Deers and its likes are naturally shy creatures, unless if they are provoked then they will surely skewer you with their antlers or crack ribs with their hooves. Other than that, they make tasty meals.
I remember reading a Sabahan folklore once: A very poor but hardworking man and his dog were going about their orchard, but his dog suddenly kept barking at some mysterious clumps of coconuts. Confused since he does not have any coconut tree in his orchard, he took them home and planted them in his backyard.
Somehow, the coconut trees grew overnight, and it produced the best fermented coconut drink in the whole region. Because of that, he became royally drunk quite often and in time, neglected his family and orchard thoroughly. His wife became very sore about this.
One night, while he was passed out on the steps of their home, his wife took a machete. She climbed up the coconut tree, and then she began to hack the leaves off. In his sleep, the man was visited by a deity with the head of a deer. The deity scolded him; the coconuts were meant as gifts for his hard work, but because of his forgetful ways, the deity decided to take the trees back.
The man immediately woke up to his wife's screaming and son's crying. He ran off to his backyard, only to find the trees gone. He looked up to the skies, and found a constellation which resembled a bald coconut tree and its companion. Strangely enough, he spotted a figure clinging onto the bald tree. The man is left poor again, and worked extra hard to raise his son alone.
I would really appreciate it if anyone can tell me which book this tale is from.
Ick... This is how I know when I'm losing my groove again. I will post up the coloured version once I get it back.
My baby brother had better appreciate this :p
