'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎223] (332/496)

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which are used for carrying water. In the centre of their abodes,
strung upon a pole, are the bare skulls and thigh bones of their deceased
relatives, which they seem to hold in the greatest veneration. They have
no religion of any kind, nor have they any idea whatever of a Supreme
Being. We endeavored to intimate to them, by pointing to the sky, that
there was the residence of the Deity ; but it was of no avail—they could
not understand our meaning : and all we received in reply was a shake
. of the head, and that peculiar click of the tongue before alluded to, and
which was frequently had recourse to during our intercourse with them,
and which was no doubt either meant as an expression of surprise, or tanta-
amount to the monosyllable no. We could attach no other meaning to
this singular custom. They seemed to have no Chief, nor had they any
laws to guide them. They were decidedly not cannibals, but infanticide,
as we afterwards understood from the rescued boy Ireland, was practised
amongst them : this horrible custom was only resorted to, however, when
their families became too numerous to support. A sort of marriage cere
mony is performed; and plurality of wives is permitted, but to what ex
tent we were unable to discover.
They cultivate the ground, and grow principally yams and sweet po
tatoes ; they also possess plantations of bananas, and extensive groves of
cocoanut trees, so that the island produces ample food for the support
of its inhabitants. These savages are mild and tractable, and if kindly
treated would no doubt soon be civilized, and in time become useful
members of society. A few discreet Missionaries might, I imagine, do
infinite good amongst them, for they are also intelligent, and quite ca
pable of being taught some useful occupation. It must, however, be ac
knowledged, they are expert thieves, but this propensity might easily be
conquered by proper management, and a more extended intercourse.
The islands, laying in the direct influence of the S. E. trade, and
many miles from the main-land, enjoy a very equable and temperate
climate, the thermometer ranging whilst we were there from 74 ° to 78°.
We walked about nearly the whole day in the sun, and found not the
slightest inconvenience from so doing. It seemed to be very healthy,
for there were apparently no serious cases of sickness amongst the natives.
Scrofulous and cancerous diseases mere the most prevalent, and these
might have arisen from the water, which is brackish : this evil, however,
might be remedied, if wells deeper and further inland were dug ; but
these poor children of nature, having no means of excavating the hard