The Mla Bri people, also known in the Thai language as the Phi Tong Luang – the Spirits of the Yellow Leaves – were exploited, taken advantageof and mistreated by almost everyone with whom they ever had contact. Their traditional nomadic life as hunters and gatherers was destroyed as others encroached on the jungles to practice swidden agriculture. They were poor, uneducated, unprepared to cope with the rapidly evolving realities of life inside or outside the jungle.
Infant mortality was high. Malaria was endemic, with over fifty percent of the total population infected. Death from accidents and treatable illnesses was rife. Many lives were lost to mines and booby-traps set in the jungles by opposing sides in the communist insurgency in Thailand in the 1970's and 80's.
In marked contrast to the popular image of innocents living carefree in harmony with nature, life for the Mla Bri people was always hard. "I was always hungry when I lived in the jungle," a tribal elder once said.
This book is about the Mla Bri people – their struggle for survival, their escape from indentured servitude, and their success in maintaining their identity even as they become a part of larger Thai society.
The Mla Bri people are an interesting case study in anthropology. More than that, they are interesting, fascinating people – fellow human beings with dreams, problems, potential and failings. Their unique view of the world has been shaped by their experiences – and their experiences often stagger our imaginations. It's a sobering thought to realize that, had most of us been born Mla Bri, we'd be dead by now.
Not all of us are destined to change the world in large ways. But each of us, whether conscious of it or not, does make some difference to the people we meet. It has been our privilege to have an impact on the lives of the Mla Bri people.
