This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1863 edition. Excerpt: ... 116 A band of natives. discover what our naked eyes had not yet remarked, another group of savages on a sandy part of the beach. A canoe was observed at a short distance from them, lying, as it appeared to us, high and dry upon the shore. When we first perceived this band of natives from the steamer, we had slackened our speed so much as scarcely to move at all. Our object in this was not only to have a leisurely opportunity for examining them, but also that they might not be disturbed by the noise of the steam and paddles, which fortunately had not yet attracted their attention. We next determined to approach considerably nearer to the shore, probably within a few hundred yards, and to drop anchor at a convenient place and depth. An object so large and prominent as the steamer, accompanied in its progress by the loud noise of the engines and the constant plash of the paddle wheels, could not long escape observation; and, of course, we had no wish it should, but the reverse. As we drew towards the reef already mentioned, the native party stationed on it were observed all at once to make a sudden start, and to stand transfixed with unspeakable astonishment and awe. It is not too much to say that they seemed to be completely paralysed by our sudden appearance on their coast. If we had dropped from the clouds, or risen from the sea, their wonder and admiration could not have been more excessive. They appeared all at once to have been struck dumb--their wondering gaze fixed in one direction, and on one sole object. What was it? what was in it? what was to theik surprise and agitation. 117 come out of it? and how was it to affect them?--were thoughts that no doubt simultaneously occurred to their agitated minds at the sight of this puffing, ..

Excerpt from Adventures and Researches Among the Andaman Islanders The Saddle Mountain is situated to the southward of Port Cornwallis, at the distance of a few miles. It rises to a considerable height, and forms the highest point to be seen in the whole group, its elevation being about feet. On a favourable day, when the atmosphere is clear and cloudless, it is visible to the practised eye of the mariner at a distance of twenty leagues from the land. The middle division, known as the Middle Andaman, is separated from the northern portion of the island by a narrow strait. It is somewhat larger than the latter, extending in length to fifty miles, and being fifteen miles in width. The narrow strait is quite innavigable, and on examining it we found that, at a distance of six miles from its eastern outlet, it became a mere mud marsh at low water. At its north-western extremity, on the other hand, it was ascertained that it opened into a fine broad expanse, forming an excellent and capacious harbour, with secure anchorage for ships, at the extremity of which is Interview Island, one of the largest detached islets of the whole group. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.