I AM

I am a hard working teacher who loves to laugh

I wonder how my students will do this year
I hear their brains clicking
I see the light in their eyes
I want them to want to succeed
I am a hard working teacher who loves to laugh

I pretend I am always in control
I feel like Im swimming in quicksand sometimes
I touch the hearts and minds of others
I worry that I am not good enough
I cry when one of my family is in pain
II am a hard working teacher who loves to laugh

I understand I cannot save everyone ignorance and apathy
I say I still need to try
I dream of being the best teacher I can be
I try to make my classes interesting
I hope I never stop caring
I am a hard working teacher who loves to laugh

--Art Belliveau

Questions:

1. Who is the main character in this poem?
2. What is the main purpose of being a teacher?

Answers:

1. The main character in this poem is the Hardworking Teacher
2. To teach her students very well and encourage them to study hard.












A NOCTURNAL REVERIE A POEM BY ANNE FINCH

In such a night, when every louder wind
Is to its distant cavern safe confined;
And only gentle Zephyr fans his wings,
And lonely Philomel, still waking, sings;

Or from some tree, famed for the owl's delight,
She, hollowing clear, directs the wand'rer right:
In such a night, when passing clouds give place,
Or thinly veil the heav'ns' mysterious face;

When in some river, overhung with green,
The waving moon and trembling leaves are seen;
When freshened grass now bears itself upright,
And makes cool banks to pleasing rest invite,

Whence springs the woodbind, and the bramble-rose,
And where the sleepy cowslip sheltered grows;
Whilst now a paler hue the foxglove takes,
Yet checkers still with red the dusky brakes

When scattered glow-worms, but in twilight fine,
Shew trivial beauties watch their hour to shine;
Whilst Salisb'ry stands the test of every light,
In perfect charms, and perfect virtue bright:

When odors, which declined repelling day,
Through temp'rate air uninterrupted stray;
When darkened groves their softest shadows wear,
And falling waters we distinctly hear;

When through the gloom more venerable shows
Some ancient fabric, awful in repose,
While sunburnt hills their swarthy looks conceal,
And swelling haycocks thicken up the vale:

When the loosed horse now, as his pasture leads,
Comes slowly grazing through th' adjoining meads,
Whose stealing pace, and lengthened shade we fear,
Till torn-up forage in his teeth we hear:

When nibbling sheep at large pursue their food,
And unmolested kine rechew the cud;
When curlews cry beneath the village walls,
And to her straggling brood the partridge calls;
Their shortlived jubilee the creatures keep,
Which but endures, whilst tyrant man does sleep;
When a sedate content the spirit feels,
And no fierce light disturbs, whilst it reveals;

But silent musings urge the mind to seek
Something, too high for syllables to speak;
Till the free soul to a composedness charmed,
Finding the elements of rage disarmed,

O'er all below a solemn quiet grown,
Joys in th' inferior world, and thinks it like her own:
In such a night let me abroad remain,
Till morning breaks, and all's confused again;
Our cares, our toils, our clamors are renewed,
Or pleasures, seldom reached, again pursued.




Questions:

1. What was the Nocturnal Reverie introduced for?
2. Who is the author of this poem?

Answers:

1. The Nocturnal Reverie introduced how our nature lives longer and having pleasant
life that everyone becomes happy and enjoy of being part of it.
2. The author of this poem is Anne Finch.
















A CHILD'S HYMN
Charles Dickens

Hear my prayer, O heavenly Father,
Ere I lay me down to sleep;
Bid Thy angels, pure and holy,
Round my bed their vigil keep.

My sins are heavy, but Thy mercy
Far outweighs them, every one;
Down before Thy cross I cast them,
Trusting in Thy help alone.

Keep me through this night of peril
Underneath its boundless shade;
Take me to Thy rest, I pray Thee,
When my pilgrimage is made.

None shall measure out Thy patience
By the span of human thought;
None shall bound the tender mercies
Which Thy Holy Son has bought.

Pardon all my past transgressions,
Give me strength for days to come;
Guide and guard me with Thy blessing
Till Thy angels bid me home.



Questions:

1. What can you say about the Childs Hymn?
2. What did the author try to imply?

Answers:

1. It is a prayer that introduced of giving thanks and forgiveness for all the sins.
2. The author tries to imply how strong in having faith in God.








LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP
Emily Bronte

Love is like the wild rose-briar,
Friendship like the holly-tree
The holly is dark when the rose-briar blooms
But which will bloom most constantly?

The wild-rose briar is sweet in the spring,
Its summer blossoms scent the air;
Yet wait till winter comes again
And who will call the wild-briar fair?

Then scorn the silly rose-wreath now
And deck thee with the holly's sheen,
That when December blights thy brow
He may still leave thy garland green.



Questions:

1. What was the wild-rose briar represents for?
2. Is Love and Friendship brings you happiness? Why?


Answers:

1. The wild-rose briar is sweet in the spring and summer blossoms scented in air.
2. Yes, it brings me happiness because it makes you feel better and meet people who
gave you a wonderful friendship that no one can replaced for.















IMMORTALITY

Foil'd by our fellow-men, depress'd, outworn,
We leave the brutal world to take its way,
And, Patience! in another life, we say
The world shall be thrust down, and we up-borne.

And will not, then, the immortal armies scorn
The world's poor, routed leavings? or will they,
Who fail'd under the heat of this life's day,
Support the fervours of the heavenly morn?

No, no! the energy of life may be
Kept on after the grave, but not begun;
And he who flagg'd not in the earthly strife,

From strength to strength advancing only he,
His soul well-knit, and all his battles won,
Mounts, and that hardly, to eternal life.



Questions:

1. What is Immortality?
2. Do you think it is happen in real life?


Answers:

1. Immortality is the ability to live forever.
2. No because only one can live forever that is HIM.








THE SCORPION AND THE FROG

One day, a scorpion looked around at the mountain where he lived and decided
that he wanted a change. So he set out on a journey through the forests and hills. He
climbed over rocks and under vines and kept going until he reached a river.
The river was wide and swift, and the scorpion stopped to reconsider the
situation. He couldn't see any way across. So he ran upriver and then checked
downriver, all the while thinking that he might have to turn back.
Suddenly, he saw a frog sitting in the rushes by the bank of the stream on the
other side of the river. He decided to ask the frog for help getting across the stream.
"Hellooo Mr. Frog!" called the scorpion across the water, "Would you be so kind
as to give me a ride on your back across the river?"
"Well now, Mr. Scorpion! How do I know that if I try to help you, you wont try to
kill me?" asked the frog hesitantly.
"Because," the scorpion replied, "If I try to kill you, then I would die too, for you
see I cannot swim!"
Now this seemed to make sense to the frog. But he asked. "What about when I
get close to the bank? You could still try to kill me and get back to the shore!"
"This is true," agreed the scorpion, "But then I wouldn't be able to get to the other
side of the river!"
"Alright then...how do I know you wont just wait till we get to the other side and
THEN kill me?" said the frog.
"Ahh...," crooned the scorpion, "Because you see, once you've taken me to the
other side of this river, I will be so grateful for your help, that it would hardly be fair to
reward you with death, now would it?!"
So the frog agreed to take the scorpion across the river. He swam over to the
bank and settled himself near the mud to pick up his passenger. The scorpion crawled
onto the frog's back, his sharp claws prickling into the frog's soft hide, and the frog slid
into the river. The muddy water swirled around them, but the frog stayed near the
surface so the scorpion would not drown. He kicked strongly through the first half of the
stream, his flippers paddling wildly against the current.
Halfway across the river, the frog suddenly felt a sharp sting in his back and, out
of the corner of his eye, saw the scorpion remove his stinger from the frog's back. A
deadening numbness began to creep into his limbs.
"You fool!" croaked the frog, "Now we shall both die! Why on earth did you do
that?"
The scorpion shrugged, and did a little jig on the drownings frog's back.
"I could not help myself. It is my nature."
Then they both sank into the muddy waters of the swiftly flowing river.
Self destruction - "Its my Nature", said the Scorpion...


Questions:

1. Why does scorpion needs a change?
2. What was the frog did to his friend scorpion?

Answers:

1. He set out on a journey through the forests and hills. He climbed over rocks and
under vines and kept going until he reached a river.

2. He swam over to the bank and settled himself near the mud to pick up his passenger.
The scorpion crawled onto the frog's back, his sharp claws prickling into the frog's soft
hide, and the frog slid into the river. The muddy water swirled around them, but the frog
stayed near the surface so the scorpion would not drown. He kicked strongly through
the first half of the stream, his flippers paddling wildly against the current.








