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DecemBER, 1899.] THE SETTLEMENTS IN THE ANDAMAN ISLANDS.
soil was of such a nature as to absorb the whole before it reached the sea ; but if Reservoirs or Wells were made one or two hundred yards from the shore, in the beds of the Brooks, I have no doubt but they would be sufficiently productive to supply a large Squadron; by digging a small well about two feet deep the Viper and Elizabeth were supplied with the quantity that was wanted, from one of the Brooks. The face of the country is entirely covered with wood, and the surface is very uneven, being principally composed of high Ridges and Valleys, both covered with a rich soil and the latter seems capable of the highest enltivation. The woods will afford an inexhaustible store of timber which will certainly answer for masts and other purposes in building or repairing ships. I found many trees of Ebbony, and others which may become valuable articles of trade ; a specimen of the latter I shall have the Honour of presenting to your Lordship on my arrival at Calcutta, some of the Plants too were gathered which I am apprehensive will not reach Bengal. While in this Harbour we had regular Land and Sea Breezes, and the Climate, judging from our short stay, appeared to be healthy. Tho Tides at full and change rise 7 feet but the stream of the tide is hardly perceptible. There is plenty of Fish, but not being provided with netts we caught very few ; Pamphit Snappers and Rock Cod abound in the Harbour we also saw turtle but they do not appear to be numerous. The soil in many places will answer for bricks, stones which will answer for building are to be had in plenty, and the reefs will afford n constant supply of shells and coral for lime.
The Natives from their features, colour and hair appear to be descended from Affricans and there is an Account in the Annals of Goa that two Portugueze ships with slaves bound to Mallaita were lost on their Passage thither about 2 Centurys ago which it is probable may have first peopled the Great Andaman, by being wrecked on that Island. They are probably in the rudest state of any rational animals which are to be found; both sexes go perfectly naked; have no otber houses than small hots, or rather sheds, about four feet high; they seem to depend principally on shell fish for their subsistance which they gather on the reefs at low water, and it would appear that they sometimes catch turtle and hogs from their Huts being ornamented with the bones of those animals. Their greatest stretch of ingenuity appears in the construction of their Bows, Arrows, Fish Giggs and small pets. The only appearance of Civilization, is their being formed into small societies and some attention paid to a Chief which, with his family are generally painted red. They seem to have very deep rooted prejudices against strangers, and constantly expressed either fear or resentment when they saw vs land, except at Interview Island. We were frequently attacked by them which very much circumscribed our excursions but being constantly prepared, in all our skirmishes with them, when they were invariably the aggressors, we had only one man wounded. By the kindest treatment I could devise when they came on board and dismissing them with presents, I endeavoured in vain to bring about a friendly intercourse with them. Their Behaviour was so excessively wild and contradictory, that I found it impossible to sum it with any degree of certainty or success; their good nature appeared rather predominant, and in one instance I thought I could perceive attachment which inclines me to think, that they, with proper treatment might be made useful to settlers. We could not find the smallest appearance or marks of cultivation in a soil which would be highly productive with moderate labour.
After examining Diligent Strait and the Archipelago I proceeded to Barren Island and fouud the Volcano in a Violent State of eruption, throwing out showers of red hot stones and immense volumes of smoke. There were two or three eruptions while I was close at the foot of the Cone, several of the stones rolled down and bounded a good way past the foot of it. After a diligent search I could find nothing of sulphur or anything that answered the description of Lava.
From Barren Island I proceeded to explore for a dangerous ledge of Rocks which is only noticed in some of the Charts, but having been seen lately by Captain Hanna I was determined if possible to ascertain its situation. I first struck soundings on a large bank which environs
* [Now the Invisible Bank. - ED.)
