(A Folktale from Philippines)
By Endang Firdaus
There was a crab. The frogs who made noise lived nearby. They kept the crab awake at night.
One night, the crab got angry. He shouted, “Don’t make noise!”
“Forgive us, Mr. Crab,” said a frog. “We’re talking about Mr. Turtle, our friend.”
“What’s wrong with him?”
“Don’t you know?” asked the frog. “He always carries his house on his back.”
The crab asked the turtle, “Mr. Turtle, why do you always carry your house on your back?”
“I’m afraid Mr. Firefly will burn it,” answered the turtle.
The crab asked the firefly, “Why do you want to burn the turtle’s house?”
“Because the fire will keep away the mosquitoes,” said the firefly.
“Mr. Mosquito, why do you disturb Mr. Firefly?” the crab asked the mosquito.
“I never disturb him,” said the mosquito. Then, he bit the frog who had first spoken to the crab.
“Don’t bite me!” cried the frog
But the mosquito bit and bit the frog. He was very angry.
Suddenly, the frog stuck out his tongue and caught the mosquito. That was the end of the mosquito. The frog ate him.
Frogs and mosquitoes then became enemies. Mosquitoes always try to bite frogs whenever they have the chance.
NYI BANJARSARI
(A Folktale from Banten)
By Endang Firdaus
In a village there was an old man named Pak Bong. One night he had a dream. In his dream an old man with a long beard and white cassock came to him. The old man said, “Soon there will be a very heavy rain. It will rain for many days and a very big flood will come to this village. You must save yourself and go to the highest mountaintop. Don’t forget to bring food.”
The next day, Pak Bong told his dream to the villagers. But many of them didn’t believe him. They laughed at Pak Bong. Only Pak Bong’s wife, his daughter Nyi Banjarsari and some villagers believed him. They went to the highest mountain and brought food with them.
Not long after that, a very heavy rain fell down from the sky. For many days it rained and rained. The people in the village stayed home. They spent their time eating, drinking, dancing and singing happily. But the rain continued. The people became frightened. When the water entered their houses they cried. They were sorry they did not listen to Pak Bong.
At last, all the villagers drowned in the big flood. The people who were with Pak Bong on top of the mountain were safe.
The rain stopped, but the people with Pak Bong were still afraid of the high water. The waves roared as if they were saying, “Banjarsari, we want you with us.” A villager put a hair from Nyi Banjarsari’s head in the water. Soon the water went down a little. The people thought if Nyi Banjarsari jumped into the water, it would dry up completely. So they asked Nyi Banjarsari to jump into the water.
Nyi Banjarsari was caring girl. She agreed to do that. Her mother cried and cried. Pak Bong said, “Don’t be sad. We must be proud as Nyi Banjarsari’s parents. She will sacrifice herself for all of us.”
Nyi Banjarsari’s mother finally agreed. Nyi Banjarsari jumped into the water. The water soon dried up.
People came down from the mountain. They built new houses. To show their thankfulness to Nyi Banjarsari, they named their new village Banjarsari. The village is located in Kecamatan Anyer, Kabupaten Serang, the Province of Banten.
THE BEGINNING OF SINGAPURA
(A Folktale from Singapore)
By Endang Firdaus
Long ago, there was the Kingdom of Sri Vijaya in Palembang. It was ruled by Sang Nila Utama. One day, he intended to go to Bentang Island. He and his men then sailed there.
A storm came.
The wind howled.
The sea became too rough.
“Your Majesty,” said Captain to Sang Nila Utama, “it’s very dangerous to continue our sailing. Tumasik Island is near from here. Better we stay there until the storm is over.”
Sang Nila Utama agreed. Captain took the ship to Tumasik Island. They arrived there safely.
Sang Nila Utama then asked his men to look around. When they walked further from the sea, Sang Nila Utama saw a large animal. It was larger than a goat, had red body, black head, and white breast. It moved too quickly and soon disappeared into the forest.
“What’s that?” Sang Nila Utama said. “I have never seen such a strange and wonderful animal.”
“It’s a lion.”
“Lion?”
“Yes.”
“If here are the animals like lions,” said Sang Nila Utama, “it’s good to build a kingdom here.”
