Chapter 8: Jungle Survival Skills
Quotations by Ray Mears
(Jungle Survival Expert
and TV Presenter):
"Bushcraft[Jungle
Survival Skills] is what
you carry in your mind
and your muscles. The
great thing about
bushcraft is that
wherever you go, the
skills go with you.
Knowledge is the key to
survival and the best
thing about that is: it
doesn't weigh anything.
You cannot
underestimate the
importance of
preparation."
1. Introduction
We in South East Asia are surrounded by tropical
rainforests. A total of 40 to 75% of all species on the
world's habitats are indigenous to the rainforests. It has
been estimated that many millions of species of plants,
insects, and microorganisms are still undiscovered.
Tropical rainforests have been called the "jewels of the
Earth", and the "world's largest pharmacy", because
over one quarter of natural medicines have been
discovered there.
Jungle warfare in dense vegetation and the general lack of
infrastructure, along with reduced visibility and
engagement ranges, make it extremely difficult to locate
and engage enemy forces. More so there is strong need
for soldiers to be able to live off the jungle in order to
acclimatise to the extreme heat, and the dangerous fauna
and flora that are found in the jungles.
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2. What Actions to take in order to Survive?
If you ever find yourself in a situation where you need to survive just to keep yourself alive,
remember the acronym S-U-R-V-I-V-A-L. If you remember all the actions that entail
this acronym, your survival will become easier.
S-U-R-V-I-V-A-L.
a.
S:
Size up the Situation
(1) Your surroundings, determine the pattern of the area. Get a feel of
what is going on around you. Every environment whether forest, jungle
or desert, has a rhythm or a pattern. This rhythm or pattern includes
animal or bird noises, movement and insect noises. It may include enemy
traffic and civilian movements.
(2) Your physical condition, the pressure of the battle you were in or
the trauma of being in a survival situation may have caused you to
overlook wounds you received. Check your wounds and give yourself
first aid. Take care to prevent further bodily harm. For instance, in any
climate, drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration.
(3) Your equipment might have been damaged or lost in the heat of the
battle. Check to see what equipment you have and what condition it is in.
b.
c.
U:
Use all your Senses; Undue Haste makes Waste
(1)
Do not be too eager to move.
(2)
Do not lose your temper.
(3)
Face the facts: Danger exists.
R:
Remember where you are
Take note of the following:
2
d.
(1)
The location of enemy units and controlled areas.
(2)
The location of friendly units and controlled areas.
(3)
The location of water resources.
(4)
Areas that will provide good over and concealment.
V:
Vanquish Fear and Panic
(1) The greatest enemy in a combat survival and evasion situation are
fear and panic.
(2) If fear and panic are uncontrolled, they can destroy your ability to
make intelligent decision.
(3) Fear and panic may cause you to react to your feelings and
imagination rather than to your situation.
(4) Fear and panic can drain your energy and thereby cause other
negative emotions.
e.
f.
I:
Improvise
(1)
Learn to improvise.
(2)
Learn to use natural objects around you for different needs.
(3)
Your imagination must take over when your kit wears out.
V:
Value Living
(1)
Keep your hopes high.
(2)
Motivate yourself.
(3)
Remember your goal- Getting out alive.
(4)
NEVER GIVE UP.
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g.
A:
Act like the Natives
(1)
Watch how the people go about their daily lives.
(2)
When and what do they eat.
(3)
When, where and how do they get their food.
(4)
When and where do they go for water.
(5)
What time do they usually go to bed and get up.
(6) These actions are important to you when you are trying to avoid
being captured.
(7)
Animal life in the area can also give you clues on how to survive.
WARNING
Animals cannot serve as an absolute guide to what you can eat and
drink. Many animals eat plants that are toxic to humans
h.
L:
Learn Basic Skills
(1) Practice basic survival skills during all training programmes and
exercises.
(2) Survival training reduces fear of the unknown and gives you selfconfidence. It teaches you to live by your wits.
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3. Shelters
The survivor must remember that three essentials of survival:
a.
Water;
b.
Food; and
c.
Shelter.
These three essentials are prioritised according to the estimation of the actual
situation they are in. This estimate must not only be timely but accurate as well.
Some situations may well dictate that shelter precede both food and water.
3.1
Shelter Site Selection
a.
When you are in a survival situation and realise that shelter is a high
priority, start looking for shelter as soon as possible. As you do so, remember
what will need at the site. Two requisites are:
(1)
It must contain material to make the type of shelter you need.
(2) It must be large enough and level enough for you to lie down
comfortably.
b.
