The prince ordered it to be picked.  When it was brought to him, he tasted it. It was a bitter maja, so he decided to build his capital in that place and to call the city Majapahit.  Many people settled there, and his new kingdom prospered.  Many generations of kings succeeded Raden Susuruh as rulers of Majapahit, and it became one of Java’s great kingdoms.

Jan Knappert, a frequent contributor and special adviser to the Culture section of
THE WORLD & I since the magazine’s inception, has published more than thirty books.