The Veddah People of Sri Lanka

They were here before the Aryan's landed more than 3000 years ago. Their Ancestors lived mostly in caves around the island and wore the bark of trees, small branches of trees or animal skins.
Then they hunted with sharp rocks and pointed sticks, later on using bows and wooden tipped arrows ( sometimes poison was and is still used for big animals), and spears. Finally they hunted as they still do, using spears, bows and metal tipped arrows and the ever present short axe.















When the meat was plentiful, they would preserve it with bees honey and store it in the hollow of a large tree.

Until the early 60's, they had no use for money as we know of it. Then they would only venture only to the village shop, to get some spices or rice. And sometimes a few trips a year to the village Blacksmith, to get the tools they wanted. In return for these goods they would bring bees Honey and Preserved meat and on occasion Fresh meat too.

They were experts in harvesting Honey, and they still are, though they still have competition in the form of the Sloth Bear !

Civilization has made them prey to diseases which were virtually unknown to them and also lured many of their people with the promise of the "good life" outside.