However, when you consider these requisites, you cannot ignore your
tactical situation or your safety. You must also consider whether the site:
(1)
Provides concealment from enemy observation.
(2)
Has camouflaged escape routes.
(3)
Is suitable for signalling, if necessary.
(4) Provides protection against animals and rocks and dead trees that
might fall.
(5)
Is free from insects, reptiles and poisonous plants.
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c.
You must also remember the problems that could arise from your
environment: For instance, you must avoid:
(1)
Flash flood areas in foothills.
(2)
Rockslide areas in mountainous terrain.
(3)
Sites near bodies of water that are below the high water mark.
d.
In some areas, the season of the year has a strong bearing on the site you
select. Ideal sites for a shelter differ in a cold and hot seasons. During cold
seasons, you will want a site that will protect you from the cold, rain, and wind,
but will have a source of water. During hot seasons in the same area you will
want a source of water, but you will also want the site to be almost free of
insects.
e.
When considering shelter site selection, use the word BLISS as a
guide:
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3.2
Weaving and Thatching
a.
The important part of the shelter besides being firm is the roofing. To
construct roofing you can make use of you poncho and ground sheet. Here are
three methods which use just natural materials which you can find in the jungle.
(1)
Weaving using Attap leaves or thorn plant
7
(2)
Thatching using leaves
(3)
Bundle of lallang
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3.3
Types of Shelters
a.
Lean-To Shelter You will need:
(1)
Two trees or upright poles about 2 metres apart;
(2)
One pole about 2 metres long and 2.5 centimetres in diameter;
(3) Five to eight poles about 3 metres long and 2.5 centimetres in
diameter for beams;
(4)
Cord or vines for securing the horizontal support to the tress; and
(5)
Other poles, saplings or vines to crisscross the beams.
9
b. How to make this lean-to shelter:
(1) Tie the 2-metre pole to the two poles at the waist to chest height.
This is the horizontal support. If standing trees is not available, construct
a biped using Y-shaped sticks or two tripods.
(2) Place on end of the beams (3-metre poles) on one side of the
horizontal support. As with all lawn-to type shelters, be sure to place the
lean-to’s backside into the wind.
(3)
Crisscross saplings or vines on the beams.
(4) Cover the framework with bush, leaves or grass starting at the
bottom and working your way up like shingling.
(5)
Place straw, laves or grass inside the shelter for bedding.
(6) In cold weather, add to your lean-to’s comfort by building a fire
reflector wall. Drive four 1.5 metre-long stakes into the ground to support
the wall. Stack green logs on top of one another between the support
stakes. Form two rows of stacked logs to create an inner space within the
wall that you can fill with dirt. This action not only strengthens the wall
but makes it more reflective. Bind the top of the stacks so that the green
logs and dirt will stay in place.
(7) With just a little more effort you can have a drying rack. Cut a few
2-centrimeres-diameter poles (length depends on the distance between the
lean-to support and the other end on top of the reflector wall). Place and
tie into place smaller sticks across these poles. You now have a place to
dry clothes, meat or fish.
c.
Parachute Shelter
You need:
(1)
A 14-gore section (normally) of canopy;
(2)
Stakes;
(3)
A stout centre pole; and
(4)
Inner core and needle to construct this tepee.
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You must cut the suspension lines except for 40-45 centimetre lengths at
the canopy’s lower lateral band.
d. How to make this parachute shelter:
(1) Select a shelter site and scribe a circle about 4 metres in diameter
on the ground.
(2) Stake the parachute material to the ground using the lines
remaining at the lower lateral band.
(3) After deciding
where to place the
shelter door,
emplace a stake and
tie the first line
(from the lower
band) securely to it.
(4) Stretch the
parachute material
taut to the next line,
emplace a stake on
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the scribed line, and tie the line to it.
(5)
Continue the staking process until you have tied all the lines.
(6) Loosely attach the top of the parachute material to the centre pole
with a suspension line you previously cut; through trial and error,
determine the point at which the parachute material will be pulled tight
once the centre pile is upright.
(7)
Then securely attach the material to the pole.
(8) Using a suspension line (or inner cote), sew the end gores together
leaving 1 or 1.2 metres for the floor.
e.
A Frame Shelter You need:
(1)
Nine poles about 2.5 metre in length and 8 cm in diameter for
the A-frame structure;
(2)
Twelve poles about 2.5 m and 2 cm in diameter for the roof;
(3) For the four corner support two poles of about 3 m and 2.5 cm in
diameter;
(4) 9 poles about 2.3 m and 8 cm in diameter for the bedding with one
for the ladder;
(5)
Cord or vines for securing the poles together.
