The Giant Snake (Nabau)
Posted by Crys JoanBigfoot, Anaconda, Yeti and Nessie are a very well-known monster all over the world.. 
but then, how about ‘Nabau‘ ? Have you ever heard about it? In 2009 a member of the disaster relief committee, Sibu was monitoring the flood situation in Ulu Rajang in a helicopter when he saw a monster that looked like a big snake cruising along the river, and from the helicopter, he took a picture of it (so that people will believe his story). But, the question is, what is Nabau? How does it look like? Is it just a snake or a myth creature that can bring good and bad luck to people..
Among the Iban folk tales, Nabau is like a “petara” (god) which has super natural powers. Seeing it alone will bring luck to the man. Its scales used by Iban as “pangkor” which can change someone into Incredible Hulk.
A Nabau is much like a snake, with a dragons head. It is a spirit that could bring you good luck or bad luck. It has 7 nostrils on its face and it can transform itself into any animal, to hide its real identity.
During the WWII a man was trying to escape from the Japanese communist, into the jungle, and deep within it he came across the spirit of Nabau. Its mouth was wide open, as open as a cave, so he thought to himself that he would rather hide inside its mouth and possibly die this way than be tortured and killed by the Japanese.. self-defense? hmm.. forget about it..
When inside the Nabau he found himself at the gallery of a longhouse. The people there (residents and families) brought the man to the village Chief. Here he paid his respects and his reason for the accidental intrusion. The chief and his people sympathised with the man, but the Chief assured him that the Japanese have given up their search through their complicated jungle terrain. The Chief offered him to be escorted back with the spirit Nabau, so it may bring him the same good luck in the future. The man gladly and thankfully accepted the generous Chief’s gesture. But in return, the Chief replied seriously, he must show his utmost decorous thanks and gratitude toward the Nabau.
Once outside, the man is lead by the Nabau spirit back to his village safely. The spirit has changed into a human being with a wet and slimy appearance to his face and body. He had no body parts to speak of, just a deathly, pale and silvery, scale-like texture.
Upon returning, his wife cooks the family dinner after their long journey, but the man does not invite the spirit into his home and just leaves him at the front of his house, outside. This insensitivity upsets the Nabau spirit and he calls out to the man to aid his long journey with him and display his gratitude. It is after all the right thing to do; to be courteous. He calls out for the man, but he doesn’t rouse a wink from his deep sleep, so the spirit disappears leaving the man and his family bad luck for the rest of their lives. As for the giant snake, whether it’s real or not.. you decide yourself..
