Reading Winds, Waves Help Indian Islanders

Guardian / ap

Government officials and anthropologists believe that ancient knowledge of the movement of wind, sea and birds may have saved the five indigenous tribes on the Indian archipelago of Andaman and Nicobar islands from the tsunami that hit the Asian coastline Dec. 26.

``They can smell the wind. They can gauge the depth of the sea with the sound of their oars. They have a sixth sense which we don't possess,'' said Ashish Roy, a local environmentalist and lawyer.

It appears that many tribesman fled the shores well before the waves hit the coast, where they would typically be fishing at this time of year. >> continue

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HindustanTimes special on the Andaman and Nicobar Islanders