This was in Futility Closet. I thought you lot might enjoy it.

Posted in Oddities by Greg Ross on June 28th, 2008
The Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal isn't known for its romance. But one 1896 article has become famous for its account of a bizarre episode in Southeast Asia. Ethelbert Skertchley describes the Berbalangs, a species of ghoul in the folklore of Cagayan de Sulu, an island in the southwestern Philippines. These creatures, he explains, can adopt an astral form when seeking human flesh. It's all pretty scholarly until the end, when Skertchley describes his own encounter near a Berbalang village:

There was not a breath of air stirring, and we were in the middle of an open valley with no trees about when we heard a loud moaning noise like someone in pain. … Presently the sound died away to a faint wail and the sound of wings became audible, while a lot of little dancing lights, like fire-flies, only reddish, passed over us.

On leaving the village, Skertchley passed an isolated house, where his native companion indicated the ghouls must have gone. The next day the writer returned to the scene:

I entered the house and looked round, but could see no one; going farther in, I suddenly started back, for huddled up on the bed, with hands clenched, face distorted, and eyes staring as in horror, lay my friend Hassan–dead.

Nothing more is said. Skertchley concludes simply by writing, "I have stated above the facts just as they occurred, and am quite unable to give any explanation of them." If the editors received any further information, they never published it.

I found this,

"Berbalangs are winged humanoid predators native to the Philippines. They are organized in packs, and attack humans with impunity, relishing the challenge of intelligent prey. In its normal form, a berbalang resembles a human being, but can be distinguished from other humans by the fact that it never consumes food in this form.

At night, while berbalang lies dormant, its consciousness leaves its body and magically forms a second, monstrous body, which resembles a hairless ape with cruel fangs and leathery wings. In this form, the creature preys vampirically on other sentient beings. Stories differ on whether the berbalangs are completely inhuman creatures or a tribe of human cannibal magicians who have perfected this method of magical attack.

Berbalangs can be driven off with weapons soaked in lemon juice, vinegar or other acidic fluids, and, according to the story linked above, are repelled by magical gems occasionally found at the heart of coconuts. The initial approach of a pack of flying berbalangs is marked by ear- splitting cacophony, which gives way to increasingly softer sounds as they draw closer. When they are near enough to strike, only the soft whir of a hundred leathery wings can be heard."

Shudders.
Mind you, this mob make the Blair Itch seem like the teddy bears' picnic in comparison!

Or check out the Polong...
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/monsters/26905/2

Intrigued, puzzled, but "enjoy", Fred?

Maybe it tastes good braised in Cab Sav Andy!

Appreciate. Yes, enjoy.

Wow, really interesting stuff that - thanks.

Now, this is interesting. I wonder if I can find what I want on the net to show you...yes, this will do. See the entry for 'cwn annwn'.