My Friends the Savages Notes and Observations of a Perak settler (Malay Peninsula)

"My Friends the Savages" by Captain G. B. Cerruti is the firsthand account of a settler in the Perak region who seeks refuge from the complications of the civilized world by immersing himself in the lives of the indigenous Sakai people, hoping to discover gold. Starting with a yearning to escape the conventions of society, the author journeys into the heart of the Malay Peninsula where he prepares to live among the Sakais, documenting his travels through dense jungles and navigating the complexities of local guides, while illustrating his initial interactions with a group of people he sees as untouched by the corruption of the outside world. Framed around a theme of cultural and existential contrast, the narrative explores the primitive, simple lifestyle of the Sakais and the perceived corrupting influence of civilized societies.