THE WOLF AND THE LAMB
Wolf, meeting with a Lamb astray from the fold, resolved not to lay violent hands
on him, but to find some plea to justify to the Lamb the Wolfs right to eat him.
He thus addressed him: Sirrah, last year you grossly insulted me. Indeed,
bleated the Lamb in a mournful tone of voice, I was not then born. Then said the Wolf,
You feed in my pasture. No, good sir, replied the Lamb, I have not yet tasted grass.
Again said the Wolf, You drink of my well. No, exclaimed the Lamb, I never yet
drank water, for as yet my mothers milk is both food and drink to me.
Upon which the Wolf seized him and ate him up, saying, Well! I wont remain
supperless, even though you refute every one of my imputations.
The tyrant will always find a pretext for his tyranny.


Questions:

1. What was the wolf did?
2. What was the lamb exclaimed for?


Answers:

1. Thw wolf meets with a lamb, resolved not to lay violents hands on him, but to find
some plea to justify to the Lamb because he has right to eat him.
2. He exclaimed that he never yet drank water, for as yet his mothers milk is both food
and drinks.









THE MOUSE, THE FROG, AND THE HAWK
A Mouse who always lived on the land, by an unlucky chance formed an intimate
acquaintance with a Frog, who lived for the most part in the water.
The Frog, one day intent on mischief, bound the foot of the Mouse tightly to his
own. Thus joined together, the Frog first of all led his friend the Mouse to the meadow
where they were accustomed to find their food. After this, he gradually led him towards
the pool in which he lived, until reaching the very brink, he suddenly jumped in, dragging
the Mouse with him.
The Frog enjoyed the water amazingly, and swam croaking about, as if he had
done a good deed. The unhappy Mouse was soon suffocated by the water, and his
dead body floated about on the surface, tied to the foot of the Frog. A Hawk observed it,
and, pouncing upon it with his talons, carried it aloft.
The Frog, being still fastened to the leg of the Mouse, was also carried off a
prisoner, and was eaten by the Hawk.

Questions:

1. What was the difference between mouse and frog?
2. What was the hawk looking for?


Answers:

1. A Mouse who always lived on the land, by an unlucky chance formed an intimate
acquaintance with a Frog, who lived for the most part in the water.

2. A Hawk observed it, and, pouncing upon it with his talons, carried it aloft.








THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE
The hare was once boasting of his speed before the other animals. I have never
yet been beaten, said he, when I put forth my full speed. I challenge anyone here to
race with me.
The tortoise said quietly, I accept your challenge.
That is a good joke, said the hare. I could dance around you all the way.
Keep your boasting until youve beaten, answered the tortoise. Shall we race?
So a course was fixed and a start was made. The hare darted almost out of sight
at once, but soon stopped and, to show his contempt for the tortoise, lay down to have a
nap. The tortoise plodded on and plodded on, and when the hare awoke from his nap,
he saw the tortoise nearing the finish line, and he could not catch up in time to save the
race.
Plodding wins the race.


Questions:
1. Who won the battle between the tortoise and the hare?
2. What was the hare said before they start racing?

Answers:
1. The tortoise won the race.
2. The hare said that he was never beaten.





THE FOX AND THE HEDGEHOG
A Fox swimming across a rapid river was carried by the force of the current into a
very deep ravine, where he lay for a long time very much bruised, sick, and unable to
move. A swarm of hungry blood-sucking flies settled upon him. A Hedgehog, passing
by, saw his anguish and inquired if he should drive away the flies that were tormenting
him.
By no means, replied the Fox; pray do not molest them. How is this? said the
Hedgehog; do you not want to be rid of them? No, returned the Fox, for these flies
which you see are full of blood, and sting me but little, and if you rid me of these which
are already satiated, others more hungry will come in their place, and will drink up all
the blood I have left.

Questions:

1. What was the fox did?
2. What can you about the hedgehog?


Answers:

1. A Fox swimming across a rapid river was carried by the force of the current into a
very deep ravine, where he lay for a long time very much bruised, sick, and unable to
move.

