The Legend Of Mahsuri

Mahsuri was the daughter of a farmer who moved from their native Phuket to
the island of Langkawi in search of a better life. She was the most beautiful
woman in all of Langkawi and married the warrior Wan Darus (or Wan Derus). As
was required of him, her husband had to go to war with the Siamese, leaving
Mahsuri behind to fend for herself. It was during this time that Mahsuri
befriended a young traveller named Deraman. The village chief's wife Wan
Mahora was jealous of Mahsuri's beauty. She spread a rumour that Mahsuri was
unfaithful and was having an affair with Deraman in the absence of Wan Darus.
Eventually the rumours grew strong enough that the villagers openly accused
her of adultery. Mahsuri pleaded her innocence, but no one believed her.
Mahsuri was to be tied to a tree (or pole) and stabbed to death but it didn't
work. After every execution attempt failed, Mahsuri told them to kill her with
her family's 'keris'. When she was stabbed, white blood flowed from the wound,
signifying her innocence. Some birds flew above her to cover her body. With her
dying breath, Mahsuri cursed Langkawi to have seven generations of bad luck.
The kingdom was soon taken over by Siam. The villagers at Padang Mat Sirat
burned their own paddy fields rather than let them fall into the hands of the
Siamese