Indian Antiquary Vol 32

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 45

JANUARY, 1903.3
THE ANDAMANS IN THE XVIIITH CENTURY.
It will appear from both the Surgeons Reports, which accompany this, that it is their Opinions that there is nothing particularly noxious in the Climate of the Andamans, more than in all tropical Climates [subject] to great falls of Rain, and it is here to be observed that, as the cause of Malady in such Cases is not supposed to proceed from the Moisture of the Atmosphere but from the noxious quality of exhalations there is every reason to believe, that the situation will, in the end, become healthy, as from the nature of the surface of the ground water cannot lay an hour, after the most violent Rains.
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To an infant Settlement there are numerous convenient articles procurable at the Andamans. Altho' we have as yet discovered few or no Trees of real Value for Ship building, there is a great abundance of Timbers of material use, and sufficiently adapted to the construction of buildings, and other purposes on shore; Stones of a good kind are abundant on all the beaches, on some of the elevated grounds there is a soft and very tractable free Stone, which if it resists the Weather as we have reason to believe it will, becomes an Article of great Utility and Consequence.
Good Lime is to be burnt in any Quantity from White Coral that all the Shores are covered with. The Bamboo, of such general use in India, is in the greatest plenty, and of a good kind. We have therefore under our hands all materials both for permanent and temporary Buildings - Glass excepted; and as a substitute for thatching we have been obliged to make use of the leaves of the Ground Battan, which for a little while answers indifferently well, but they are not lasting and are procured with a great deal of trouble, with respect to other natured productions, which may contribute eventually to the public benefit time alone, and not a small period of it can satisfy us; as the clearing a space of ground for pasture, or the raising of Grain, Sugar, or Indigo, or any other Article of Cultivation that the Soil and climate may be found fit for, has been found from the experience we have had in clearing the small piece we occupy, a Work of the greatest labour from the enormous size of the Trees many of them being from 15 to 20 feet in circumference.
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It is to be observed also that not a single spot of the whole Andamans, has yet been discovered that is not covered nearly in this manner, to the very brink of the Sea, which seems to prove the excellence of the Soil and the powerful vegetation derived doubtless from the heat, and great Moisture of the Climate, and indeed, on the small spot we have cleared, we have found all the variety of Fruit Trees, carried from Bengal. The Culinary Vegetables, and some small experiments of Sugar Cane, Indigo, Rice and other grains, thrive wonderfully well.
Or the Natives it is not necessary to say much, as their Existence, or non-existence can have very little influence on the plan in question. Never yet, in any part of the Globe, has the human race, been discovered in a more degraded or Savage state. They are Negroes of a very diminutive stature, knowing or practising none of the Arts of civilized Life, ranging, in a naked state along the Sea Shore, from whence they seem principally to derive their subsistance in gathering Shell fish, from the extensive reefs, that the whole Coasts are bound with, or shooting fish with Bow and Arrow at which they are very expert. They have also recourse to wild Fruits and roots; and from the Sculls and bones of wild Hogs, which they paint and carefully preserve in their wretched hovels, they must now and then entrap that animal, of which there are many, and with a species of wild bat, are the only four footed Animals we have discovered on the Islands.
As it has heretofore been generally believed that they are Cannibals, it is only here necessary to say that, although we have not had any proof against it; yet many circumstances have occurred to make us imagine that it is not the case, but we have had repeated proofs that they are most hostile to all strangers, never failing to lay wait for, and attack the Crew of any boats, that may land, which they think they can Master, and there can be little doubt that the unfortunate crews of many Vessels, that must have been wrecked on these Islands, have perished by their savage hands, for it is singular enough that no instance is known of any person escaping from such a situation.