For thirteen months, on assignment for National Geographic, the Schreiders traversed the entire Indonesian archipelago of 3000 islands. They navigated most of their journey in Tortuga II, a modified Ford GPA WWII Seagoing Jeep. This book describes their trip, including many detailed cultural observations and experiences.

“The Drums of Tonkin: An Adventure in Indonesia” (1963) by Helen and Frank Schreider, is a description of their trip by amphibious Jeep (!!), from Jakarta all the way to Timor, crossing the string of islands of Nusa Tenggara, and the streets in between, and they did this in, or just before, 1963. The book is good on the trip itself, like the logistical nightmare of getting fuel, the difficulty of hopping on and off coral-surrounded islands (or getting stuck in the mud, and get 200 islanders to pull you out!), the challenges of the offshore currents, and the many negative, but also even more patently positive, encounters with officialdom in a newly independent country. It is somewhat shallower on the descriptions of places and people, and almost non-observant on the political situation in Indonesia, at the time, a far from united country with various rebel organistions as well as the perceived communist threat all vying for power, just before the overthrow of Sukarno. A pity, and a missed opportunity, especially since the authors were journalists. But the adventure is strong enough to carry the book - just get the background from John Keay. And the 1960’s photos! So 1960’s! ( )