North of Singapore

North of Singapore is an adventurous travel narrative recounting Carveth Wells, explorations in the Malay Peninsula during the early twentieth century. An engineer, broadcaster, and prolific travel writer, Wells describes journeys through dense jungle, remote villages, rivers, and mountainous terrain in what was then British Malaya.

The book combines lively storytelling with observations on wildlife, tropical landscapes, and the diverse peoples of the region, including Malay, Chinese, and indigenous communities. Wells recounts encounters with elephants, big game, and the challenges of travel in humid, difficult conditions. His tone is energetic and often humorous, reflecting both curiosity and the perspective of a Western traveler of the period.

Blending adventure, natural history, and colonial-era commentary, North of Singapore captures a picture of Malaya before large-scale modern development, preserving a record of its environment and society as seen through the eyes of an early twentieth-century explorer.