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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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[ DECEMBER, 1920
diet is always to be seen in their huts, supplemented of course by whatever else they can get. I may here mention that, after close and continued observation of their habits, I entirely disbelieve the legend that they were formerly in the habit of visiting Car Nicobar Island.
It was very pleasant to see the numbers of healthy children of both sexes in the various villages ; the people seem to marry later in life than do the Great Andamanese, but the same system of monogamy prevails. The music of their songs is different and more pleasing, and it is not accompanied by clapping of hands, or the striking of a sounding board. Their dance is peculiar and unlike that of the other Andamanose. They have no religion of any kind, and I learnt nothing of traditions or superstitions from which they seem oven freer than the people of the Great Andaman.
In conclusion I may say that the people are by no means fierce, being if anything of a milder disposition than the other Andainanese, and I becanio very much attached to them, which attachment is, I think, returned. They are easily silenced or frightened, and are in great dread of a gun.
The Island at the north end appears to consist of mangrove swamp, and low belts of sandy soil on which the aborigines live. On the west and south-west coast the land rises invo lo'w hills of a coarse sandstone, running more or less north and south. The timber ap. pears to be much the same as that of the South Andaman, and the rocks are chiefly limo and sandstone with a good deal of actual coral rook on the east and south coast. In one place on the point south of Daugule Bay I noticed an outcrop of igneous rock. There appeared to be no minerals.
The products of the sea appear to be the saine as at the Great Andaman, but the Tubi. porino family of coral, particularly Tubipora musica, occurs in profusion. Dugong and turtle abound in the sea, and I captured two of the former, one being a remarkably fino specimon, and many of the latter. The Onges are very fond of turtle, but they are unable to get them with the facility with which our Andamanese catch them, as they are ignorant of the une of the hacpoon; tortle always formed a great part of my presents to them.
In rough weather landing is almost impossible on most of the coast, and in calm wea. ther there are heavy ground swells and tide rips. The following are the best anchorages for amall voksols Bamila Creek; Ekêti Bay, just inside the north end of Nachuge Point; Gijege, opposite Ingdie, about half a mile from shore ; Hut Bay; Daugule Bay and ObAte. Landing ie diffioult in most places and I always used an Andamanese canoe.
With regard to their (the Onges) behaviour to shipwrecked crews, I am of opinion that the crew of any native vessel wrecked there would still be liable to be inassacred, and though a European, if wrecked on the north coast might be well treated, I should not like to gua. rantee his safety. Shipwrecked sailors are rarely diplomats and would be extremely likely to resent the looting of their ships or persons in a nianner which would certainly lead to thoir being shot. This looting cannot be prevented, the temptation being too great for any Savage, however tame, and the general education of the Onges will take some years. It is quite gafo for any Settlersent official to visit the Island and land. I would advise him first to land at Bamila Crook and tako on board either Kojio Kai, Tomiti or Tahlai, or else one of the following:-WAna Luêge of the Ekudi tribe or Kojio Kókele of PAIAlankewe village, who would act as interpreters at any other part of the island, where he wished to land.
The presents which the Onges most appreciate are hoop iron, rod iron, files, sleeping mats, cocoanuts, plantains, beads, and specimens of the articles used by our Andhananese; also turtle, which can easily be got at the South Sentinel Island. The Önges are, I believe, quite willing to conia to Port Blair in their canoes in fine weather, but great care should be taken that they do not contract any disease, particularly syphilis, if they do come up. They will take to smoking kindly, but I have not encouraged this, as my aim is to keep them in
