This is a story about the people of the Island of Misirah. I have been told that it is a true story by two unreliable sources. I have not been able to verify the story, but I have not tried very hard. (I almost would rather believe it, although if true, it is very sad.)
Misirah is an island off the Southeastern coast of Oman, which is on the Southeastern border of the Arabian peninsula on the Indian Ocean just south of the Persian gulf. The island is, oh, 30mi long and several miles wide, 30mi off the coast of Oman. At some point in the island of Misirah came under rule of the Sultan of Oman.
Around the turn of the Century (the year 1900 - don't want to be Y2K non-compliant here), when much of the world was undergoing the industrial revolution, a British ship was sailing the Indian Ocean. It was caught in a storm which sank the ship and killed most of the crew. Sever of the doomed crew survived long enough to get washed upon the shores of Misirah, where they were promptly eaten. The Sultan of Oman realized that this was not the way to maintain good relations with the British Empire and the rest of the industrial revolution.. He proclaimed a 100-year exile upon the island and people of Misirah. So, for the past 96 years these people have not been allowed to have contact or trade with the outside world. Living in rock shacks and making their own living off the desert land. For generations they have been punished for something their ancestors did. Apparently, though, for the last several years the current Sultan has been softening the exile and allowing limited trade in preparation for the end of the exile here in a few years.