The Ghosts of Perak River

As a young child I was made to believe that there were ghosts plying along the length of Perak River always on the look out for a replacement for their predicaments.Perhaps these were stories to frighten us kids from playing by the river sides which were deep and at times fast flowing,and anyway too deep for us and partly because this river were infested with crocodiles.

Believe me we really took those tales to heart and stayed away from that river.To worsen our believes, apparently that wretched river really took at least a live every year.But it was not big deal really as some poor soul will definitely drowned in that river.Maybe it was just an coincidence with such a lengthy river which meandered round the town.

Even good swimmers had drowned in that nasty river,with many claiming they were dragged down to the river bottom by river ghosts looking for a replacement.Pulled down by ghosts???,maybe they were unlucky to be pulled away to the bottom by crocodiles,one never know.

Many also rely on the river for their daily household used ,for washing their clothes as well as taking their bath,lost their balance and ultimately fell into the fast flowing river especially during low tide.What ever it was many have lot their lives every year in that river and there can be any dispute over these.

There were also many small whirl pools especially at the mouth of many rivers leading into the main river.They do not seem dangerous but still many still claimed that many lives were lost around there.

In our young days the river was also a main means of transport for those living across and up river.Those were days where there were not many roads so the river were their main mean of transportation for them as well as for their crops.Many rubber plantation were also established across the river and their main means of transportation was by boats and ferries.

Capsizing of boats and sampan those days were common where many lives were lost.Bodies dragged down into the river only to be recovered in the following days to come.Sad really when such tragedies occurred.




to be continued.