[177] In many islands of the Pacific Ocean--Marshalls, Gilbert and Kingsmills, the Carolines, Union, and Ellice, and in New Guinea--the pandanus fruit is used as a food, especially in times of scarcity, but in general the kernel only is eaten, and the inner end of the drupes gnawed off. [178] Referred to in these pages as _kissát_, _neng_, or #T# bandage, for want of a more accurate expression. [179] For the dress used at various periods, refer to the authorities quoted in other chapters. The earliest clothing--apart from ornamental cords and string bracelets, etc., as are still used by the Andamanese--seems to have been, for the men a strip of bark cloth, and for the women a short petticoat of grass or coco-palm leaf (_ngong_). [180] The idea being that the demon who caused the death may fail to recognise the survivors. [181] M. V. Portman, _Jour. Royal Asiatic Soc._, 1888. [182] G. Hamilton, _Asiatic Researches_, vol. ii. [183] _Cf._ "Dyak dishes," in _Headhunters of Borneo_, plate 19. [184] (_a_) Of thirty individuals of the _Galathea's_ crew engaged in an exploring expedition up the Galathea River, and caught one night in a rain-storm which compelled them to remain in the forest wringing wet, no fewer than twenty-one fell ill of fever, which ultimately proved fatal in four cases.--Vide _Corvetten Galathea's Jordourseiling_, 1852. (_b_) During a stay of thirty-two days amongst the islands, the frigate _Novara_, with a crew of 320 men, had six cases of fever, but, when in the Straits of Malacca, fifteen more developed the same illness. All recovered, and those of the company who had never set foot on shore, furnished the largest contingent.--Vide _Cruise of the Novara_, 1858. (_c_) Of the five from the _Terrapin_ who ascended the Galathea River and spent a night in the interior of the island, each was down with malaria either during the voyage to, or after arrival at, Singapore. [185] Nankauri(?) [186] Dalrymple, in his _Oriental Repertory_, states, that Captain Weldon surveyed the Nicobars in 1687, and sent the survey, together with a history of the islands, by a Spanish priest to the East India Company. It does not appear to have been ever printed. [187] The parallel of 7° N. lat. bisects the island. [188] In this sentence of his description, Dampier's observations are incorrect. [189] "Larum." If they called it so, the name was probably acquired from Portuguese visitors. [190] Always greyish-white. [191] This is the true bread-fruit (_Artocarpus incisa_), which does not grow in the Nicobars, and with which the fruit of the pandanus is nominally confounded by the English-speaking natives and by several of those Europeans who have visited the Archipelago. [192] This type of house is still built. See photograph taken at Pulo Milo, p. 124. [193] Outriggers. [194] Nowadays they invariably paddle, and have no oars.