Southeast Asia - Burma, Thailand, Malaya
Meeting Indigenous Peoples
THroughout this section of their adventure, The Rover Boys encountered many different indigenous peoples quietly losing their way of life. These are Sakai in Malaya.
[Please see map of Route below. More Carousels below the map.]
Hoogley River
Calcutta is essentially an ocean port accessed by the Hoogley River that opens into the Bay of Bengal. In this image, the Rover Boys capture sailors poling a large vessel up the river.
Japanese Freighter
The voyage from Calcutta to Rangoon turned out to be enjoyable.
Rangoon Harbour 1958
Shwedagon Temple
Held up in Rangoon due to bureaucratic stonewalling, they were escorted around Rangoon by young women from the British Embassy.
Joining the Fun
We are not sure whether this is Burma or Thailand but Bob certainly looks like he having fun.
Cigars
The Rover Boys remarked on the cigar toting women of Burma.
Ikaw
This series of images captures the Ikaw indigenous peoples of the Golden Triangle area (Shan Highlands).
More cigars
Burmese Elder
This could possibly be one of the village 'shabwas' they encountered.
Ikaw
Ikaw
Ikaw society was matriarchal meaning this woman was probably an elder.
Ikaw
The women carried the family fortune on their bodies from an early age.
Ikaw Man
Note that the men had much simpler, even plain clothing.
Young Woman
Either Burmese or a Thai fron the north.
Ikaw
Three teenage women
Ikaw Village
This may have been either in the Shan Highlands of Burma or in Northern Thailand. The Ikaw migrated irrespective of border but today are mostly found in Thailand.
Thailand & Malaya
We think this is Bangkok Harlbour in 1958. Once across the border with Burma, they drove straight through Thailand to Bangkok with few stops.
Street Scene
The Grand Palace
Here Bob appaears to be inspecting statues in the Grand Palace or Wat Pho in Bangkok.
Rice
Woman eating in Bangkok
Tin Mining
Heading further south through Malaya they soon discovered why the British so fiercely protected their interests there.
Rubber Plantation
Another British interest
Bat Collecting
Malaya proved a great source of bat specimens to send home.
Orang Isla
The Rover Boys met indigenous peoples on both their visits to the Cameron Highlands. We believe these are Orang Isla although at the time they were simply referred to as 'abos' the British slang for 'native' people.
Not so Friendly
On their first trek into the Highlands they were confronted and threatened by what appeared to be children with guns.
Bat Cave
Here Bristol waits with his net to catch bats near Kuala Lumpur.
Cameron Highlands/SAS
Thanks to a friend of Bristol Foster, they were invited to join SAS forces hunting down communists in the jungle. You can see Bob and Bristol in the middle with their submachine guns.
Westland Whirlwind
Vietnam-style they were droped into the rainforest by helicopter.
Loading
Airdrop
Shortly after they arrived, fixed wing aircraft dropped bundles of supplies. Here Bristol helps unload.
SAS Camp
They found the soldiers were a mix of British SAS and Malaya troops.
Foray
Their first foray into the jungle came early the next day.
Orang Village
They came across an indigenous village supposedly friendly to the British.
Villagers
Bringing food
Nose Flute
Children
Three Women
The SAS invited women out of their huts so Bob could do portraits.
Family Dwelling
Swim
The Rover Boys talked the Senoi troops to keep guard while they went for a swim.
Congenial Group
They enjoyed the company of both Brits and Malay
Class Portrait
You can see Bristol & Bob in the back row.
