It is hard to believe that there are people in this world who have no idea about the internet or cell phones. It's the tribes that were completely cut off from the global civilization and welcome any kind of contact from the outside world.
North Sentinel Island, a part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal Ocean between Myanmar and Indonesia, is home to one such tribe. The Sentinelese people hostile to external contacts island is called 'the hardest places to visit' in the world.
The Sentinelese are thought to be direct descendants of the first humans emerged from Africa. They lived on the small island for nearly 60,000 years. Their exact population is not known: it may be as low as 40 or as high as 500.
No matter whether you are friend or foe , if you come ashore the island on purpose or by accident , the local will greet you the same way - with spears and arrows . Gifts of food and clothing are of no importance to it . They are even hostile to the rescue mission after the tsunami in 2004 .
In the aftermath of destructive tsunami that hit the Indian Ocean was in December 2004, a team of rescuers reached out to the Sentinelese on an Indian Navy helicopter . They wanted to find and help survivors , although the chances are slim . They tried to land drop food on the ground , but they were met with hostility . A single Sentinelese warriors emerged from the dense forest and taken an arrow to the helicopter .
Not much is known about the tribal relatives ; their foreign language and their habits unknown. Their arrangements are hidden in thick forest , so we have no clue about how they live . All we know is the Sentinelese are hunter - gatherers : they farm . They live on fruit , fish , tubers , wild pig , lizards and honey .
India has sovereignty over North Sentinel , but I doubt people even know what India is . After several failed attempts to make friendly contact with them since 1964 , the government of India has finally backed away . All visits to the island will be banned . The Indian Navy has implemented a 3 - mile buffer zone to keep the tourists , explorers and other meddlers away . Accidental encounters still occur , and none of them end well .
There are some horror stories of how the Sentinelese who treat their guests . People either returned from the island terrified and injured , or not at all . In 1896 , an escaped convict from the Prison British drifted Andamans coast of North Sentinel by accident . A few days later , a search party found his body on a beach , punctured by arrows and his throat slit .
In 1974 , a group went there to make a documentary , the film director and took an 8 - foot arrow in the thigh . Some recordings from that visit are included in the larger documentary , Man in Search of Man .
Indian anthropologist T.N. Pandit conducted several trips to government - sponsored the island in the late 80s and early 90s . " Sometimes they will turn their backs on us and sit on their haunches as if to defecate , " he said . " It was meant to insult us as we were not welcome . "
Surprisingly , there was only one instance where outsiders do not have to deal with an aggressive reception . On January 4, 1991, 28 men , women and children came to Mr. Pandit and his team . " That they voluntarily came forward to meet us , it 's unbelievable , " he said . " They should be decided that the time has come . "
Unfortunately, the last contact with the islanders in 2006 did not go as well . Two fishermen were killed while illegally fishing within the range of the island .
The Sentinelese are among the last uncontacted people - communities who live without contact with globalized civilization - the rest of the world . Perhaps it's best to leave them alone; carries out this civilization may not be the best thing for them . They can not be immune to certain diseases and applying themselves in the modern world can be extremely difficult .
It is fascinating that even the most drastic conditions , the Sentinelese do not want any help . I find this behavior very curious . I wonder how they view outsiders and the world around them. Maybe they called themselves , or if you are aware that we called it ' Sentinelese ' them.