The sentinelese

For the Sentinelese—the indigenous tribe of North Sentinel Island—isolation has become their only means of survival. Their aggression toward outsiders is not primitive cruelty, but a learned historical lesson. Every contact with the outside world has brought them catastrophe.In the late 19th century, British colonial officer Maurice Portman kidnapped several islanders for "study." The captives quickly fell ill in captivity, and those who were returned brought deadly viruses back to the island. The Sentinelese have no immunity to the common flu or measles. For them, any handshake is tantamount to the use of biological weapons.Since then, they have learned a hard truth: the great water brings only death. The hail of arrows with which they greet helicopters, boats, and uninvited missionaries is a conscious defense of their world from destruction. Their behavior may seem savage to us, but for them, it is the only way to avoid vanishing from the face of the Earth.