Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-11-09
Collection Sent National Museum
From Andaman Islands
PEOPLE MUCH GIVEN TO ORNAMENT
Natives Wear Decorated Skulls
About Their Necks.
GIFT OF DIR. w. L. ABBOTT

Standing IN the corners or resting on
table in one of the office rooms Of the Ma
tional Museum are about a hundred relics
Of recent journey to the Andaman ISL
ands. Even glance at them-spears with
antique barbs like the Indian arrows found
all over the United States, dingy baskets,
decorated skulls and carefully bent bows
sufflces to take ones fancy on a voyage to
the tropics. The collection is now being
catalogued. When that work is complete
and the exhibit has been placed on view
1t cannot fail to arouse decided interest in
a group OF small islands now practically
unknown to the visitors Of the museum.
The collection Is the gift Of DR.. w. L.
Abbott, distinguished American traveller
whose generosity to the National Museum
has been most pronounced. He is now at
Singapore, and sent from that point the
spears and other articles collected during
his stay in the Andaman Islands. A very
small number of similar specimens is al
ready in the exhibition cases Of the insti-
tuton-a gift from the Royal Museum Of
Florence, Italy. But the trophies sent by
DIR. Abbott are much more numerous and
OF much more manifest interest. 1t is
probable DR.. Abbott gathered all the speci-
mems sent the museum within the past
year.
Inhabitants Either SavaGes or Con-
victs.
The Andaman Islands comprise two
small groups in the eastern part of the
Bay Of Bengal, about on the same latitude
as Manila, but far separated from the Phil
ippines. The area of the islands Is about
1.760 square miles. That Of Pennsylvania
Is about 1900 square miles About 1900
persons inhabit the group, of whom about
5000 are natives. The latter represent the
lowest stage Of barbarism. They are said
to bear resemblance to none of the races
ri n eli Dhrrct aollx
they are robust vigorous and small. and in
appearance bear a close resemblance to the
negroes of Africa. They are still In state
Of sayagery. For many years the islands
have been used as penal colony for Hindu
conviots, sent thither by Great Britain.
One OF these convicts, in February, 1872,
testified to his vivid memory and resent
ment by numbering the Earl of Mayo-the
governor general Of Inoia-while the latter
was making a visit and tour OF inspection.
Port Blair the chief settlement of the
islands. Is connected with Calcutta by a
line of steamers.
From the costumes heaped on the table
In the museum 1t must be pretty warm in
the Andaman Islands. Everything worn by
mental purposes only. There are numerous
bracelets, anklets and wristbands. but
there are no clothes, and the testimony of
the museum officials is that none are to be
found among the black people of the ISL
ands. There are several photographs to be
seen In the volumes of the Smithsonian
library Of natives working boats, ENGAGED
ana OF Of pSsns for their
apparently conscious of their Eden-like
nudity.
Much Given to Ornament.
The chief item of concern to the An
daman native is manifestly the number of
circular ornaments he can fasten ON his
body. With what the b6tanist calls pam
danus" leaves, but which are known Ia