May 19, 2009

Kalua’s Trick

Filed under: Folk Tales — christon @ 6:22 am

Once upon a time, in a certain country, right in the middle of the gamarala’s field, lay a huge rock. It was the time to plough the field, and the gamarala wanted to get the rock out.

He tried to lift it himself. But the rock was too large and too heavy. He called his neighbours to help. But the couldn’t lift the rock either. They tied a ropeĀ  around it and yoked it to ten oxen. The rope snapped, but the rock didn’t move.

Finally the gamarala offered a large Continue reading

The Two Bags

Filed under: Folk Tales — christon @ 5:42 am

Long long ago, when the world was young, gods lived in heaven and men lived on earth.

One day, Brahma, the greatest god of all, sait to Vishnu and Shiva, “Tomorrow I’ll go down to earth and look around.”

“What do you want to see?” Vishnu asked.

“I want to see if the people I created have become wise. I want to see whether they are ready to come to heaven,” Brahma answered.

So the next day the three gods rode down to earth Continue reading

April 23, 2009

Si Kabayan Pays His Debts

Filed under: Folk Tales — christon @ 9:08 am

Si Kabayan was so deeply in debt to an Arab usurer that it made him giddy even to think of it. How could he ever pay his debts when he no longer possessed a single thing that he could sell to obtain even a part of the amount he owed ? He thought and thought, and at long last he hit upon a plan.

“Finally !” he said to his wife. “Now I know what to do !”

His wife agreed to his proposal, in fact welcomed it with great enthusiasm, and proceeded to help him Continue reading

Si Kabayan Brings Home The Corn

Filed under: Folk Tales — christon @ 6:04 am

Si Kabayan had been ordered by his father-in-law to collect the ripe corn from the garden and bring it in to the house. Too lazy to carry so many ears of corn himself, he tied them together and hung them on a bamboo pole which he slung ocross the back of his horse.

Then he himself mounted the beast and saw him approaching the house and called. “Kabayan, Kabayan, what in the name of heaven are you doing? Why are you carrying the corn that way, sitting on the horse with the pole Continue reading

April 22, 2009

Si Kabayan is a Haji

Filed under: Folk Tales — christon @ 6:03 am

It seemed to Si Kabayan that he had not anything really good to eat for a long time. He even had visions of a delicious chicken, aromatic in thick coconut sauce. One day he had an idea. He knew that his father-in-law always served the most excellent food if a haji paid him a visit, so he disguised himself as a haji, white robe, white fez, and flowing white scarf, and went to his father-in-law’s home.

As soon as si Kabayan’s father-in-law saw that he had a haji as guest he Continue reading

April 20, 2009

Why Si Kabayan Never Became Rich

Filed under: Folk Tales — christon @ 12:15 pm

Si Kabayan and his wife went to Mountain Gede to spend some time as astetics, praying and fasting and meditating, so that their wish to become rich might be granted them. One day, in the midst of their meditations, a god appeared to them

“Kabayan,” said the god. “I granted you two wishes. But only two. You had better talk it over with your wife before you make them.”

Kabayan and his wife had a lengthy discussion about what they should wish for. It had Continue reading

April 19, 2009

Si Kabayan Traps a Deer

Filed under: Folk Tales — christon @ 8:02 am

Si Kabayan Traps a Deer
West Java
For a long time Si Kabayan and his father-in-law had entertained the idea of making a deer trap, but nothing had ever come of their intention. One day Kabayan called his father-in-law.

“Come, Pa,” he said. “Let’s dig a ditch. A deer is sure to fall into it, and then we’ll slaughter it together.”

“No,” replied Kabayan’s father-in-law. “You dig the ditch, Kabayan. I’d Continue reading

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