On the Andaman Islands, and Their Inhabitants.

Abstract

On the Andamnan siderable distance eastward of Great Andaman, but connected with the group, are two small uninhabited islands known as Narcondam and Barren Island, both of which contain volcanoes, though the latter only is active at the present day.To the south, and about midway between Great Andaman and the northernmost point of the Nicobar group, lies Little Andaman, consisting of a single island about 27 iniles in length, and varying in breadth from 10 to 16 miles; there are also a few small islets near its coast.None of the islands exceed 20 miles in breadth, and the area of the entire group is estimated at about 2,508 square miles, fourfifths of which are comprised in Great Andaman.Nearly all the high land occurs in the vicinity of the east coast, shelving gradually towards the west, where few, and those but minor, elevations are to be found.The principal hills are: Saddle Peak' (2,400 feet) in North Andainan, overlooking Port Cornwallis; Ford's Peak (1,400 feet) on Rutland Islaiid; and Mount Harriet (1,100 feet) in South Anclanan, commanding the harbour of Port Blair.The climate of the Andamans much resembles that of Lower Burniah, and the temperature throughout the year is very uiniform; the variation in the shade during the dry season is about 220, and averages 170 during the remainder of the year; the extreme variation throughout the twelve months may be estimated at 26?, viz., between 70' and 96?.The cool season sets in during the last weeks of December and early part of January, and the hot season lasts through the months of March and April.The S.W. monsoon commences in the latter part of April or early in May, and usually terminates about the end of October, but on the change in the direction of the wind to N.E.heavy showers frequeintly occur for several weeks, and even, though at rare intervals, in January and February.The average number of wet days in the year is 182, and the rainfall 116 inches; the dry season is usually characterised during the first two months by strong winds from N.E., which cause sickness and prove equally prejudicial to vegetation.Although it has been ascertained that many of the most severe cyclones which have occurred in the Bay of Bengal during the past twenty-five years have had their origin in the immediate vicinity of the Andamans, only one is recorded (viz., in 1864) as having visited the islands themselves; in the same period there have been a few earthquakes, the first of which mention is made took place in August, 1868, and the next in February, 1880; from which time several slight shocks were felt until, in December (31st), 1881, another severe earthquake visited the group, the effects of which were NI The only ascent on record of Saddle Peak was made in February, 1882, by Major M. Protheroe, C.S.I., and other officers of Port Blair.

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