Mukububu And Sarabaikili

If some myths explain the existence within the same society of different social groups and justify their distinctive social attributes, other myths (professed in common by all clans) transcend these differences, thereby affirming their common identity as members of the wider, inclusive society.  These moral universal myths introduce wider themes such as the origin of human beings and the land in which they live, the reason why human beings must someday die, and the existence of deities whose powers exceed even those of a culture hero.

At one time Timor did not exist and sea covered the world.  Then God in the sky ordered two birds, whose names were Mukububu and Sarabaikili, to fly over the sea.  Stuck to the legs of each was clay, some of which dropped off and fell into the water.  At the place it struck the water, the island of Timor appeared.  God then attached a man and woman to the birds’ legs, and all four creatures flew down to the island to settle.  Sometime later, along came devils and gobbled up the two persons.  Alarmed, the birds sang songs to God, who rebuked them, saying: “Why did you not look after the human beings instead of allowing them to be eaten by devils?”

Ashamed and fearful of God’s wrath, they left the place they had shared with their human companions and flew to two new places.  No sooner had they arrived than God punished them by turning them into a pair of hills, which are today named Mukububu and Sarabaikili for the two birds.  This is why they have avian shapes.

God created another man and woman, but this time he gave them a dog for protection.  Before long the devils returned, anticipating another easy meal, but when the dog spied them it said to the couple: “Jump quickly into this boulder.  I can see the devils coming to eat you.”

“We can’t enter a rock,” the man protested.  “It’s solid.”

“Just touch it with your hands,” urged the dog, “and you’ll find your hiding place.”