While I was attached to that plantation,in Gunong Inas Estate,Selama,there were some contract tappers who tapped the slaughtered area as early as 2.00 a.m.in the morning so as to extract better yield of rubber.Therefore, I was curious as how they could about tapping rubber so early in the morning.
So I made the Tapping Contractor to send his "kapala" to escort me into those fields in tapping during those time.Although that was not necessary of me to do that but as I said out of curiosity I just want to have first knowledge on how it was done.
One fine morning,at the appointed time about 2.00 a.m.I met that "kapala" who took me into those field on his motor cycle.Arriving at the field in tapping I visibly saw lights moving in the field. Before going into that field the "kapala" lighted some joss sticks to pray at a small shrine under a tree first.That was to seek protection from the "Keramet"or "Dato" so that no harm will come to us when we go into that field.It seem the rest of the workers also had lighted joss sticks before going in to tap.
The lights in the fields were some distance from each other,because each individual tapper had their own task to tap.We first went to the nearerst tapper who was a woman tapping.She bore a a lamp attached to her forehead as she perform her tapping.As this was a slaughteruing area the trees had nemerous cuts all over and some even had upward tapping cuts.
All these cuts were to extract as much rubber flow out of the tree.That was full exploitation of the trees as the field will be cut down soon giving way to replanting.On going round I found out that most of these tappers were females except for a few men.
These tappers were very daring going tapping so early in the morning,just for slightly better payment.Just imagine moving alone in the darkness with only a head light,tapping from tree to tree,and their nearest companion is a task away which were a few chains away.Besides those under growth between rows of rubber trees were quite bushy.
Their only protection were their sharp tapping knives but these women tappers were definitely very tough ,among them were also some young pretty girls.Later I inquired from that "kapala"whether these tappers had met with any troubles in the fields like wild animals or snakes before.His reply was a firm "No"."These women are very strong,beside they are handy with the sharp tapping knives".
"What about ghosts?",I further asked."We have prayed to the "Dato" before we come into the field so no troubles",he replied.Apparently there was a story behind this as he continued as to why the alter under the tree was for.That was to pay homage and honor the " Kramat"or "Dato"- a sort of guardian of that area.Pray to it before they enter that field to work and they will be protected from evils,even wild animals and snakes.
Hard to believe but every tappers there seem to obey and obediently lid up joss sticks to pray before they worked.According the "kapala"that place was initially
under contract to another.Those days no "Kramet" altar or shrine whatsoever,without which his workers often saw transfiguration white images of an old man near to that tree where the altar was placed.
Somehow that white figure did not harm anyone and very often disappeared within seconds when sighted.As if that were not weird enough tappers tapping early in the morning on a number of occasion met with some one in white tapping rubber.Thinking that was a friend they walked near to it but the figure disappear into thin air.The tree that figure supposed to have tapped did not yield anything.
Seeing that spooky the poor guys bolted in fear,running towards his other friends in other tasks.Thereafter most of the Contractor's tappers refused to return to tap in that field and so the Contractor lost his contract.
A new Contractor was engaged and he consulted with temple dieties before senting his tappers in to tap.The temple medium instructed him to construct a small shrine or altar under that tree in honor of the "Kramet"of that area and to pray to it to seek his permission and protection for his workers to tap in that field.
Eversince that shrine was built no white figures were seen nor were there any other ghost to disturb the tappers .So long everyone paid respect to that "Kramet",all were safe.
to be continued.the ghost will come soon.
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