The Origin of Sungai Kawat

in English is Wire River. This River can we found at West Kalimantan, branch of Kapuas River. Siantang City's people called Sungai Kawat to one branch pass through their city. and their story is........

One time in Siantang lived fortuneless fisherman family, they only depend their live from the results of live fish for sale, but had a few days there was no fish are caught.

Although the sun was high, there is no fish that eat the bait from his fishing rod. Fishermen keep trying, he tried several places in the river. Until the sun towards the west, he has not got a fish. The Fishermen try fishing in a place full of trees and moss-lichen. "Probably a lot of fish here,"

When it grew dark, fishermen's bait drawn by fish. Fishermen pull a rope reel slowly and occasionally take it off until the fish tired. Without realizing it, Fisherman have attracted up to the middle river.
The sky already dark, lots of mosquitoes around the Fisherman, but he did not care. He felt get a very large fish catches. Finally attraction of fish began to weaken, Fisherman's fishing line was pulled back. After a long drawn, the fish still have not seen. Fishermen remain cautious so that fish can not be separated.

When the rod is withdrawn. Apparently there are only wires that snagged. Fisherman very disappointed because the fish loose. Fishermen saw the yellowish wire carefully, and after knowing it was a gold wire he pulled back fastly.  

Fishermen have long been pulling the wire, but still has not ended. Fishermen think he will be rich with gold wire, it will become very rich, he keeps pulling. The fishermen's small boats had been full of gold wire, and he keeps pulling.

"STOP!! Cut the wires!" said a voice from within the stream.


But the Fishermen keeps pulling.

"STOP!! Cut the wires!" said a voice from within the stream.

But the greedy Fishermen keeps pulling.

"STOP!!!"said a voice from within the stream.

The greedy fisherman didn't care, he keeps pulling. His small boat already full of gold, river water started to enter. Slowly, fishermen boat getting down to the river. The fishermen never come up again after that.  

Therefore, the river is called Sungai Kawat or Wire River.

Seven Brothers |Part 2

Tomorrow, when the giant went to hunt, the female giant equip them with enough food, gold and diamonds.

"Go Toward the west ... you will find the sea, sailed and start a new life in the country." advice from a giant female.

" We are very grateful for the help, Mrs. Giant. Mistress was very kind. "Said the eldest brother as he said goodbye.

They were walking toward the west. After passing through the woods, climbing mountains, and through the valley. Finally they arrived at the beach. They bought a fishing boat and then they sailed to a country led by a king who was just and wise. In this country, they sell gold and diamonds from the giant to a wealthy merchant. Seeing the money, they buy land estates, each gets a sufficiently large land estates. They planted various crops on their land and sell the results.

The seven brothers helping each other and continue to work hard over the years. Thanks to hard work, now each of the seven brothers may have a treasure and a magnificent house. They live happily.
Someday, when The youngest brother was a walk in the garden, he remembered his parents. He immediately invited to the six siblings to discuss it.

"My Brothers, I invite you here to take you for our parents, I really miss them and I'm sure they'd still be alive. "

"I also feel the same way, I want to go looking for them too." Said the sixth brother.

"OK! We will be looking for him, Do you agree with this idea?" Said the eldest brother.
"Agreed!" They answered in unison.

They sailed back to their homeland, and visited every village looking for their parents. Until they arrived in the village, where they found their parents to live in a state of suffering. The seven sisters feel sorry and pity to see their condition.

Apparently after they left the seven children in the forest, they feel guilty and sorry to maturity in a prolonged sadness.

Although the drought has ended,
although already have food,
they still yearn for their children,
they kept looking and could not find the seven brothers.

Now their children have been returned, they were really happy. Both parents went away with their children and enjoy their old age together. Fin-Tina Hardiyanti-

Seven Brothers |Part 1

This story like Hansel Gretel tales from Aceh, Indonesia with the moral values of love.

Someday over somewhere village at Aceh, live one family with seven brothers. Eldest brother is ten-10-years old and the youngest one is two-2-years old. For daily necessities, they have planted vegetable for food and resale at traditional market. Despite just a simple family, they are live in happiness.

One time, drought-affected village. All plants died of drought, thats make all villagers innutritioninclude the family with seven boys too. Their parents make desicion to dispose their seven children into the forest far from the village.
"My husband, how to keep our children to the forest?"
"Tomorrow morning, they will go with us to collect wood in the forest. While they get some rest, we'll pretend to look for some water in the river." answer the husband.

