American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1826-07-18


nadrepores murex. and cowries. One OF the most
curious Of their fish is the hy shooter, or beakeo
che.,odon which knocks down its prey by cautious
IL .evcliing drop of water from It's tubular snout
like bali from a musket. NJ, Homme', the GOV
efnor OF the hospital Batavia, witnessed TINS slngu
lar operation. The British government establish
ed settlement here about the year lI9l, Tor con
ycts from India, but it was abandoned on account
of its unhealthiuess. and Pulo Penang was fixed on
,,r ihe ourpose The weapons OF the Andamans
are bows made OF bamboo, arrows headed with hsh
hone sDears made of heavy wood, well pointed,
and shields composed Of hard bark. They salute
each other by lifting leg, and striking the thigh
smartly with one hand. Their capoes are made out
of the trunks of trees, and often without any other
aid than sharp flint and fire. In their language, they
are distinct from all the Indians They worship
the sun and moon, and chaunt wild ohoruses, to ap'
pease the spirits OF the winds and waves. The
Danish missionaries Of Nicobar, though resident
near them SO long, have never been able to make
any Impression on these savages who threaten to
destroy all strangers and who, beyond all doubt have
heen in the habi, Of eating their enemies.
In the numerous islands which called the Nj
cobars the natives different race OF oriental
nsgroes whose color is OF copper hue their eyes
ave small their noses flat, aud their lips thick, but
their hair is long and black They shave their eye.
bows blacken their teeth, and laten the backs OF
tlie;r heads. by compression OF the occiput while
hey are infants. They have made considerable
advances IN guilty alton aud civilization. Their ex
ports and imports are similar to those OF the other
islanders in the Indian seas They live in villages.
composed OF from 10 to 20 hu.s under patrlsrchal
government so simple that it resembles family
compact Their principal TODD is the melloi bread,
cocoa nuts, and vans. narrow piece Of cloth is
wouod round the vast, and passed between the legs,
as in India but here, the end OF it hangs down be
hind like tall hence the assertion which the Swe
dish navigator Hoping made. and Lord Monboddo
brhevej that there were men who had tails. heir
notions Of religion are confused. and their priests
sorcerers who make hideous gtimaces, while they
exercise evil spirits, and cure diseases Their Ian
susee is mere jargon, almost uninteliglbIe. The
Danes came hither in $50, aud The missionaries II
that nation continued their unsuccessful exertions
until 1887, when the settlement was abandoned, al
ter having proved the grave OF nearly all the Euro
peans that resided On Nsncowry.
fince oil Waies's Island is computed to contain
lGO ,qusre miles. Captain Franci. Light, belong
ing 10 country ship, received this island in 1875
ss marriage potion, with the King Of Queda' S
daughter. He transferred i. TO the East India Com
pany, aud made governor, which Office he re
isined until his deah, in l794. The name at Pulo
Penang which the Island bore, was changed TO that
by which IL is now known. and the new settlement
was called George Town. There is fine and
secure harbor heie for ships at all seasons. The
Island itself exhibits diversity OF hill and dale
of The mountains rise 10 the height OF $500 eet
above the sea ard so great is the quantity Of rain
wheh falls, that, With the exception OF the months
Of January and February rain may be expected
every day in he year. Cooled by hne sea breeze
the Thermometer seldom ranges above co. and is
sometimes as low as IS. When the island came
nto The h4nds Of the company, it was covered with
an immense forest, the trees Of which were large
enough Tor The lower mast OF "a gun ship. Only
few fishermen occupied small part OF the coast
but now The population exceeds $4,000, including
Blush, Americans, Dutch, Portuguese Arabs, Par
sees, Chinese, Malays, Buggcsses Chuas, Bir
mans, Siamese, Javanese, Bengsesc, and all descip
tons Of Indians. There is large for, well suppl
ed with cannon.
Fine roads have been made for several mile:
round the town, and many bridges constructed BY
the conycts and company's ariHcers Some Of tn,
forests have been cleared away and the markets
we'll supplied with the necessarles and Injuries o
life the various fruits and vegetables of Asia and Eu
rope having been introduced with success as ell a
many curious productions which enrich the cnlo
nsts: the soil itself being hne rich black mould
produced from the vepe table putrcaetion Of ages
II is unnecessary 10 enumerate the various produc
lions of this island. One described the mos
singular, is the American gum vine, called caout
chour, or ureeola eastca, which abounds here.
creep. along the ground to great length. an
sends out roots from its various points, the trur
being about the thickness OF a mans arm aite
which it mounts high tree and expands lis branch
es, cnging 10 every support. A vast quantity
milky juice is procured by wounding the bark, c
cutting the vine in pieces aud this huld in i
chemical properties, nearly resembles animal mill
This production, thus minutely described, is CON
mon in our forests. 1t is anticipated by Walac
that this island will become settlement OF might
consequence, and the seat Of unveral commerc
il has great trade with China and all the stap
Of Europe and India fiud market here 1t is r.
presented as being, in fact, what Ormus was in 70
mer times, great bazaar resorted to by all nation
and nnl ...la i...I.