Dudley Leavitt (1772-1851) was a New Hampshire educator, newspaper editor, and polymath, who was the publisher of the Leavitt's Farmers Almanack -- one of America's earliest almanacs. Levitt's papers reside in the NH State Library. The documents represented in KSCommons were selected for use in the NH Citizen Archivists' Initiative.
Gombak was full of happy healthy children from different tribes. They had accompanied a sick parent to hospital along with the healthy parent. It had been found that many Orang Asli were reluctant to leave their kampongs for hospital treatment, and those who did were unhappy in the strange environment. To encourage them to come to Gombak and also to recover quicker it was found that the presence of the family around them was essential. Most of the children enjoyed the newness of the hospital setting and were happy to be occupied during the day with basic lessons in the three Rs, and art and handicrafts in particular.
Yok Pan was found abandoned in her kampong as she could not walk due to poliomyelitis. She was brought to Gombak and efforts were made to see if she could walk again. Sadly she couldn't. She was then taught how to use a wheelchair.
Angan, around three years old, was found to have a serious heart defect during a medical visit to her kampong. She was brought back to Gombak and was treated with medication. Sometime later, she was flown to USA with help from some benefactors, but unfortunately the surgeons found that there was nothing they could do for her. She returned to Gombak and continued as before. I do not know if she returned to her kampong.
This building was used to teach the children in the basic "3Rs" in Malay. They were always very eager to learn. The Field Staff also used the classrooms to learn English. This was usually taught by visiting European teachers from Kuala Lumpur on a voluntary basis. The building also had a four bed ward for paraplegic patients who would most likely spend the rest of their lives at Gombak.
Busu, a Semai woman had returned from Kuala Lumpur where she had undergone surgery. She was taught to walk again using a zimmer walking frame donated by a UK womens organization.
Busu, a Semai woman had returned from Kuala Lumpur where she had undergone surgery. She was taught to walk again using a zimmer walking frame donated by a UK womens organization.
Busu, a Semai woman had returned from Kuala Lumpur where she had undergone surgery. She was taught to walk again using a zimmer walking frame donated by a UK womens organization.
Along was a longstay patient at Gombak. He was paralysed from the waist downwards and used a wheelchair. When the hospital telephone exchange was installed he and Apong, another paraplegic patient, were taught to operate it. They then became members of the hospital staff and received a wage. Until then, they earned a little pocket money by weaving baskets etc to order.
A popular musical instrument with the Orang Asli is the pensol or nose flute. It is made from locally grown bamboo and then patterns are carved on it. It is often possible to tell what tribe the carver belongs to by looking at the design and patterns on it. Sometimes the carver will incorporate his name into the design as well.
Fish traps are essential to the Orang Asli, and fortunately easy and quick to make. Bertam wood is collected from the nearby jungle and then cut into strips and woven into the traps. When ready, they are placed in the bottom of the river bed. At Gombak the Orang Asli were encouraged to make traps and use them in the Sungai Gombak to help supplement their diet. It also meant that they could carry on with their usual jungle activities despite being in the hospital environment. Some visitors to the hospital liked the fish traps so much that they bought them to use as lampshades!
Fish traps are essential to the Orang Asli, and fortunately easy and quick to make. Bertam wood is collected from the nearby jungle and then cut into strips and woven into the traps. When ready, they are placed in the bottom of the river bed. At Gombak the Orang Asli were encouraged to make traps and use them in the Sungai Gombak to help supplement their diet. It also meant that they could carry on with their usual jungle activities despite being in the hospital environment. Some visitors to the hospital liked the fish traps so much that they bought them to use as lampshades!
Fish traps are essential to the Orang Asli, and fortunately easy and quick to make. Bertam wood is collected from the nearby jungle and then cut into strips and woven into the traps. When ready, they are placed in the bottom of the river bed. At Gombak the Orang Asli were encouraged to make traps and use them in the Sungai Gombak to help supplement their diet. It also meant that they could carry on with their usual jungle activities despite being in the hospital environment. Some visitors to the hospital liked the fish traps so much that they bought them to use as lampshades!
