Indian Antiquary Vol 59

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

Page 299

MAROR, 1930)
REMARKS ON THE ANDAMAN ISLANDERS AND THEIR COUNTRY
76
1 Adze head-European make. 1 Honey pot with king-crow chaplet, 2 bowstrings, 2 string cards, 2 pieces of resin,
and 5 shells. 1 Palm leaf containing netting materials in net. 7 Empty nets. 1 Net containing 2 pots of pigment for pig arrows. 1 Do. 2 pieces of iron and 4 shells for pigment. 1 Packet red ochre. 1 Net containing 2 pieces of iron and 2 small nets. 1 Piece of bollowed wood, containing red ochre prepared for arrow heads 7 Iron-headed arrows. 2 Pots. 96 Bamboo wooden-headed fish-arrows. 8 Bows. 5 Arrow-shafts. 5 Pig-arrows, iron. 1 Iron arrow head.
VI. Report by Mr. C. G. Rogers, dated the 19th May 1902, on Jarawa captives while at Port Blair.
An infant boy and a little girl, called orlai, captured by the late Mr. Vaux near Bajalanta (T.laplongta of the maps) were brought to Port Blair by Mr. Bonig, Assistant Har. bour Master, on the 21st February 1902. The little girl, Orlai, had a very pronounced squint in her left eye. She was kept at Government House until the 26th February, when she was allowed to join the other Jarawa captives, who were taken at Wibtang on the night of the 24th February and reached Port Blair on the 26th in the Belle in the charge of Mesers. Rogers and Bonig. Tho oaptives taken at Wibtâng comprised two womon and six children including two babies. They were kept at first in the hospital at Haddo and after that in the Haddo Andamanoso Home, as they got out of the hospital one morning early and were found at the ghdt [landing place) evidently trying to escape. After this they were placed definitely in the charge of Luke (Andamanese) and the watohman at the Home and did not again try to escape.
The Jarawas would not touch rice, or any of the rations supplied to the Andamanese, nor would they smoke. They were fed on yams, fish, pig's flesh, when it could be obtained for them, and crabs. They cooked their food very thoroughly before eating it. They were very fond of cocoanuts, when they were given them, and had evidently eaten them before. They drank water, but did not care for either inilk or tea. They did not like sugar or anything sweet. They would not touch honey from the Andamanese store, which had fermented slightly, but liked fresh honey in the honey.comb. The friendly Andamanese could not understand a word of the Jarawa language nor could the Jarawas understand the Andamanese; they made themselves understood to a certain extent by signs. While the captives were at Port Blair we only learnt what we believe to be their names and a few words for the food they eat.
The Jarawas were quite friendly and evidently felt that they would be well treated. Mr. Bonig and myself went to see them almost every evening while they were in Port Blair and took them out for walks, and they looked forward to our visits and the women usually took our arms, while the children clung to us. While they were in Port Blair we took them Over Ross, Phoenix Bay Workshops and Chatham Sawmills. They evinood no astonishment at what they saw, but some fright. They do not seem capable of evincing pronounced emotions of any kind, either of grief or astonishment or pleasure. On the 10th March