WHY THE SEA IS SALT
By Endang Firdaus
Long, long ago, there lived two brothers. The older brother was rich and successful, but mean and arrogant. The younger brother was very poor, but kind and generous.
One day, the poor brother and his wife had nothing to eat. They also had no money to buy something to eat and had nothing to be sold. To make matters worse, the next day was a day of celebration. “We have nothing to eat. Tomorrow is a day of celebration. How will we celebrate?” said the poor brother’s wife sadly. The poor brother did not know what to do.
“Go to your brother and ask for his help,” suggested the wife. “He killed a cow yesterday. Maybe he will give us a little meat for a day of celebration.” The poor brother did not like to ask his brother for help, for he knew how mean and selfish his brother was. But the next day was a day of celebration, and he really could not think how else to get something to eat. He went to his brother’s house. “What do you want?” asked the older brother when his brother came.
“Go away!” cried the older brother’s wife. She was very angry. “We are busy preparing the feast for a day of celebration tomorrow! We have no time for you! Go away!”
“Brother,” said the poor man, “we have nothing to eat, no food for a day of celebration tomorrow. Please give me a little meat, so that I and my wife may also celebrate.”
“My husband,” shrieked the older brother's wife at her husband, “throw your brother out!”
“Please help us, brother!” said the poor brother sadly, looking at his older brother.
“All right!” cried the older brother. “Take this! Go to Hiysi!” He threw a cow’s hoof at his younger brother.
The poor man thanked his brother and then walked back to his house. As he walked he thought, “My brother did not give me the cow's hoof. He has told me to take it to Hiysi. So this cow’s hoof is not mine to eat, but Hiysi’s. I must take it to Hiysi.” Hiysi, the Wood-Goblin, lived deep in the forest. The poor brother turned around and went to the forest.
The forest was dark and gloomy. The poor brother walked and walked trough the trees. Then, he met some woodcutters. “What are you doing here?” they asked the poor brother.
“I want to take this cow’s hoof to Hiysi,” answered the poor brother. “Do you know his hut?”
'Keep walking straight ahead,' said the woodcutters. 'Turn neither left nor right, and soon you will be at Hiysi's hut. Listen carefully. Hiysi loves meat. He will offer you silver and gold and precious stones in gratitude. Don't accept any of those. Ask instead for his millstone. If he tries to offer you something else, you must refuse it. Ask only for his millstone.”
The poor brother thanked the woodcutters. Then he walked on. Not long he saw a hut. He went inside and found Hiysi sitting there. “Why have you came here?” Hiysi asked.
“I have a gift for you,” said the poor brother. “A cow's hoof.” He held out the cow’s hoof to Hiysi.
Hiysi liked very much to get the cow’s hoof. Happily he grabbed it and ate it. “I will give you a gift in return,” he said. 'Here, take some silver!” He pulled out a handful of silver coins.
“I don’t want any silver,” said the poor brother.
“Do you want gold?”
Hiysi pulled out two handfuls of gold coin.
“I don’t want gold either.”
“How about some precious stones?”
“I don’t want any of those either.”
“What do you want?”
“I want your millstone.”
“My millstone!' exclaimed Hiysi. “You can't have that. But I can give you anything else you like.”
“Thank you. You’re very kind,” said the poor brother. “Bu I only want your millstone.”
Hiysi did not want to let the poor brother go without a gift in return. So he gave his millstone to him. He said, “This is a magic millstone. It will give you whatever you wish for. Just make your wish and say, ‘Grind, my millstone!’ When you have enough and want the millstone to stop, just say, ‘Enough and have done!’ And it will stop.” The poor brother thanked and went home. Arriving his house he told his adventures to his wife.
The poor brother put the millstone on the table and said, “Grind, my millstone! Give me food!” The millstone grinded, and there on the table poured the delicious food. “Enough and have done!” said the poor brother. The millstone stopped grinding. Then, happily the poor brother and his wife ate the food. The poor man and his wife then took a day of celebration happily. They had enough food to eat and new clothes to wear. They became rich.