All men agreed. One of them said, “Your Majesty, it’s better for you to rename this islands to mark your visit.”
“Right!” said Sang Nila Utama. “I will name this island Singapura. It means City of the Lion.”
BOBO BOKAU
(A Folktale from Taiwan)
By Endang Firdaus
Long ago, there lived a farmer named Liu I-shen. He was married but he did not have any children. Every night, before sleeping, he and his wife always prayed for a daughter.
One day, Liu went to get some firewood. Suddenly, a voice came from a large bamboo, “Let me out, please! I will become your daughter.” Liu cut the bamboo with his axe. A tiny girl jumped out. She was only two inches tall. “Where have you come from, little girl?” Liu asked.
“I have come from the moon,” replied the tiny girl.
Liu took the tiny girl back to his wife. The tiny girl told them that her name was Yue-ngo, which means ‘pretty girl in the moon’. Yue-ngo lived with the couple very happily.
Time went by. Yue-ngo was grown up. Many men wanted to marry her. The farmer and his wife wanted her to marry a man who had enough money to support their live.
One day, a writer came to see the farmer and his wife. He said , “You are old. If I can marry your daughter, I will look after you.” The couple agreed. The writer gave them one hundred dollars. They promised that he could marry their daughter at the end of the year.
The couple spent the money. A hunter then came to see them. He also wanted to marry Yue-ngo. “I will give you one hundred dollars if you will allow me to marry your daughter,” the hunter said. The couple agreed that he could marry Yue-ngo at the end of the year.
Again, the couple spent the money. Then, an acrobat and his monkey came to see them. “Your daughter is very beautiful,” the acrobat said. “If you will allow me to me marry her, I will give you one hundreds dollars.” The couple agreed and told him that he could marry her daughter at the end of the year.
The end of the year came. The writer, the hunter, and the acrobat came to see the couple and their daughter. The daughter said to them, “I’m very sorry. I can’t marry all of you. I’ll take a contest for you and you must take part in it. I shall marry whoever finishes first.”
Yue-ngo told them, “The writer must write ten stories, the hunter must shoot all the leaves from the trees in our garden, and the acrobat must run to the village and bring back a drum from the temple.”
Three hours later the writer had only finished writing eight stories and the hunter still had not finished shooting the leaves from the trees. At once, there was a shout. The acrobat ran toward them carrying a drum. He had won the contest. The writer and hunter left.
Yue-ngo asked the acrobat how he could run so fast. The acrobat answered, “My monkey that fetch the drum. He can run much faster than I.” Instantly, Yue-ngo felt very unhappy because the acrobat had won the contest in this way. She decided not to marry him.
“Oh!” Yue-ngo cried. “I have a pain in my chest. Hunter, please bring me some medicine!”
“What’s that?” asked the acrobat.
“A monkey’s heart,” said Yue-ngo.
Soon the acrobat killed his monkey.
“Why did you kill your monkey?” cried Yue-ngo, angrily. “He had helped you so much! I don’t like what you did to your monkey! Go home now! Come and see me in one week’s time!”
The acrobat went home. When he came to see Yue-ngo again, there was a cloud around her house. A road opened from the sky to the ground. Yue-ngo started to rise towards heaven. “Today is my last day on earth,” she said. “I came from the moon. I am now returning home. Good bye dear mother and father! Goodbye Hunter the ungrateful man!”
The acrobat had neither wife nor monkey. In Taiwan, now a man who is poor and has no wife is called ‘Bobo Bokau’.
MOUSE DEER AND ELEPHANT
(A Folktale from Central Java)
By Endang Firdaus
One morning, as the sun had just warmed the world, all forest creatures went out to look for food. They were full of spirit, except Mouse Deer. He lay fast asleep under a big tree. He did not pay attention the animals passing in front of him. Suddenly, a jackfruit fell.
Mouse Deer awoke with a start. He blinked his eyes open. He scratched his head with his hind leg, and then walked slowly to the river to take a bath. After that he went to get food.
It was nearly midday. Mouse Deer got tired. He also felt very hungry but he did not yet get food. He looked here and there. He did not realize that there was a hole ahead of him.
