A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.
Overview
Threatened with death after failed castings, Che Long vows to be fired from his own cannon if the work succeeds. The casting works; he enters the gun and is shot from Grésik to Kuála Bárat, where his remains are buried beneath a shrine. The account attributes later petitions for lost cattle and milk offerings to his tomb. It does not say he survived the shot or returned bodily. Skeat’s visit records a locally identified firing spot with no grass; that report is not independent proof of the miraculous event. The two cannon have separate subsequent histories, and neither is said to contain Che Long’s spirit. This is a publicly collected saint narrative, not a monster classification.
Origins & earliest records
Malay Peninsula; Patāni; narrated by Mula Awang
Records & interpretation
Complete relevant tale and attached scholarly notes directly read.
In the literature
“Here his remains received burial,”
XIX The Saint That Was Shot Out of His Own Cannon, printed 52 · Walter William Skeat
The Raja of Patāni commands Che Long to cast two cannons. The first succeeds, but the second repeatedly breaks; the ruler threatens him with death unless the next attempt succeeds. In despair Che Long vows to become his own cannon’s projectile. The casting succeeds, and he enters the gun, which fires from the palace gate at Grésik. He falls six miles away at Kuála Bárat, where his remains are buried and a shrine established. Both guns are shipped toward Bangkok: one produces tremendous smoke and is reportedly preserved, while the other falls into the sea and is lost. The ending reports local requests at Che Long’s tomb for help recovering cattle. Skeat credits Mula Awang of Patāni and distinguishes a shown site from beliefs about it.
Selected bibliography
Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.
- 01
Fables & Folk-Tales from an Eastern Forest
XIX, The Saint that was shot out of his own Cannon, printed pp. 52–53; note p. 82
- 02
Fables & Folk-Tales from an Eastern Forest — XIX The Saint That Was Shot Out of His Own Cannon
Fables & Folk-Tales from an Eastern Forest, collected and translated Walter Skeat, Cambridge: University Press,1901. Original title leaf13 visually checked; selected complete tales and all accompanying notes read from historical transcription. Introduction states1899 Cambridge expedition collection and limitation of phraseology, not verbatim unedited speech. Original quoted folios visually checked in Archive fablesfolktalesf00skearich; IIIF canvas positions omit initial leaves, so exact original leaf number matched from image identifier, not array index.
Family & connections
A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.
Primary records and illustrations
Walter Skeat, Fables & Folk-Tales from an Eastern Forest (Cambridge: University Press, 1901)
XIX, The Saint that was shot out of his own Cannon; note p. 82 (webpage pagination internally inconsistent). XIX, The Saint that was shot out of his own Cannon, printed pp. 52–53; note p. 82
Complete tale and associated notes directly read. Regional spellings and differing accounts retained; commentary does not establish present-day practice or biological facts. Teller attribution follows the profile and complete source notes. Original scan printed52–53 independently inspected; webpage38 label incorrect.
Located primary passages
Specific passages supporting details in this entry, grouped by their published witness.
Fables & Folk-Tales from an Eastern Forest
Fables & Folk-Tales from an Eastern Forest, collected and translated Walter Skeat, Cambridge: University Press,1901. Original title leaf13 visually checked; selected complete tales and all accompanying notes read from historical transcription. Introduction states1899 Cambridge expedition collection and limitation of phraseology, not verbatim unedited speech. Original quoted folios visually checked in Archive fablesfolktalesf00skearich; IIIF canvas positions omit initial leaves, so exact original leaf number matched from image identifier, not array index.
- The Raja of Patāni commands Che Long to cast two cannons. The first succeeds, but the second repeatedly breaks; the ruler threatens him with death unless the next attempt succeeds. In despair Che Long vows to become his own cannon’s projectile. The casting succeeds, and he enters the gun, which fires from the palace gate at Grésik. He falls six miles away at Kuála Bárat, where his remains are buried and a shrine established. Both guns are shipped toward Bangkok: one produces tremendous smoke and is reportedly preserved, while the other falls into the sea and is lost. The ending reports local requests at Che Long’s tomb for help recovering cattle. Skeat credits Mula Awang of Patāni and distinguishes a shown site from beliefs about it.
XIX The Saint That Was Shot Out of His Own Cannon, complete printed 52–53; note82
CompleteXIX52–53 and note82 read. Original printed52/53 visually checked; online38–40 header and38 opening label erroneous. Death and burial are explicit; bodily revival not described. Shrine belief is reported, not independently demonstrated supernatural recovery. Quoted text excludes vow, prayer and offering formula.
References
Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.
- Historical collected narrative with locality and editorial notesSkeat, Fables & Folk-Tales (Cambridge University Press, 1901), XIX, The Saint that was shot out of his own Cannon, printed pp. 52–53; note p. 82Research access: 2026-10-05
- Primary printed-page scanOriginal1901 scan, printed52–53 (leaves92–93), independently inspectedResearch access: 2026-10-05
Image credits
A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.