“See that lump hanging from the woman’s neck?”

Ma pointed to a native woman.

She was obviously visiting from outside.

Walking, a heavy basket strapped to her back,

filled with jungle produce she brought to Kanowit to sell.

The lump was big, the size of a large grapefruit.

“Inside the lump are worms, filled with worms.

That is what happens if you drink water from the river.”

I did that often, followed the children at school.

The water of Kanowit river looked so clean,

I often bent over the edge of the makeshift wharf,

cup my hand, scoop up a handful and drink from it.

It was only in later years of studies at secondary school,

I learned the lump is goitre.

A condition resulting from lack of iodine.

Common amongst the native who lived far from towns and villages.