IN A MALAY JUNGLE

Shannon News, 17 August 1926, Page 4

IN A MALAY JUNGLE

ex-te kuiti surveyor’s life. i f "TIGERS °F AIRLY THICK.” Some graphic glimpses of the life of a surveyor in the jupgles of Malaya are given in a letter received by Mr. A. W. Cheal, of Te Kuiti, from Mr. Roy Wilson, who served his cadetship in the profession with Mr. Cheal and is well-known in that district. \ Mr, Wilson is in the Survey Department of the British Government, and is stationed in the State of Johore, the capital of which is Johore Bahru, about an hour’s train journey from Singapore. The town is almost apposite the much-discussed navalbase. “The big hurdle to start with,” Mr. Wilson remarks, “was the language. One has about fifteen coolies, and when one is ; almost bursting the orders one wants to give them and can’t say a word, the position is ! not one t 9 sweeten the temper. However,, it is not a very big job to learn sufficent words to carry one through a day in the field. I still go to work armed with a Malay vocabulary, but don’t have to refer to it as often as formerly.

“At present I am engaged on the survey of a 4000-acre block and about six miles of road—all jungle. The jungle is considerably easier to work from a survey point of view than the New Zealand bush. The nearest approach to it I have seen in New Zealand is the bush Ellis and Burnand are working at Ongarue. There is not the heavy timber, however. “I can’t say I find the climate very trying, and when working one is waited on hand and foot —a coolie to carry the instrument and set it up, and also to put the required strain on the chain; a coolie to carry the bag and umbrella; 1 in fact, a coolie to do everything except read the instrument and chain.

“Tigers are fairly thick in Johore, but as long as one does not wander about alone one is supposed to be safe enough. I can lie in my tent and watch the monkeys chasing each other every afternoon (We work ' from 6.30 a.m. to 12 noon). There is one breed, ;with no tail .that can clear at least 15 yards in one swing.” Mr. Wilson mentions that Mr. Dunn who. used to be in 1 practice in Te Kuiti as a surveyor, is also stationed in Johore.