It is related that there once lived at Salouang a husbandman who owned
a slave named Badang, whom he employed in clearing forest-land. It
happened one day that Badang spread his nets in the river; but on the
following morning he found his net quite empty, and by its side some
fish-scales and fish-bones. The same thing took place for some days
following. Badang flung the fish-scales (_sisik_) into the river; from
which circumstance was derived the river's name, Besisik.
Meanwhile the slave said to himself: "Who is it who eats the fish
caught in my net? I must watch and find out."
With this intention he hid one day behind some trees and saw a
_hantou_, or evil genius, or monster, who was eating the fish taken in
his net. This _hantou_ had eyes red as fire, his hair was like woven
osiers, and his beard fell down to his waist. Badang drew his knife,
and, screwing up his courage, rushed up to the _hantou_ and seized him.
"Every day," he said, "you eat up my fish. But this time you shall die
at my hands."
On hearing these words, the _hantou_ was afraid, and slipped aside,
wishing to avoid the hands of his adversary; but failing to do so, he
said to him: "Do not kill me; I will give you what you wish, on
condition that you spare my life."
Badang thought: "If I ask for riches, my master will claim them. If I
ask the power to become invisible, they will put me to death as a
sorcerer. Therefore it is best for me to ask for the gift of physical
strength, in order that I may do the work of my master."
In accordance with this resolution, Badang said to the _hantou_, "Give
me the gift of physical strength; let me be strong enough to tear down
and to uproot the trees; that is, that I may tear down, with one hand,
great trees, a fathom or two in girth."
The _hantou_ answered: "Your prayer is granted. You wish for strength;
I will give it to you; but first it is necessary that you eat up what I
vomit."
"Very well," said Badang; "vomit, and I will eat it up." The _hantou_
vomited, and Badang set to work to eat it. He held the _hantou_ by the
beard, and would not let him go. Then he attempted the uprooting of
great trees; and, seeing that he tore them up with ease, he let go the
beard of the _hantou_.
Afterward, coming and going through the forest, he tore down enormous
trees; he carried off, roots and all, those of a fathom or two in
girth. As for the small ones, he tore them up by handfuls and flung
them on all sides. In a moment the forest which had been a wilderness
became level as a great plain.
When his master saw this work he said: "Who has cleared our land? For I
see that it is suddenly freed entirely from trees and brushwood."
"It is I," said Badang, "who have effected this clearance."
Then answered the master: "How have you been able to do this, single-
handed, so quickly and in one job?"
Then Badang related all the details of his adventure, and his master
gave him his liberty.
The report of these occurrences reached Singapore. King Krama
immediately ordered that Badang be brought before him, and he called
him Raden (_i.e._, Royal Prince).
Once upon a time the King of Singapore ordered Badang to fetch for his
repast the fruit of _kouras_, at the river Sayang. Badang went there
alone in his _pilang_, or boat, which was eight fathoms long, and he
punted it with a pole cut from the trunk of a kampas-tree a fathom in
girth.
When he arrived at the river Sayang, he clasped the _kouras_-tree. The
branches broke, the tree fell, and his head struck against a huge rock.
His head was not injured, but the rock was split in two. This stone is
still seen to-day on the river Sayang, and it bears the name of Balou-
blah, which means the "Riven Rock." His pole and boat have also been
preserved to the present day. The day following his exploit Badang
started back for Singapore, with his _pilang_ completely laden with
sugar-cane, bananas, and _keladion_, or edible lily, root. He had eaten
the whole cargo before he arrived at Djohor-the-Old.
On another occasion the King of Singapore had caused a large ship to be
built, fifteen fathoms long, in front of the palace. The vessel being
finished, between forty and fifty men were ordered to push it into the
water. They were unable to launch it. As many as 2,000 or 3,000 persons
were equally unsuccessful. Then the King ordered Badang to undertake
the operation. Badang undertook the task unaided, and pushed with such
force that the vessel went right across the strait to the other shore.
