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APRIL, 1908.)
THE ANDAMANS IN TAB XVIITX CENTURY. THE ANDAMANS IN THE
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Water. There is great abundance of good fresh Water, the high Grounds are full of Springs, the neighbouring Shores afford plenty of Water, and as it every where ouzes from the Hills, it creates
Basou for itself at the foot of them, from whence, as it is still above high Water mark, it may be conveyed to the Casks, in the Boats, with great facility, either by. Trough, or Canvas Pipe.
Quadrupeds. The only Quadrupeds We have seen are Hogs, Rats, and the Johnoumon [a " writer's error" for ich neumon), the two former commit constant depredations in our Garden and Granary; the Guinna [an error for guiana= iguana) a four footed Animal of Lizard Tribe destroye our Poultry &c.
Birds. There are many Birds of beautiful Plumage, in particular numerous Classes of Pigeons, Doves, Woodpickers, and Fly Catchers, there is neither Game or Wild Fowl of any kind; The only Bird of Prey, we have observed is the Fish Hawk.
Reptiles. There are many Species of Snakes, Scorpions, Centipes, Spiders, Lizards, &c., several of the Labourers have been bit by Snakes, in no Instance has the bite proved Mortal, altho' the Patients were thrown into strong Convulsions. We have administered Eau de Luce and Opbuim, and the recovery bas usually been accomplished in two hours.
Mah. In the North East Monsoon, Fish are caught in sufficient quantity to distribute twice a Week to the Settlers, of every discription, Cockup, Mullet, Rock Cod, Seate, and Soles are the best, there are a variety of inferior sorts. The Torpedo and Seahorse, the horned, the parrot, the Monkey, and other curious Fish, have been occasionally caught, there are no Oyster bede, in the Harbour, and few adhering to the Rocks. Pearl, Pellucid, Hynge, & spondyle Oysters are sometimes found upon. the Reefs, as well as Muscles, Cockles, Limpets, Clams, and . Variety of Gorgoneas, Madopores, spunges, Cowries, Wbilks, Muree &c.
Ore. Iron Ore was once found and upon trial proved of good Quality, it had evidently under. gone the action of fire, but there is no accounting by what means, how it came where it was picked up, it has since been sought after in vain. I am inclined to believe the Hills contain Minerals, of some kind, for in places where the Water lodges at the foot of them after hard Rains, there is a Scum upon it of a bright Violet Colour, resembling the gloss on breaking a piece of fine Indigo, and which I have observed on stagnant Mineral Waters.
Stones. Granite, Irow, Free and Lime Stone, and Slate are to be met with, on several of the Emenencies.
Brioks. We have made good Bricks, the soil in the low grounds answering well for this purpose.
Lime. We have also made remarkable fine Lime of Madreporas and of Shells, they both barn pure, and with less fire than Stone Chunam can be made of and the former appears to be of as good a quality as the Sylhet Lime. There are sufficient Madreporas to afford Lime for the most extensive Works of Masonry. (a Paper of each containing a small quantity of Quick Limo accompanies this Memoir.
Climate. The Andamans are situated in a very tempestuous Latitude within the Range of the fall force of the South West Monsoon, during the whole of which they are deluged with perpetual Rain, and enveloped with obstructed clouds. The last Monsoon, 1793, we had in May, Inches of Water 17, 94, June 11, 02, July 27, 25, Angast 16,02, September 12,, 67, October 7, 76, and November 5,,79; in all-98.45. The Settlers were in general severely afflicted with the Scurvy during the dry weather, many of them were carried off in the worst Stages of this dreadful disorder. It was attributed to a privation of Vegetable diet, and subsequent events sbewed this opinion to have been well founded; soon after the Rains set in, several species of anoculent and enbacid Vines, and plants were discovered in the Jungle, and, on being liberally diatributed
