Fables and Folk-Tales from an Eastern Forest

[1] The Rãja of Pãtani ordered Che Long to cast a couple of cannon. The first one was cast successfully, but the second one at every attempt cracked in pieces. At length the Raja told Che Long (the workman) that if he could not succeed in casting it at the next trial, he should die the death.

Che Long replied, "I will cast it then at all costs," and in despair of saving his life, he uttered a vow and said, "So my Raja's pleasure be fulfilled, may I take the place of a cannon-ball and be shot out of my own gun."

As soon as the words were uttered the casting succeeded and "Che Long" entering the gun caused it to be fired. The charge was exploded in front of the Palace gate at Gresik [2] and Che Long only fell to earth when he reached the village at Kuala Barat [3] six miles away. Here his remains received burial, and a shrine was built and called by the name of The Saint of the Western River-mouth.

Now in the meanwhile the two guns were put on board ship to be conveyed to Bangkok, and on the way they were both discharged, one of them called the Luck of Patani [4] emitting a great roar and enveloping the whole country in smoke. This gun is still to be seen at Bangkok. But the other one fell overboard between Telok Tengar and Sabor, and was lost. And up to this day vows are paid at the Tomb of Che Long, especially for the recovery of lost or straying cattle, whose milk when the cattle are recovered is offered at the tomb. And in the case of lost or straying cattle, the Patani folk say, "Fool me not. Grandfather, but point out to me where my cattle are, and if you do so I'll make a pilgrimage to your tomb."

[1] This curious legend was told me by Mula Awang, of Patani.

[2] Gresik, now a mere hamlet some three or four miles from Patani town, was once the seat of royalty here, but has evidently been many years abandoned. I was shown the spot upon which the cannon (out of which Che Long was fired) is said to have stood, my Malay companion drawing my attention to the fact that it was bare of grass, since none would grow there after the event here described.

[3] Kuala Barat or the Western River-mouth is an old mouth of the Patani river (now silted up).

[4] The Luck of Patani (Mai., Sri Patani). I believe a small cannon bearing this name is to be seen in the Museum at Bangkok.