Towards the end of the 18th century the British rulers of India were looking for a suitable side where they could set up a penal settlement or colony for convicts, found guilty of most heinous offences by judges of the continent of India. The suitability of Aridaman Islands for the purpose was left to the discretion of two outstanding explorers-Captain Blair, one of the early hydrographers of the East India Company and Col. Colebrook, the then Surveyor General of India. On their recommendation the first settlement was set up in the Andamans at Port Blair. This however was abolished in 1796. In the yer 1857, the then Governor 'General, lord Canning (in history known as Clemency Canning) ordered a fresh expedition to the Andamans under his close friend, Frederic J. mouat, Inspector of Indian Jails, who is the author of this Volume. The author set sail for the Island in a large steamer Pluto, a ship of Royal Navy, accompanied by a completed by a complement of officers, a large native crew and twelve Europeans; duly equipped with sufficient provisions and armaments. Mr. Mouat made a most detailed survey of the entire group of Islands and came to the ultimate conclusion that Port Blair, was the only appropriate place for an ideal convict settlement. A New land-locked harbour, which was later christened by Lord Canning as Port Mouat , was discovered by the author. The author has left a most interesting account of the aboriginal inhabitants of these Islands which is unrivalled as one of the most authentic books ever written on the Andaman Island and their natives.
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