Salone or Sea Gypsies

The Salone or Sea Gypsies are the natives of the Andaman Sea Island world

Very long ago they migrated from east of Indonesia to this area, they are negritos and not of Malay origin as most other around here.

Myanmar sea gypsies

Andaman Sea People

Some history about the Salone

The Sea Gypsies became historically visible when the British conquered Burma for the first time in 1877. By that time, the Governor of Taninthayi Division was Sir River Thompson. The British could not administer the division easily. They were confronted with the forceful resistances by U Mya Lay, Governor of Myeik, U Shwe Lote, Governor of Dawei, and Bo Ni, the hero of Dawei. 

Over time the British found out that that the Salone “Sea Gyspsie” , could skillfully dive for pearls and were self-contented and had no inordinate desires. The British came to assess the value of precious pearls, edible bird-nests and ambergris etc. The British were eager to obtain these valuable resources without proper payment for them.

In their intense grid they made the natives addicted to opium and alcohol, at the beginning, opium was distributed at no cost to the natives by the British persuading them that they can remain in the water long. Then, the opium was given in exchange for the precious natural resources. Being addicted to opium they have been called the opium-eater for generations. Reputation of their moral integrity was damaged by the British, thus, drug-addicted Salone were ostracized. They did everything at the risk of their lives to get opium. Their economic, social, and educational developments came to nought. 

At that time Bo lone Ni, a patriotic hero 

who sacrificed his life for the well-being of Salone came up. His acts against the British were to be regarded as inimitable' bravery that expressed the patriotism of a native. In fact, he was a local hero who fought against the British who were exploiting and misleading them to the use of intoxicating drugs, to gain their marine resources. However the Sea Gypsies had no chance since the British were better armed with weaponry and had a well-organized armed forces. They could step on our soil only after suffering heavy casualties. After the British had governed the entire civil administration of the division, they advanced to conquer the vast seas of lower Myanmar and a lot of islands where there were vast natural resources.

Living on houseboats and islands

Sea gypsy house boat and the family

Throughout the rainy season the natives used to live in the houses on the islands. They are incapable to go out to the seas for fishing because it is very dangerous in the seas during the rainy season. During these holidays, their boats are made sturdy and fishing instruments are repaired. In their leisure time, they used to go out hunting in groups in the forest of the island with their dogs. A hunting group is usually comprised of five men and five dogs. 

Fish hunting with harpoons

Sea gypsies and their dogs

They do not use bows and arrows or cross-bows or arms. They use only long and short harpoons. While the dogs are attacking the lone wild boar, deer, barking deer, sambur and monitor lizard etc, the hunters harpoon the vulnerable spot of the prey. The dogs being well-trained and well-experienced, they created the opportunity for the hunters to use their harpoons. Before they go out for hunting, they used to offer the Nat spirit at the spirit-pole which is at the edge of their village. 

When they have got their prey, they offer the Nat spirit first and foremost at a big tree in the forest, with the heart of prey as a gift. Hunting dogs share some intestines of the prey.

Going hunting with the harpoon

Sea gypsy house boat

Edible bird-nests where in high demand 

because Chinese trader paid high prices, they can be found mostly on Mali Island, in Pulaw Township of the division. Edible bird-nests are glued together from the vomit of the swiftlets. These birds live in their nests in the inmost caves of the rocks. The people hunt for them during the months of January to May, at the risk of their lives.

Building a dugout

Great Fish BBQ

During winter and summer they build dugouts and houseboats and they search for and collect the marine products such as - fish, squid, oyster, sea-slug, coral, ambergris, and tortoise-eggs. They also search for honey in the forest of the island. Women also do their jobs such as - collecting mollusc, taking off barnacles on the waterfront  and weaving mats. Even the children have no time for leisure. They have many activities to be done to become skillful in swimming and diving in water.

Dugout is ready

Living at the beach

Even today most Salones still prefer to live on their boats and enjoy the independent live as “Sea Gypsis”. Some have been settled in the Myeik / Mergui and Kawthaung district. A few settlement are on some islands off the west coast of Thailand, one is in Phuket at Rawai beach other are On the Surin Islands, Tarutao Archipelago at Ko Lipe and some more elsewhere.