Without them knowing it, their third child at that time did not sleeping and hear all their conversations.

Tomorrow morning, a married couple persuade their boys to get more firewood for resale. The sun is rising higher and higher, when the sun was above their heads, their take a rest.
"Dear sons, I'll took some water in the river. Please wait here just a moment. Mother will help me for carrying water."

"Don't stay long....we will wait here..!" answer the eldest of seven brother.
"yes, my dear."said their mother.

Until sunset, seven brother's parent  not yet came back. at last, the oldest brother suggest his brothers to seek them, they worry something happen to them. But the youngest said,

"Brother, we shouldn't find them. They have left us in the forest, like I hear last night."

"Why do not you talk Earlier?"

"I'm afraid they will be angry to me..."the second boy said quitely.

"Now, we need someplace for live until tommorow morning."

after walking far enough, they found a tree with a big hole in the trunk. They finally rested there until morning.

----------------

When chickens are crowing. Younger brother both asked, "Where is now will we go?"

"You all wait here. I'll climb this tree to see the existence of settlements." said the eldest boy.

The oldest boy saw thick smoke from a distance, happily elder brothers told the six younger siblings. They set off toward the smoke. Until near the smoke, on the edge of the village, they saw a house that is very, very big.

"Waaaa!! Maybe this is the home of giants." The third boy said.

While they were in awe, the giant doors open and appear a giant female.
"Hi! Human children, what are you doing here?" female giant asked, her voice low but still sounds heavy.

Eldest son hard enough to answer with, "We lost, Mrs. Giant. Our parents left us in the middle of the jungle."

Feeling sorry for the kids, the giant female led them into the house and provide plenty of food and beverages.

"Eat as soon as possible, after it went up to the attic as soon my husband will come home from hunting." female giant said softly.

Seven brothers to eat with gusto, considering since yesterday they hunger and thirst. After eating, they say terimah love the female giant and climbed into the attic to hide.
The door creaked when opened, the male giant came in with heavy steps to bring the gold and diamonds. Aaand he can smell some yummy human near him.

"My wife, I smell the delicious food! Where you store the food?"

"I put it in the attic, but they are still small, just wait until they are plump enough to eat."
Male giant complied.

Golden Watermelon

This story from Sambas, West Kalimantan, Indonesia.

In the days before now,
lived a Rich Merchant with his boys.
The eldest named Muzakir.
The youngest named Dermawan.

The eldest was so greedy and stingy, only money that he was thinking.
Different with his brother, Dermawan always given charity for poor people.

When The Rich Merchant die, each of them get half of their father properties and money.

Immediately, Muzakir put his properties and money into the  locked iron box. When someone poor ask for charity, he'll laught saw fortuneless peoples without leg, or eye. And Then Muzakir will ask to them to go from his house.

While that, Dermawan uses his properties and money for charity, he always open hand to poor peoples. Dermawan give them food, clothes, and many more. When his money give off, he moved into small house and work. Now his salary is just enough to eat, but he already felt happy to live like that.

Someday, when Dermawan having his relax time under the tree. A little bird fell down at his leg. The bird's wing was injured. Dermawan try to medicate the bird, and gives the bird some rice for eat.

In some day, the bird can fly again. The bird fly away at morning, and back again to dermawan at the sunset. The bird give a seed for Dermawan to thank. Dermawan gladly accepted the seed, he planted it in the garden.

3 days ago...
the seed grew to be watermelon tree. He take care the vine so carefully. The vines have many flower, but just one fruit. Days passed, the fruit grow bigger and bigger, bigger than other watermelon he ever see.

Once ripe, the watermelon fruit picking by Dermawan. Very weight, Dermawan uses two hand to bring it. He cut the melon, after a watermelon split off, Dermawan shocked by shining dust in the watermelon. The dust is pure gold sand. How happy Dermawan, he dance for joy, generous exclaimed thank you to the bird that fly away without come back again.

Next day, Dermawan buys large house and wide garden. All poor people came to him get charity like food, some clothes, money, and happiness. Now, Dermawan never impoverished again, he have much money from his watermelon garden. News of a rich Dermawan has reached the Muzakir's ears. Muzakir asked about the origins of his wealth, and Dermawan told the truth.

