The Charles Wilcox Papers belong to the Keene, New Hampshire resident who was a Union soldier during the Civil War and was captured and imprisoned in Confederate internment camps as well as prisons from 1864-1865. These papers include Wilcox’s diary, correspondence, and official documents. The papers are part of the archival holdings of the Historical Society of Cheshire County in Keene, New Hampshire, and were included as part of the NH Citizens Archivists' Initiative.
Built to the design of a traditional Orang Asli longhouse, and used mainly for entertainment such as ronggeng - dancing and music, and also displays by visiting dancers and singers.
Patient being examined by a Canadian CARE volunteer doctor. The hospital depended on trained volunteer medical staff from UK. US, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.
If a young Orang Asli man or woman has a basic education in reading and writing he/she could be given medical training at Gombak. If successful, he/she would then work in a deep jungle medical post as well as at the hospital. Some Field Staff were able to progress to positions of responsibility.
If a young Orang Asli man or woman has a basic education in reading and writing he/she could be given medical training at Gombak. If successful, he/she would then work in a deep jungle medical post as well as at the hospital. Some Field Staff were able to progress to positions of responsibility.
The hospital provided daily basic rations for the patients and their families. As parents, spouses and children often accompanied the patient to hospital, there were always plenty of folk about to cook the meals for the patients.
There was a designated area for cooking where the patients' relatives could cook their meals for them. The Orang Asli were encouraged to go hunting and fishing in the jungle to supplement their diet.
There was a designated area for cooking where the patients' relatives could cook their meals for them. The Orang Asli were encouraged to go hunting and fishing in the jungle to supplement their diet.
During the 1960s it was quite rare to see any patients from the negrito tribes. They lived mainly in the north of the states of Kedah, Perak, Kelantan and Tregannu. While I was at Gombak there was only one family. They were from Perak and were from the Jahai tribe.
This young boy accompanied his parents and siblings to Gombak. I found the negrito children quite quiet and retiring at first, but eventually joined in with the other children around the hospital.
The Semai are part of the large Senoi group of Orang Asli of central Malaysia. The Temiar are also part of this group. I think that the Senoi group formed the largest at the hospital
One of the antenatal patients. Orang Asli women are increasingly attending Gombak for childbirth. Orang Asli girls are trained as midwives and work both at the hospital and in the jungle.
Generally the Orang Asli like to have their photographs taken, especially if you give them a copy. Also, it could be said that the various tribes get along well together at the hospital. It is probably the only place where they meet other tribe members.
Orang Asli like to smoke! They are known to start early in life too. When I was at Gombak in the mid-1960s it was widespread yet the medical evidence did not show much sign of carcinoma of the lung. The Orang Asli cultivated their own tobacco then. The few case of carcinoma among the Orang Asli were usually traced back to their contact with commercially produced tobacco products.
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.
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.
