1884.] 
A Nicobar tale. 
27 
One word as to the “ t^keri.” Some Nicobarese say it is a snake 
which eats snakes. The ophiophagns, however, is not found here. The 
boa (python ScJineideri) which is the only very large snake of these parts 
is well known to the inhabitants, does not eat snakes, and has another 
name. Others assert that it is a big beast of the jungle like the Akafang 
which is a spirit animal seen by the Manloenes at night. It is described 
as a rather big creature with an enormous tongue, the head bearing a 
mane. It might be the effort of the imagination to conceive the lion ; 
I would suggest, however, that the “ tekeri ” is the tiger. The Nico- 
barese have been for many years in communication with Europeans and 
have heard Danish, Portuguese and English spoken. The word may 
therefore have been an importation from one of these languages, con¬ 
tributions from which have undoubtedly been made to the Nicobarese 
vocabulary (c/. infra “ lehre” Anglice “ Or it may be of Malay 
origin, and derived from teger, strong. 
Indie onglice de Tiomberombi. 
“ Juchtere io at tin en me ?” 
‘‘ Haoh,, io olkale o(n)g.” “ Juch¬ 
tere wat me loa, ieang tentie io 
olkale o(n)g omia.” 
Kang, kong, kang, kong. “ Tim 
paiu ?” “ Tiue-tieae-Tiomberombi !” 
“ Tim we'n me ” ? Tieae io olkale 
o(n)g omia, da ie io kane ta kon 
omia.” “Wat-me, lohm, keteit kaniut, 
keteit kaiiha.” “ Oh behare, io 
ene io en kon omia.” 
Tio7nberombi an old tale. 
* “ Where are you going ?” 
“ Oh, I am going to split firewood.’ 
“ Then do not be in a hurry, I will 
go along with you and split fire 
wood for the chief ” (or old man). 
Kang, kong (the sound of the 
footsteps). (Some one asks) “ who 
goes there” ? (what men ?). “I 
Tiomberombi and another.” (I— 
we two—Tiomb.) “What are you 
going to do ?” “We want to split 
firewood for the chief, for I want to 
marry his daughter (as I want (for) 
wife the child of the chief).” “ Cer¬ 
tainly not, you are poor man (ser¬ 
vant) your coat and trowsers are 
ragged.” “ Never mind, if the 
chiefs’s child is willing.” 
* Tiomberombi is a tale of love andiits troubles. To make that clear 
it begins with a little introduction, not necessary to the story which 
follows. Some one is going to cut firewood, when Tiomberombi 
joins him, saying that he wants to cut wood for “ the ” old man. On 
their journey somebody accosts them and a little banter ensues. Kang, 
kong is onomatopoetic for the sounds of the footsteps. Tiue 5 = I, ti^ae 
