Negritos, << nih GREE tohz >>, is a term used to refer to several ethnic groups that live in small, isolated populations in Southeast Asia. They are an aboriginal people—that is, their ancestors were the first people to live in the area. They spread from the Andaman Islands of the Indian Ocean to the Malay Peninsula, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Spanish explorers first called them negritos, referring to their dark skin and short stature. Negritos traditionally lived by hunting and by gathering plants and fruits. Today, many have adopted the way of life of other agricultural peoples in their homeland.