The older brother heard his younger brother’s fortune. He went to his younger brother’s house and asked him how to be rich. The younger brother told him everything. “I must get that millstone for myself,” thought the older brother. He asked his younger brother to show him the millstone. The younger brother did not suspect the wickedness of his older brother. He took his millstone and put it on the table and said, “Grind, my millstone! Give us some food!” The millstone grinded and poured the delicious food on the table. The older brother could not believe his eyes. “Sell me your millstone!” he begged of his younger brother. The younger brother answered that the millstone was not for sale. The older brother then asked his younger brother to lend it him. The younger brother did.
The older brother took the millstone home. He did not asked how to make it stop. He put the millstone into a boat and rowed out to sea with it. Arriving there he said, “Grind. my millstone! Give me salt, as much as you can!” He asked salt to the millstone because he thought he would have much money by selling the salt. The millstone grinded and poured out the salt. The boat was full. The older brother decided to stop the millstone. But he did not know how. “Stop, my millstone!” he cried. “Stop grinding. I don't want any more salt.”
The millstone kept turning, pouring out salt. The older brother begged and pleaded with the millstone to stop. But he did not know the magic words. So the millstone kept turning and pouring out salt and more salt. The rich brother tried to throw the millstone overboard, but he could not lift it. The boat was now so full of salt. Slowly it began sinking
“Help!” cried the older brother.
The millstone kept pouring out salt, and the boat kept sinking till it sank to the bottom of the sea with the older brother and millstone. The older brother drowned for his greed. At the bottom of the sea, the magic millstone kept pouring out salt, until now. That is why the sea is salt.
Sunday, January 25, 2015
Saturday, January 17, 2015
A Folktale from America
WHY THE SKY IS SO HIGH
By Endang Firdaus
Long time ago, the sky was quite low. If we stood on a stool and stretched our hands up, we could touch the sky. Far on the horizon, where the sky was low, there was a village. In that village, there lived a bent old woman in a little mud hut thatched with straw.
The old woman was so old she no longer remembered any other way of being. She lived alone in her little mud hut. She had neither friend nor family left in this world. She had nowhere to go and no one to talk to. All day long, she would potter round her hut, first cleaning this corner, now dusting that, now scrubbing this bit of floor, now sweeping that. She thought of nothing else any more, except more and more ways of sweeping and scrubbing her little mud hut.
One hot summer, the land was dry with thirst. There was dust everywhere. The old woman's hut was also covered with dust. The old woman swept and swept the little hut with her broom. She swept the inside of her hut, she swept the outside of her hut, she swept the front step and she swept the front yard. But the dust rose all around her in great brown clouds. The more she swept and plied her broom, the more the dust that rose from the earth.
The sky choked with all the dust that the old woman was raising with her broom. The dust got into its throat and tickled its nose and made it sneeze. A great big sneeze that shook the world with its thunder. People covered their heads and ran indoors in fright. But the old woman barely noticed. She kept on sweeping with her broom.
The sky sneezed and sneezed. The dust became unbearable. It got into its eyes and made them water. Then, heavy drops of rain began falling into the dry. A big raindrop fell.
The old woman glared at the sky and scrubbed the raindrop away. But another raindrop fell and fell. The old woman could bear stood up and shook her fist at the sky yelling at it to stop raining on her nice clean front step. She cursed the sky and threatened it. But, the sky couldn't stop raining because its eyes were still so full of dust.
The old woman was so angry. She picked up her broom and thwacked the sky with it. The sky sneezed and jumped out of her way. The old woman kept thwacking it with her broom, again and again and again. Sneezing and coughing, thundering and raining, the sky flew up, up and away and swore never to come down again. That is why the sky is so high now.
By Endang Firdaus
Long time ago, the sky was quite low. If we stood on a stool and stretched our hands up, we could touch the sky. Far on the horizon, where the sky was low, there was a village. In that village, there lived a bent old woman in a little mud hut thatched with straw.
The old woman was so old she no longer remembered any other way of being. She lived alone in her little mud hut. She had neither friend nor family left in this world. She had nowhere to go and no one to talk to. All day long, she would potter round her hut, first cleaning this corner, now dusting that, now scrubbing this bit of floor, now sweeping that. She thought of nothing else any more, except more and more ways of sweeping and scrubbing her little mud hut.
