7. Fighting Fish and Snake Bite

Fighting Fish that grows in the wild

I used to follow an older neighbour, Nam Thoo, to catch fighting fish in the swamps near Green House Area, Pokok Assam and Tupai along the Sg Batu Tegoh. There were plenty of fish to be found, especially after the rains.

One morning I spotted my first bubble nest in the water and, in my excitement, plunged both hands straight in. Suddenly I felt a sharp bite on my left hand and screamed. A small snake darted off as Nam Thoo rushed over. Fearing the worst, I pressed on the bite to squeeze out blood, while Nam Thoo crushed some turmeric root he found nearby and rubbed it on the wound.

I never told my mum about the bite, afraid the caning would be worse than the snake poison. That night I couldn’t sleep, waiting for the venom to take effect. The next morning, still alive, I went off quietly to school. Only years later did Nam Thoo’s mother reveal the truth to mine—by then I was too old to be caned!

After that, I borrowed my grandma’s rattan sieves whenever I went fishing. She was puzzled why her sieves always went missing, but I never used my bare hands again.

Cheah Eng Seng

7th September 2025

​​(Note: A bubble nest is a patch of tiny bubbles male fighting fish make to guard their eggs.)