The fish here are very seasoned people, that food is launching the mine to bite, even bite the food on his hand.
From Thanh Hoa city, straight highway 45 space 70 km will meet Ho Chi Minh trail, go around 15 km further to the suspension bridge across the river connecting Cam Luong Ma, winding mountain Longevity. Lamb, had signpost on the Legend Fish (People here but mostly people called Mo Muong Ngoc).
Fish species in the Red Book
Legend Fish aka Jade spring stretches out to the Ma River (space 2 km). Private sector "fish god" appeared only about 60 m from shops. The width of the stream of 3m. The water level here is about 40cm, clear water in the region should not the next fish, could see and mossy stones. We arrive late in the afternoon when it was approximately, quite cold sky (about 150C).
Said indigenous people, this weather out little fish, only when sunny, New fish likes to go out "roam and sunbathing". But we still see from the cave crawling thousands of fish come out, The smallest of about 1kg, I grow about 5 kg. Strangely though beige stream without dams but also fish around in the store and play with the visitors.
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| Fish playing |
We bought some vegetables and popcorn ethnic sold around which to "get acquainted" with fish. The fish here are very seasoned people, that food is launching the mine to bite, even bite the food on his hand. Feeling like there is no gap between the people and the type of fish called this god.
The shape of the fish look like carp, black flakes, moss green dark back, Friendly round stretch in the middle, pink lip color. Visual appearance, This species seems somewhat bizarre, unlike the conventional fish. Salespeople around Mo Jade says this is carp, but indigenous fish called slope (both reading) were related to fish along the Ma River.
The current, this species in the Red Book of Vietnam with the scientific name Spinibarbichthys denticulatus. Explorers of Vietnam and abroad come here more but still can not explain a lot of questions: What do fish eat to live, why fish do not go away, Fish life is how much, death, determine where carp about, Star fish friendly to humans so ...
Fish called what, people around streams Ngoc still believe, fish in this stream is not often that the fish god fish, if anyone eats it or catch it will be requited.
Shopkeepers along streams often tell stories like,: There the father and son from house to fish meat. When released into the pot, instant fish dissolved into water. There are 2 youth did not believe the story to be 'preposterous fabrications' instant capture 2 fish brought, middle of the road accident death sudden death ...
A woman who sat nearby Muong ethnic accent accented challenge Beijing: "Try drinking away, very sweet and not fishy water, both live by the water in this spring that ". I wanted to verify her words, hands but did not dare drink the water sector that smell, surprise amid such humiliation but still transparent water and no smell.
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| It is believed that, whoever eats this fish will be requited |
Fish god - truth or myth?
How the cave where the fish come out about 10 m, I noticed a woman, pants twisted take inguinal are scavenging on stream. Ms. Nguyen Thi Agriculture, 63 fresh, everyone in the fear of stepping on the fish, the whole family will no luck so no one dared to spring, Her job getting this far trash has nearly 42 male.
I talk to her to ask about this fish streams, because of her age with at least know something or origin fish here. But she said most people understand about a particular individual on his springs in the.
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| Mr. Duong How are storytelling |
According to her instructions, I went to Ocean Way Tool, 82 fresh (Chairman of the Elderly Cam Luong). Skinny old man, decrepit but very strong voice and no less witty. He began the story of the god with a fish stream lore that may people in this version everyone knows: His ancient Muong - a rich man in the village, a daughter named her Jade.
How many young men the prestigious house in the village secretly loved me, she loved him went Ngoc Khoi. Restore He looked handsome generals, talented flute but too poor.
He did not accept his Muong Khoi-law, His bride by asking him to bring Khoi 100 buffalo to make bride wedding presents. Restore sad guy wandering away. She missed Ngoc day he should run away from home. Tracing his flute Khoi, she finally found him Khoi also sitting beside the stream flute Ngoc. Both vowed to live and die together and jumped into the stream to suicidal.
Muong not see his daughter went to the dump to go around the forest looking reclining. Go to the last paragraph of spring Ngoc (fish god springs ahead) they found a pipe located along streams. The stream is two fish swimming around, one male and one female. Females have brought ear rings, he realized it was his daughter.
Mr. Duong How exuberantly: "Do not know how damaged, fishing stream just know when I was born with it. "Schedule" of fish are regularly, a spring morning, dark in the cave; Mother very big fish in the cave near the summit Salary ...
To confirm this, he turned to a next tool: "The eyes I've seen fish as big mother ship banana leaves, but many years have not seen it back. All my life I was born, grew up here and have only met once Mother Fish. That was the year 1975, right tools?”.
The old man sitting next to is always eat cake, soft mouth smile like a child, nod. He continued,: "In that big water. Before fish out, Water flows in long passages of this murky spring up. Fish as big as a barrel, making people see panic that ran. However, Fish only started about 10 meters and then turned back cave. After that, most people live life here, I have never seen again ".
We asked about the myths and stories related to fish streams god, Mr. Yang's way of telling: "In the year 1967, Division 335 stationed in Thach Hanh, Hallowmas. During a military operation, medium to dark streams Jade should decide to stay here for the night. A young man discovered in streams have fish swimming closely to catch up grill. After that, young man complaining of abdominal pain and weakened vessels themselves to death ".
Other case, with the other couple, passing streams that many fish should immediately catch a soup of. After butchering the fish put in boilers nine, to meals, they opened the lid and saw clear water, no fish pieces in the pot. See strange but husband still eat. Eating instant discomfort and soon after it died ...
From oral stories together, plus the legend of the "fish god" as a private individual should Muong is divine. And these stories were put on stream fish full of spirit a mysterious beauty.
Practice us out port, he exclaimed: "Two behind him that loved one, family disagree, both fish gods always come here please. Home is wedded soon! Fish god very holy so boys and girls in the village to pray please god!”.
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| Doc rare species red list |
To find a different argument, we went to Pham Hong Duc (85 fresh), is the custodian of the temple solid. He lived in this individual who is nearly spring 80 male, he confirmed: "Stream This fish has a long time ago, th century 11. Around the same time there is a very big rain. There are two water, a stream flowing down from, a source from the river poured into. Stream fishing is Jade now fish from rivers flowing into. Since this is the valley of the stream so the sprint, Fish trapped, not escape being. From that, fish proliferate more.
Circa 1958, with an expedition to the cave to study. They found inside two hot and warm water. Fish live in water warmer crowded. They presumably inside the cave with copious amounts of food to feed fish. Particularly with the mysteries of spring fish, just listen to word of mouth and not have any proven so I do not know what is going on ".
When I asked: "Eating fish may die as they say no?”, Copy the old man's mouth: "Eating fish that died, I did not live up to now. Grilled steak through unconsolidated, no taste like other fish ". He pointed away: "Want to eat fish, Code River that started, shortage. Both delicious and abundant fish, What to eat fish!”.
When I hear questions, said the people here have never seen dead fish and fish confirmed that god, Pham Hong Duc said, Ngoc spring fish stories never die is absurd, thing, one little seen dead fish in streams, may they die in a certain burrows, rare see a few fish "killed" the stream. Times like, village elders had picked up, brought into the house festival, Snake god for permission and then buried in the mound near streams, marked grave decorum.
Gloaming, he watched the stream crossing the bridge to the temple god snake fish. He was only a couple are holding hands, going over the bridge: "They come to pray for grace that! This places great flexibility! Then they will be together forever!”.
I see a major contradiction in what he said. I looked in the direction of his hand, peaceful feeling spread. And I believe, what you get when traversing long way to come here is the belief of happiness, about peace for couple.
