Indian Antiquary Vol 58

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 373

DECEMBER, 1929 ) REMARKS ON THE ANDAMAN ISLANDERS AND THEIR COUNTRY
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VI. Extracts from Mr. M. V. Portman's Reports on the First Dealings with the Onges in 1886.7.
I left Port Blair with a party in the steamer Ross on the 27th October 1886, having No. 1 lighter, and a 10-oared boat in tow. Six convicts and 27 Andamanese accompanied we, and I had rations for three months for the entire party.
I arrived at the Little Andaman Island on the 28th October, and anchored in Bumila Creek. For the next three days we were engaged in making a sin all clearing on the East bank of the Cruek, and housing the party. The Little Andamanose from the neighbouring huts came down daily to visit me, and were very friendly. I heard with regret that the little boy Api I had left with the Ekadi tribe in April 1886 was dead, but the remainder of those people who had lived with me in Port Blair, all came to my oamp. Women and children now came fearlessly to the camp, and the first difficulty I met with was that of preventing the savages from looting the camp of everything they fancied. By inaking an example of one of the first cases that occurred, and treating the delinquents somewhat roughly, 1 soon got them to understand that they were only to have what we gave them, not all they saw, and from that time, with two exceptions to which I shall refer later, I have had no trouble. I have been very lavish of presents to all the people.
Very stormy weather began just after my arrival, and I therefore confined my work to going about amongst the neighbouring villages and endeavouring to gain influence over the people, and to learn their language. The Andamanese I had brought with me were occupied in turtling, canoe cutting, etc., and I encouraged the Little Andamanese to go amongst them and associate with them. They soon took to swimming off on board the steamer or coming in their canoes to visit me, and occasionally brought me baskets of dried fish as presents. On November 3rd three men, whom I afterwards found belonged to the south coast of the Island, paid me & visit, and were very pleasant.
On the 12th November I tried to go down tho coast in the Ross and cross to the South Sentinel Island, but the weather was so bad that I was obliged to put back. The Little Andamanese with me gave me the name of the South Sentinel Island as KelAgageai, but said that they had never been there. On the 13th I coasted down to Tokaini and saw all the people there. They received me in an unconcerned way and appeared to take little interest, even in the presents we had brought. I learnt that the man captured at Jackson Creek in January 1885, who afterwards died in Port Blair, was from the Tokaini village, and that his real name was Taleme.
On the 14th very heavy rain commenced, and on the 15th a oyclone set in, which lasted till the 20th. With the exoeption of the loss of her side-curtains the Ross sustained no damage. I had both anchors down and hawsers passed outside all. Until the 18th I was unable even to get ashore on the bank of Bainila Creek, where we were anchored, and the convicts and Andainanese suffered very much. The clearing was 18 inches under water, and the people were living on raised machans [wooden platforms) they hail mado. All the Andamanege huts had been blown down, but the tents, being more sheltered, had stood. It would have been dangerous to have gone further into the jungle, owing tn the falling brauches of trees, and on the sand one could not stand up to the wind, but had to crawl along. Much damage was done in the junglo, quantities of dead fish were washed up on the coasts, ari! many birds and bats seein to have been killed. The Little Andamnanese neem to have suf. fered much from the cold and want of food, and several sick whom I had seeu at Tokaini od the 13th had died. As soon as the cyclone was over many people oame to me for food. The rain was so heavy that the creek was running with fresh water down to the mouth. After
7 Tho Onga havo since become as friendly as any other tribe except the Jarawak