Orang Seletar Traditional Cache

A long time back this reservoir as you see it did not exist. In its place flowed Sungei Seletar (Seletar River) with forests, plantations and farms along its banks. Together with the dramatic transformation in landscape was the river’s changing role.

From the early 1800s till 1950s these waterways were home to the Orang Seletar. They were a nomadic maritime tribe who lived mostly in houseboats in Seletar River and the Straits of Johore. Descended from the Orang Laut from the Spice Islands in Indonesia, they roamed the surrounding straits in bands, at times raiding, burning and pillaging. As time passed they led a more settled life, living off the produce of the sea and mangroves as well as gathering herbs from the forest for bartering with other communities.

Unfortunately, with urbanisation and development they could no longer maintain their centuries old way of life. Many settled in Johore and some were assimilated in the local Malay population.

Cache is on this lovely so called “bridge” and you need not get wet to retrieve it.

🥇FTF goes to HFung 🇸🇬