Indian Antiquary Vol 58

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

Page 379

DECEMBER, 1029) REMARKS ON THE ANDAMAN ISLANDERS AND THEIR COUNTRY
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VII. These papers contain the only valuable record of proceedings in connection with the Jarawas and their country that existed up to 1901. They show the difficulties and dangers that attended those who ventured into the interior of the Andamans as lately as that date.
I.
Port Blair, the 26th February 1902. The Chief Commissioner, Sir R. O. Temple, Bt., announces with the greatest regret the death of Mr. Percy Vaux, Seventh Assistant Superintendent, who was killed by the Jårawa Tribe on the night of the 24th February 1902. The Commission loses in him & most proniising officer,
The distressing circumstances under wKich this officer suddenly lost his life renders his loss all the more deplorable. He was killed during a struggle with the hostile tribe of the Jarawas, just as he was about to complete what had otherwise been a most successful series of operations, in which he had exhibited much courage, endurance and skill. The circumstances which caused his death are as follows:
The marauding parties of Jarawas that almost every cold season make raids on the outskirts of the Penal Settlement, this season, in November 1901 and January 1902, raided the Forest Department gangs working at Jåtâng, about 25 miles north of Port Blair, killing and wounding convicts at their work.8 A party was organised in consequence to try and discover their haunts in the jungles and to put a stop to further raiding, but on a some. what larger scale than usual, as the two last raids appeared to be more purposeful than hitherto. The officials detailed for the duty were Mr. Peroy Vaux, Officer in charge of the Andamanese, with Mr. Bonig, Assistant Harbour Master, and Mr. C. G. Rogers, Deputy Conservator of Forests. Men from the Andaman Military Police Force and picked Andawanese trackers accompanied them.
Mr. Vaux proceeded up the West Coast of the South Andaman on 25th January 1902. and was successful in the very difficult operation of discovering the camps and paths of the Jårawas in the hills above Bilap Bay, about 8 miles north of Port Campbell. He then, on the advice of the Andamanese with him, proceeded northwards to Port Anson and thence to Pôchâng in the South Andaman at the southern extremity of that harbour. Hore, with much skill and difficulty he discovered the main Jarawa track running southwards from the harbour, and also the chief place of residence of the Jarawas during the rains. Having accomplished this, Mr. Vaux returned to Port Blair and brought with him a much fuller report upon this practically unknown tribe than had hitherto been made. Mr. Rogers meanwhile was endeavouring to work his way direct from Jateng on the east across the South Andaman to Ike Bay on the West Coast, right athwart the country believed to be occupied by the Jarawas.
Mr. Vaux was then directed to join with Mr. Rogers and make further investigations at Poch Ang, and after ascertaining that the main Jarawa path led southwards beyond PochAng indefinitely, the party returned to Port Blair. This expedition accomplished part of the objects aimed at, in that it showed where the Jarawas started from on their raids, and proved that the object of their unprovoked murderous attacks on parties from the Settlement working in the jungles was to procure iron and iron implements, and not to procure water and food as hitherto supposed.
On 17th February 1902, the party was reorganised thus -Mr. Vaux with Mr. Bonig, 12 Police and Andamanese ; Mr. Rogers accompanying them. The general object was to discover the southern termination of the main Járawa path and to drive the Járawa marauders northwards along it and away from the neighbourhood of the Penal Settlement. The party started as before along the West Coast and, on the advice of the Andamanese.
For list of tho Jarawa raids on the Settlement, o ante pp. 27-28,