Mouse Deer fell into the hole. He cried. He was afraid no one would help him so that he would die hungrily in the hole. He looked up at the sky. He watched the clouds were blown by the wind.
Mouse Deer then heard the branches of trees were being cracked and broken. At once he felt that help would come. Mouse Deer was right. Not far away was an elephant walking to him. Quickly he wiped away the tears on his face. He did not want Elephant knew that he was in danger.
Elephant looked down into the hole. As he found Mouse Deer at the bottom he could hardly believe his eyes.
“What are you doing there?” Elephant asked.
“My friend,” said Mouse Deer, “didn’t you know that the world is coming to an end? Look at those clouds. They are running across the sky quickly. They are going to fall on us, and that is why I am here. In this hole I will be safe.”
Elephant was very frightened right away. Anxiously he said, “Mouse Deer, please help me. Please let me down into the hole. Save me from those clouds that are going to fall on us.”
“Sorry, I can’t help you,” answered Mouse Deer. “You have a big body. You will crush me and kill me if I let you down into this hole.”
“Oh, how can you be so cruel to me, your good friend!” cried Elephant.
Full of sad, Mouse Deer looked at Elephant then said, “Ok, I’ll help you. But, before coming down into this hole, you must lift me out of here first with your trunk. Then you come down. I’ll come down after you.”
“Thank you, my friend,” said Elephant happily.
With his trunk Elephant lifted Mouse Deer up from the bottom of the hole. He put him on his back. When he would come down into the hole, Mouse Deer said, “My friend, I think you don’t need to come down. The clouds are no more. The end of the world will not happen.”
Elephant looked up at the sky. There were no more clouds. The sky was bright now.
Elephant said, “You’re right my friend. The world will not come to an end. Oh, I’m so happy!”
Mouse Deer jumped from Elephant’s back. Elephant then leaved him. Mouse Deer looked at him. He took pity on him. He had a big body but was too stupid.
ITO AND THE CRANE
(A Folktale from Japan)
By Endang Firdaus
Once upon a time, there lived in Japan a young farmer named Ito. He was very kind. He liked to help other people. One day, while walking home from the market, he saw a crane flying over a lake. The crane landed on the lake bank to look for some fish to eat. Suddenly, Ito saw a hunter hiding in the bush at the side of the lake. The hunter was directing his arrow at the crane.
“Don’t shoot!” cried Ito.
The crane heard the noise and flew away.
“Why did you do that?” said the hunter to Ito angrily.
“Forgive me,” said Ito. “I just didn’t want you to shoot the crane.”
“Pooh!” grumbled the hunter.
The next morning, Ito worked on his field. He saw the crane flying above him. “Come down!” he called out. “I’ve got some food for you!” The crane landed near him. Quickly Ito took out his breakfast. He and the crane ate breakfast together.
Every day after that, Ito put some food outside his home for the crane. But soon the crane was never seen again.
Winter came. The fields were covered in snow. Ito couldn’t work on his field. Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. “Who is it?” asked Ito, and opened the door. He saw a beautiful girl standing there.
“I’m a traveler,” the girl said. “I’m lost. Could you kindly let me in to warm myself?”
“Please come in,” said Ito.
The girl came in. Ito then gave her some hot soup.
The girl said, “You’re very kind. What can I do to repay you?”
“Could you weave some cloth for me?” asked Ito.
“Of course,” said the girl. “But you must promise me not to peek while I’m working.”
The girl worked in another room for several days. Finally, she came out of the room and gave Ito a very beautiful cloth. “Take it to the market and sell it,” she said. “You’ll get much money for it.”
“I won’t do it,” said Ito.
“Please do. Don’t make me sad,” begged the girl.
Ito went to the market. He sold the cloth at a very high price. He went home happily. The girl was very pleased, and then continued her work.
Meanwhile, Ito cooked some food. When he was finished cooking, he opened the door to where the girl was working to ask her to eat. But he couldn’t see her. There was only a crane at the hand loom.
“Forgive me,” said Ito. “I forgot my promise not to see you inside.”
The crane ran out of the house and then flew up into the sky.
Ito regretted what he had done. He found a great pile of beautiful clothe in his house. He sold it and got much money. The crane never came again. Ito lived prosperously ever since.
