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Saturday, August 4, 2007

7. All about Labyrinth Fish (Gourami and Climbing Perch) (Part 2)

On the previous chapter, I’m forgot to tell you something. Did you know that the Gourami and the Climbing Perch have a high economic value?? This 2 fish is the main source of protein in most village area. Besides being sold alive, the Gourami and Climbing Perch also sold as salted fish or fermented fish. Believe me…their flesh is soooooo tasty!!!


Photo 7.7 : Fried Climbing Perch with flavored rice, salad and tomatoes


Photo 7.8 : Fermented Climbing Perch…Yummy!!!!!


Photo 7.9 : Dried Salted Gourami in the market

Ok now, as promised I will tell you a myth about Climbing Perch. Although Malaysia is a developing country and currently in a fast paced in the terms of new land opening, tall building constructions, traffic jams occurrence, car accidents, demolished playgrounds and soccer fields and many more…some mystical beliefs still remain strongly inside many individuals. Eventhough modernization is about to taking its place right now, it cannot bypass the arts, cultures and beliefs that have been brought down from the old generation. Malaysians is divided into 3 major races which is Malays, Chinese and Indians. For Malays, we usually believe in the presence and existence of the invisible matter such as ghosts. As a Muslim, believing on the invisible matter such as the existence of genies, Satan and angels is a must. They are just like us human, a being created from the Almighty and for your information, among all the creatures that The Almighty have created, the human being is the greatest, the complete, the most perfect and the ultimate creature of all. And because of that, Satan still hold the grudge against human for not being the perfect creation from The Almighty and have made a promise with The Almighty to astray the human being from doing good deeds. The most popular deceiving method that comes from Satan is his cunning lie on how to be rich quickly.

Long time ago, people who want to make Satan as their servant must first serve for the Satan. They must undergo several training courses in the jungle, swamps and on the top of the mountain. For example, they must stay at one spot without eat, bathe or even sleep. All they do is just sit still just like yoga. How do I know all this?? Of course I know, I’m a Malaysian, it happens here and I always hear this kind of true stories that really happens during my childhood from my grandpa, my uncle, my martial arts guru and many others. Even there are some urban legend that actually covers by our reporters including a story about an Oily Man who have to have sex with 100 virgins to be immortal and about Toyol who’ve been sent by their keepers to steal some money as per instructed by them. The story about Toyol have some relation with the Climbing Perch.


Photo 7.10 : The baby corpse inside a jar


Photo 7.11 : A real figure of the mummified baby corpse


Photo 7.12 : The making of…Toyol is begin!!!

Toyol is a being that comes from baby corpse. The corpse is then mummified and kept inside a bottle or glass jar. When it ready to be used, the mummy is worshipped and during that time, Satan or genies will go inside the corpse and make it alive, just like the scientist that created the Frankenstein. When the corpse is alive, it will emerge in a form of a small boy, totally nude with green skin color. The Toyol is used for only one purpose, that is to steal money. The Toyol will go to the house which it have been instructed to. Normally, Toyol will only steal ¾ of the total amount of money that the victim’s have. They can go inside any house because they can went through any hole even it is as small as a needle tip. During their ‘working hours’ they tend to get hungry, so they will bit the toe from anybody inside the house and suck their blood but normally, the owner of Toyol will feed them with their own blood or blood from a black rooster.

In order to prevent Toyol from stealing our money, here are the tips. Scatter some beans (green) at your living room. The more the better. Toyol will stop there and play with the beans. Usually Toyol will count the beans one by one until finish. So, pur as much as possible!!! Make it count until dawn, because they must leave before dawn or they will be history. Another tip is to tie a crab inside your house. Toyol is so scare of crab. The last tip is to KEEP THE CLIMBING PERCH!!! Toyol loves to play with the fish, and they will keep playing until they forget about their boss command. Beside the use of astray Toyol from stealing your money, the Climbing Perch is also believe can ward off evil spirits and all the bad luck away from your home. How did the fish do that?? I have no idea. Just sharing my stories and share the lessons from it. Until we meet again, please take a good care of your fish.

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