Indian Antiquary Vol 61

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 67

MARCH, 1932] REMARKS ON THE NICOBAR ISLANDERS AND THEIR COUNTRY
57
7.95
PORT BLAIR. NICOBARS.
Rate per cent. Rate per cent. 1884
6.72
6.48 1885
6.00 1886
4.99
7.23 1887
5.81
8.34 1888 .. .. .. .. 5.00
8.55 Like all the other Governments who had had an interest in the islands, the British tried a colony, Chinese, in 1884, which failed. But the attempt drew from the most experienced officer there, Mr. Man, the following advice of value, considering the perennial interest in these islands betrayed by European speculators and would be colonisers
"To colonise the Nicobars employ Chinese ; send them to Great Nicobar: employ agriculturists who are not opium users : maintain quick and frequent communication with the Straits Settlements : assist the colonists in transporting their families : provide them with ready means of procuring food, clothing, medicines, tools and implements."
A large capital and much perseverance would always be necessary for exploiting the Nicobars with any hope of success.
The story of the Settlement was well told by Mr. E. H. Man in a final Report on its being broken up in 1888, as the extracts therefrom which follow will show.
Mr. E. H. Man's Report on the Penal Settlement in Nancowry Harbour. The Government of India having determined to discontinue the maintenance of the penal settlement at the Nicobar Islands, orders were received, in July 1888, to take early measures for the transfer of the entire establishment and live stock, and the dismantling of all public buildings at Nanoowry, with the view to their shipment to Port Blair.
These orders were duly carried into effect by means of the ordinary monthly trips of the contract mail steamer, and the last consignment was shipped on the 21st December, when, as a temporary measure, a Chinese interpreter in Government employ was left behind with authority to register ships' arrivals and departures, grant permits to trade and port clearances, and to hoist the British flag daily at the old station flagstaff. A few free cocoanut. traders, who had been resident for some years at the station, were at the same time permitted to remain there, and arrangements made for affording them all necessary assistance on the Occasiong of our periodical visits in the Government steamer from Port Blair.
The important step thus taken in seemingly abandoning our position at the Nicobars in no way, however, implied a desire or intention on the part of the Government to forfeit or impair its sovereignty by relinquishing any of the rights or responsibilities which it had incurred by its annexation of the islands twenty years ago. The primary objects which had led to the establishment of the Government colony in the centre of the group immediately after the annexation were held to have been at length fully attained, and, as it was at the same time clearly shown that, owing to the exceptional circumstances and conditions of the colony in incurring continued expenditure, no adequate return, even prospective, was possible, there remained neither inducement nor justification for maintaining an establishment any longer in such a remote and malarious locality.
Under the above circumstances this is considered a good opportunity to place on record a brief history of the settlement, whose period of existence corresponded somewhat singularly with that of the Moravian Mission in the same harbour a century ago; both were maintained for nineteen years, the latter from 1768 to 1787 and the former from 1869 to 1888.
For upwards of a century before the islands were added to the possessions of British India they had been regarded as belonging to the Danish Crown, which bad exercised some