The Sea Nomads (book review)

Title :-The Sea Nomads

By :- David E. Sopher

Published :- National Museum of Singapore (1977) Paperback (400 pages)

Outline;- A detailed look at the lives of traditional ethnic group that live in boats, and rarely come on land. There are two main groups, those dwelling between West Kalimantan and Singapore / Natuna, and those between North East Kalimantan and the Southern Philippines. In each of these areas there are numerous uninhabited tiny islands where they briefly land to gather fire wood, coconuts (which they seem to have planted) and fresh water. They make use of the monsoonal trade winds, sailing first east, then west off the north coast of Borneo.

A wonderful insight to their lives and the beginnings of the States of Indonesia and Malaysia to endeavor them to settle in land based fishing villages.