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f.
How to make a A-frame shelter:
(1)
Make the ‘A’ of the A-frame by placing two poles together.
(2)
The horizontal of the ‘A’ is about waist level.
(3) If possible secure both of the ‘A’s to 2 trees about 2 m or the length
of your body with the field pack, apart, if not, just one side will do.
(4)
Secure the centre beam to both the apex of the ‘A’.
(5)
Secure the two extreme of the bedding to the horizontal of the ‘A’.
(6) Secure the four vertical poles for the roofing to the horizontal of
the ‘A’. Make sure that the longer pole is towards the front of the shelter.
(7) Tie the four sides of the roof to the four vertical poles and secure
the breath of the roof to the apex of the ‘A’.
(8) Place the eight roofing poles on to the roof and secure every pole
to the breath of the roof.
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(9) Place the rest of the bedding pols to the A-frame and secure the
ladder to the site of the ‘a’ with the ‘Y’ stub in the middle for support.
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4.
Traps
a. After water, man’s most urgent requirement is food. In any survival situation,
the mind immediately turns to thoughts of food. In an arid environment, even
water which is more important to maintaining bodily functions, will almost
follow food in our initial thoughts. So traps play an important role of you
staying alive.
b.
There are two categories of traps. The first is the “by chance trap’ and the
second is the “bait induced trap’. The main difference in these two traps lies in
the nature the intended game is caught. For the first trap animal movements are
taken into consideration but for the latter, baits are used to lure the game in.
c. All the traps consist of four main components. They are sapling, snare,
triggering mechanism and channelling fence.
(1)
Sapling
(a)
There are basically two types of saplings:
i.
The natural type.
rotted to the ground.
Where the sapling is still
ii.
The artificial type.
tied to a tree.
Where the chosen sapling is
(b) Artificial sapling must be changed regularly as it loses its
flexibility after 2-3 days.
(c) All branches from the selected sapling must also be removed
so that it does not obstruct when triggered.
(d) Clear the area around the sapling to prevent the sapling from
being stuck.
(e) The purpose of the sapling is to elevate the game from the
ground so as to prevent it from escaping.
(f)
The key points in selecting a sapling are:
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(2)
i.
Its height, which will determine how high the game
will hang.
ii.
Its strength, sufficient to hang the game you want to
catch.
iii.
Its flexibility which allows it to bend without
breaking.
Snares
(a)
Snares can be made from strings or rope.
(b) The key factors in choosing a material for the snare are the
strength and flexibility.
(c) Tow line or commscords are ideal to be used as they serve
these two criteria.
(d) However, avoid using vines as it is too rigid to be used as a
snare.
(e) The tying of the snare requires a thumb knot at one end
followed by looping the free end into the thumb knot.
(f)
The free end is than tied to the sapling. If the length of the
snare is too short it can be extended using vines.
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(3)
Triggering Mechanism
(a)
The triggering mechanism consists of two parts.
(b)
First is the toggle which can be found in all the traps.
(c) Both ends of the toggle must be tapered as it increases the
sensitivity in the triggering process.
(d)
Strong straight branches should be used to make the toggle.
(e)
The second part of the triggering mechanism is the gate.
(f)
The materials used should be straight and strong.
(g)
The size of the gate will determine the size of the game.
(h) The two vertical sticks must be firmly hammered into the
ground before the horizontal one is tied.
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(4)
Channelling Fence
(a) The purpose of the channelling fence is to channel the
animal in to the trap
(b)
There are two ways of making them:
i.
The first is to strike vertical poles into the
ground for a minimum of metre across both the
channelling fences.
ii.
The second is to strike the poles diagonally
across for the same distance.
(c) After the boundary of the fence is built, the interior of
the fence is stacked up with dead wood and dried leaves.
(d) Avoid using freshly cut leaves wood as it will arouse
suspicion in the animal.
(e) The trap must blend in with its surroundings and be
kept as natural as possible.
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(f)
The human scent left behind by the builder can be
masked by exposing the trap to campfire smoke.
4.1
Monitor Lizard Trap
a.
As the name implies, this trap is used for catching monitor lizard which
can be found along rivers and swamps.
b.
They are carnivorous so their main source of diet includes fish or eat and
they are attracted to the foul stench from decomposing meat.
c.
You may use fish caught along the river as bait or the other alternative is
to use the internal organs from animals caught previously.
d.
Traps should be sited close to rivers and streams as the reptile frequents
the same drinking point.
e.
