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Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 19, p. 82.

82 1VICOBARS seen, and by cutting short the month to suit the moon. In talking with the Nicobarese, it has always to be borne in mind that they never reckon by the year, but always by the monsoon or half-year. All distant communications are by water; but on Car Nicobar good clear paths lead from village to village, and this is true to some extent Communications. Chowra, Teressa, and Katchall. The sea distances . have made the people expert in the feeling of direc- tion, and, as among other Far-Eastern people, the points of the compass are thoroughly understood and constantly in mind. A Nicobarese always knows intuitively the direction north, south, east, or west of any object, action, condition, or movement at any time, and constantly so describes position in his speech. Necessity has also compelled the Nicobarese to study the stars and winds to a limited extent. Their astronomical knowledge is strictly limited to actual requirements, while sailing or paddling at night in calm weather, and at neap tides from one island to another. Voyages are then made partly at night under star guidance, but steering by the stars is the old men's work. Young men fight shy of it, for fear of such uncanny knowledge shortening their lives or ageing them unduly. The study and knowledge of the winds is also strictly practical. The terms for the winds have no connexion whatever with the points of the compass, but relate generally to the territorial direction of the wind which will help canoes from one island to another. Internal affairs are regulated only by the village, each of which has a chief, often hereditary, and recognized elders. In the chief is vested Administration. the land, but he cannot interfere with ownership of houses and products, without the consent of the elders. Beyond a certain respect paid to him, and a sort of right to unlimited toddy from his villagers, the chief has not much power or influence, except what may happen to be due to his personality. The maintenance of the chiefs or 'captains' has been encouraged steadily by all the foreign suzerains for their own political convenience. The cus- tom was started by the Portuguese in the seventeenth century, and has been carried on by the Danes, Austrians, and British in succession. In the eyes of the people a man so appointed by the foreign suzerain, unless a chief or elder naturally, is looked upon merely as an inter- preter for communication with the suzerain, without any social standing or power. Other persons, besides the chief and the elders, who have acquired a certain political power are the witch-finders and sorcerers (menluana). Government is, in fact, simple democracy bound by cus- tom. Property is everywhere safe. In Car Nicobar, where the villages are much the largest, the government and the land seem to be vested in the chief (mdtakkolo) and three hereditary elders (yomtundal), who rule everything in council. All the village land is held from the council of