Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1901-06-13
ASIATIC PYGMIES NUMEROUS.
The Diminative Natives of the Anda.
man Islands Have at Last Been
Counted.

A census of the aboriginal pygmies
of the Andaman islands has for the
6rst time been taken by the British
authorities, and is to be published as
part of the census of the British East
Indies. The official figures ia the
enumeration of the members of the
several tribes are not yet at hand,
but it has been made known that the
number Is between 10000 and $4,000,
or several thousands more than the
estimates formerly regarded as trust
worthy. 1t is now made certain that
those travellers who had reported that
the Andaman pygmies numbered
only about 1000" were greatly mis-
taken.
The Kora tribe and the Tabo tribe,
the existence of which was but re-
Gently brought within view of the
British authorities, were a surprise to
the census agents who counted their
unexpectedly numerous members.
There was frequently difficulty in
making a count of the natives, for
they feared that it would lead to
plague, famine, heavy exactions and
enforced military service. The savage
Jarawas were very greatly alarmed.
Many interesting facts have been
gathered by the census takers in the
Andaman islands. Though the ancient
inhabitants of the islands have gen
orally been spoken of as aboriginal
pygmies," it is to be said that they
are larger than the people of the
dwarfish negro tribes found in some
parts of Africa. Though of diminutive
size and low type, yet many of the men
reach a stature of five feet, and the
average height of the race may be
put at about a foot less than that of
Britons and Americans. They are
black race, with coarse hair, blunt
nose, small eyes, slender legs, and pro-
tuberant paunch.
1t was formerly believed by eth.
nologists that the Andaman pygmies
were distinct from any other oriental
race, and that their speech bore no
affinity to any other in the Indies, but
this opinion has been modified through
later Investigations, and it has now
lated to some of the ancient tribes of
the Malay peninsula.
The Andaman pygmies are enemies
of all white people, but it seems that
since the British government formal.
ly annexed the islands in 1858, they
nave become more and more disposed
to keep the peace with their foreign
rulers. The power of the British is
always within sight, and their defen-
sive works are unassailable by the
pygmies. The efforts made to bring
these people under civilization, and to
draw them into Christianity have not
been markedly productive.
It appears from the new census OF
India that the population of the An
damans has been greatly increased
within recent years through the trans
portation there of convicts banished
from the mainland of India by its Brit.
ish rulers. The number of transport.
ed eonvicts living there at the time
of the taking of the census was over
1900, so that their number is now
greater than that of the primitive
pygmy inhabitants. The convicts have
cleared great tracts of land and
brought them under cultivation. It
will be remembered that it was one of
these conviots who, nearly 30 years
ago, murdered viceroy of India, the
earl of Mayo, when he visited the is.
lands. The perpetrator of the deed
was Mohammedan outlaw.
The knowledge of the Andaman
pygmies that has been gained through
the researches made for the latest
census will undoubtedly increase the
interest taken In this strange race.