Author Description

A slave named Badang, tired from clearing fields in Salouang, cast his net into the river. The next morning, he found the net empty and fish scales and bones strewn upon the shore. "Who is it that eats my fish?" he cried out, after this had happened several times more. With that he hid behind a tree and kept watch through the night and saw a hantou, or evil spirit, pulling in the net and eating his fish. The hantou had eyes red as fire and hair like woven osiers, with his beard hanging to his waist. Badang drew his knife and rushed at the ravenous spirit. "Every day you eat my fish " he cried out. "This time you shall die "