If the guardian spirit of Bayu is a shadowy and paradoxical figure, the spirit of neighbouring Cungking, despite his greater publicity, remains a conundrum. Buyut Cungking, as he is called, has a biography of sorts and a legacy of cryptic teachings; but the cult which surrounds him centres on a mystery: there is nothing definite about him; consequently, nothing about him can be challenged.

His story was related to me by the caretaker of his shrine.

The sage

The man who became the first caretaker – Lumut was his name – was already old when the story begins. He was childless and lived in great poverty. In those days Cungking was still surrounded by forest and Lumut used to spend his days there foraging for berries and edible roots. One afternoon, when it was growing dark and no longer safe to be out (there were tigers), he sat down on a stump and sighed in despair. Suddenly, as if from nowhere, a little old man appeared and asked him what was the matter. Lumut explained that he had found nothing to eat that day. The gnome pointed to a spot and told him to dig. Lumut quickly unearthed a hoard of wild tubers, more than he could carry. Amazed at his good fortune, he questioned the old man but could find out nothing: his benefactor seemed to have no home or village, no discernible origin.