. Their habit is, I have
heard, to lie in hiding, and to shoot their arrows at any stranger
who may land."

They sat chatting, for an hour, after the meal was concluded. Then
the conversation flagged, and Fairclough said, presently:

"I think that we may as well follow the men's example, and turn in.
I can hardly keep my eyes open."

The gale was still blowing strongly, in the morning, though its
force had somewhat abated. But inside the bar there was but a
slight swell, and the brig rode easily at her anchors; for the wind
was now several points west of north, and they were consequently
protected by the land.

The work of repairing damages began at once for, owing to the
length of the voyage, the stores of provisions and water were
beginning to run very short. Two or three buffaloes had been
bought, at the village where Harry had landed but, with the
exception of some fruit, and the meat sent off by the tumangong, no
other fresh food had been obtained, since they sailed from
Calcutta. The boat was turned over and launched; and the work of
making a new fore-top mast, and overhauling the rigging, proceeded
with.

During the day, several of the natives were observed at the edge of
the forest by Harry who, having no special work to do, had been
asked by Fairclough to keep his eye on the shore, and to ascertain
whether they were being watched; as he intended, when the repairs
were finished, to see if any spring of fresh water existed in the
neighbourhood. He therefore kept a telescope directed on the shore
and, soon after daybreak, made out two little men at the edge of
the trees.

The natives of the Andaman Islands are among the lowest types of
humanity known. Their stature does not exceed five feet and, with
their slender limbs and large heads, their appearance is almost
that of a deformed people. They use no clothing whatever,
plastering their bodies with clay, or mud, to protect the skin from
the sun's rays. Animals are scarce on the islands, and the people
live chiefly on fish. They carry bows and arrows, and heavy spears;
to which, in most cases, are added shields. They inhabit
roughly-made arbours, and seldom remain long at any spot; moving
about in small communities, according to the abundance or scarcity
of food. They use no cooking utensils, and simply prepare their
food by placing it on burning embers.

The men first made out soon disappeared but, later on, Harry could
see that there were many of them