JUNE, 1874.]

ANDAMANESE “HOME,” PORT BLAIR.

In the following paper I do not intend enter

ing into any general account or history of the Andaman Islanders, but shall simply confine my self to a description of a visit which I paid to the “ Home” established by the Government of India, in connexion with the convict settlement at Port Blair, for the purpose of commencing the civiliza tion and inspiring the confidence of the hitherto untamed aborigines of the Andaman Islands.

On the 8th of August 1869, in company with Mr. Homfray, who is in charge of the Andamanese Home, and Assistant-Surgeon Curran, I started from Viper Island, in Port Blair, to visit Port Mouat and the Home at Mount Augusta. Close to the landing-place at Homfray’s GhAt

‘ there is an old kitchen midden, in which the wives ' of oysters, Areas and Cyrenus, were abundant. Mr. Homfray told me that the present race of Andamanese do not eat oysters -—-a rather singular fact, and suggesting the possibility of there having been dili'crent inhabitants of this part of the island

at some former period.

smoking—that being one of the few accomplish ments they have learnt from their contact with civilization. Calcutta poko, which is the Anda mancse name for tobacco, is in great demand with

them now. After a little preliminary shyness had worn off, they did not hesitate to search our pockets

to see if we carried any with us. . The simplicity of the clothing arrangements of the Andamanese is well known, the elaborate toilets of civilization being represented by a leaf, which is worn by the women suspended from a

girdle of ratan or panda-nus fibre.

Sometimes this

pamlanus fibre is so beaten out as to form a bushy tail.

Of the various ornaments worn by the women, none seemed more extraordinary than the skulls of their defunct relatives, festooned with strings of shells, which some of them carried suspended from their necks. (See Plate.) Those who had recently lost relatives were in

mourning, which consisted in their being shaved and covered from head to foot with a uniform coat

The road to Port Mouat runs along by the side of a mangrove swamp, in which Cg/renas abound.

ing of white clay.

These molluscs are eaten by the Audamanese, and

Several of the men were amusing themselves manipulating, with pieces of string, the puzzles 0f

the valves, in consequence of their sharp edges, are used as substitutes for knives. Shortly after arriving at Port Monet, we started

in a boat for Mount Augusta. As we_ approached the shores near to which the Home is situated, a swarm of little woolly-headed Andamanese struck into the waves, and; swimming and diving under and about the boat, so accompanied us to the

shore.

Non-mourners were more or

less adorned with red clay.

the “cat’s-cradle." Trivial as this circumstance at first sight appears to be, it is really one of some importance, as it may be usedas evidence in favour ofa primitive connexion between the

Andamanese and races inhabiting the Malayan Archipelago.

Mr. Wallace found the Dyak boys

in Borneo more skilful than ihimself in the mys teries of “ cat's-cradle." He says regarding this

On reaching the Home, we found that out of the

accomplishment—~“ Ve learn thereby that these

200 individuals who were said to be availing them selves of the shelter and the ration of 2 lbs. of

people have passed beyond that first stage of savage

rice per head per diem which GQVernment gives

them, the greater portion of the men had gone out in their large canoes to another part of the island to hunt for pigs. _

life, in which the struggle for existence absorbs the whole faculties, and in which every thought

and idea is connected with war or hunting, or the

engaged in cooking pork, which they effect by

provision for their immediate necessities.” These remarks cannot be applied with the same force to the Andamauese, whose rank in the scale of civil ization is lower than that of the Dyaks. Mr. Homfray pointed out one old woman who, he said, possessed great influence over the tribe, and acted as arbitrator in all disputes. Until the rule was enforced in the Home of making those

placing small strips in a hollow bamboo, which is then laid on the fire, and the meat, when scarcely more than warmed, taken out and eaten. Mr. Homfray assured me that the Andamancse,

who came to it give up their boWs while remaining there, quarrels not nnfrequcntly led to two parties being formed, who discharged their arrows at one another even within the walls. A man on either

so far as he knows, never eat meat in an actually raw condition. _ Of the men .present in the Home, several were

side being struck was the signal for a cessation of hostilities. Notwithstanding such outbursts, the Anda

The sight presented to our eyes on entering the

Home was most singular, and one not readily to be forgotten. At intervals along both sides there were a number of family groups, variously

occupied.

Some were boiling rice; others were