Indian Antiquary Vol 59

SR No.: 032551
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1986
Total Pages: 380
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 16 MB

Page 281

FEBRUARY, 19301
REMARKS ON TIE ANDAMAN ISLANDERS AND TIIEIR COUNTRY 57
We saw no footprints of Járawas while going west. They, I think, chiefly use the beds of the streams as thoroughfaros and do not as a rule go straight across country; though they would cross some ridges to go from one stream to another. Near the place where we camped on the night of the 30th, we found a prickly cine cut with a dah, which showed that the Jårawas had been up that stream some time. I never saw the sea on the West Coast, nor do I exactly know how far across the island I reached, but think that I must have crossel about half-way, and that with five days' provisions it would be possible to cross and recross the island near Jatång, if you go duo went through and over everything and duo east back again. I noticed some padouk trees near Játång beyond where the working for London squares had gone.
After we had passed the first large stream running south, I saw no padouk. The forest seemed to be very poor, to contain but few large trees, and to be composed chiefly of small poles or trees and a dense matted undergrowth of canes, creepers and creeping bamboos, which made it very difficult to force one's way through it and formed an efficient screen against the sun. The map does not accurately represent the nature of the interior of the island. There must be nearly 20 ridges to be crossed in going from Jatang to Ike Bay. Most of these are not very high, probably not more than 300 to 500 feet, while some of them are as much as 800 to 1,000 feet I think. The consequence of my having taken the Anda. manese straight up and down all the ridges going north and south was that they told me, when I had decided to turn back, so as to reach Jatang while our provisions lasted, that they were absolutely unable to take me back to Jatang. So I had to guide the party across the island myself by means of a compass which I carried with me and was much relieved when the Andamanese recognised (at 3-30 P.M.) what they thought was Játång Hill and Duratang, as I then knew that we should reach Jåtång some time the next day.
The party I took with me consisted of 8 Policemen, 1 Orderly, 10 Andamanese and their pahrdwala (Indian guard], 4 convicts as coolies, and an office peon and one of my mallahy [boatmen). We took a blanket each and rations and nothing else and slept out in the open near water. We camped on the second night in an old Járawa camp and left marks in the recent shooting camp we found that we had been there and took away the two pig skulls found there.
So far as ascertaining where the encampments of the Jarawas near Port Meadows and Jatang lay is concerned, the expedition has been a failure, and as I failed to reach the West Coast I have been unable to locate their encampments between Port Campbell and Ike Bay. But the expedition has been useful in giving me an idea of what the interior of the island is like, which will be most useful in helping to determine the alignment of the path from Jåtang to Ike Bay.
I aocompanied Mr. Vaux back to the Belle on the 1st February, and went with him and Mr. Bonig and returned to Port Blair with them on the 4th instant. I took photographs of the exterior and interior of the Jårawa hut, which have turned out well. (c) Extracts from the Diary of Mr. C. J. Rogers of his exploration into the interior of the South
Andaman, west of Jatang, during the 30th and 31st January and 1st February 1902.
30th January 1902.---Left camp at 7 A.M. Went north and north-west/for 30 minutes and north with little west for 20 minutes, first through the forest and then following a stream. First halt for a few minutes at 8-10 A.M. Then followed a winding stream flowing generally north : at 8-25 A.M. came across a pole which had been cut with a dah or axe and fror yhich arrows had been made. At 8-30 A.M. came across some footprints of Jarawak in sînall stream running west. At 8-45 A.M. found a recent Járawa encampment on a ridge, There were eight fireplaces in it. The charred ends of the wood and the ashes showed it
The Jerawas probably slept here on the night of the 10th January, previous to their raid on the 11th at Ját Ang