Collect the materials required for setting up the trap and place them at the
trap area (i.e. vines, toggle, poles, etc.) and use them to assemble the trap.
f.
Set the channelling fence and the gate facing the water source.
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g.
Arm the trap and place the bait in between the toggle and the ground.
h.
Make sure the snare covers the entire opening of the gate.
i.
Finally the human scent is to be covered by using smoke and freshly cut
wood is used for the fence; soil should be smeared at the chop area.
4.2
Treadle Trap
a.
This trap requires no bait to lure the game and the location follows the
principles of the roller spring trap.
b.
The trap is relatively easy to build and works on either direction the
animal is coming from.
c.
This trap is ideal for trapping games like mouse deer or wild pigs.
d.
The key factor in making this trap is to build a minimum of 3 channelling
fence to channel the game to the triggering mechanism.
e.
Likewise, as mentioned for the previous traps, determine the location foe
the setup of this trap.
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f.
It is best set along known animal trails as many animals are known to be
creatures of habit and their moving patterns are routine.
g.
Collect the materials (e.g. vines, toggles, poles, etc.) for the trap and place
them at the trap area.
h.
Dig a shallow hole and place he treadle over it on the centre of the
channelling fence.
i.
Arm the trap and ensure the snare covers the whole surface area of the
treadle.
j.
Finally the human scent is to be covered by using smoke and freshly cut
wood is used for the fence; soil should be smeared at the chop area.
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4.3
Roller Spring Snare
a.
This trap requires no bait. However, the location is very important.
b.
The few examples to build this trap is over a known animal trail on the
foot prints left behind or near water source like streams or rivers as all animals
need to drink.
c.
The triggering mechanism for this trap requires the builder to taper the
toggle to make it touch sensitive.
d.
Therefore, it requires a lot of effort and time to build it. It may be very
tedious to build but the key advantage of this trap is that it can work on either
sides of the gate and more than one snare can be set which improves the
changes of landing a game.
e.
There is no requirement to set bait.
f.
Determine the location and place he materials that are required for the
trap at the trap area. Assemble the trap at the location.
g.
Set the channelling fence on both sides of the animal trail with an
opening along the trail.
h.
Construct the gate by making grooves for the toggle on both sticks.
i.
Arm the trap by placing the toggle in between both grooves.
j.
Open up the snares so that they cover the entire opening and make sure
the snare interlinks with one another.
k.
Finally the human scent is to be covered by using smoke and freshly cut
wood is used for the fence; soil should be smeared at the chop area.
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23
5.
Improvisation
a.
In a survival condition, you may not be fully equipped. You would
probably feel helps, but with the proper knowledge and basic skills, you can
easily improvise and fashion the need items.
(1) Weapons. Weapons serve dual purposes. You use them to obtain
and prepare food and to provide self-defence. A weapon can also give
you a feeling of security and provide you with the ability to hunt on the
move. Shave wood with a knife into a point and harden by charring
slightly over a fire. Some woods like bamboo are naturally hard and only
need trimming to a point. You can use man-made materials such as
metals and glass to produce a good cutting edge.
i.
Spear.
Spears are useful for protecting yourself against
wild animal, but they are of less use for hunting. For hunting, a
spear can only be used against cornered prey.
To make a spear:
(a)
Select a strong and durable wood.
(b)
The spear should be 1.5 times the human height.
24
(c) Both ends must be tapered to about a boot length and
the thicker end of the wood will be the spear’s head.
(d)
Once done, harden both ends in fire.
(e) The end product must be able to withstand being hit
against tree at force.
(2)
Utensils.
i.
Fork and Spoon The fork and spoon are one of the most
common utensils that you can make.
To make a fork and spoon:
(a)
Select a piece of wood that is fresh and strong.
(b) Cut the rounded surface of the wood in half with th
parang.
(c) Use the jackknife to carve out the fork and spoon.
Take care not to cut yourself when shaping the wood with
the jackknife.
(d) The end product must resemble ans serve as the same
function as the fork and spoon.
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(3) Ladles
Ladle is a large long handled spoon with a cup-shaped
bowl, used for serving soup or sauce.
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(4) Bowls
An improvised bowl can be made, provided a coconut
can be found at the site. After drinking the coconut milk and eating the
edible white flesh, the hard woody husk can be used in half and used as a
bowl.
(5) Ropes
When lashing heavy or bulky things together, using a
vine alone is insufficient. So in this circumstance, an improvised rope
would come in handy.
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i.
The rope must consist of 3 vines and at least 5 m long.
ii.
