Myths in Ngatpang State

Stone monoliths and stone carved faces can be found scattered around the island of Babeldaob. The smaller stones were often moved around in the past, as spoils of wars between villages. The age of the stones are unknown, they were probably made in earlier culture. During the 1930’s the locally formed Modekngei religion started collecting the stones to use them for ancestor worship and to make offerings to the spirits. Some these stones carved faces and monoliths can be found in Ngatpang.

EDEBSUNGEL

This monolith, is located in Ngerdubech Village of Ngatpang, has old shells scattered around it, which were already there in 1929. This is a curse stone, and if you got one of your enemy’s personal items and offered it to this stone with a curse, your enemy would become sick and die according to the legends.

CHESUCH EL BAD

This carved face stone is located in Ngimis Village of Ngatpang, Chesuch el Bad with its large round eyes. (Chesuch means Owl) and (Bad means stone). Chesuch el bad has a smaller stone next to it that was recorded in 1929 by a Japanese researcher when it was in Chief Rebelkuul’s house, with facial features then and a cord with a symbol of Palauan money around its neck, the stone is called “Iluai” (E-L-wai) the Mother of the God Medechii Belau. But the bigger stone “Chesuch el Bad” is known as the Rain God. That if the community suffered the drought with limited to no rain fall, Chief Rubeang, the 4th Ranking Chief with pray to this stone to ask for rain.