One hot summer, the land was dry with thirst. There was dust everywhere. The old woman's hut was also covered with dust. The old woman swept and swept the little hut with her broom. She swept the inside of her hut, she swept the outside of her hut, she swept the front step and she swept the front yard. But the dust rose all around her in great brown clouds. The more she swept and plied her broom, the more the dust that rose from the earth.
The sky choked with all the dust that the old woman was raising with her broom. The dust got into its throat and tickled its nose and made it sneeze. A great big sneeze that shook the world with its thunder. People covered their heads and ran indoors in fright. But the old woman barely noticed. She kept on sweeping with her broom.
The sky sneezed and sneezed. The dust became unbearable. It got into its eyes and made them water. Then, heavy drops of rain began falling into the dry. A big raindrop fell.
The old woman glared at the sky and scrubbed the raindrop away. But another raindrop fell and fell. The old woman could bear stood up and shook her fist at the sky yelling at it to stop raining on her nice clean front step. She cursed the sky and threatened it. But, the sky couldn't stop raining because its eyes were still so full of dust.
The old woman was so angry. She picked up her broom and thwacked the sky with it. The sky sneezed and jumped out of her way. The old woman kept thwacking it with her broom, again and again and again. Sneezing and coughing, thundering and raining, the sky flew up, up and away and swore never to come down again. That is why the sky is so high now.
Friday, January 9, 2015
Dongeng dari Taiwan
KOTAK AJAIB
Oleh Endang Firdaus
Seorang petani miskin menggali sebuah lubang di kebunnya dan menemukan sebuah kotak besar. Ia membawanya kotak itu ke rumah dan memperlihatkannya pada istrinya.
Istri si Petani membersihkan kotak itu lalu menyimpannya. Suatu hari, ia memasukkan sebuah apel ke dalam kotak itu. Seketika kotak itu penuh dengan apel. Banyak sekali dan tidak pernah habis walau telah diambil berkali-kali. Si Petani dan istrinya mengumpulkan apel-apel itu dan menjualnya, sehingga mereka dapat hidup berkecukupan.
Si Petani lalu memasukkan sebuah uang logam ke dalam kotak itu. Tiba-tiba apel pun lenyap dan kotak itu segera dipenuhi dengan uang logam. Setiap hari, si Petani dan istrinya mengumpulkan beratus-ratus uang logam dari kotak itu. Mereka pun menjadi kaya.
Ayah si Petani tinggal bersama si Petani dan istrinya. Ia sudah tidak kuat dan tidak dapat bekerja. Si Petani menyuruhnya membantunya mengeluarkan uang dari kotak itu. Si Ayah melakukan. Ketika ia merasa letih dan ingin beristirahat, si Petani berkata, “Huh, orang tua pemalas! Baru bekerja segitu saja sudah mau istirahat! Ayo, terus bekerja lebih keras!”
Si Ayah tidak berkata apa-apa. Ia meneruskan pekerjaannya, sampai ia terjatuh ke dalam kotak itu dan mati. Seketika uang lenyap dan kotak itu dipenuhi tubuh-tubuh kaku ayah si Petani.
Si Petani harus mengeluarkan tubuh-tubuh itu dan menguburkannya. Akibatnya ia harus mengeluarkan semua uang yang telah dikumpulkannya. Ketika ia telah menghabiskan semua uang, kotak itu pecah. Maka si Petani tetap hidup miskin seperti semula.
Oleh Endang Firdaus
Seorang petani miskin menggali sebuah lubang di kebunnya dan menemukan sebuah kotak besar. Ia membawanya kotak itu ke rumah dan memperlihatkannya pada istrinya.
Istri si Petani membersihkan kotak itu lalu menyimpannya. Suatu hari, ia memasukkan sebuah apel ke dalam kotak itu. Seketika kotak itu penuh dengan apel. Banyak sekali dan tidak pernah habis walau telah diambil berkali-kali. Si Petani dan istrinya mengumpulkan apel-apel itu dan menjualnya, sehingga mereka dapat hidup berkecukupan.
