A thirteenth-century Cambodian king spent his nights in a golden tower,
where he consulted with the real ruler of the land - a nine-headed dragon.
Eastern Dragons are vain, even though they are wise. They are insulted
when a ruler doesn't follow their advice, or when people don't honor their
importance. Then, by thrashing about, dragons either stop making rain and
cause water shortages, or they breathe black clouds that bring storms and
floods. Small dragons do minor mischief, such as making roofs leak, or
causing rice to be sticky.
People set off firecrackers and carry immense paper dragons in special
parades. They also race dragon-shaped boats in water - all to please and
appease their dragons.
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