An Encounter

The Local People

This is the first time I meet Malaysian aborigines face to face. Some of my friends have made friends in their social adventures in earlier times and were used to them. I looked hard at them in one of jungle trekking trudges and though I tried to communicate in our National language, they did not show signs of understanding. The sign language worked.

Dark-skinned I noticed they are attired in a modern mode and they wore watches. I guess some social groups must have given them as gifts. They were at home in the setting as they moved about confidently and swiftly.

The tour guide brought us to a Orang Asli centre and we were informed of their beliefs, taboos and some survival skills. Look at us. All too eager to learn of their ways and behaved as good students as we examine a local man start a fire the natural way.

With a simple string and a piece of wood, the man managed to ignite a fire in the primitive way. No need for gas, matches and electricity. Truly, necessity is the mother of invention.



Mr. Tasnim has just become a father to a new baby but when in the woods, he forgot himself and had fun throughout. Here he observed how the guy prepared a 'poisonous dart' for hunting purposes.



Even the local people are influenced by commercialisation. They produced miniatures of their hunting equipment for tourists; each at RM20.00 Many of us brought the item if it meant giving them a source of income.

Encik Rahim could not keep himself away from a good try. Did he hit the target. He did but it did not stay... so it was not a perfect shot.

Water is clean and free. The source of water is from the mountains and so it flows freely. There was no effort to stop the flow...

They boil water for drinking, cooking and maybe childbirth?


Fire is easily started and used freely... no cost involved.



This is a section of their living quarters. When you have been brought up under such circumstances and do not know what you have been missing, you only accept the situation well. Our children and students must see their abode to understand gratitude.

Look at them. I asked for permission to take the shot. They smiled and must have seen so many tourists that they have become immune to stares. We stared in compassion for them. Life seemed hard and tough and yet simple in their attitude, they took it in good strife.




What do they do everyday? I asked the guide if they go to school and he said many do not. Who do they marry? Among themselves, I was told. I listened with some sadness. What do they believe in? He told me they believe in the spirits of tress and nature. What happens when they are sick? He told me he seldom hears of them being sickly. Tough people they are. Somehow God is fair. No antibiotics and yet their anatomies are able to withstand diseases.

Amir, the guide told us when we leave, we do it in good spirit. We must convey our thanks their way...

Raise both hands and bow in humility and say...I forgot how it sounded.

We bade goodbye and thanked them for knowledge gained. They know things which we do not.

Yes, it's was good.

Satu Seafield.

Another unforgettable encounter.