2 52 Papers relating to Aborigines of Andaman Islands. [No. 3, 
with as many plantains as they eoultl carry. I found them with a 
rotten and broken canoe which they were endeavouring to get into, 
with a full load of plantains,— after baling out two or three times with 
a nautilus shell, they at last set off, but were eventually compelled 
to get into the water and swim behind the canoe, pushing it along. 
During the time I saw them— some twenty minutes— they were 
examined by myself and the European Guard without betraying the 
least symptom of fear ; they laughed and talked incessantly , and 
were quite ready to dance if any one clapped hands by way of 
music. They had bows and arrows with them, which however they 
did not attempt to use. 
7. I enjoined on the Gangsmen greater caution, and referred 
them to the orders they had already received, viz., to signal away 
any Aborigines coming armed, and to allow them to land only on 
their leaving their weapons on the opposite shore. I may here 
note that experience has fully proved that these people, with 
all their extreme rudeness, fully understand it to be good man- 
ners to leave weapons behind when meeting strangers. The Gangs- 
men were also again warned not to encourage plunder, by allowing 
them to help themselves ad libitum, but directed to restrict the 
Aborigines closely to that moderate amount which should be given 
to them. 
8. On the 9th, eight Aborigines came over again in a canoe to 
Viper Island. Pour came up and four remained in their canoe. The 
former were fed as usual, and dismissed with a full stalk of plan- 
tains to each ; they took what they had received down to their 
canoe, and returned for more. On being refused, they rushed into 
the convict lines, and began to plunder. The Sebundy Guard was 
called, and when they came in sight, the Gangsman caused the 
Aborigines to be seized by convicts. Their bows and arrows, with 
which they had threatened people, were taken from them, and after a 
short time they were released and suffered to depart. The Gangs- 
man reports that as they left, another canoe, full of Aborigines, came, 
who however returned with their fellows. The Gangsman begged he 
might be allowed to keep them off in future, as he apprehended 
mischief. 
9. He was again referred to his standing orders, viz., to prevent 
any from landing till they had deposited their arms on the other 
