latter is developed is considerable. 
By disposition these people are generous and affable, always merry 
and laughing. When one receives a present of tobacco, &c., he 
always shares it equally with his friends. The same is done with 
the proceeds of the chase. The men and women never work together. 
The men do little more than hunt pig, spear turtle, and catch fish. 
The women do all the remaining work of the community, including 
the bringing of firewood, and water, making and keeping up the 
fires, &c. The latter are also the barbers of the community, and it 
is in this capacity that their milk subserves the other use I before 
adverted to, viz., the function of shaving soap ! It may be seen 
from the figures that these people all shave the head. When this 
process requires performing, the person to be shaved sits before the 
female barber, the latter then compresses her breast with the hand, 
and directing the nipple over the part to be shaved, emits a jet of 
milk. This fluid is rubbed in with the finger, and then the surface 
very cleanly shaved with a piece of broken glass or shell ! 
