The American Museum Journal 



Vol. IX APRIL, 1909 No. 4 



A COLLECTION FROM THE ANDAMAN ISLANDS. 



THE Museum has lately acquired a considerable ethnological 

 collection from the Andaman Islands which is of more than 

 common interest. These islands, which until a comjjaratively 

 recent date were almost a terra incognita, are still practically unknown to 

 the general reader for the reason that the greater part of the literature 

 that has appeared concerning them has been in the form of papers pub- 

 lished by scientific societies, and has not been easily accessible to the 

 public. For this reason a few words about the islands and their inhabi- 

 tants may not be out of place before entering on a description of the 

 more notable objects in the collection. 



The Andamans form a narrow chain of islands, nowhere exceed- 

 ing twenty miles in width, extending nearly north and south in the 

 Bay of Bengal. The three main islands of the group, North, ^liddle and 

 South Andaman, together with some small islands, are known as (Ireat 

 Andaman. To the south of these lies Little Andaman. The British 

 established a penal settlement on South Andaman in 1789, but three 

 years later removed it to North Andaman. In February, 179G, this 

 colony w^as abandoned and the prisoners removed to Penang, while the 

 free settlers and the troops were conveyed back to Bengal. F'rom this 

 date the Andamans remained unoccupied by aliens for sixty-two years. 

 The British again formed a penal settlement on South Andaman in 1858, 

 which has since been maintained for East Indian criminals. 



The Andamanese belong to the Negrito race. They are small but 

 well formed people with short frizzled hair, and with skin ranging in 

 color from dark copper to sooty black. The following table, prepared 

 by Mr. E. H. ^lan, gives a clearer idea of the stature and weight of 

 these people than could be gained by any lengthy description. 

 Maximum height of males measured, 5 ft., 4^ in. 



'♦ " females " 4 " IH " 



Minimum " " males " 4 " 5f " 



" " females " 4 " 4 " 



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