Muzakir immediately ordered his workers to find an injured bird.
He waited 3 days, no result,
He waited 4 days, no result,
He waited 5 days, no result,
He waited 6 days, no result,
He waited 1 week, still no result, Muzakir to be mad.

then he ordered his workers to shoot a bird, so he can medicate the bird. Muzakir then pretended compassion and medicate the bird.


In some day, the bird can fly again. The bird fly away at morning, and back again to Muzakir at the sunset. The bird give a seed for Muzakir . Muzakir gladly accepted the seed, he planted it in the best place of his garden.

3 days ago...
the seed grew to be watermelon tree. He take care the vine so carefully. The vines have many flower, but just one fruit. Days passed, the fruit grow bigger and bigger, bigger than Dermawan's watermelon.

Once ripe, the watermelon fruit picking by Muzakir's workers. Very weight, more than Dermawan's. Muzakir uses two workers to bring it. He cut the melon, after a watermelon split off, Muzakir shocked by splatter black mud mixed with dung in the watermelon. Amazing bad smell like the smell of cadaver spread quickly till Muzakir and his worker run and screaming at the same time. All people see that laughing and clapping.

Kebo Iwa

A Long, long time ago..
at one village of Bali, lived a husband and his wife .
They were rich, but not yet had children.
every day, they go to Pura*.
Pray and pray to God for children.

Days passed
The wife began to be pregnant.
How happy their
They two says thanks to God for this moment.

some month ago, born a baby boy.
Unusual baby! He can eat adult food!
As he grow up, this kid eat more and more.
Their boy grow to be a big guy, so he called Kebo Iwa, which means "Uncle Buffalo".

Kebo Iwa eat more and more continues greedly until his parent were poor.
His parent can not give food again to Kebo Iwa.
Now Kebo Iwa bigger than all houses at that village.

With shyness, Kebo Iwa's parent ask for help to villagers.
All villagers was Kebo Iwa's family friends, so
since then, Kebo Iwa's food requirements provided by villagers.
They cook large portion for Kebo Iwa....

Every day cook and cook...
always in large portion....
Villagers feels tired...
They have another activity too...

Kebo Iwa feel sad and hungry...

Some people get a good idea to teach Kebo Iwa cooking.
Villagers just give the ingredients.

Kebo Iwa always loved by villagers.
Childrens are happy play with him...
Kebo Iwa take them to his big hand and walk arround the village..
When Kebo Iwa has thirsty, he will make big hole over the land and drink from there.
Villagers were use this hole for their water wells.

In the big war with Majapahit,
Kebo Iwa can force all Majapahit's soldiers..
Because of his big power, the village keep save.

Then Maha Patih Majapahit make a great plan.
He was invite Kebo Iwa to Majapahit.
And ask for help to make water wells, because they don't have enough water for all people.


Because of his kindness, he agreed.
When Kebo Iwa arrived at Majapahit, he make many of wells.
Kebo Iwa kept digging and digging..
When Kebo Iwa works deeper, Maha Patih command his people to close the wells with chalk soil.
Kebo Iwa can not breath and die in a hole that he made.

Without Kebo Iwa, Majapahit succeeded in conquering the village

*a Hindu Temple complex with statues and stone reliefs.

The tortoises and the Swans

There are a pair of tortoises and the Swan who live on a lake called Lake Kumudawati.
It was a beautiful lake and lots of flowers, colorful flowers that grow there.

The male tortoise named Durbhuddhi and
a female named Katcapa.
A male swan called Cakrengga and
a female named Cakrenggi.
The two pairs of animals were long time be friends.

The dry season has arrived, the lake has started to dry out.
The two swans will say goodbye to tortoises because swans can not live without water, they will leave lake Kumdawati to the lake Manasasaro at Himalayas.

Tortoises did not want his friend to go.

Finally, the turtles decided to go along with the Swans. Swans would take the tortoise to go along with them by way of biting the middle of the wood and the Swans will hold the edges.
by agreement:

don't be careless, don't talk, don't looking down, and don't answer all question that you hear .

And then, they are begin the journey.
when they flew over Wila Jenggala, two wolf take shelter under a mango tree.

The male named "Si Nohan" and the female "si Bayan".
The female wolf looked up he saw a pair of Swans flying and Si Bayan said to her husband,
"Dad try to look up how strange a pair of geese flying turtle. "
Male wolf replied "That's not a turtle but that is cow dung."

the tortoises heard that, turtles so angry and let go on the wood and eventually the tortoises fall and eaten by wolves.

Geese live with feelings of disappointment and regret why the tortoises will not listen the advices.