Issue Date: August 1992

Lambung, Prince of Kauripan,
go and build a boat for sailing,
sail upstream by midnight moonlight,
sail until you hear the water
falling from the rocks and foaming,
you will hear a sweet voice calling,
she will be your queen and consort.

Prince Lambung did as the heavenly voice commanded.  He sailed for a long time until he did, indeed, hear a voice singing in a waterfall.

The older boy cautioned his hungry younger brother not to accept the spirit man's offering of flesh.["The Two Boys,"]

Meanwhile, the counselor al-Khidir, though very old, did not lack strength.  Soon after their wedding, Sekar Jaya found herself pregnant.  Al-Khidir went with his young wife to live in the mountains, for sages love such lonely wilderness for meditation.  There his young wife gave birth to a pumpkin, which rolled away and splashed into the river.  It was found by two emerald green snakes with golden crowns on their heads, who caught the floating pumpkin and opened it.  Out came a beautiful little girl, whom the snakes brought up.  When she came of age, she often sat and sang near a waterfall.  It was her voice that Prince Lambung heard, not knowing that she was his cousin.  This shows how the powers of heaven arrange matters for princes.  The snakes themselves were no doubt divine beings sent to look after the princess.

Prince Lambung brought his princess home in triumph and called her Tunjung Buih (Lily of the Foaming Water).  The wedding day was fixed, and the city of Kauripan celebrated with great joy and ceremony.  The young couple had two sons, Suryagangga and Suryawangsa.  Their names show that they belonged to the Hindu tradition.  Perhaps the kind serpents had been sent by Shiva.

The Ngaju Dyak Creation Story. In the beginning of time there was only Mahatara, the supreme god, who lived in the heavens.  He also was called Sangiang Dewata.  Later he found a friend and helper named Jata.  Eventually, the Dyaks learned to invoke the names of fourteen other gods.  Jata lived in the cool waters in the deepest parts of the rivers.


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