Variations: Hantu Babi (Malay), Pig Spirit

Bès Rap, “pig spirit”, is a bès or spirit from the folklore of the Jah Hut people of Malaysia. It lives in the deep jungle, at the roots of the pokok ara tree. It is particularly present during the tree’s fruiting period.
Anyone who comes to collect fruit from the pokok ara is targeted by the pig spirit. It blows its saliva at them, causing them to get sick, foaming at the mouth. Only a poyang’s blessing can save them.
The droppings of the pig spirit are equally noxious. The heat of its toxic stool penetrates the body of anyone who steps on them, seeping in through the toes and causing them to fall ill with bubbling, frothing saliva.
References
Werner, R. (1975) Jah-hět of Malaysia, Art and Culture. Penerbit Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur.
Either the creators of these spirits are using them to explain maladies they can’t comprehend, or they just have a sick sense of humor.
LikeLiked by 2 people
That’s Malaysian demonology for you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, damn right. Bès Rap is a disgusting asshole.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pig Mom.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very gross and creepy, love it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m honestly delighted this blog now includes a “bès” section (I tend to call them by their “hantu” name). I have a bit of a hard time finding much info on them, especially their descriptions, let alone anything with an illustration.
However, I can find their female vampires easily. Everything else is a scavenger hunt lol.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Also writing this up made me understand why the babirusa has the name it does
LikeLike
Oh dang why didn’t think of that before
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m not the sharpest bulb in the picnic basket >_<
LikeLiked by 1 person
The symptoms sound a lot like Nipah Virus, which can be spread by pig feces.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Anyone find it kinda weird that it’s apparently the heat of these creatures’ excretions that’s dangerous? Like, it’s not dangerous because it’s feces, it’s dangerous because it’s hot?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: mythologies of MALAYSIA – Indigenous Peoples Literature
Pingback: MYTHOLOGIES OF MALAYSIA – World Mythology