SIX GIRLS AND A WITCH
(A Folktale from Sabah)
By Endang Firdaus
There was six girls who were good friend. Gayah was the most beautiful. She was the cleverest too. One day they went to play to the jungle. They lost their way to home and tried to find the way back. But, until night came they could not find the way back. Then they saw a fire not far away. They went there and found an old woman sitting in front of it.
The old woman said, “Hikhikhik, I know you have lost your way. You must be hungry. It’s very lucky that you find me. I have some delicious cakes. I’ll give them to you.”
“Don’t take any!” whispered Gayah to her friends. “She’s a wicked witch. I’ll talk to her.” Gayah said to the old woman, “We’re not hungry. We’re thirsty. Do you have water for us?”
“Of course I have,” replied the old woman. “Wait here. I’ll take some water for you.”
“Thank you,” Gayah answered. She thought that the old woman was stupid to leave them.
But Gayah was wrong. The old woman was not as stupid as she thought. The old woman waved a magic wand. Instantly all girls felt weak and they had to sit down. The old woman then tied them up with a long rope. She said, “I’ll carry one end of the rope with me. If I pull it, I can easily find out whether you’re still tied to the other end. Hikhikhik!”
The old woman went to get water. After a while, she pulled the rope. “Hikhikhik! Little girls, don’t try to run away! You can’t escape from me!” she said. A little while later, she pulled the rope again. She said, “Good, you’re still there! Don’t think you can trick me!”
But Gayah had untied the rope and had fastened it to a tree. So when the old woman pulled the rope the next time, she thought that the girls were still there. Quickly the girls ran back into the jungle. When the old woman returned, she did not find them. Waving her magic wand she cried, “Let there be a wide river with a big crocodile in it to stop the girls!”
Whuuush! The old woman flew high above the tree tops and then landed on the bank of a wide river. She saw the girls talking to a crocodile. “Stop! Stop!” she cried angrily.
Gayah said to the crocodile, “Can you take us across the river one by one? You may eat the sixth one.”
The crocodile agreed. Soon he took the first girl on his back and swam across the river. Then he went back and carried the second girl across. And then the third and the fourth and the fifth. “Hohoho!” the crocodile said in his heart happily. “Now I’ll eat the sixth!”
The old woman came to the edge of the river. “This must be the sixth,” thought the crocodile. The old woman sat on the crocodile’s back. The crocodile took her to the middle of the river. Then, he threw her high into the air and caught her in his mouth. He ate her.
Meanwhile, Gayah had crossed the river at the same time as the fifth girl by hanging on the crocodile’s tail. She and her friends promised that they would never go alone into the jungle again.
THE BEGINNING OF MERMAIDS
(A Folktale from Myanmar)
By Endang Firdaus
Long ago, there was an old man who knew the future. One day he said to the villagers, “Very heavy rain will come. It will not stop until the world is under water. If we want to save, we have to climb to the highest mountain top and don’t forget to take food.”
Most of the villagers did not believe the old man. They laughed at him. Taking the food, the old man, his wife, his daughter, Za Tuar, and a few villagers climbed to the highest mountain top.
Reaching the mountain top, the old man died. Very heavy rain then came. The people in the village could not go outside. They stayed at home. They passed the time eating, drinking, and dancing. The rain continued. When the water rose around the houses, the people became worried. It rained and rained. The people in the village were drowned by the water.
The people with Za Tuar were safe, but they were frightened by the big waves around them. When the waves roared, it seemed they said that they liked Za Tuar very much. The people took a Za Tuar’s hair and put in the water. The water went down a foot.
The people thought that if Za Tuar jumped into the water, it would dry up completely. They asked Za Tuar to jump into the water. “Take pity on us, please!” they said.
Za Tuar agreed. Her mother was too sad. Za Tuar said, “Mother, if I jump into the water, I will become a mermaid. You must become salt, so that you will always be near me.”
Za Tuar jumped into the water. The water dried up and Za Tuar became a mermaid. The mermaids are now in the world are descended from her. The people then came down from the mountain. They built new houses. But Za Tuar’s mother was very sad as she did not know how to be salt. Weeping she sat down near a river. Then she vomited. Her vomit turned into salt. Until today, salt water flows out from the place where she vomited.
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