The Temiars of the Puyan River, Vol. 2: History, Culture and Situation of the Orang Asli of Pos Gob

The Temiars of the Puyan River, Vol. 2 is the story of a Temiar community in the Kelantan hinterland. Never before has it been told in such detail and clarity, even though anthropologists have been intrigued with the Temiars for over a hundred years. It is a story of their survival in the deep rain forest of the Malayan Peninsula, from time immemorial to the present, living according to a ritual and social system taught to them through dreams, whereby they could placate the adverse spiritual entities of the wild and live peaceably as part of a strong ethnic group. Their dependence on natural resources has bonded them to the forest for millennia, and this is the lifestyle they seek to preserve today. Ten years of interaction with these true guardians of the forest has enabled David P. Quinton to piece together the facets of an unseen belief system and learn what makes them at one with their environment. He has also uncovered a wealth of knowledge that the Temiars possess of natural species and their uses.

Volume 2 of David P. Quinton’s books delves into the origins of the Puyan River Temiars, providing detailed maps with GPS plotting to show hundreds of their old settlements, mountains, and rivers. The book also highlights the Communist Insurgency of the 1950s–1970s and how it disrupted the peaceful equilibrium of the Temiars, along with the widespread logging and introduction of new religions that have challenged their way of life. Additionally, the book catalogues almost 100 herbal medicines with colourful pictures and their uses, showcasing the Temiars’ extensive knowledge of their natural environment. Finally, Volume 2 contains a categorised list of 1000 place names from the Puyan Valley, providing insight into the region’s history and culture.