Tribes of Andaman

The Andaman Islands and Nicobar Islands have similar tectonic history, geology, climate, soil and natural vegetation, yet the two tribes of both islands differ in their social and cultural practices. At the beginning of the 19th century, the Great Andamanese were the dominant tribe of the Andaman Islands whereas the Nicobarese dominated the Nicobar Islands. Taking these two tribes as the representative of their respective islands, the paper will evaluate the similarities and differences between the tribes of Andaman Islands and Nicobar Islands. 

Andaman Islands and Nicobar Islands are two distinct archipelagos of the Bay of Bengal and are separated by the Ten Degree Channel. Both Andaman Islands and Nicobar Islands were formed due to the same tectonic process and thus have similar geology, climate, soil and natural vegetation. Before the British colonized these islands in the 19th century, tribal people lived in both the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands share a similar physical environment, but the tribes of both islands are clearly different. Considering the Great Andamanese of the Andaman Islands and the Nicobarese of the Nicobar Islands, this article assesses the similarities and differences between the two tribes. This paper compares the differences in the physical environment of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and assesses the similarities and differences of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. 

1. Andaman and Nicobar Islands Physical Environment: 

Andaman and Nicobar Islands have a similar physical environment. However, there are subtle differences in physical geography, drainage channels, climate, and vegetation that affect the socio-cultural structure of the tribes that inhabit these islands. Physical Geography: Both Andaman and the Nicobar Islands share the same structural history. The collision between the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate formed the entire chain of the A & N Islands at the same time as the Himalayas. The A & N Islands are on the Burmese microplate near the convergent plate boundary between the Indian and Eurasian plates. The A & N Islands represent the highest peaks of the Arakan Mountains in Burma to the north and the Sumatra-Barisan Mountains to the south. 

Both, Andaman Islands and Nicobar Islands are hilly, rugged And undulating. The fold submarine mountain ranges are arranged In a north-south axis. There are parallel ridges with deep valleys in Between. In these depressions either the sea encroaches and forms a Longitudinal bay or these lie as plain stretches. The islands are highest On the east and gradually descend on the west, also, the northern Part of the Andaman Island is higher than the southern part and in The Nicobar Islands, the southern part, i.e. the Great Nicobar Island is Higher than the northern part. The slopes of the hills are moderate to Steep and are prone to erosion as the region receives heavy rainfall. The highest point of the island is the Saddle Peak, 731m, in the North Andaman. The coastline of the island is deeply indented and Providing the islands with some of the world`s finest harbours. All the islands of Andaman, as well as Nicobar, are surrounded by Fringing coral reefs. Of India`s total 2329.9 sq km of coral reefs, 41.17 Percent are in A&N Islands.8 The A&N Islands are surrounded by Shallow seas and coasts. The tropical climate and dense mangrove Networks support the growth of coral reefs around the A&N Islands. The coral reefs at the western end of the A & N archipelago are quite large. 

Drainage: The A & N archipelago has had heavy rainfall for more than eight months of the year, but lacks rivers and significant groundwater. Drainage from the A & N Islands is characterized by multiple transient streams that occur during the monsoon and are depleted in the post-monsoon season. The rivers of the A & N Islands are unique to Great Nicobar. These are Alexandra, Dogmer, Amrit Cowl, Jubilee and Galatea. Thus rainwater and groundwater are The primary sources of potable water. Even though both Andaman Islands and Nicobar Islands have similar physiography and drainage, They have differences in their climates. Climate: Both Andaman Islands and Nicobar Islands are characterized By monsoon climate, yet there are differences in the climate of the Two groups of islands. The A&N Islands extend from latitudes 6º N To 14º N over a distance of approximately 890 km. This north-south Expanse of A&N Islands has led to different climate in both islands. The Andaman Islands have a more tropical climate, while the Nicobar Islands have a more equatorial climate. The dry and rainy seasons are more pronounced in Andaman, but the Nicobar Islands rain almost every 12 months. Vegetation: The hot and humid climate has created lush vegetation in the A & N archipelago. More than 85% of the geographic area of ​​the A & N archipelago is covered with forest 10. The island is covered with forest from the coast to the inland. Island vegetation can be classified into mangrove, coastal and non-coastal forests.

2. Reasons for Selecting Great Andamanese and Nicobarese

There are six aboriginal tribes in A&N Islands. Out of these six, Great Andamanese and Nicobarese have been selected as the representative Tribes of Andaman Islands and Nicobar Islands respectively. There First, these tribes accounted for the maximum population of their Respective islands. When the British colonized Andaman Islands They encountered the tribes on different islands, but these tribes Were similar in appearance and used similar weapons and utensils. The British named them as Great Andamanese, as they inhabited the Entire Andaman Islands.12 Once “friendly” relations were established With the Great Andamanese, the British realized that there was Another tribe. The Great Andamanese called this tribe as “jarawas”, Meaning ‘the other’ as per the Great Andamanese language.13 With Time the British identified four tribes that inhabited the Andaman Islands before colonization. These were: Great Andamanese, Jarawas, Onges and Sentinelese. As per the British estimates, in 1858 Great Andamanese numbered 8000 while the remaining three together Did not exceed 600.14 Similarly, in Nicobar Islands, the Nicobarese Accounted for 95 percent of the total population, while Shompens Were only 5 percent.