ANDAMAN ISLANDS.

Colonist, Volume V, Issue 465, 8 April 1862, Page 3

ANDAMAN ISLANDS.

Dr. Mouat, of the Bengal army, F.R.G.S., read, at a late meeting of the Geographical Society, in London, a paper, entitled • Narrative of an Expedition to the Adaman Islands in 1857.' The object of the expedition was to select a suitable site for a convict settlement, as well as harbors of refuge for shipwrecked mariners, who were invariably murdered by the savages when cast away on their inhospitable shores. A brief history of all that was known regarding the islands prior to 1857 was given. The narrative then detailed the examination of the eastern and western shores, and particularised the chief geographical and hydrographical features of the islands—the magnificence of the land-locked harbors and remarkable luxuriance of the vegetation, being chiefly dwelt upon. A brief account was also given of a visit to the singular volcano at Barren Island ; and some errors regarding it as contained in works on geology were corrected. The paper was concluded by a detailed account of the aborigines of the island, their manners and customs, their dwellings, canoes, means of offence and defence, ceremonies, mode of disposing of the dead, and various other particulars of interest regarding them. They were shown not to be cannibals, and, although implacably hostile to all strangers, to be humane, sociable, and kindly disposed towards each other in their intercourse with their own people. It was mentioned incidentally that three pr four of them were now in Burmah, who were being educated, with a view to become the medium of future communication with their countrymen, and the hope was expressed that they might thus be rescued from their present state of degradation and barbarism.

Professor Owen observed, that having had the pleasure of examining the bones of a skeleton of an inhabitant of the Andaman Islands, he should say that he never saw any of those characteristics indicating the healthy exercise of the human frame so strongly marked as in the bones of these

bttle •ueo.. whose aveiage height was about four feet nine or ten inches, "lie then detailed the results of his examinalioa of the skeleton, and remarked that there were no indications of their being allied either to the African negro, or to the Papuans, or any Asiatic nation; but that they might be the representatives of an old race inhabiting soma large continent in those regions which had disappeared, owing to the geographical changes which had atiseu in consequence of some great volcanic eruptions. He concluded by stating that there were no signs of affinity to any lower form of the animal kingdom, they being a bold, witty, and active people; and that their frame showed how admirable our human form was adapted for mastery over the earth, in whatever sphere the human species was placed.

A Portrait. — Always suspect a man who affects great softness of manners, an unruffled evenness of temper, and an enunciation studied, slow, and "deliberate. These things are all unnatural, and bespeak a degree of mental discipline into which he that has no purposes ol craft or design to answer, cannot submit to drill himself. :he most successful knaves are usually of this description, as smooth as razors dipped iv oil, and as sharp. They affect the innocence of the dove, which they have not, in order to hide the cunning of the serpent, which they have.-—Colton.

Rattlesnake.—The Petersburg Express publishes the following case of the cure of a bite of a rattlesnake in two hours.—A carpenter, while engaged in pulling down an old house, was bitten by a rattlesnake. In a few moments his finger was swollen to four times its natural size, and a red streak commenced running up his hand and wrist. A deadly languor came upon him, and his vision grew dim, clearly indicating that tha subtle poison was rapidly approaching the citadel of life. A remedy was tried: salt, onions, and tobacco, equal parts, made into a poultice; and at the same time a cord was bound tightly about the wrist, la two hours afterwards he was able to resume his work. The bite of a mad dog was cured by the same means.

Free Selection. — The Clarence and Richmond Independent says :—The banks of the Clarence show conspicuously the advantage of the late free selection purchases. The little steamer Ulmarra went down the river on Tuesday laden with bricks, battens, and shingles, lor building purposes on. Woodford Island. Four farms are being cleared on the opposite side of the Elbow. 100 acres have been taken up by a Presbyterian clergyman (at present residing at Lawrence) at Farmer's Island, and en many other portions of land. The cleared space indicate the earnestness with which the new purchasers are advancing their interests, and giving indications of future welfare and prosperity to the district. A large number of white ash staves have been recently made at the elbow by Mr. Stewart. Although the taking up of lands will probably interfere with this branch of trade, there is a very considerable demand both in the district and Sydney market, for the staves of the white ash. Mr. Brice, at the Elbow, has a large quantity of the ironbark tree cut and squared on the beach ready for shipment, intended for the new Circular Wharf, at Woolloomooloo, and we have no doubt there will ba in the course of another twelvemonths full occupation for a second steamer. The hand of industry seems everywhere extended, and the Clarence will soon present a new feature; the vine, the orange, banana, and other fruits will supplant the picturesque scrub, and all the luxuries of the northern climates will be in great abundance.

Tobacco and Tobacco-Smoking.—ln a recent sitting of the Societe Libre d'Emulation dv Commerce et de I'lndustrie de la Seine-Inferieure, at Rouen, Dr. Dumesnil read a paper against smoking tobacco, in the course of which he said:—' The custom of smoking is spreading in all the world. The tobacco producing countries of Europe have great difficulty in providing for local wants. In America the consumption augments more rapidly than the production. According ttf English statistics the quantity of tobacco consumed in the New World annually is in weight equal to that of the bread which is eaten by 10,000,000 English. England, which does not produce tobacco, yearly consumes 15,000,000 kilos of that plant from America, and in the last ten years her consumption has increased one fourth. In Hamburg, the population of which is only 150,000, as many as 40,000 cigars are consumed per day. In Denmark, the annual average consumption is two kilos per head for the whole population. In Holland the proportion is still higher. In Austria the cultivation occupies 100,000 acres. In 1854 the consumption in the whole world amounted to 253,000,000 kilos, which was 250 grammes (nearly 9 ozs.) for each person. Calculating that tobacco contains on an average three per cent of nicotine, it will appear that there are annually consumed in the globe 7,590,000 kilos of that poison of which a few drops suffice to occasion death.