The vines must be strong, flexible and of equal diameter.
iii. If any of the vines is too short, the problem can be solved by
joining the shorter vine with another vine.
iv.
First begin with tying a thumb knot with all the three vines,
and then follow the following steps:
v.
Repeat steps 2 to 7 till the rope is 5 m long.
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vi.
To test the strength of the rope, tie one end to a tree, holding
on to the other end, lean back. The rope must be able to withstand a
human weight.
5
Alternate Water Source
a. Water is a basic requirement for survival. Without it, food is of little
importance. Therefore an individual must know how to use water intelligently.
When extremely thirsty, sip slowly and do not drink an excessive amount of
water. Likewise, if the weather is hot or you feel hot after an exercise, avoid
drinking an excessive amount of water. If water is scarce and one is using a
great amount of energy, one will lose less through perspiration by drinking
small amounts at fairly frequent intervals, than by drinking a large amount of
water.
b. The main of source of water in the jungle is the streams and rivers.
However, one must know that not all water source found in the jungle is
drinkable. Quarry water, stagnant water with algae, plants with milky and sappy
juice are just some of the water sources that you must avoid.
c. Here are some of the other forms of water sources:
(1)
Water Vines
There are many
types of vines that are
found in abundance in the
jungles. The only surest
way to tell that the water
they carry is drinkable is to
cut and check that he water
in them is clear and does
not contain murky sap.
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(a)
How do we collect water from a vine?
i.
The way to cut a vine is by cutting the top portion to
release the pressure from the top and then cut the lower
portion, so as to enable the water to be collected from the
segment.
ii.
Try a little
water first; water
from vines is
normally crystal clear
and sweet. If the
liquid is milky and
causes irritation to the
mouth, stop
immediately as it
could be poisonous.
iii. Once the water
has stopped dripping,
cut another section of
the vine and start
again. Study the vine
so that you will
recognise it in future.
(2)
Solar Still
(a) In the day, the ground
takes in heat and releases it
in the night i.e. condensation
takes place.
(b) Water is obtained when
heat given out by the ground is
condensed onto a surface such
as a clear plastic sheet (trash bag
or talc) or a groundsheet.
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(c)
How do we construct a solar still?
i.
To construct, a hole
about 1 ½ feet wide and a
feet deep is to be dug.
ii.
A container is placed
in the middle to collect the
water.
ii.
A clear piece of
plastic or groundsheet is
used to cover the hole so
that the heat can be
trapped, and a weight is
placed in the middle to
funnel the condensation
into the container below.
(3)
Pant Perspiration
(a) Through the natural action of respiration from the plant,
condensation will occur within the plastic bag and water can be
collected after a while.
(b)
How to collect water from plant perspiration?
i.
All it requires is for you to place a plastic bag to cover
a leafy part of a plant.
ii.
Locate an area of the plant which is constantly under
the sun.
iii.
Then fill the bags about ¾ filled with leaves.
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TAKE NOTE
A safety point to take note is that plants with waxy leaves, thorny or red
stems are advisable not to be used as water collected may be poisonous.
(4)
Banana Tree
(a) Banana tree provides an ample supply of good drinking
water. The same trunk can provide water for up to 4 days.
(b)
How to collect water from a banana tree?
i.
Cut the tree down preferably sawing through the trunk
30 cm above the ground.
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ii.
Place your knife in the middle of the stump with the
blade at an angle, and hollow it out to form a bowl. You will
find the water filling it even as you cut.
iii. When
you have
finished,
scoop out
any debris
and remove
the top layer
because it
would
contain sap,
then wait for
it to refill.
iv.
Although sometimes bitter, the water is good and it
must be covered to protect it from insects. The water
collected must be boiled before consumption.
d.
Water Purification
(1) Not all water collected is clean enough to be consumed. To lessen
the dirt particles and filter the water, a simple purification method is to be
used.
(2)
How to construct a water purification system?
i.
Cut a wet bamboo into 2 and clear all blockages in one of
them. Subsequently, fill it up with the following:
(a) Charcoal
(b) Stones
(c) Pebbles
(d) Sand
(e) Grass
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ii.
Tie a piece of cloth at the end. The water is poured from the
top and when it reaches the bottom, most of the particles will
have been retained in the filter.
iii. The water which is collected in the end may be discoloured
but it is of no consequence.
iv.
After filtering, the water must be boiled before
consumption to remove any micro-bacteria and virus.
e.
Water Sterilisation and Distillation
(1) Sterilisation can be achieved by boiling water vigorously for at
least ten minutes. Make sure that the heat is distributed evenly.
