each drop was borne away by the current, a large jar immediately rose to the
surface and floated, in defiance of all natural laws, up-stream to the spot whence
the blood came. As each jar floated up Che Puteh’s wife tapped it with her knife
and pulled it in to the edge of the rocks. On opening them she found them all full
of gold. She then went in search of her husband and told him of the treasure of
which she had suddenly become possessed. He spared her life, and they lived
together in the enjoyment of great wealth and prosperity for many years. Their
old age was clouded, it is believed, by the anxiety attending the possession of a
beautiful daughter, who was born to them after they became rich. She grew up to
the perfection of loveliness, and all the Rajas and Chiefs of the neighbouring
countries were her suitors. The multitude of rival claims so bewildered the
unhappy parents that, after concealing a great part of their riches in various
places, they disappeared and have never since been seen. Their property was
never found by their children, though, in obedience to instructions received in
dreams, they braved sea-voyages and went to seek for it in the distant lands of
Kachapuri and Jamulepor.
“Several places near Jambai connected with the legend of Che Puteh are still
pointed out; at Bukit Bunyian the treasure was buried and still lies concealed. A
deep gorge leading down to the river is the ghaut down which Che Puteh’s vast
flocks of buffaloes used to go to the river. Its size is evidence of the great
number of the animals, and therefore of the wealth of their owner. Two deep
pools, called respectively Lubuk Gong and Lubuk Sarunai, contain a golden
gong and a golden flute which were sunk here by Che Puteh Jambai. The flute
may sometimes be seen lying on one of the surrounding rocks, but always
disappears into the depths of the pool before any mortal can approach it. The
treasures of Lubuk Gong might before now have passed into human possession,
had it not been for the covetousness of the individual selected as their recipient.
A Malay of Ulu Perak was told in a dream to go and fish in the pool of the gong
and to take a pair of betel-nut scissors (kachip) with him. He was to use the
kachip immediately on being told to do so. Next morning he was at the pool
early, and at his first cast hooked something heavy and commenced to draw it
up. When the hook appeared above water there was a gold chain attached to it.
The lucky fisherman then commenced to pull up the chain into his canoe, and
hauled up fathoms of it, hand over hand, until the boat could hardly hold any
more. Just then a little bird alighted on a branch close by and piped out a couple
of notes, which sounded for all the world like kachip. The man heard, but he