THE ABORIGINES — APPEARANCE 185 



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, and to this isolation is due the uniformity so marked 

 in their physical and mental characteristics. 



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 mon- 

 strosity. Their reputation for hideousness, like their poisoned 

 arrows and cannibalism, has long been a fallacy, which, although 

 widely popular, should now be exploded. 



The average heights of Andamanese men and women, com- 

 puted from a large series of measurements, 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. 



The abdomens — although on the whole not to a greater 

 extent than those of other savages — are sometimes protuberant, 

 in the women more so than the men, and it is probably owing 

 to this feature that they have been described as figureless, a 

 statement by no means wholly correct. 



In both sexes, the small of the back is very hollow and the 

 buttocks prominent. The feet are rather large, and occasionally 

 occurs a case of the great-toe being placed with relation to the 

 others in an almost simian or thumb-like way. Hands are of 

 moderate size and well shaped, with long thin fingers. 



Viewed from a distance, the skin appears of a jetty colour, 

 especially when shining from the fat with which it is often 

 bedaubed : a close examination shows, however, that it is not 

 absolutely black, although these people are amongst the darkest 

 of mankind.* Soles, palms, and nails are pale pinkish-brown, and 



* As one goes from South to North, the tribes become larger in stature 

 and redder (less black). — M. V. Portman, /(?//;-. Royal Asiatic Soc, 1S81. 



