Book Title: Indian Antiquary Vol 59
Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications
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MARCH, 1930)
REMARKS ON THE ANDAMAN ISLANDERS AND THEIR COUNTRY
The Andamanese refused to come any furthet with us and they camped, while I with the Police and Burmans went to the boat, which we reached at 10 P.M. Two Andamanese had found their way through the jungle to the boat, so with these went on board and sent the boat back for the remainder. We heard the report of a gun shortly after we came on board. Mr. Rogers arrived with his party at about 12 P.M., Mr. Vaux remaining in the jungle for the night.
1917 February.--Mr. Vaux not having arrived this morning, Mr. Rogers went ashore at daybreak, while I followed him about an hour later. After consulting with Mr. Rogers, who was waiting on the shore for Mr. Vaux, it was decided that I shonld go south a few miles along the shore and then go in the jungle. I accordingly went about four miles down the coast and searched the jungle the whole day. I did not find any new tracks of Jara was, but & number of old encampments showed that they had frequented this part of the jungle six months ago. On my return to the launch about 7 P.m., I found both Messrs. Rogers and Vaux on board and I was informed that Mr. Vaux had captured two ohildren (one girl and one baby) the night previous, which he had brought on board. Mr. Vaux therefore decided that we should start for Port Anson early the next morning to find an Andamanese woman to nurse the Járawa baby, which could take no nourishment from us.
20th Februarij.--Left Baja-lunt& for Port Anson at 7-30 A.M., arriving at the latter place about noon. To our great disappointment we found that the Andamanese woman, who was to have nursed the baby was absent in the jungle. We waited for her the whole day. As she did not return, Mr. Vaux decided that I should take the Jarawa children to Port Blair early next morning, while he and Mr. Rogers would encamp at Pôchang, the site of the Jhrawa camp we had found on our previous trip.
21st February.---Left Leker Alunt& at 5.30 A.M. for Dum-la-chorag where Messrs. Vaux, Rogers and party disembarked. I proceeded to Port Blair, arriving at the latter place about noon. Delivered Mr. Vaux's letter to the Chief Commissioner (Sir R. C. Temple), who ordered that the Járawa baby was to be taken to the Haddo Home and the little girl was to remain at Government House with the Andamanese woman Topay. As it was too late to return to Port Anson that afternoon, I decided to leave early next morning, so as to arrive outside Middle Straits at daybreak.
22nd February.Left Port Blair at 3 A.M., arrived at Port Angon at 7.30 A.M. Anchored the Belle at Dum-la-chôrag. Proceeded at once with one Police constable and four Andamanese ashore to Pôchång. We had great difficulty in getting to the camp, as the inangrove swamp, which we had to cross, was completely under water. Arrived at the camp at about noon. I found that Messrs. Vavx and Rogers had both left in different directions to search for Jarawas. I therefore left the Chief Commissioner's letter for Mr. Vaux with the Police Havildar and went with my party of Police and Andamanese in another direction to search for Jarawas. We soon came across a Jarawa encampment consisting of four huts. We followed the path which led from it further south. Having followed this about four miles, we found fresh tracks of eight Jerawas. We followed those till the evening, and as it was too late to go back to the camp, we remained for the night in the jungle.
23rd February. ---Returned to the camp at Pôchang. On our way the Andamanese informed me that they could see by the foot-marks that both Messrs. Vaux and Rogers had gone further south, most likely to search for our party ; 80 I sent two Andamanene to follow them and to inform them of my return to Pôchang. On our arrival there at 2 P.x. I found a note from Mr. Vaux tied to a tree, saying that they had proceeded to another camp, six miles further south, and that I was to follow them there, or else to return on board. I followed them and reached the camp at about 5-30 P.M.
