The
Mental Characteristics Of The Race Will Be Found On Pp.
59-61 of the
Census Report, and for your information I here extract from my remarks
thereon the section on character.
"In childhood the Andamanese are possessed of a bright intelligence,
which, however, soon reaches its climax, and the adult may be compared in
this respect with the civilised child of ten or twelve. He has never had
any sort of agriculture, nor until the English taught him the use of dogs
did he ever domesticate any kind of animal or bird, nor did he teach
himself to turn turtle or to use hook and line in fishing. He cannot
count, and all his ideas are hazy, inaccurate, and ill-defined. He has
never developed unaided any idea of drawing or making a tally or record
for any purpose, but he readily understands a sketch or plan when shown
him. He soon becomes mentally tired, and is apt to break down physically
under mental training.
"He retains throughout life the main characteristics of the child: of very
short but strong memory, suspicious of but hospitable to strangers,
ungrateful, imitative and watchful of his companions and neighbours, vain,
and under the spur of vanity industrious and persevering, teachable up to
a quickly reached limit, fond of undefined games and practical jokes, too
happy and careless to be affected in temperament by his superstitions, too
careless indeed to store water even for a voyage, plucky but not
courageous, reckless only from ignorance or from inappreciation of danger,
selfish but not without generosity, chivalry or a sense of honour,
petulant, hasty of temper, entirely irresponsible and childish in action
in his wrath, and equally quick to forget, affectionate, lively in his
movements, and exceedingly taking in his moments of good temper.
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