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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DECEMBER, 1920 ) REMARKS ON THE ANDAMAN ISLANDERS AND THEIR COUNTRY
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Önges picked from the following tribes - Ekûdi, Palalankwe, Tokaie, Tambe, Ebui and Titaije.
I remained in Port Blair until the 27th, when I crossed over with the party to the North Sentinel Island. The Önges gave me their name for it as Chirt Akwekwe, and appeared well acquainted with it. They walked fearlessly about in the jungle, but, on catching some of the inhabitants on the evening of the 27th, it was found that they talked an entirely different [n.e., unintelligible] language. On the 28th I visited Port Mouat, returning to Port Blair on the 29th, and on the 2nd January 1887, I returned to the Little Andaman.
During their stay in Port Blair the greatest care was taken that the Unges should not suffer in health, and they were shown everything I thought would interest them, includ. ing the athletic sports and the military parade on the 1st January, and were also given quantities of presents, being allowed to have almost everything they fancied, and they appeared so delighted with their visit that, on the way back, they said they would come up to Port Blair in their canoes in the fine weather.
On the 3rd January I started down the East Coast surveying. In addition to my party I was accompanied by Tômiti, Tahlai and Kõjio Kai, who were of the greatest assistance. People came out to meet us at each village, and every one was quiet, friendly and pleasant. On the 4th I anchored in Daugule Bay, having been accompanied by nearly fifty people all along the coast. On the 5th I met at Toi-balêwe, Natudêtôtali Kêgê, one of the women who was captured on the Cinque Islands in 1885. On the 6th I met at Ingòie, on the South Coast, the three men who had visited me at Bûmila Creek on the 3rd November last. I completed the survey on the 7th, closing on Api Island, and then returned to Bûmila Creek.
The weather now got stormy again, and I began to suffer very much in health. The survey being finished, I having visited all the villages round the Island and being on the best terms with all the people, and our stores being nearly exhausted, I returned to Port Blair on the 19th January with the entire party. The work I was sent down to do has, I think, been accomplished, and we are now on as friendly terms with the Little Andamanese as we are with the inhabitants of the North Andamans.
From what I can learn, I am of opinion that, while the whole of the Little Andaman Island is peopled by one race calling themselves Önges, the people are subdivided into tribes who adhere more or less to their own country, and appear to quarrel and fight among them. selves. What little I have learnt of their language I have embodied in my work on the languages of the Andamanese, written at your request, but the amount is small. It differs almost totally from any language with which we are acquainted, except that of the Jarawa tribes. The people appear to be healthy, their principal diseases being chest complaints, coughs and colds, fever and itch. There is no syphilis amongst them, and in physique they compare favourably with the inhabitants of the great Andaman.
Their manners and customs differ somewhat fron those of the Great Andaman, the princi. pal differenoes I have noticed being the following ---The large circular huts built by thert; the raised charpoys (platform beds) on which they sleep; their habit of cooking, drying and storing in baskets a small fish similar to a sprat; the difference in the shape of their canoes at the bow and stern ; the difference in their ornaments, and the absence of bone necklaces and broad tasselled belts amongst them; the women wear a tassel of a yellow fibre in the place of the leaf worn in the Great Andaman; the difference in the shape of the bow, which is of the European pattern. The arrows used for fish frequently have four heads of different lengths fitted into one shaft.
They are by no means expert in the use of a canoe in rough water, and are unable to harpoon turtle. They paint their hair only with red earth, and not their entire bodies, and they do not allow their hair to grow long; the women do not keep their heads clean shaved. Their staple food appoars to be the seed of the mangrove, boiled, as that article of
