Indian Antiquary Vol 59

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

Page 276

THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
JANUARY, 1930
from the direction of the camp we had previously visited, another cry followed, and afterwards two fainter ones. I believe myself our visit to the first camp had been discovered, and the ories were cries of warning. At about 3-30 P. M. the Andamanose said the Jarawas would not return and that we must get back. This I did not altogether believe, but after much consideration I concluded that there was nothing else to be done. We had many weary miles to travel through cold water, and break-neok boulders, and leech-infested jungle. So with the greatest reluctance, I gave the order to turn homewards by a Járawa track, which led into a small stream, which in its turn flowed into the big mountain stream of our morning's ascent.
We hurried down the river bed, floundering over the rocks, falling up to our necks in the pools, and jumping and tumbling down the semi-precipitous track. In such haste were we that even the Janglis occasionally stumbled and fell. In spite of all our haste, night was soon upon us. It was dark at 6, 80 thick was the jungle on the banks of the stream, and from 6 to 7 we staggered along in what had become piteh darkness. It is difficult to say which was the worst, stumbling and falling over the steep, slippery rocks, or forcing one's way in the black darkness through the pathless, thorny jungle. It is a meroy that no serious accident ocourred. At 7 o'clock I thought it hopeless to go any further, and though no one had eaten anything since leaving the launch I thought it better to camp where we were. But the Andamanese said they would manage it. They had now found a clump of bamboos, and cutting these they splintered them with stones, and set them on fire. Thus each holding a toroh we completed the last few miles to the boat, over the rocks, through deep water and under and through the jungle. It was as rough work as one can well imagine, but infinitely better than the horrible half hour of inky darkness that had preceded it. At last at well past 8 we reached the bout. The tide was out and we had great difficulty in launching it and getting it over the first quarter of a mile. Then we got into deep water, pulled out of the creek, and finally reached the launch at 9.30. We had been absent 13 hours, and must have been wading, climbing and stumbling at least eleven of them. We must have gone well over 20 miles. The Police with me again behaved excellently, though they were nearly done up: 80 was I, and even the Anda manese, though still full of laughter and cheerfulness, admitted they were very tired.
Mr. Bonig was waiting on board, but his report was very disappointing. After hours of jungle work, he had come on the track of four or five Jara was who crossed into my river bed, followed them a long way down it, then through the jungle and out on to the sea coast near the launch. There he discovered that they had not only escaped. but that they had looted his boat, taking two of the four rowlocks (thoughtfully leaving him two to pull the boat back with, the only considerate thing I have ever heard of
Jarawas doing), an old knife belonging to an Andamanese boy, and the bucket, and then gone off into the jungle. They had sat under a tree looking at the launch for an hour. and-a-half, within full view of those on board. There were two policemen on board. There were also an Andamanese boy Henry, who was lame, through having fallen on the rooks two days previously, three Andama nese women, the whole of the crew, free and convict, and a lame convict mallah [boatman). Out of all these people none had the sense to get the Andamanose canoe alongsido, get it manned and row over and approach the Jarawas. The rest of us had done all we possibly could to come up with Járawas, and here they were in sight of over a dozen men waiting to be approached, and were allowed