2. A hedgehog is spiny mammals of a sub-family.









THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER MATTHEW 13:1-23
In this story, Jesus told about the word of God being like seed that a sower
(farmer) threw out. It fell on many kinds of soil.
Some of the seed fell by the wayside, along the path. The birds came down and
ate the seed. This is like the person who hears the message, but does not understand
it. The evil one comes and takes it away.
Some seed fell on the rocky ground. The plants came up quickly, but there was
not much earth so the plants dried up. This is the person who receives the word, but
falls away when trouble comes.
Some seed fell on the thorny ground and the thorn bushes choked the seed. This
is the person who is worried about life and wealth.
Then some of the seed fell on good ground. Those seed grew into healthy plants
and produced a good crop, some a hundredfold, some sixtyfold and some thirtyfold.
"The good soil," said Jesus, " is like people who are honest. When they hear
God's word, they remember it, and do what God says." These people produce a
bountiful crop for the Lord.

Questions:

1. What was the good soil stands for?
2. What Jesus told in this story?


Answers:

1. The good soil stands for people who are honest.
2. Jesus told about the word of God being like seed that a sower (farmer) threw out. It
fell on many kinds of soil.






THE GOOD SAMARITAN LUKE 10:25-37
This is a story that Jesus told when a man asked what he must do to have
everlasting life. "What is written in the commandments?" Jesus asked.
The man answered: "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, and
with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and you must love
your neighbor as yourself.."
Then the man wanted to know, "But who is my neighbor?" Jesus then told about
the man who was on his way from Jerusalem to Jericho and was robbed and beaten
and left half dead by the roadside.
First a priest came by, and when he saw the wounded man, he passed by on the
other side.
Next a Levite came and he, too, looked at the hopeless man and passed by on
the other side of the road.
Then a Samaritan came along. He took care of the hurt man and then put him on
his donkey and took him to an inn to stay. The Samaritan paid for everything.
When Jesus finished the parable, he asked, "Which of the three men was a
neighbor?"
The man answered, "The man who took pity on him."
Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

Questions:
1. Which of the three men was a neighbor?
2. What is written in the commandments?


Answers:
1. The man who took pity on him
2. "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with
all your strength, and with all your mind; and you must love your neighbor as yourself."


THE LOST SON LUKE 15:11-31
Jesus told the story of the prodigal (wasteful) son.
A rich man had two sons, whom he loved very much. The younger son asked for
his inheritance and then left home. The older brother stayed home and helped his
father. Before long, the younger son had spent all his money, and his so-called friends
left him because he was no longer rich.
Then a famine came upon the land. The young son was all alone, and he even
took a job taking care of pigs. He was so hungry that he wanted to eat the pig's food.
Finally, he decided that the servants in his father's house were better off than he
was, so he started the long journey back home. His father forgave him and welcomed
him home. They had a grand feast and celebration. The father gave him a robe, a ring,
and shoes. The older brother was angry, but his father told him to forgive his brother
and to rejoice that he had come home.
God loves us just as this father loved his son.


Questions:

1. What the difference between the two sons?
2. What was the younger son did?


Answers:
1. The younger son asked for his inheritance and then left home. The older brother
stayed home and helped his father.
2. The younger son had spent all his money, and his so-called friends left him because
he was no longer rich.





THE PRODIGAL SON
Jesus tells the story of a man who has two sons. The younger son asks his father
to give him his portion of the family estate as an early inheritance. Once received, the
son promptly sets off on a long journey to a distant land and begins to waste his fortune
on wild living. When the money runs out, a severe famine hits the country and the son
finds himself in dire circumstances. He takes a job feeding pigs. He is so destitute that
he even longs to eat the food assigned to the pigs.
The young man finally comes to his senses, remembering his father. In humility,
he recognizes his foolishness, decides to return to his father and ask for forgiveness
and mercy. The father who had been watching and waiting, receives his son back with
open arms of compassion. He is overjoyed by the return of his lost son! Immediately the
father turns to his servants and asks them to prepare a giant feast in celebration.
Meanwhile, the older son is not one bit happy when he comes in from working
the fields and discovers a party going on to celebrate his younger brother's return. The
father tries to dissuade the older brother from his jealous rage explaining, "You are
always with me, and everything I have is yours."

Questions:
1. Who is the prodigal son?
2. In young man, what was finally comes in his senses?


