Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1896-05-21
Andanan Dwarfs.

4
the Philadelphia Times. 1t comprises
a large number Of objects illustrating
the arts and industries OF the strange
race of dwarfs which inhabit an arch
ipelago in the Bay of Bengal. The
average height of the men is only about
four feet ten inches while the ordinary
stature Of the women is four feet seven
inches. Perhaps the oldest thing
about them is that they look like ba-
bies all their lives, seeming never to
grow up. Withal they are probably
the most primitive savages in the
world.
The dwarfs Of the Andamans, until
quite recently, have not known how to
make fire. On one of the islands Of the
archipelago is an active volcano, from
which they were accustomed formerly
to obtain fresh supplies OF fire at IN
tervals Special expeditions for this
purpose were not often necessary, IN
asmuch as they knew how TO keep fire
burning in decayed wood for an IN
definite length of time The people Of
a village, when leaving an encomp-
ment with the intention Of returning
in few days, would take with them
one or more smouldering logs. At the
same time they would place a large
burning log or faggot in a sheltered
spot. where it would shoulder for a
long while so as to be easily rekin-
died when required. incidentally, all
the labor of splitting and choppng
was saved, inasmuch as such a Iog
could be broken into small pieces 10y
hammering it with stone
This method of keeping fire IN de-
cayed wood is still practiced commonly
bv the dwarfs, especially in the inte-
rior of the larger islands, where they
DO not come in contact with white
visitors. Nothing introduced by whites
has excited their wonder so much as
friction matches To produce fire
with such oH-hand ease struck them as
actually a supernatural accomplish
ment Anthropologst- say that prim-
tive man did not invent fire he
found it. Having found it, it did not
take him long to discover uses for 1t.
Not until long ages had passed did he
learn TO make FIRE; it was an advanced
art, the practice Of which required a
high degree of skill. If You do not
believe it, just try to get spark by
means of the wooden sticks commonly
employed by savages for the purpose
Formerly the dwarfs Of the Anda,
mans were accustomed to murder
ruthlessly allstrangers whoapproached
their shores Melancholy indeed was
the fate Of shipwrecked sailors who
CHANGED to seek refuge on the island.
Of the archipelago. They were sure
to be shot to death with arrows In
deed, distressed mariners cast away at
that part of the Bay Of Bengal would
be most likely to be massacred even at
| the present day. 1t Is believed that
the inveterate hostilties of the dwari'
arose originally from the cruel Prac,
tice Of Malays, Burmese and Chinese
who visited the Andamans TO get edI'
bic birds nests and sea cucumbers
| They used to kidnap the natives and
sell them as slaves in nelghborlnl
countries When the British estab'
! lished a settlement there the sayage'
frequently attacked them and took
every opportunity Of stealing the iror
tools and other implements which ex
cited their cupidity. Within recent
years they have become comparatively
tractable, however.
There are several shades Of colo.
among these little people, rangin;
from bronze to sooty and black. Thei
hair is extremely frizzy, 50 as TO lool
as if it grew in spiral tufts It is fn'
in texture and seldom more than tvs,
or three inches long. Most Of the wo
men shave their heads once week
leaving only two narrow strips Of hal
from the crown to the nape Of tn
neck. Many Of the men follow tn
same practice, though the style is dii
ferent,a circular patch ofhair SIX inche
in diameter being left, like skull
cap, on the crown Of the head. Me-
sometimes shave each others heads
but only when the services Of wo
man are not available, for it is one 0
the duties Of the fair sex in thes
tribes to act as barber. The eyebrow
are generally removed also. Th'
razor Is a fake Of quartz or glass.
The men wear punches Of leaves at
tached to their knees and wrists
Bracelets and necklaces Of bones, shell
or wood are common ornaments. Tat
tooing serves to certain extent as