The Sun.
London, England, 1863-06-12 00:00:00

Adventures and Researches Among the Andaman

Islanders. By Dr. Moult. Hurst and Biuckett.

1.1 n.: Andaman Islands, situated in the Bay of
Bengal, are little known even by name in this
country, and their inhabitants hold about the very
lowest rank among the diversified races of the
human family. Nevertheless, Dr, Meuat's book o❑
this unpromising theme is full of interest, and we
doubt not that many who open its pages will, like
ourselves, be surprised to find its contents so gene-
rally attractive. In the course of the year 1857,
immediately after the Indian mutiny. Dr. Monet,
then in Calcutta, was summoned to join ark expedi-
tion to the Andaman Islands, in order to examine
" how far they were adapted for the establishment
of a convict station, and to select a suitable site for
such a settlement"—his colleagues being Dr.
George Playfair, of the Royal Army, and
Lieutenant J. A. 7.-lea.thcote, of the Indian Navy.
"My last evening in Calcutta," writes Dr. Monet,
was spent in the society of the Governor-General
and his kind-hearted and accomplished lady. Alas !
it is only a few years since, and they are now both
no more ! To my certain knowledge they are both
mourned throughout our Eastern Empire with a
depth and intensity of sorrow, with feelings of such,
deep personal regret as are seldom felt for those
who have occupied a station so exalicd," We must
transcribe the following beautiful and evidently
heartfelt tribute to Lady Canning:—

"I can scarcely trust myself to speak of the lamented
Countess Canning. Her popularity in India was, as it
deserved to be, unbounded. Every one who has ever had
en opportunity of coming in any way in contact with her
can only have words of praise to bestow in speaking of her
personal character. All were immediately attracted by the
matchless grace and elegance of her manner, and the kind-
ness beaming in her eye at once won the homage of every
heart. Not only did she possess the lighter accomplish-
meats that enhance the beauty and dignity of the female
character, but she hal evidently applied herself with no
little, zeal and diligence to severer studies, and had amassed
much of that useful knowledge which strengthens and
elevates the mind. Every one who was admitted into her
presence she received with the most refined courtesy ; and
none could converse with her long without perceiving
that all the other excellencies of her mind and heart
were enhanced by that Christian grace which is the
crowning beauty of an elevated female character. The
virtues she manifested in her intercourse with society
were evidently not assumed, as mere means of attraction in
the circle in which she moved; but were the natural out-
growth of her character, the root of all that was beautiful
in her life and intercourse being within. Never will the
memory of her inexpressible sweetness of disposition fade
from the memory of those whose misfortune she endea-
voured to alleviate, and the smile with which she showed
her sympathy in the happiness of the more fortunate is im-
pressed indelibly on their hearts. No doubt, like all
human creatures, she had her weaknesses, but she knew
how to conceal, to overcome, or extirpate them. Never
did her innate kindness more delight in alleviating the
sorrows of the unfortunate than during that fearful mutiny
which overwhelmed so many once happy and prosperous
families with unexp-cted calamiti s. The sympathies of
her noble nature were a source of joy and comfort to all
during that period e f trial and probation, and in many a
grateful hea. t is the recollection of her unwearied goodness
cherished with a devotion equal to that with which the
pious Catholic regards the patron saint whom he believes
to be his constant gu,rd and guide amidst all the
temptation, sin, and sorrow through which he must pass on
his way to a better and higher life."
At the close of the volume, Dr. Mouat again re-
turns to Government House, bringing with him an
object of universal curiosity—a real live Andaman
—who, dressed in unaccustomed clothes, is pre-
sented to Lord and Lady Canning. "Most of the
time Jack spent in their presence, he was
greatly absorbed in self-admiration. Ob
serving his figure at full length in the
large pier glasses with wnich the apartment
was adorned, he stationed himself before one and,
regarding his own image with undisguised satis-
faction, I e continued grinning at himself with a
leer expressive of the utmost self-admiration, con-
s!antly repeating with a strange chuckle, " Jack !
Jack !" and then bursting out, in violation of all
good manners, into an irrepressible fit of laughter,
in which we found it difficult to prevent ourselves
joining."
tractable than thening."jacprov majorityes,
however, more teachable
of his tribe, but his
health suffers from the confinement and the climate,
and he is obliged to return to his native town. He
is put on shore and left there, divested of his costume
in order that he may be received back by his savage
brethren, who are singularly rude and inhospitable.
Speaking of the Andaman Islands, Dr. Mouat ob-
serves that they form "an almost invisible dot on
the map of the world, the civilisation both of the
East and of the West has passed them by
without in any way affecting the condition of their
inhabitants. In these islands man is probably still
in the same condition in which he was when they
were first settled."

