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.

My great-great-grandfather fought alongside Americans, during the world war in 1942 (date not exact, could be 1931), against the invading communist Japanese enemies. Escaping killing raids, he was followed by the Japanese to be punished and ultimately killed. He ran away into the jungle and deep within it, came across the spirit Nabau. Its mouth was wide open, as open as a cave, so he thought to himself he would rather hide in its mouth and possibly die this way than be tortured and killed by the Japanese.

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 NabauNabau, so it may bring him the same good luck in the future. for added protection if he wished it. 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

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.