"The number of children that I met here was not large either, and was far smaller than what I had seen on the coast in villages of equal size. I saw very few animals here; they kept some pigs near their houses, and the pork is said to be of very good taste here, because they feed the pigs on coconuts. There were also some small hens here, and a female dog, very much like the pariah dogs, which I had seen on the coast, and probably it was brought from there, only it seemed to have shorter legs than the ordinary kind.... "... As it grew dark I left the country, where I should have liked to stay for some days, but I feared we might not get safely through the high waves. A _cicada_ sang in the wood in a strange manner--for me it was a sad song. In the dark evening I picked up a little piece of seaweed which had been thrown on shore. We were luckier than we had feared to be as regards the starting from shore, which we left after having explored the country for one hour and a half. After one hour's journey both ways, we arrived on board at 7 o'clock. "_September 1st._--Early this morning the anchors were hoisted, but hardly had we left the land when a storm, combined with heavy showers of rain, arose. The atmosphere was misty, and one of these stormy showers was so violent and sudden that we almost perished. A new top-sail was torn to pieces, the waves at the same time were uncommonly high, and the whole sea like in a thunderstorm. I thanked God that I succeeded in arranging the specimens which I had gathered on my journey." CHAPTER VI SOME CUSTOMS OF THE KAR NICOBARESE The Feast of Exhumation--A Scene in the Graveyard--"_Katap-hang_"-- "_Kiala_"--"_Enwan-n'gi_"--Fish Charms--Canoe Offerings--"_Ramal_"-- "_Gnunota_"--Converse with the Dead--"_Kewi-apa_"--"_Maya_"-- "_Yintovna Síya_"--Exorcism--"_Tanangla_"--Other Ceremonies--The "_Sano-kuv_"--The "_Mafai_"--The "_Tamiluana_"--_Mafai_ Ceremonies-- Burial--Mourning--Burial Scenes--The Origin of Village Gardens-- Destruction of Gardens--Eclipses--Canoe-buying--Dances--Quarrels-- "_Amok_"--Wizardry--Wizard Murders--Suicides--Land Sale and Tenure-- Dislike to Strangers--Cross-bow Accidents--Canoe Voyages--Commercial Occupations--Tallies. Amongst the Kar Nicobarese there are far more customs and ceremonies than I could ascertain during a short visit, but in the following pages an attempt has been made to chronicle all those that came to my knowledge. Many of them were elicited by questioning Mr V. Solomon, the Government Agent on the island, but still more are extracted from his diaries as printed in the Supplements of the _Andaman and Nicobar Gazette_. For the accuracy, therefore, of much of this chapter, Mr Solomon is responsible. Of all the observances, customs, and ceremonies of Nicobarese life, that of _Kana Awn_, where the bones of the dead are exhumed, is perhaps the most important. Literally it is called _Ka-al-awn_--feast of pigs' flesh.