..::The White Crocodile of the Pegalan::..Once there was a very dry period in Sabah which lasted for three years. People could hardly find food or grow crops because the soil was too dry. All the streams had dried up, except for the Pegalan River which was also very low. Some people had built little huts on the river bank so that they could get water easily. They also fished in the river for food.
Among those who came to live on the river bank was a poor old couple. Each day they went to the river to fish. Sometimes they had a good catch. Other times luck was just not with them. And when this happened, they had to go hungry for the day. One very hot day, they went fishing in the river as usual. They fished for several hours, but did not catch anything. Instead, on the river bank they found an egg which looked like a goose egg. They took it home, cooked and ate it. A few minutes later, their bodies began to itch. After a few days, white spots began to appear on their bodies. Their skin became very coarse and then they changed into crocodiles. But they had no tails! And they were white in colour!
When this happened, they refused to leave their hut as they did not want the villagers to see them. After a week of not seeing them, their neighbors began to be suspicious. Thinking that something might have happened to them, the neighbors went to their hut to look for them. When they found the two crocodiles inside, they were shocked and wanted to run away. But the crocodiles assured them they would not be harmed and told the story about the strange egg. Still uneasy for their safety, the villagers suggested that the crocodiles should move into the Pegalan River.
The two crocodiles realized they had no other choice but to leave. However, they wanted everyone to know that they were still their friends and they promised to protect the villagers from other crocodiles. In return, the villagers must promise not to kill crocodiles without good reason.
BY ANTHONY KALAWAT
