Appendix 



esting because they deal with peoples whose present-day 

 culture is undoubtedly on a par with, and in all probability 

 directly inherited from, the peoples of a long-past Stone 

 Age. Thus we get indirectly a glimpse of what the culture 

 of the Stone Ages was both in its material acquisitions 

 and its grade of social and psychological evolution. 



From In the Andamans and Nicobars, p. 1 84, by C. Boden 

 Kloss. (Murray, 1903.) 



" The Andaman Islands are inhabited by people of pure 

 Negrito blood, members of perhaps the most ancient race 

 remaining on the earth, and standing closest to the primitive 

 human type. ... It would be impossible to find anywhere 

 a race of purer descent than the Andamanese, for ever 

 since they peopled the islands in the Stone Age, they have 

 remained secluded from the outer world. ... In stature 

 they are far below the average height ; but although they 

 have been called dwarfs and pygmies, these words must 

 not be understood to imply anything in the nature of a 

 monstrosity. Their reputation for hideousness, like their 

 poisoned arrows and cannibalism, has long been a fallacy 

 which, though widely popular, should now be exploded. 

 The average heights of the men and women are found to 

 be 4 feet lof inches, and 4 feet 7^ inches respectively, 

 and their figures, which are proportionately built, are very 

 symmetrical and graceful. Although not to be described as 

 muscular, they are of good development, the men being 

 agile, yet sturdy, with broad chests and square shoulders." 



From E. H. Man on The Aborigines of the Andaman Islands^ 

 p. 14. (Trubner, 1883.) 



" No idiots, maniacs or lunatics have ever yet been 

 observed among them, and this is not because those so 



277 