(2)
Contained water, urine and seawater can all be made drinkable by
distillation. This is a process whereby the contaminated water is
converted to steam by boiling; the resulting steam is condensed and
converted back into good drinking water.
(3) The last method would be using of puritabs. Pop in a
puritab into a litre of untreated water and wait for 10 mins before
consuming.
6.
Plant Food
a.
Edible plants can be found in abundance in the jungle. There are
thousands of different plants in the jungle, of which more than ½ is edible, in
whole, or in part.
b.
Plant food is basically divided into 5 main parts; roots,
leaves, flowers and fruits.
stems,
Let us now see some plants, which we
know for sure, can be food for you in the jungle.
(1)
Edible Roots
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(a)
Tongkat Ali.
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
vii.
viii.
(b)
A small plant.
Almost always straight stem
Dark brown branches.
Leaves that do not get crumpled.
Leaves that shows tiny hairs when split/torn.
Usually found along ridgelines.
Only the roots are edible.
Slice the roots into thin slices and boil them in water.
The water is then drunk to improve circulation.
Wild Ginger
i.
ii.
iii.
It is found commonly in a jungle.
Only the roots are edible.
Slice the roots into thin sluice and boil them in water
to make a healthy drink. They can also be to flavour
your food.
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(2)
Edible Stems
(a)
Bamboo
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
vii.
Bamboos are woody grasses that grow up to 15 meters
tall.
The leaves are grass like and the stems are used in
making furniture and fishing poles.
They are found in warm, moist regions in lowlands or
on mountains.
Only the young shoots are edible.
The young shoots of almost all species are edible
raw or cooked.
Raw shoots have a slightly bitter taste that is removed
by boiling.
To prepare, remove the tough protective sheath
that is coated with tawny or red hairs. The seed grain
of the flowering bamboo is also edible. Boil the seeds
like rice or pulverize them, mix with water, and make
into cakes.
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(3)
Edible Leaves
(a)
Pakis
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
A fern that grows in the wild.
It is found along tracks and grassy areas.
The only part that is edible is the young shoot.
To prepare, break the young shoot into small portions
and boil them.
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(b)
Lemon Grass
i.
Looks like a normal grass except for its slightly
purplish stem. Its flowers stick to your pants/boots hence
the name ‘love’.
ii.
It is found in grassy areas and abandoned cultivation
plots.
iii. The stem is used to flavour food especially fish.
(4)
Edible Flowers
(a)
Simpur Ayer
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
A very common tree in this region.
It could be easily recognised by its yellow flowers and
its large leaves.
It is found in jungles and along roadsides.
The flower and the young leaves are edible.
Boil the parts before comsumption.
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(5)
Edible Fruits
(a)
Tarap
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
A local fruit that is considered the finest in the
country.
Skin of fruit is covered with a bristle-like texture.
The tree has very big leaves.
It is found in secondary jungle and in cultivation plots.
The pulp is whit, juicy and sweet whilst the seed can
also be roasted or boiled for consumption.
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Did you know?
The mimosa plant (touch- me-not)
decoctions is used to bathe a child
or a small branch is placed under his
pillow whenever the child has difficulty in
sleeping. The
pounded leaves are applied to swellings.
Decoction of root can be drunk to relive
diarrhoea.
7.
Edibility Test
a.
Before eating any plants we find in the jungle, it is very important that we
put it through an edibility test.
(1) First, as a rule of the thumb, always avoid red or colourful plants.
Except for the obvious rambutans, these plants are very often either
hazardous or poisonous.
(2)
Next avoid plants with milky sap for the obvious reasons.
(3) The next cut would be to smell the plant. Anything pungent is
more often than not inedible.
(4) We then put it through our 5 basic tests. This is how it is
done:
(a)
Skin test- 5 secs
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i.
(b)
Lips test - 5 secs
i.
(c)
Crush and rub a small portion to a sensitive part of our
skin (e.g. the underside of our upper arm), wait for 5
seconds and observe for any reaction. If all is fine
move on.
Crush and rub a small portion on the lips and wait for
5 seconds. If all is fine move on.
Mouth test
:
(d)
i.
Tip of tongue - 5 secs. Rub the same portion on the
tip of your tongue and wait 5 seconds for any adverse
reactions. If all is fine move on.
ii.
Under tongue - 5 secs Rub the same portion under
your tongue and wait 5 seconds for any adverse
reactions. If all is fine move on.
iii.
