1861.] Papers relating to Aborigines of Andaman Islands. 253 
shore, to treat them kindly, feed them moderately, and dismiss them. 
He was directed to prevent them from landing armed, and to seize 
any who though unarmed should persist in plundering. 
10. On the next day, the 10th January, the Gangsman reported 
that a large number had come down on the opposite or Western 
shore, facing Viper Island, of whom eight came over in one canoe. 
That in spite of the presence of the Madras Guard, and the exhibi- 
tion of muskets, they had landed and cut plantains by force, lading 
their boat so full that to enable them to carry off their plunder they 
were obliged to leave three of their number behind. These three he 
seized, and it appearing that the canoe was returning with a larger 
number, he requested the Guard to fire over them, whereon the party 
in the boat, together with those on the shore, fled. In seizing the 
three, one convict was wounded with a knife made from iron hoop, 
which the savage carried suspended from his neck. 
11. One of these Aborigines, afterwards named by the sailors 
Punch Blair, was recognised as having been always a foremost per- 
sonage, and as being the man who unprovoked shot the arrow on 
31st December, from the result of which a boatman lost his life. 
12. The Aborigines did not appear again in that quarter imme- 
diately. On the 14th, however, a party of eight came down upon a 
gang of convicts cleaning a path from Atlanta Point to Navy Bay, 
and without much resistance on their part, carried off the tools with 
which they were working ; they also took the tickets hearing the 
convicts’ numbers, the pieces of string, &c., about their persons, and 
the Juneo or Brahminical thread of those that wore it. 
13. Previous to this occurrence, Aborigines had not been known 
to cross the line upon which the convicts were working for at least 
fifteen months. A Guard of 20 Sebundies were ordered to support 
the party next day. 
14. On the 15th, this party was again attacked. The Sebundies 
fired a few shots which proved sufficiently harmless, and the convict 
Gangsmen with the party seized and bound three of the Aborigines, 
taking their arms from them. Of the Sebundies, one was wounded 
with an arrow, three convicts were also wounded, two with arrows, 
and one with a bad bite in the arm. Of the Aborigines, two had ribs 
broken, and two also had slight bayonet wounds, all I am sorry to 
say inflicted by the Sebundies after their capture. 
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