Amongst those met with, there was generally one man in each party, who, by virtue possibly of superior intelligence or knowledge of the coast language, seemed to have some slight authority over the remainder. They are monogamous, and, unlike the Nicobarese, marry for life. The position of the women is apparently a satisfactory one, for they are regarded as little or in no way inferior to the men. The men obtain the food, the women prepare it. Rattans are collected in the jungle by the men, and by them carried to market; both sexes together prepare it, by scraping and splitting, for sale. When bringing articles for barter, the men bore the spears, and the baskets and cloth were carried by the women, and generally such things as were obtained in exchange were immediately handed over to the latter. All those met with seemed quiet, stolid, and timid in disposition; but a cupidity for the goods of their neighbours at times overcomes the latter characteristic amongst the less accessible of the aborigines, and many are the murderous attacks they are said to have made on the Nicobarese for the purpose of loot. No infants or young children were seen, although surprise visits were paid to several of the villages, neither were any old people _en evidence_, but the ages were judged to vary between ten and forty-five years. The language differs from all others in the islands, but here and there are individuals who know sufficient of the coast speech to hold converse with the Nicobarese.[134] Their carelessness with regard to their water-supply--for any muddy pool or stagnant brook is made use of--is probably sufficient reason for the large number of cases of elephantiasis occurring among them; the only other affection besides this, that seems to be in anyway chronic, is the common body ringworm of the tropics. [Illustration: Iron Buffalo and Pig Spears.] CHAPTER III THE NICOBARESE The Evolution of the Nicobarese--Description--Character--Language-- Legends of Origin--Origin of Coco Palms--Invention of Punishments-- Superstitious Beliefs--Diseases--Medicines--Marriage--Matriarchal System--Divorce--Polygamy--Courtship--Property--_Takoia_--Headmen-- Social State--Position of Women and Children--Domestic Animals-- Weapons--Tools--Fishing--Turtle--Food--Beverages--Narcotics and Stimulants--Cleanliness--Clothing--Ornaments--_Coiffure_-- Amusements--Arts and Industries--Cultivation--Produce--Traders and Commerce. If the Shom Pe[.n] are not racially pure, the Nicobarese or coast-dwellers are still less so, and what components have gone to form them as they now exist is an interesting ethnical question.