Si Petani lalu memasukkan sebuah uang logam ke dalam kotak itu. Tiba-tiba apel pun lenyap dan kotak itu segera dipenuhi dengan uang logam. Setiap hari, si Petani dan istrinya mengumpulkan beratus-ratus uang logam dari kotak itu. Mereka pun menjadi kaya.
Ayah si Petani tinggal bersama si Petani dan istrinya. Ia sudah tidak kuat dan tidak dapat bekerja. Si Petani menyuruhnya membantunya mengeluarkan uang dari kotak itu. Si Ayah melakukan. Ketika ia merasa letih dan ingin beristirahat, si Petani berkata, “Huh, orang tua pemalas! Baru bekerja segitu saja sudah mau istirahat! Ayo, terus bekerja lebih keras!”
Si Ayah tidak berkata apa-apa. Ia meneruskan pekerjaannya, sampai ia terjatuh ke dalam kotak itu dan mati. Seketika uang lenyap dan kotak itu dipenuhi tubuh-tubuh kaku ayah si Petani.
Si Petani harus mengeluarkan tubuh-tubuh itu dan menguburkannya. Akibatnya ia harus mengeluarkan semua uang yang telah dikumpulkannya. Ketika ia telah menghabiskan semua uang, kotak itu pecah. Maka si Petani tetap hidup miskin seperti semula.
Monday, January 5, 2015
Dongeng dari Nusa Tenggara Barat
SEBABNYA DI SASAK TAK ADA HARIMAU
Oleh Endang Firdaus
Dua ekor sapi ditambatkan di sebuah pohon besar di tepi hutan. Seekor harimau menghampiri dan bertanya, “Mengapa hidung kalian dicocok? Siapa yang menambat kalian di sini?”
“Manusia.”
“Manusia? Bodoh! Mau saja diikat!”
“Kami kalah oleh manusia.”
“Mengapa kalah? Seperti apa manusia itu?”
“Ia tidak besar. Badannya kecil, tapi amat cerdik. Kalau ingin tahu, tunggulah di sini. Sebentar lagi ia datang.”
Tak lama, seorang manusia lewat. Ucap kedua sapi menunjuk pada orang itu, “Itulah manusia!”
Harimau melihat ke arah yang ditunjuk kedua sapi. Ejeknya, “Cuma sebesar itu manusia? Kecil sekali! Mengapa kalian yang bertubuh lebih besar dan memiliki tanduk panjang sampai kalah olehnya? Huh, bila manusia yang telah mencocok hidung kalian datang akan kubunuh ia!”
“Ya, bunuh saja!” sahut kedua sapi.
Pemilik kedua sapi datang. Harimau menyambut. Serunya, “Manusia, aku bunuh kau sekarang!”
Pemilik kedua sapi terkejut takut, namun ia tak mau memperlihatkan itu. Ia berusaha untuk tenang. Ucapnya, “Berani sekali kau padaku! Apakah kekuatanmu melebihi kekuatanku?”
“Tentu kekuatanku lebih besar!” sahut harimau. “Tubuhku saja lebih besar dari tubuhmu!”
“Mari kita buktikan!” tukas pemilik kedua sapi. Dicarinya dan tali. Cetusnya kemudian, “Jika kau dapat lepas dari tali yang mengikat tubuhmu, berarti benar kekuatanmu lebih dari kekuatanku!”
“Ikatlah aku!”
Pemilik kedua sapi mengikat harimau dengan tali. Dengan tenaganya yang besar harimau dapat memutuskan tali itu. Kembali pemilik kedua sapi mengikatnya. Kembali pula harimau dapat memutuskan tali itu. Pemilik kedua sapi kemudian mengikat harimau dengan aur yang banyak miangnya. Harimau mencoba memutuskannya. Miang ruruh, namun aur tak mau putus. Tubuh harimau gatal-gatal terkena miang. Kembali harimau mencoba memutuskan aur, namun tak mau putus. Miang kian banyak memenuhi tubuhnya.
