Dancing Balls of Fire

When I first joined the rubber plantation in Taiping,I resided with the plantation Manager.When I was hardly three months there, one late evening the Manager knocked on my door only to be told to witness a ball of fire floating just  out side the fenced area of the bungalow.

It appeared around the area just in front of the Manager's window.From there we could see it floating slowly around as it was lifted or carried to waist high level  by some one. Only thing scary was there was no one seem to be around assisting it. 

The ball of fire was no bigger than a football.  All fired up burning brightly.At a glance we had suspected some one was carrying it around but no - no one was present.It just simply floated lightly around without any aids whatsoever.It knocked against the fence once or twice but to no avail as it could not come through it.But as it crushed against the wire netting fence there appeared to be a slight crashing sound though never loud enough to attack any attentions.We saw that.

That ball of fire circle round  nearly half an hour or so before it floated away leaving us to marvel and wonder at its sight>Later I was informed the ball of fire dancing around at night were actually  minor ghosts.Ghost bred by some "bomohs"who were residing around the vicinity.Those ghost were released in the deep of the evenings to search for food.They roamed about usually in the form of balls of fire and would return "home" once they were satisfied with their outings.Normally these ghosts do not harm any one.

On another occasion about two months later I had another encounter with another ball of fire.One week end I made a trip to town and had to return to the estate that very evening.I arrived at he entrance road leading to the estate past 11,00p.m.The taxi could not send me further as there was a locked railway gate obstructing the way,so I was forced to walk home.

Wah!!! just imagine having to walk the next two miles of laterite road and at night.I have not done that before,that would really be an experience.The whole stretch of road seem very dark but I could still make out the road without much problem as my eye sights were still excellent.Actually it took a lot of guts to endure that long and lonely road at night.

I had at least expected some one would be like me going back so late at night but sad to say there was none available.Initially I bravely walked at quite a steady space.Both sides of the road were old rubber stand.The inter-rows on both sides were covered with thick growth of shrubs and wild rubber seedlings.There was fear of meeting with some wild animals along the way.Wild boars or "musang" were common.Well scared maybe but with no choice I had to struggle on.

Everything around seem so quite except for some crying sounds made by insects and crikets.On the way there were occasion where I stumbled upon some night birds flying about.All these does not frighten me  and I surged ahead with half heartedly.Almost half way through my my journey home I suddenly became astonish at the sight of a ball of fire,dancing some twenty meters away from me.

It was the size of a football,kept afloat about waist high from the ground level.It drifted across the laterite road way ahead me.That really shook my guts out of my wits.There was nothing I could  do as now I was between the devil and the deep blue sea.Oh,no !!!,I meant that I was half towards home and an equal distance towards the main road.That sinister thing had to be in between me and home.

Fortunately that ball of fire did not drift or advanced towards me.It was on the road for a few seconds before floating into the thick "belukar". Seeing  that I decided to make a dash home .There was no choice because should I retreat out to the main road I would end up disastrously with no shelter for the night Taxi were rare at those hours.

Armed with no alternative I decided to make a desperate dash ahead.That night I think I ran the fastest 100 meters of my entire life.I think I ran that under fourteen seconds or so.What a dash really?.In haste I passed the spot where the ball of fire had floated.The ball of fire had gone into the bushes and I did not notice whether it was by the side or because I just surged ahead as fast as I could. Passing every thing without eying side ways to  check what were around.

The ball of fire did not come out of its hiding place to frighten me.So within minutes I was safely home at the bungalow.However the lighting were all out as it was almost twelve o'clock already.Having that experience I just went on to my own bed room and rested for the night.It surely was a very tiresome night.