The downfall of the Onges started in 1887 when they finally fell to "friendly" overtures. They were taken from their habitation in Little Andaman Islands to Port Blair and given gifts before being sent back.

(Before this, in 1867, 70 people of the community were killed in a reprisal after they killed the captain of a ship and seven of his crew when the latter disembarked on the Middle Islands.)

The fatal effects of the contact started showing within two decades. The population of Onges, which stood at 672 in 1901, became almost half and counted 346 in 1921.

Currently, they number 96 and only occupy the Dugong Creek and South Bay on the Middle Andaman Islands.

A 1972 study says, "the infant mortality among the Onges was 40 per cent and more than 42 per cent of women were sterile." Anthropologists say the Onges have been affected more by deforestation and settlers' onslaught than diseases.

An officer of the A&N Tribal Welfare department says "the administration has created permanent houses for them." But even this has done no good to the tribals.

Samir Acharya of Society for Andaman & Nicobar Ecology (SANE) says, "it only proves our contention that the administration is handling the tribals mindlessly. The Onges never defecate close to their abode. Obviously, the officials are clueless about this fact, else they would not have built concrete houses for them.

"The Onges go out everyday to defecate. They have contacted worms and diseases in the process. So, how good is the administration's claim that they have built concrete houses and settled the Onges. If anything, the Onges have been unsettled."

Four decades ago, the Onges used to be the sole occupants of the Little Islands. But that is not the case today. Because of the settlers, the tribals have been confined to two areas of the Island. But worse seems to be in store for them as Little Islands is in the list of places to be opened up for tourism soon.