Side wall inside the mouth - 5 secs Rub the same
portion on side wall inside the mouth and wait 5
seconds for any adverse reactions. If all is fine move
on.
Taste test – 5 mins
i.
(e)
The next stage would be to chew the portion and spit
it out. Wait for 5 minutes and see if it causes any
reaction. If not then proceed on.
Sampling – 5 hrs
i.
Sample a small portion of the plant and wait for 5 hrs.
If no discomfort is felt after that time, it is safe to
conclude that the plant is edible. Ideally however it is
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better for the plant to be boiled first before
consumption
(f)
Boiling of any plant food before consumption is better done
3 times over.
8.
Fire Making
a.
Fire is essential for all survival conditions. It will not only cook food but
also provide warmth. Smoke from the fire can also help to keep off insects as
well as for signalling and preserving food. To make a successful fire, you will
need 3 components; Air, Fuel and Heat. This forms the fire triangle as if
any one of the component is absent, the fire will die off.
(1) Fire making- Before starting a fire, some preparations must
be done. These materials can be broadly categorised as:
(a) Tinder - Materials that will catch fire easily from only a
spark. E.g. Dried leaves, coconut husk and inner part of a rotten
wood.
(2)
Kindling - Materials that can hold the fire for a while, that are
good for a start. Kindling consists of material larger in size than
tinder but smaller than the main fuel to be used on the fire. E.g.
Twigs, small branches and wood shavings.
(3)
Fuel- Materials that will keep the fire burning stronger and longer.
E.g. Thicker branches, coal (half-burned wood) and logs etc.
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
TAKE NOTE
Heaping the fuel on too quickly will kill a fire. Build your fire with care,
adding more fuel only when the previous fuel is burning well.
Do not stifle the fire by depriving it of the oxygen it needs – make sure it is
well ventilated. In principle, the harder the wood, the longer it will burn.

b.
Here are some of the means of starting a fire in a survival condition:
(1) Matches- Matches are the most convenient and obvious way
of initiating a flame. Ordinary matches do not work when damp. This
fault can be remedied by dipping each match halfway into some
molten wax. To protect the outside box, spray it with hair lacquer.
Specially made survival matches are protected by a waterproof
container, and when lit, will burn up to 12 seconds in just about any
weather conditions
(2) Magnifying glass- Using a magnifying glass will require a
strong sunlight, but it can prove an effective way to light a fire given the
43
right conditions. Sunlight focused through the glass will ignite dry tinder
if the sun is strong enough and may need to fan it lightly when it
smoulders.
(3) Bow and Drill- Heat created by friction between two objects could
start a fire. By rotating
the spindle with the bow,
friction will be created at
two contact points. This
heat generated will light
up the tinder placed
inside the depression so
when sparks start to
form, add more tinder
to transfer the fire. It
may take hours of work
before the drill starts to
smoke. An indication
that you are close to
producing hot embers
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will come when the drill becomes charred and smoke can be seen rising
from the notch.
9.
Parang safety
a.
Here are some safety aspects of how to handle the parang. Misuse of the
weapon will lead to serious injuries will cause the loss of limb and live.
Things you should not do: (Will need to retake these
photos with new uniform or from NCC jungle survival trg
archive)
(1)
(a).
Leave uncased parang around.
(b) Hold onto an uncased parang when climbing and use it as
support.
45
(c)
Hold the parang too close to fingers when splitting wood.
46
(d)
Stand in close proximity of a person working with a parang.
(e)
Use a parang as a hammer.
47
(f)
Use the parang to shave small pieces of wood.
(g)
Use the tree as a parang holder.
48
(2)
Things you should do:
(a)
Keep parang in a case:
i.
When it is not in use.
ii.
While working.
49
iii.
While resting.
iv.
While climbing.
50
(b)
Hold away from cutting/chopping point.
(c) Use a jack-knife to shave wood and work the blade
away from the body.
51
b. Not observing parang safety can lead to these injuries:
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10. Hazardous Insects, Snakes and Animals
(1) Scorpions and Centipedes
These insects are usually
found under pieces of dead wood, leaves or loose earth. They have nasty
stings that could knock a person out for a number of days. They also like
to hide in dry places (especially after a rain) such as tents or boots.
(a)
Hazards- There is always a possibility of an
allergic reaction resulting from such a bite.
(b)
Control Measures:
.
i.
ii.
iii.
All harbouring areas are to be checked and cleared
before deployment.
Troops must check their clothing or equipment before
usage.
If bitten by these creatures, report to a Medical Officer
for immediate treatment.