Answers:

1. The younger son is the prodigal son.
2. The young man finally comes to his senses, remembering his father. In humility, he
recognizes his foolishness, decides to return to his father and ask for forgiveness and
mercy.

THE LOST SHEEP
A man had a 100 sheep. He loved those sheep so much. Everyday he would
take them to the pasture so they could eat. Everyday he took them to the water so they
could drink. Every night he counted them to be sure they were all safe.
One night, he only counted 99. One of his sheep was lost! The man was so
upset. He went to find the lost sheep. He searched and searched. Finally he found the
lost sheep. He wanted to celebrate. He was so happy.
Jesus said, "That is how My Father feels. He does not want any of His little ones
to wander away."

Questions:
1. Would God be sad if we wandered?
2. What happened to a sheep?

Answers:
1. Yes because he dont want to make our self upset.
2. One is missing.










A TALE FROM THE PADAS RIVER (Tenom)
( A Murut Folk Tale )

There was once o lonq house in Kampung Tatamuan beside the river Malalap. It
was the tradition of the Murut people, that men had to hunt animals for food as a
contribution to society.

There was a young hunter among them who went on a hunting trip with other
villagers. He had to leave his family and his pregnant wife behind at the long house.

In those days, a hunting trip usually took many weeks, as they had to poach and
wait, or very often penetrate far into the jungle.

During their absence, the village folk discovered a python on the bank of the
river. They immediately killed it for food. The remains of the skin were used to make big
and small drums.

It had been quite a while since the hunting group had left the village and there
was still no sign of their return.

Out of boredom, the villagers decided to hold a feast. Feasting was very common
amongst them and it was part of their tradition as well. They began to celebrate with
meat from this huge python. They had plenty of food to eat and to share.

Usually light entertainment, such as dancing and singing were performed during
such a celebration. This was accompanied by playing the drums which were made from
the skin of the snake. However, the moment they hit the drums, the cats and dogs
began to fight with each other. Even though they tried, but somehow, the villagers could
not stop half way during the celebration. They decided to change to the other drums
also made from the snake skin.

This time, the sound of the drums caused an evil sort of spell and the villagers
started to fight amongst themselves. There was havoc and death and it was a very sad
situation. Some of those who were fortunate enough to be alive, escaped the plundering
by hiding in the jungle. It so happened that the young hunter's wife also escaped and a
short time later gave birth to a child.

Eventually the hunting party returned and they were remorsely disappointed at
such misfortune. They decided to go their separate ways and set up families elsewhere.
The young hunter took his wife and child and left the village. After a short while, they
arrived at a clearing near a river bank. All of a sudden the hunter's dog caught sight of a
Tempadau (wild cow) and chased after it, closely followed by the hunter. By now the
hunting dog had caught up with the Tempadau which was wading across the river.
Suddenly there was a voice from the top of the hill admonishing them to stop their hunt.

The young man, already frustrated with what had happened back at the village,
was in no mood for such a warning. He still followed his hunting dog. A bolt of lightning
struck, followed by a thun 'en They have unknowingly trespassed onto holy ground and
were immediately turned into stones.

Till today the young man is known as the Batu Balingoi. The Tempadau in the
middle of the river is called the Batu Masokoh. The wife and child who followed behind
are called the Batu Magibah.

This all happened along the Sungai Pagalan and the stones can still be found
there in the river at Tenom.



Questions:

1. What was the tradition of Murut people?
2. What is Tempadau?


Answers:

1. Tradition of the Murut people, that men had to hunt animals for food as a contribution
to society.

2. The Tempadau in the middle of the river is called the Batu Masokoh.




















THE STORY OF THE SUN

In the beginning of the world there were two moons in the heaven. One of them
WQS a male moon and the other was a female moon. The two of them always arose in
the east.

On earth there lived a man named Sigunting, a hero among the folk at that time.
One day he had a dream. He dreamt that an old man was very cold and complained
that there was no heat to warm the world.

"What must we do to obtain heat to warm this world?" Sigunting asked. The old
man replied, "Young hero, take your magic bow and arrow, climb to the top of Mount
Kinabalu and shoot an arrow eastward".

