Have you ever tried to isolate yourself from people for two months or even more? How did it feel? Well, the Sentinelese tribe, as it seems impossible to believe is the most isolated tribe in the world. It may seem impossible to imagine that there are still primitive tribes and cultures existing today.
There are several tribes still in existence that have shied away from modernization. It is unknown for what reason why they keep themselves isolated and secluded from modern life.
The Primitive tribes are; Surma People, Peruvian Tribe, Lone Brazilian, The Jackson White, Vietnamese Ruc, Brazilian Tribes, and a few others. While our minds wonder what these tribes are like; we keep our focus on everything we know about the Sentinelese.
These groups of people inhabit the North Sentinel Island in the Bay of Bengal in India. Popular for the world’s last unconnected people. These people, unlike others, appear to have consistently refused any form of interaction with the outside world. They are very hostile and are known to have killed people who approached or landed on the island.
The Government of India, in 1956 declared North Sentinel Island a tribal reserve and prohibited travel within 3 miles (4.8 km) of it. Even photography is prohibited.
From the little gathered the Sentinelese have dark skin and may be shorter in stature than an average human. According to researchers, there has been no sighting of obesity, no prominent muscles and have well-aligned teeth.
So far there has never been a vigorous census on the island. Estimates of a figure as 15-200. However, a handbook released in 2016 by the Anthropological Survey of India on Vulnerable Tribe Groups estimates the population at 100-150.
During the late summer monsoon of 1967, the Indian merchant vessel Nineveh foundered of the reef off North Sentinel. The passengers and crew settled on the beach for a few days in peace. Although, on the third day, while the visitors were said to be having breakfast.
They were subject to a sudden assault by a ‘group of naked short-haired, red-painted islanders with arrows that were probably made of iron tips.
It is not known why the peaceful islanders attacked the visitors or what transpired between the two.
The following contact was made by a colonial officer, Jeremiah Homfray in 1867. He recorded seeing naked islanders catching fish with bows and arrows.
In 1880, an effort to establish contact with the Sentinelese, British naval officer Maurice Vidal Portman led an armed group. On their arrival, the islanders retreated to the tree-line. After days of futile search, Portman’s men captured six individuals, an elderly man, a woman, and four children.
The group arrived at Port Blair, shortly after which the man and woman died. The children were sickened. Portman hurriedly sent the children back to North Sentinel Island with gusts to establish friendly contact. Portman made several visits afterward.
A few expeditions took place over consecutive years. To establish friendly contact with the islanders. However, all efforts have not been fruitful by groups.
Chau was killed by the Sentinelese. His body could be seen from a distance on the beach. John Allen Chau knew he might die. He sought out to convert the members of the isolated island to Christianity.
Chau saw this as is life mission and knew the risks.
He wrote a letter to his parents, part of which read; “You guys might think I’
m crazy in all this, but I think it’s worth it to declare Jesus to these people.”
The 13-page letter, he expressed great fear, fatalism, frustration, and some humor. His letter further wrote how the people were perplexed by his presence. He wrote of a man wearing a white flowery crown, taking a leadership stance.
His efforts to communicate with the leader was met with roars of laughter from the group. Chau tried to hand over fish and gifts. A boy shot an arrow at him but hit his waterproof Bible. He noted that the arrow tip was made with thin, sharp metal.
In one passage, he asked God if North Sentinel was “Satan’s last stronghold.” In another: “What makes them become this defensive and hostile?”
On the afternoon of Nov. 16, the fishermen told police officers, Mr. Chau reassured them that he would be fine staying on the island overnight and that the fishermen could go. They motored out, leaving Mr. Chau alone for the first time.
When they passed by the island the next morning, they saw the islanders dragging his body on the beach with a rope. Mr. Chau’s body is still on the island. Several police officers said they were worried about retrieving it, lest the same thing happens to them.
Mr. Chau finished his note with a message to his family. The handwriting gets sloppier, the lines more crooked.
“Please do not be angry at them or at God if I get killed,” he wrote. “I love you all.”
His death was deemed misguided and plain wrong. Even missionaries expressed little sympathy.
The first-ever peaceful contact made with the Sentinelese was done by Madhumala Chattopadhyay, the first female anthropologist to make the mission successful. She and her family signed an undertaking, not to sue the Indian government for any form of compensation if any harm comes her way.
She took note of the earlier death of John Allen Chau “The Sentinelese and other tribes don’t need to be oppressed with religion, because doing so will make them more hostile. They understand nature, and that’s all they need.”
Seeing a woman in the visiting party, one could posit that the Sentinelese now believed them to be non-threatening. Following the incident, Madhumala got into the water and began handing over coconuts in person.
This was history in the making. The first peaceful contact between Senti
nelese and outsiders triggered by the presence of a woman. The Sentinelese are known to be fiercely protective of their women. Madhumala would subsequently visit again on February 21, and this time her team was received with welcoming arms.
However, the Government of India stopped such interactions, fearing the spread of an epidemic among the Sentinelese. A sensible decision at the time, considering what happened to another tribe in the Andamans, the Jarawas.
To conclude on the topic, we know tribes like this exists. A great debate still lingers; if tribes on islands like these are to be modernized or simply protected for their own safety?
Their bodies have immunity from diseases and constant contact with the rest of the outside world could pose a deadly threat to civilization.
This group who may be seen as hostile is rather peaceful and just want to be left alone.
The Indian government has done all it can to keep outsiders out. The government has established a 3-mile no-entry zone around these islands.
The only time mainlanders should ever consider approaching them is during natural calamities conducting rescue operations. Although, they seem not to be affected by such disasters as we are
