NICOBARS. 297 together rather by natural obligations continually conferred and received. Agriculture is quite unknown on the Nicobars. The soil is nowhere cultivated, though many valley's inight be rendeicd fertile with a liule trouble. A few plantains, sweet times, yams, and other vegetables for local consumption are, however, raised. At Nancowry sufficient fruit and vegetables are grown for local wants, and experiments have been made in the cultivation of cotton and other tropical produce. At present the principal product of these islands is the cocon-nut palm, and its ripe nuts form the chief export. Edible birds' nests, tortoiseshell, ambergris, and trepang (the sea-slug), are also shipped. The northern islands are said to yield annually ten million cocoa-nuts, of which about one-half are exported. The estimated number cxported in 1881-82 was 1,570,000. As this important product is six times cheaper here than on the coast of Bengal or in the Straits of Malacca, the number of English and Malay vessels that come to the Nicobars for cocoa-nuts is every year increasing. In barter, they give black, blue, and red cloths, handkerchiefs, cutlasses, Burmese diios, spoons, spirits, tobacco, red woollen caps, old clothes, and black hats. The tracle in cocoa-nuts is carried on chiefly by native craft from Burina, the Straits Settlements, Ceylon, etc. Forty vessels, of an aggregate tonnage of 6276 tons, visited the islands for cocoa-nuts in 1881–82. The nuts are still obtained by barter. The importation of arms, ammunition, and spirits is prohibited. History. The first attempt at the colonization of the Nicobars was made by the Danes in the middle of the last century, but the little colony was soon swept away by fever. Still, notwithstanding other unsuccessful attempts, the interest taken in these islands did not abate ; and in 1846, the Danish flag was hoisted at Nancowry, in the nane of Christian vill., King of Denmark. On the death of the king in 1858, the Danish Government, considering the course of political events at home, gave up the claim of possession. The report of an attack on an English vessel, and murder of the crew, in 1848, caused the British authorities in India to inquire into the truth of this information; and as there was every reason to believe in the story related by the survivors, it was thought advisable to bring the island under our authority, so that steps inight be taken to check the piratical practices of the islanders. In 1869, the Nicobars were annexed by Her Majesty's Indian Government, and were placed for administration under the Superintendent of the Andaman Islands. In 1872, the Nicobars were included in the Chief Commissionership of the Andaman and Nicobars, and in 1876 a regulation for the peace and government of these islands was passed, which is still in force. In 1877, the harbour of Nancowry was declared a port under the Indian Ports Ict; and in
