Originally written in 1964, this report is the first ethnographic monography ever written on the Semelai, an Orang Asli community who make Tasek Bera - now a renowed wetlands heritage site - their home. 

The report is filled with keen observation on the way of life of the Semelai people a generation ago, at a time when they were resettled to Pos Iskandar to isolate them from the security threat caused by the Communist insurgents.

The author was therefore observing the Semelai during a period when they were changing from a traditional to a more mordern life style. This is make his observations all the more memorable and significant.