Alexander in Kalimantan. It is written in the ancient chronicles of the kings of Kutai that Alexander the Great, to whom God had promised the whole earth as his kingdom, was on his way to China to claim that empire as his by divine right.  While sailing through the islands of Insulinde, the archipelago now known as Indonesia, he was told that on the large island of Burunai (Borneo) there lived a maiden so beautiful that she was worthy of marrying a king.  Alexander (known in Indonesia as Nabi Iskander) was convinced that he had to investigate the truth of these stories himself, so he ordered his captain to call at the port of Bandjarmasin.

As Prince Lambung prepared for marriage, he sat in quiet meditation within the revered shrine of Chandi Agung.

Alexander was accompanied by his counselor al-Khidir, who was an expert in all the magic arts, and by his daughter Sekar Gading (Ivory Flower).  They traveled upriver to the city of Negara, where King Jantam ruled in those days.  There, in the king’s residence of Kotawaringin (Figtree Town), the visitors were royally entertained by King Jantam.  The king was delighted to learn that his guests were none other than the famous conqueror of Iran and India and his court scholar al-Khidir.

When he was told that King Alexander had heard rumors of a princess of great beauty, King Jantam smiled and called his two daughters, Sukar Gumarawan (Sweet Joyful Flower) and Sekar Jaya (Flower of Vicotry).  Alexander fell in love with Sukar Gumarawan, the eldest, and asked the king to permit them to wed.  Al-Khidir, in spite of his age, fell in love with Sekar Jaya and asked for her hand in marriage.  King Jantam consented to both requests.

Then King Jantam’s son, Prince Ampu Jati, asked Alexander if he could marry Princess Sekar Gading, since he had fallen in love with her.  That request too was granted.

The king of Negara wanted to celebrate the three marriages in style, but, as he confided to the sage al-Khidir, there was no wealth in the country because the kingdom was still young.  “We are a poor nation,” said King Jantam.  “I was the one who carved this state out of the forest.  There was nothing but jungle here when I arrived with my faithful followers.  We have worked hard, so that all my people have enough rice to eat, but there is nothing extra.”