Harimau putus asa. Tubuhnya gatal semua. Pemilik kedua sapi menghampiri dan berkata, “Hahaha! Sekarang tibalah saatnya aku membunuhmu, wahai, harimau! Bersiaplah!”
Harimau ketakutan. Mohonnya, “Manusia, maafkan aku! Kasihani aku! Lepaskan aur ini! Setelah itu aku dan seluruh keluargaku akan segera meninggalkan daerah Sasak ini!”
Pemilik kedua sapi melepas aur yang mengikat harimau. Binatang itu lalu mohon diri. Ia kemudian menepati janjinya, membawa seluruh keluarganya meninggalkan daerah Sasak. Mereka menuju Bali dan Jawa. Itulah sebabnya di daerah Sasak tak ada harimau.
Oleh Endang Firdaus
Dua ekor sapi ditambatkan di sebuah pohon besar di tepi hutan. Seekor harimau menghampiri dan bertanya, “Mengapa hidung kalian dicocok? Siapa yang menambat kalian di sini?”
“Manusia.”
“Manusia? Bodoh! Mau saja diikat!”
“Kami kalah oleh manusia.”
“Mengapa kalah? Seperti apa manusia itu?”
“Ia tidak besar. Badannya kecil, tapi amat cerdik. Kalau ingin tahu, tunggulah di sini. Sebentar lagi ia datang.”
Tak lama, seorang manusia lewat. Ucap kedua sapi menunjuk pada orang itu, “Itulah manusia!”
Harimau melihat ke arah yang ditunjuk kedua sapi. Ejeknya, “Cuma sebesar itu manusia? Kecil sekali! Mengapa kalian yang bertubuh lebih besar dan memiliki tanduk panjang sampai kalah olehnya? Huh, bila manusia yang telah mencocok hidung kalian datang akan kubunuh ia!”
“Ya, bunuh saja!” sahut kedua sapi.
Pemilik kedua sapi datang. Harimau menyambut. Serunya, “Manusia, aku bunuh kau sekarang!”
Pemilik kedua sapi terkejut takut, namun ia tak mau memperlihatkan itu. Ia berusaha untuk tenang. Ucapnya, “Berani sekali kau padaku! Apakah kekuatanmu melebihi kekuatanku?”
“Tentu kekuatanku lebih besar!” sahut harimau. “Tubuhku saja lebih besar dari tubuhmu!”
“Mari kita buktikan!” tukas pemilik kedua sapi. Dicarinya dan tali. Cetusnya kemudian, “Jika kau dapat lepas dari tali yang mengikat tubuhmu, berarti benar kekuatanmu lebih dari kekuatanku!”
“Ikatlah aku!”
Pemilik kedua sapi mengikat harimau dengan tali. Dengan tenaganya yang besar harimau dapat memutuskan tali itu. Kembali pemilik kedua sapi mengikatnya. Kembali pula harimau dapat memutuskan tali itu. Pemilik kedua sapi kemudian mengikat harimau dengan aur yang banyak miangnya. Harimau mencoba memutuskannya. Miang ruruh, namun aur tak mau putus. Tubuh harimau gatal-gatal terkena miang. Kembali harimau mencoba memutuskan aur, namun tak mau putus. Miang kian banyak memenuhi tubuhnya.
Harimau putus asa. Tubuhnya gatal semua. Pemilik kedua sapi menghampiri dan berkata, “Hahaha! Sekarang tibalah saatnya aku membunuhmu, wahai, harimau! Bersiaplah!”
Harimau ketakutan. Mohonnya, “Manusia, maafkan aku! Kasihani aku! Lepaskan aur ini! Setelah itu aku dan seluruh keluargaku akan segera meninggalkan daerah Sasak ini!”
Pemilik kedua sapi melepas aur yang mengikat harimau. Binatang itu lalu mohon diri. Ia kemudian menepati janjinya, membawa seluruh keluarganya meninggalkan daerah Sasak. Mereka menuju Bali dan Jawa. Itulah sebabnya di daerah Sasak tak ada harimau.
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