In his final journal entries , American revivalist John Allen Chau wrote of the sense of fear adjudicate in before he ship on what would be his last endeavor to touch one of the world ’s most isolated tribes .
“ I‘m scared , ” he wrote in a journal bring home the bacon toThe Washington Postby his mother . “ Watching the sunset and it ’s beautiful — crying a bit . . . wonder if it will be the last sundown I see . ”
The 27 - class - old missioner had repeatedly attempted illegal crossings to the Manhattan - sized North Sentinel Island in the Bay of Bengal between India and Myanmar by hiring local fishermen in an endeavour to spread Christianity to the Sentinelese . On his last visit , he was shoot by a teenager with an arrow that pierce his waterproof Bible .
“ Lord , is this island Satan ’s last stronghold where none have heard or even had the opportunity to try your name ? ” write Chau of the folk believe to let in between50 and 500people whose root have inhabit the island for the last 55,000 to 60,000 years . Genetic testingsuggests the Sentinelese are likely the lineal descendants of the first people get back in Southeast Asia during the early Paleolithic .
The Post writes that Chau ’s diary suggests he was a man fix on bring Christianity to the clan – a delegation he fuck was illegal underIndian Lawboth for the protection of the Sentinelese , who would likely die from photograph to modern day diseases , and for outsider who may be attacked and killed . Chau had visited the island four fourth dimension before and was awe by its beaut . He hired nighttime fishing boats to avert catching , and write of seeing bioluminescent plankton and fish jump through the water like “ darting mermaid . ”
“ God Himself was conceal us from the Coast Guard and many patrols , ” he wrote , of his illegal exploits adding that he had tried to take with the citizenry by propose gifts and singing “ worship songs , ” report their language consisted of “ pigeon loft of high - pitch sound . ” Before returning to the island for the last time , Chau reportedly depart 13 pages save in pen and pencil with the fishermen who brought him to the island even after evince doubts over his military mission .
“ I think I could be more useful alive . . . but to you , God , I give all the glory of whatever find , ” he write , asking God to forgive “ any of the people on this island who attempt to kill me , and specially if they win . ”
The fishermen assume Chau to within close space of the island so that he could canoe the quietus of the way by himself . Shortly after setting foot , the missional wasshot deadby people handle bows and arrow . The morning after , the fishermen saw his body being scuff and bury in the sand . Officials in the capital city of India ’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands are ferment to assess whether it ’s possible to retrieve the consistency of Chau , whose family asks that the kin not be prosecuted and instead be leave alone . The fishermen who send him have reportedly been arrested .
[ H / T : The Washington Post ]
