Golden Ship Lake, A Rarely Heard Legend from Cambodia

By Sayana Ser

Once upon a time, a ship sailed from the East to Cambodia. This ship was full of gold and other treasures. After encountering bad weather, it sank in a deep area of a lake near Ponhea Leu district, Kandal province. Since then, villagers nearby witnessed many strange but pleasant events. Some people saw treasures float to the surface of the water. They called the lake Boeng Sampeou Meas (Golden Ship Lake). The two lakes nearby are Raung Touk and Chvea. The villagers recalled that there were two kinds of spirits in the lakes called Ta Bang Bat1 and Mrenh Korngveal2 .

The legend has it that Ta Bang Bat feels pity for a couple who come for fishing in the lake everyday. One day, the couple rowed their boat in the lake to fish. When the wife pulled the boat’s line from the water, it became stuck as if something was pulling it back. Suddenly, there appeared young Mrenh Korngveal spirits and Ta Bang Bat. They asked the wife to make fresh noodle for him and the young spirits to eat. Mrenh Korngveal also asked her to give them her oar. She had no idea how they had appeared, but agreed. Satisfied with consent, the young spirits and Ta Bang Bat disappeared. The wife continued pulling the line. This time it became loose; at the end of it she saw gold. Other villagers experienced similar events when they fished in lake. These stories were passed down from one person to another, so more and more people heard about the lake.

Many generations passed, and the lake became a sacred place where people of different ethnic backgrounds (Cham, Chvea, Chinese and Khmer) worshiped during their festivals. Some people went there to borrow utensils from the lake for their weddings or religious events. More and more people did the same. To receive these things, they had to say, “Please allow me to borrow your utensils, I will return them to you.” But some people did not return them to the lake. Some returned only part of what they had borrowed. And some wanted more and more gold from the lake. So due to greed and insincerity, all the sacredness faded.

Villagers recall that a few people who visited the lake later became soul-enticing doctors, taught by Mrenh Korngveals. Mr. Neak Manan, a villager, said that one of his older friends named Dhin visited the lake and became lost for a few days and his parents and friends could not find him. He heard those who called to him but he could not answer or see them. Afterward, he returned home on his own, but he was never the same and his speech had become confused. However, he had acquired a special skill: he could entice souls.

A number of people drowned in the lake. Some believed that these deaths were caused by the Mrenh Korngveals and other sacred beings in the lake. Even if this story is a folktale many people in Ponhea Leu know it and pass it from person to person. Some people believe it is a true story. District Imam Ahmad says that the story reflects the truth because in the old days many people traded by ship between countries and Mrenh Korngveals flourished. When asked from which country the golden ship came, Ahmad said he does not know but he speculates that the ship might have come from China as during that time a large part of the land was covered by water.

Stories relating to this golden ship tale were passed down from one generation to another among the villagers near the lake and also spread to places far away. People told this tale to their neighbors and children even though the sacredness was long lost. The moral of the tale is that greed and dishonesty will bring failure. But what is most regretful is that the place is now no longer a lake. It is being filled in and in the near future will be turned into a cultural entertainment center.

Credit/Source: Cambodia: The Cham Identities by Documentation Center of Cambodia