(2) Snakes- The snakes shown in the figure below are common to
Brunei. All of which are poisonous except for the python. Some of these
snakes are very well-camouflaged and are hard to spot.
53
(a) Hazards- Many of the snakes found in Singapore and
Brunei are poisonous. They may cause paralysis or even death.
(b)
Control Measures:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
All harbouring areas are to be checked and cleared
before deployment.
Troops must check their clothing, boots and
equipment before usage.
Be on the lookout when moving through the jungle,
especially during “bashing”.
When encountering a snake avoid sudden movements
and move away cautiously.
(3) Bees and WaspsThey are common in Brunei and nest in
trees or man-made structures. They can be found almost everywhere.
54
(a) Hazards- There is always a risk of a lifethreatening general or allergic reaction to bee stings.
(b)
Control Measures:
.
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
Avoid vigorous movements such as running and
crashing near a hive as this may cause the bees or
wasps to regard you as an intruder.
All bee/wasp sting cases must be evacuated for
medical treatment immediately as allergies may
develop after being stung.
Troops must be familiarised on the Hornet/bee drill as
part of their preparation for training.
Troops are to be equipped and educated on the use of
smoke grenades.
(4) Wild Animals- The jungle houses a variety of wild animals.
They are untamed and most of them have never been in contact with
humans before. Caution must be taken when confronted with these
animals of the wild. Among the animals commonly found in the jungle
are; crocodiles, civets, Argus peasants, mongoose and honey bear.
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Conclusion
Given that you are only slightly injured and functioning properly, you
only need air to breathe, water to drink, food to eat, and shelter from
the environment. However scarce, nature supplies all these elements
but you cannot expect nature to change in order to accommodate your
requirements. Thus you must learn to adapt to whatever nature
provides!
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If you ever find yourself in a
situation where you need to
survive just to keep yourself alive,
remember the acronym S-U-R-V-IV-A-L. If you remember all the
actions that entail this acronym,
your survival will become easier.
The survivor must remember
that three essentials of
survival:
• a.
• b.
• c.
Water;
Food; and
Shelter.
Key Learning
point
When considering shelter site
selection, use the word BLISS
as a guide.
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The jungle has enough
resources to sustain life
provided you improvise,
maximise and be prepared
for living off the land.
Reflection Question
Think about this reflective question and try and develop a possible response to it:
Q1. One of the key survival techniques in jungle survival is the ability to move from
one location to another i.e. navigation to suitable grounds. In your view what are some
of the considerations that you should adopt when navigating in close terrain?

In close terrain where vegetation is often thick, visibility is greatly reduced and
hence increasing the difficulty in navigating.

Furthermore, Singapore and its neighbours are situated in the equatorial region
which is characterised by dense and rich vegetation. This makes it even more
important for you as future commanders to master close terrain navigation as it
is key skill that you need in jungle survival conditions.

Close country is terrain where the vegetation limits visibility to such an extent
that it is resembles night navigation conditions.

Except where major natural features are concerned, maps are often inaccurate
particularly with regard to minor features such as streams and small hills, and
out of date in respect of changes in cultivation, tracks, clearings, etc.

Jungle navigation is therefore recommended to be carried out by dead
reckoning, that is plotting the direction and distance covered, confirming this by
careful checks at main features.

However, ‘dead reckoning’ method can only be used in undulating terrain.

In hilly terrain, the features are much more defined and thus ‘contouring’
(following contour lines) should be practiced, as ‘dead reckoning’ can be very
tedious and ineffective in such situations.

Here are some tips for close country navigation that you can adopt:
o When moving, check the azimuth at least every 50 metres.
o Keep checking the map with any prominent landmarks.
o Stay strictly on the azimuth. Also watch out for the drift tendency.
o When moving without the aid of compass, maintain direction by aligning
two objects in front of the direction of travel.
o Check the direction of the flow of streams. Do not always take for granted
that the stream reached is the one shown on the map. Remember that not
all the smaller streams are marked on the map.
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o Estimate the distance travelled and remember that when moving up or
down hill, there is a tendency to believe that more distance has been
covered than actually travelled.
o If there is a possibility that the same route can be used when returning, do
note down prominent landmarks to act as guides for the return journey.

The golden rules of jungle navigation to avoid getting lost are:
o Never move without a check on direction.
o Count your paces as a check on distance.
o Check each feature, particularly the direction of flow of streams, with a
map of against a mental picture. (Remember that many small streams,
hills, and tracks that are not on the map will be encountered.)
o Stop and check your position the moment you are in any doubt.
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