Long ago, in the lush island village of Chelechui, people lived in fear of a monstrous creature that haunted their lands. This beast was said to be as long as ten canoes, with scales like stone and eyes that burned red as fire. Its body slithered through the forests, devouring livestock and even fishermen who ventured too near the water’s edge. The villagers called it Udechel a Rengul, the Serpent of the Earth.
Every night, the monster’s roar echoed through the valleys. Fires were kept burning in homes to drive away its shadow, yet the people could not rest. Crops withered from neglect, and families abandoned their gardens, moving inland to escape its path.
In the heart of the village lived a young man named Dirrab. Though small in stature, he possessed great wisdom and a calm spirit. He watched how fear had overtaken his people and said to himself, “The monster feeds not only on flesh but on the courage of men. I will end this suffering, even if I must face death.”
The elders warned him. “Dirrab, many warriors have gone to slay the serpent, and none have returned. Its skin cannot be pierced, and its breath is poison.”
But Dirrab bowed respectfully and replied, “The strongest weapons fail when guided by anger. Perhaps the mind can conquer what strength cannot.”
He spent the night thinking by the shore, watching sparks rise from his fire and float toward the dark sky. Then an idea came to him as bright as the morning sun.
At dawn, Dirrab gathered smooth stones from the river and placed them into the flames until they glowed red. He then wrapped them carefully in banana leaves, making them appear like bundles of roasted meat. The villagers watched in silence, not understanding his plan.
Dirrab walked to the clearing near the cliffs of Chelechui, where the monster was known to sleep after its nightly feasting. He placed the wrapped stones along the path, their scent of singed leaves drifting through the air. Then he climbed a nearby tree and waited.
Before long, the earth began to shake. The serpent’s vast body slid from the shadows, its scales scraping against the rocks. It lifted its head, tasting the air with a hiss. When it smelled the leaves, it let out a low rumble of hunger.
Slowly, the creature slithered toward the first bundle and swallowed it whole. Steam rose from its mouth as the hot stone burned within. Yet still it craved more. It devoured the next bundle, then another, and another, until it had eaten every last one.
Moments later, the monster began to twist and coil in pain. Smoke poured from its nostrils, and its eyes rolled with fury. It thrashed against the trees, striking the earth so hard that the ground split open. Dirrab leapt from his hiding place and shouted, “This is the price of greed and terror! The land will know peace again!”
With one final cry that shook the island, the serpent collapsed. Its body stiffened and turned to stone, stretching across the valley like a great ridge. The people of Chelechui emerged from their homes, astonished at what they saw.
They found Dirrab standing near the ridge, his face calm though his body trembled with exhaustion. The elders approached him and bowed deeply. “You have done what no warrior could,” they said. “You have used wisdom instead of weapons, and in doing so, saved us all.”
From that day forward, the ridge where the monster lay became sacred ground. The villagers offered flowers there before planting their crops, believing that the spirit of the serpent now guarded the land rather than cursed it. The children of Chelechui were told never to mock or boast of their bravery, for true courage comes quietly, born from the will to protect others.
In time, Dirrab’s name became a legend. Storyboards carved from dark wood told his tale, a young man who defeated terror with cleverness and heart. The ridge still lies near the village, stretching like a sleeping giant, a silent memory of the day wisdom triumphed over fear.
Moral Lesson
Bravery is not found in strength or weapons, but in the calm wisdom that faces fear with purpose. True courage lies in using intelligence to protect others and restore harmony.
Knowledge Check
1. What creature terrorized the people of Chelechui?
A giant serpent-like monster that devoured livestock and frightened the villagers.
2. Who was Dirrab?
He was a young man known for his intelligence and calm spirit who defeated the monster.
3. How did Dirrab defeat the monster?
He tricked it into swallowing heated stones wrapped in banana leaves.
4. What happened to the monster after swallowing the stones?
It burned from within, died, and its body turned into a long ridge of rock.
5. What lesson did the people of Chelechui learn?
That wisdom and courage are stronger than brute force.
6. What does the ridge near Chelechui symbolize?
It symbolizes victory over fear and the enduring strength of intelligence.
Source: Adapted from Legends and Storyboards of Palau by the Belau National Museum (2008).
Cultural Origin: Palauan (Palau, Micronesia)