"Their inhabitants acknowledge no law to restrain and
guide them in life. Not only have they no knowledge of a
supremo Being, but they are even destitute of such a rude
system of religious faith as is generally found even amongst
men in the most savage state. Their language is harsh
and disagreeable, in an imperfect state of development,
barely sufficient for the expression of their few
and simple wants. Totally ignorant of agriculture,
they have no means of making provision for the future, and
must be satisfied with such fruits and herbs as the earth
spontaneously produces, or with the shell-fish they pick up
on the shore."
Thanks to Dr. Mouat's explanatior s, we become to
a certain extent acquainted with the manners of
this uncultivated people, and we find, in addition,
in the pages of this volume a variety of anecdotes
atd details on matters of general interest. For

example, here is a description of some of the men
engaged in the Expedition :

" Many of them were mild adventurous seamen, who had
led roving and unsettled lives in all parts of the globe.
Excitement and danger were the elements of the atmosphere
in which they lived ; and as they were utterly reckless of
their lives and persons, it was with difficulty they could be
induced to exercise even ordinary caution when they were
threatened with the most imminent perils. The officer who
commanded them was a man according to their own hearts;
he was the most daring of their number, and always in
front when there was the least chance of an encounter of any
kind. His life had been a very adventurous one, and the ex-
perience of danger had not taught him to fear or avoil it.
He was on board the Prince, at Balaclava, in that terrible
storm of November which so soon followed the battle of
Inkerman, and was the role survivor of that lamentable
calamity. When the unfortunate vessel went down, he was
washed by the- tempestuous sea on to a ledge of rock, from
which perilous position he was with great difficulty rescued
by means of ropes let down from the.overhaming heights
Such was the spirit of adventure by which this fearless
man was animated, one might well imagine that on that
night of dark and ominous memory he had imbibed the-
very spirit of the Black Sea tempest."
Fte "Matrimonial Parade" describes a very original
scene, and'' David's Venture" in selection of a wife
is a❑ episode of much interest, but our extracts have
already extended so far that we must take leave of
Dr. Mouat's pleasant pagee.

FINE ARTS.

The Lords Prayer, Inustratcd by Lorenz Frolich

Trubner.

A series of etchings upon the Lord's Prayer,
every eentence being the text for an illustration.
Some of these illustrations are singularly happy,
and th© idea of the work is likely to render it
popular. To say that the actual pictures come verb
far short of the ideal, conjured up by that sublime
prayer, and familiar to us all from infancy is only
to express what is, perhaps, inevitable. Nothing
less than an inspired pencil could do justice to
such a theme. In the first page, the Saviour
looking up to His Father and ours, is teaching
his followers to address the Almighty by that
tender appellation, which is at once the token of
our adoption and the bond of our common brother-
hood—" Our Father." The readers of " Bleak
House " will remember the touching description
of the death of poor neglected Jo. There, on his
death-bed, for the first and last time, he learns to
pray, and only those two words come to his dying
lip—. Our Father—it sounds very good—it does,"
says the dying boy—" Our Father!' " Give us
this day our daily bread," is one of the happiest
of the artist's sketches. The scene is a corn field,
and there in the midst of the harvest given by God
—a peasant is dividing a loaf of bread among his
children. A charming group, suggestive of peace
and plenty, while from above beams down the
benign face of the Divine Giver of all good gifts.
"Lead us not into Temptation" depicts the strug-
gling Christian clinging to the rock, while the
sirens and the tempters allure him to the waters
of destruction, and is very effectively pourtrayed.
The work is dedicated to the Princess of Wales.

LAW INTELLIGENCE---This Day,

(Before Mr. Potter and a Common Jury.)

FRED. LILLYWHITE AND HIS LITTLE BILL WITH MR.
VAN HARE-LILLYWHITE V. VAN HARE.

This was a writ of inquiry sent down from one of the
superior courts to assess the damages sustained by plaintiff
in consequence of defendant not meeting a certain bill.
Mr. Frederick Kent, of Cannon-street West, for the
plaintiff, said—My client is the celebrated cricketer, and
defendant is manager of the horses at Cremorne Gardens.
My client, for the accommodation of Mr. Van Hare, accepted
a bill of exchange for £25. Plaintiff had none of the money,
and he very naturally expected that defendant would pro-
vide for•the bill at maturity. Mr. Van Hare, however, did
not think proper to take up his little bill, and of course the
holder applied to plaintiff. He found the money, and paid
the dishonoured acceptance, but was compelled to put ouc a
second bill of £27 Is, as he borrowed money to pay the first.
The plaintiff felt that he had not been fairly treated by his
friend, and sued upon the £25 bill. Defendant had suffered
judgment to go by default, and plaintiff now sought com-
pensation for the trouble and expenses to which he had
been put.
Mr. Lillywhite was called and said I accepted the £25
bill to oblige Van Hare. It was in the nature of a loan
from me When he did not pay the bankers served me
with notice of dishonour, and they gave me from Saturday
till Monday to take it up. With Mr. Watling's assistance
I succeeded in doing so, and then I borrowed £25 to put all
straight. I paid £2O 2s. for the loan, and I claim the last.
item. The jury will assess the damages as the actual loss
sustained, not taking into consideration-the incidental ex-
penses.
The jury awarded plaintiff £27 Is. damages.