Book Title: Indian Antiquary Vol 58
Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications
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NOVEMBER, 1929] REMARKS ON THE ANDAMAN ISLANDERS AND THEIR COUNTRY
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The Andamanese are naturally far sighted, and any near sight observed will be found to be due to leucoma or other disease. In respect to sight, however, they are not more highly gifted than civilized mankind. The colour sense is hardly developed at all and they are what would be called in Europe colour-blind to most colours. Black, white and red are distinguish. ed, but green and blue are not. This is due apparently to want of observation only, as they distinguish between white paint and the white European skin. A good deal of blindness was caused by imported epidemic ophthalmis in 1877. Hoaring is not abnormally acute, but is highly trained in matters pertaining to jungle craft. Touch seems to be undeveloped. The sense of smell is highly developed in matters necessary to their oxistence, but they have no appreciation of artificial scent or of that of flowers which do not denote food, nor can they distinguish by smell that which they cannot see unless it be an object of food. Taste is strongly developed as to honey, distinguishing that deposited from different flowers. They care nothing for scenery and do not decorate themselves with flowers.
In childhood the Andamanese are possessed of a bright intelligence, which, however, soon reaches its climax, and the adult may be compared in this respect with the civilised chila of ten or twelve. He has never had any sort of agriculture, nor until the English taught him the use of dogs did he ever domesticate any kind of animal or bird, nor did he teach himself to turn turtle or to use hook and line in fishing. He cannot count and all his ideas are hazy, inaccu. rate and ill-defined. He has never developed unaided any idea of drawing or making a tally or record for any purpose, but he readily understands a sketch or plan when shown him. He soon becomes mentally tired and is apt to break down physically under mental training.
He retains throughout life the main characteristics of the child : of very short but strong memory; suspicious of, but hospitable to, strangers, ungrateful ;imitative and watchful of his companions and neighbours; vain and under the spur of vanity industrious and persevering; teachable up to a quickly reached limit;fond of undefined games and practical jokes ; too happy and careless to be affected in temperament by his superstitions; too careless indeed to store water even for a voyage ; plucky but not courageous; reckless only from ignorance or inappre. ciation of danger; selfish but not without generosity, chivalry or a sense of honour; petulant, hasty of temper, entirely irresponsible and childish in action in his wrath and equally quick to forget; affectionate, lively in his movements and exceedingly taking in his moments of good temper. At these times the Andamanese are gentle and pleasant to each other, considerate to the aged, the weakly or the helpless and to captives, kind to their wives and proud of their children, whom they often over-pet ; but when angered, cruel, jealous, treacherous and vin. diotive ; and always unstable. They are bright and merry companions, talkative, inquisitive and restless; busy in their own pursuits ; keen sportsmen and naturally independent, absorbcd in the chase from sheer love of it and other physical oooupations; and not lustful, indecent or indecently abusive.
As the years advance they are apt to become intractable, masterful and quarrelsome. A people to like but not to trust. Exceedingly conservative and bound up in ancestral custom; not amonable to civilization, all the teaching of years bestowed on soine of them having introduced no abstract ideas among the tribesmen, and changed no habit in practical matters affecting comfort, health, and mode of life. Irresponsibility is a characteristic, though in. stances of a keen sense of responsibility are not wanting. Several Andamanese can take charge of the steering of a large steam launch through dangerous channels, exercising then caution, daring and skill, though not to an European extent; and the present (1901) dynamio. man of the electric lighting on Ross Island is an Andamanese, while the wire-man is a Nicobarese, both of whom exhibit the liveliest sense of their responsibilities, though a deep-rooted unconquerable fear of the dynamo and wires when at work. The Nicobarese shows, as is to be expected, the higher order of intellect. Another Andamanese was used by Portman for years as an accountant and kept his accounts in English accurately and well.
