Tribes
The five major groups found by the European colonists were
- Great Andamanese - now about 54
- Jarawa now estimated 250 to 400
- Jangil, or Rutland Jarawa - extinct
- Onge - now less than 100
- Sentinelese now estimated to be 100 to 200.
By the end of the 18th century there were an estimated 5,000 Great Andamanese living on Great Andaman, comprising 10 distinct tribes with distinct languages. The population quickly dwindled, reaching a low of 19 by 1961. and has increased slowly after that, following their move to a reservation on Strait Island. By January 2011, there were still only 54 individual from three tribes, who spoke mostly Hindi.
The Jarawa originally inhabited southeastern Jarawa Island, and have migrated to the west coast of Great Andaman in the wake of the Great Andamanese. The Onge once lived throughout Little Andaman and are now confined to two reservations on the island. The Jangil, who origially inhabited Rutland Island, were extinct by 1931; the last individual was sighted in 1907. Only the Sentinelese are still living in their original homeland on North Sentinel Island, largely undisturbed, and have fiercely resisted all attempts at contact.
Read more about this topic: Andamanese People
Famous quotes containing the word tribes:
“All the shad’wy tribes of Mind,
In braided dance their murmurs joined,”
—William Collins (1721–1759)
“A stranger came one night to Yussouf’s tent,
Saying, “Behold one outcast and in dread,
Against whose life the bow of power is bent,
Who flies, and hath not where to lay his head;
I come to thee for shelter and for food,
To Yussouf, called through all our tribes ‘he Good.’ “
“This tent is mine,” said Yussouf, “but no more
Than it is God’s; come in, and be at peace;”
—James Russell Lowell (1819–1891)
“Fashion understands itself; good-breeding and personal superiority of whatever country readily fraternize with those of every other. The chiefs of savage tribes have distinguished themselves in London and Paris, by the purity of their tournure.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)