Upon awakening from the dream, Sigunting climbed the mountain as asked by
the old man. He shot an arrow with his magic bow. The arrow struck the male moon and
blinded him. As a result, the earth was even darker than before, as there was only one
moon left. The owls began to cry because the male moon did not appear as usual.
However, Sigunting and the folk began to celebrate their success with a big feast. As
usual, according to tradition, they beat the gongs, slaughtered cattle and drank wine
tapai and had a good time. However, they realized that they felt even colder than
before.

After some time, when the situation seemed quite hopeless, the male moon
suddenly appeared.

To their surprise there was an arrow stuck in the eye of the moon. In a mournful
mood, the moon told them that he was very ashamed to meet his wife, the female
moon, and he promised that if anyone could help him to remove the arrow he would
help to generate heat for them. The folk sat down in a meeting to discuss on how they
could help as the moon was so far away.

In olden days, some animals and birds could communicate with human beings. A
huge bird came along in the midst of their meeting. "Whoever is brave enough to sit on
my back will be flown by me up to the moon to remove the arrow". Sigunting agreed to
follow the bird on this mission. They flew off at the first light of dawn. When they
reached the moon, the moon begon to cry and related to them his sorrow. He was
ashamed to meet his wife because he was blinded by the arrow. Howevec he was
delighted that they had eventually come to remove the arrow. On completion of their
task the male moon instructed them to fly back immediately as he had promised to
generate heat in return for removing the arrow. Sigunting was told to show the arrow to
the villagers and wait for the heat the moon had promised.

When they returned to the village, the people were still seen praying to the
stones and trees hoping for a miracle.

They were happy indeed on seeing Sigunting safely returned with the arrow in
his hand. By now they were feeling the heat. Only this village knew the secret. Other
villages, not knowing the secret, enjoyed the heat as well and began to celebrate.

There was much relief everywhere when the heat touched them. They celebrated
as usual, beating gongs, feasting and dancing. But the funniest of all were the dancing
animals such as the dogs, cats, goats, pigs, monkeys and cows.

This funny sight caused the hot moon to laugh and drips of red hot saliva flowed
from his mouth. The saliva was believed to have accidentally caused many of the folk to
turn into stone boulders, some in small, others in huge groups. The unlucky individuals
who had turned into stones were mainly the farmers as well as some of their animals.
These stones can still be seen scattered along the foothills of Mount Kinabalu.


Questions:

1. What are the two moons in heaven?
2. Who is Sigunting?


Answers:

1. One of them WQS a male moon and the other was a female moon. The two of them
always arose in the east.

2. A man named Sigunting, a hero among the folk at that time.



















THE CROCODILE POOL
( A Rungus Folk Tale )

There was once a very beautiful long house near Ulu Pong. The folk there were
happy people who enjoyed a prosperous life. Many kinds of entertainment and
celebrations were held. Beside the usual activities of gong beating. dancing and wine
sipping, they also included domestic animals in the fun. They took great pleasure in
teasing and abusing the animals.

However by traditional custom, they were supposed to respect domestic animals
like dogs, cats, pigs, and goats, as contrary actions were believed to offend the gods.

One day, while they were carrying on as usual with their merry making, a great
storm, which lasted several days swept over the village, causing heavy damage to
nature. They did not care about what was happening outside as they were too drunk
and happy to bother. Besides, they felt very secure inside their huge long house.

It did not take long for the water to rise and flood the entire land, including the
long house. Since they had offended the gods, there was no way of escaping without
punishment. When the flood eventually subsided, no long house could be seen
anymore, but instead a huge pool filled with crocodiles.

Up till this date, the village folk believe that the gods caused the storm to serve
as a punishment to those who do not observe their customs and have no respect for
animals. Sometimes the villagers trap those crocodiles in the pool for food, which they
also sell on the local market.

The site is known as "The Crocodile Pool" of Kota Marudu as well as Kulum
Buyut. The folk there believe that they must never harm or abuse animals again.



Questions:

1. What happened if the great storm comes?
2. Why this legend called The Crocodile Pool?


Answers:

1. A great storm, which lasted several days swept over the village, causing heavy
damage to nature.

2. The folk there believe that they must never harm or abuse animals again.


BULAN GARHANA - ECLIPSE OF THE MOON
( A Kadazan Folk Tale ) ( A Kadazan Folk Tale )

Tareb, the son of the god Kineringan wanted to marry another god's daughter.
However, he was restricted because he could not deliver the 'Barian' (dowry) to heaven.
The dowry had to be obtained from the earth.

