Indian Antiquary Vol 59

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

Page 288

THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
(FEBRUARY, 1930
which we reached at 12-10 (noon), was the site of an old hunting camp, which had not been recently used.
At half past twelve we left the kharf and went through the forest on the eastern and southern flanks of the intersected point marked 677 (height in feet) on the map above referred to. We did not find any new tracks of Jerawas until about 1 P.M., when we found some new tracks, including those of two young children, and following up these tracks came upon a fresh hunting camp, which had quite recently been left, as the fires were still burning. Flies were thick on the pieces of fish which had been thrown away and some cooked fish (whole) were found in the shelters in which the Jarawas had slept, and this was eaten by our Anda. manese. The pig's skulls were found and taken away. We followed up the fresh tracks from this camp and they took us back to the khari, at the point where Mr. Vaux and myself had separated in the morning.
As it was late and I was very tired, not being very well, we returned to the boat, which we reached at 5.30 P.M. and waited till midnight for Mr. Vaux, who did not turn up. About 7 P.M. we heard the report of a gun, and thinking that perhaps Mr. Vaux had been benighted and was trying to find his way back to the boat, fired a shot in return and waited. About 9 P.M. we heard another shot, which we thought was nearer, so replied to it. The next shot we heard, about an hour afterwards, seemed to be further off, so after waiting till midnight, I decided to go off to the launch and return to the landing place at daylight. Reached launch at 1 A.M.
At that time I never dreamt of Mr. Vaux's having found any Jarawas. I only thought he had been following up fresh tracks and had gone too far to return to the ship that night. About 8 P.M., while waiting for Mr. Vaux, we heard shouts to the north of us. The Anda. manese suggested that the sounds were those of Járawas. I said I thought it was Mr. Bonig 's party returning home, and on my return to the launch, I found Mr. Bonig there, and he told me that they had had to wade a good deal of the way home and had to shout to keep off Agarks. He was up to his neck in the water and more than once was attacked by large sharks. The Andamanese would not come into the water and Mr. Bonig had to send for them after he had reached the launch. The tide was out when we landed. It was full when we returned, and so Mr. Bonig's boat was some way from the shore on his return. The Andamanese called the place we anchored a BAjálunta.
Some poles at the camp we found had been cut with some cutting instrument, while a tree in the camp was hacked with what looked like (judging from the incisions made) an adze.
The camp consisted of three huts arranged thus :
2 men. Children. 2 women.
Arrows show entrance into huts. The Andamanese said the camp had been occupied by two grown up men, two women and some children. The huts or shelters were about 5 feet long and 4 broad, and 4 feet high. They are made of a framework of sticks, some poles being bent down also and tied ; leaves of a large palm out with long stalks stuck into the ground, formed the back and roof of the hute. There were remains of fires inside the huts and in front of them and a considere ble amount of white wood ash.