Drink Formic Acid - Siak Ern Moh Chu

Formic Acid Bottles (PHoto from Google)

During the days of rubber tapping in the 1930's - 1960's many Foochow housewives were hard pressed.  They were a generation of women who were not highly educated. Some had litttle or no education, while others may have only a few years of education.

They had to cook, wash, look after the children, tap rubber at the same time, and perhaps even had to plant rice for their staple food.

It seemed that their work was never ending. And besides they had to look after their aged in laws, besides a large number of domesticated animals. Gardening was also part of their job. Many even had to bring their babies tied to a cloth sling, when they did rubber tapping in the early mornings. They were really superwomen.

But if they could not cope, they had no where to vent their anger, frustration etc. There seemed to be no escape for them. Counselling was not even a word they were familiar with. they had to solve their own emotional problems.

My friend's terranium

I was happy to pose with formic acid bottles in a Kuching shop.

If they were totally at a loss and at the end of their tethers, they would just drink a bit of formic acid to take their own miserable lives.

So the term, "Siak Ern Moh Chu" Drink Read Hair Vinegar" became a euphemism for committing suicide for more than 3 decades.

Today the formic bottles are collectors' items as the acid is not longer packed in glass bottles. Besides, formic acid is no longer a common commodity in the market.