He was very upset and disappointed. He thought of a plan which involved
swallowing the moon. Once he had done that, there was darkness on earth and the
people began to worry and became afraid. They thought that they had offended the
gods and decided to hold a feast.

They prepared all kinds of food, gathered their gongs, drums, jars of wine, items
of jewellery and beads, dressed in traditional costumes and began to celebrate. They
danced and sang, beat the gongs and slaughtered animals as a sacrifice to please the
heavenly deity.

Tareb, on seeing such delighfful sights, began to savour the spirit of their
celebration and, having forgotten all about the moon in his mouth, he accidentally
opened his mouth and released the moonlight again.

Tareb, by this time, was so engrossed with delight at the sight of the barian,
consisting of the gongs, musical instruments and jewellery, that he could not care less
what happened to the moon. He had got what he wanted and was able to marry his
loved one.

The people on earth were even happier at the sight of the moonlight.

The story goes even today, that whenever there is an eclipse, the folk still adhere
to the traditional ways of bringing back the moon by celebrating to appease the spirits,
same as they had done in the past.


Questions:

1. Who is Tareb in this story?
2. What is the interpretation about an eclipse?


Answers:

1. Tareb, the son of the god Kineringan wanted to marry another god's daughter.

2. Whenever there is an eclipse, the folk still adhere to the traditional ways of bringing
back the moon by celebrating to appease the spirits, same as they had done in the past.

THE OLD MAN AND THE RIBONG TREES
( A Murut Folk Tale )

It was the tradition of the Murut tribe to select a chief from amongst them. There
was an old man with a 'Titimbak' (Murut traditional head gear), who claimed that he was
the chief of all chiefs. The folk accepted him as their righfful 'Orang Tua' (Chief) and
followed his advise and instructions. This was probably because he was very practical,
wise and kind-hearted.

One day he instructed all the villagers to cultivate as many 'Tabasan' (rice fields)
as possible, which meant that they had to clear a lot of jungle and bushes for planting.

They obediently did what the old man instructed. Before the clearing began, the
old man told them to spare the Nibong and Menggaris trees. After the massive and
tiring job of clearing the sites. the villagers began to plant.

It did not take long and they were able to harvest quantities of rice like never
before. There was enough to feed everyone for a very long time. However the storage
space was not enough to accommodate the huge quantity of the rice harvest and the
villagers began to worry. The old man calmed them down and promised to take care of
the grain's storage. He used his magic power and stored all the harvest inside the
Nibong and Menggaris trees.

The villagers were very happy and praised their chief for his good idea. However,
the old man had to stand guard by the trees all the time in order to ensure a fair
distribution of rice among the villagers.

As time went by, most of the villagers became greedy and hinted that the old
man was misusing his power. They decided to protest and find a better solution for a fair
distribution.

After a big argument and protest by the villagers, the old man said: "If you want
to see all the grain, it can never be restored again as it is against the magic power".
However, at this stage inquisitiveness was stronger than any other reason and the
villagers demanded that the old man produces the rice stored in the trees.

In a fit of anger the old man threw his spear into the Menggaris and Nibong trees
and all the golden grain came pouring out of the trees, until the ground was paved with
rice. By now, the villagers started to realise that they were wrong about their chief.
Howevec it was too late. They had misjudged the Orang Tua. The magic power of the
old man worked only once. The old man felt very offended having his leadership
doubted and laid o curse upon all of them.

He said: "Your generation shall meet a similar fate to that of the banana trees.
When the old tree dies it will leave the young to fend for itself." So it was to be with the
villagers. The young had to fend for themselves ffom this date onwards.
Since they were cursed, the villagers begged the old man to impose a lesser
punishment upon them. They preferred to be like the moon. When the full moon
disappears the young moon will immediately appear again. The old man agreed but he
caused the tribe to inherit both punishments. Unlike before with an unending supply of
rice from the old man, they had to work very hard for a living even till this day.



Questions:

1. What was the old man instructed to all villagers?
2. What was the old man with Titimbak claimed for?




Answers:

1. He instructed all the villagers to cultivate as many 'Tabasan' (rice fields) as possible,
which meant that they had to clear a lot of jungle and bushes for planting.

2. An old man with a 'Titimbak' (Murut traditional head gear), who claimed that he was
the chief of all chiefs.