Fish traps are essential to the Orang Asli, and fortunately easy and quick to make. Bertam wood is collected from the nearby jungle and then cut into strips and woven into the traps. When ready, they are placed in the bottom of the river bed. At Gombak the Orang Asli were encouraged to make traps and use them in the Sungai Gombak to help supplement their diet. It also meant that they could carry on with their usual jungle activities despite being in the hospital environment. Some visitors to the hospital liked the fish traps so much that they bought them to use as lampshades!
Orang Asli women usually just wear the sarong, tied at the waist or below the armpits. Contact with Malays had led many of them to wear the baju as well. When a large consignment of sewing kits from a US charity arrived at the hospital it was decided to classes in sewing. A couple of wives of Malay hospital staff helped me to make a paper pattern of a baju and so we were able to teach the women how to make a baju from start to finish. They started by choosing their material and progressed to cutting out the baju using the pattern. They then sewed the garment and fitted it. They learned very quickly and were very pleased to be given a sewing kit to take back to their kampongs. Later on, a couple of very ancient sewing machines were donated to the hospital and they proved to be popular too.
Orang Asli women usually just wear the sarong, tied at the waist or below the armpits. Contact with Malays had led many of them to wear the baju as well. When a large consignment of sewing kits from a US charity arrived at the hospital it was decided to classes in sewing. A couple of wives of Malay hospital staff helped me to make a paper pattern of a baju and so we were able to teach the women how to make a baju from start to finish. They started by choosing their material and progressed to cutting out the baju using the pattern. They then sewed the garment and fitted it. They learned very quickly and were very pleased to be given a sewing kit to take back to their kampongs. Later on, a couple of very ancient sewing machines were donated to the hospital and they proved to be popular too.
Orang Asli women usually just wear the sarong, tied at the waist or below the armpits. Contact with Malays had led many of them to wear the baju as well. When a large consignment of sewing kits from a US charity arrived at the hospital it was decided to classes in sewing. A couple of wives of Malay hospital staff helped me to make a paper pattern of a baju and so we were able to teach the women how to make a baju from start to finish. They started by choosing their material and progressed to cutting out the baju using the pattern. They then sewed the garment and fitted it. They learned very quickly and were very pleased to be given a sewing kit to take back to their kampongs. Later on, a couple of very ancient sewing machines were donated to the hospital and they proved to be popular too.
Orang Asli women usually just wear the sarong, tied at the waist or below the armpits. Contact with Malays had led many of them to wear the baju as well. When a large consignment of sewing kits from a US charity arrived at the hospital it was decided to classes in sewing. A couple of wives of Malay hospital staff helped me to make a paper pattern of a baju and so we were able to teach the women how to make a baju from start to finish. They started by choosing their material and progressed to cutting out the baju using the pattern. They then sewed the garment and fitted it. They learned very quickly and were very pleased to be given a sewing kit to take back to their kampongs. Later on, a couple of very ancient sewing machines were donated to the hospital and they proved to be popular too.
When some old hospital screens were found discarded some Orang Asli women suggested we turn them into upright weaving looms. I found some weaving cotton and heddles and the women set up the looms. They then asked their menfolk to bring in rotan from the jungle which they cut up into strips for weaving. Small mats were made to take back to the kampongs, and also sets of tablemats were woven to sell to visitors to the hospital and various groups of ex-pats in Kuala lumpur etc.
When some old hospital screens were found discarded some Orang Asli women suggested we turn them into upright weaving looms. I found some weaving cotton and heddles and the women set up the looms. They then asked their menfolk to bring in rotan from the jungle which they cut up into strips for weaving. Small mats were made to take back to the kampongs, and also sets of tablemats were woven to sell to visitors to the hospital and various groups of ex-pats in Kuala lumpur etc.