For this feat the King appointed him _houloubalong_, or officer of
military rank.
A report reached the province of Kling that among the officers of the
King was a man of extraordinary strength, named Badang. Now there was a
powerful athlete at the court of the King of Kling, who had no rival in
the country. His name was Madia-Bibjaya-Pelkrama. The King ordered him
to go to Singapore with seven vessels; "Go," said he, "and wrestle with
this officer. If he defeat you, give him as a prize the cargo of the
seven vessels; if you are victorious, demand of him an equal forfeit."
"I obey, your Majesty," said the athlete, and started off with the
seven vessels.
When he arrived at Singapore they brought news to the King of the city,
saying: "An athlete has arrived from the land of Kling to compete with
Badang in many kinds of sports. If he is defeated, he will leave the
cargo of his seven vessels as forfeit."
The King came out of his palace to give audience. The Hindoo athlete
presented himself. The prince told him to try a bout with Badang.
Badang beat him in every round.
Now facing the _balerong_, or court of audience, was an enormous rock.
The athlete said to Badang: "Come, let us match our strength by lifting
this stone. Whoever cannot lift it will be conquered."
"Do you try first," said Badang.
The athlete commenced, and made many attempts without succeeding in
lifting it. At last, mustering all his strength, he raised it to the
height of his knee and let it fall again.
"Now it is your turn, my master," he said.
"Very good," answered Badang, and lifting the stone he swung it in the
air, then hurled it toward the river, at the entrance to the town,
where it is still seen at the extremity of the point of Singapore.
The athlete of Kling, thus vanquished, handed to Badang the seven
vessels and their cargoes; then he returned, very much saddened and
mortified by his defeat.
Now the report came to the country of Perlak that there was at
Singapore an officer of the King named Badang without a rival in
extraordinary strength. The King of Perlak, so runs the story, had an
athlete named Bandarang, also very strong and of a great reputation.
This athlete was before the King when they spoke of Badang.
"My lord," he asked, "is Badang stronger than I am? If you will permit
me, I will go to Singapore to try an assault with him."
"Very well; go to Singapore," said the King. Turning to the prime
minister, Toun Parapatih, he said:
"Get ready a _praho_, for I am going to send Bandarang to Singapore."
When all was ready, a royal litter was prepared and the minister
embarked with the athlete, and after a while reached Singapore. Prince
Sri Rana Ouira Krama received the King's litter in the audience-
chamber, among the radjas, ministers, body-guards, heralds, and other
grand officers upon his command.
Then the prince, addressing the ambassador, asked: "With what
commission is our brother charged?"
The ambassador replied: "Behold, I have received the command of your
illustrious younger brother to bring here this subject Bandarang, to
try his strength with Badang. If Bandarang is vanquished, your brother
will place at your Majesty's feet the contents of a storehouse; and if
Badang succumbs, you shall offer us the equivalent."
"Very well," said the King; "to-morrow everything shall be arranged for
the struggle." The King retired to the palace, summoned Badang, and
said to him:
"You know, Badang, that to-morrow you will have to contend with
Bandarang."
"My lord," answered Badang, "know that this man is a powerful athlete,
of extraordinary strength, famous in all countries. If your slave is
vanquished will it not cast some discredit on the sovereign? If your
Majesty thinks it wise, let us both be called into your presence
together, so that I may test him; and if I feel myself capable of
competing with him, we will have the contest; but if he is too strong
for me, then your Majesty can oppose the struggle."
"You are right," said the King. That is why, when night came, the
prince invited Toun Parapatih Pendek, Bandarang, and their companions.
When they arrived they were served with a collation. Bandarang was
seated beside Badang, who began to test him. They tried each other's
strength without attracting attention.
At the end of an hour, when the guests were in wine, the King asked
Badang if he were strong enough to struggle with Bandarang, who
declared that he was equal to him. On the other hand, when Toun
Parapatih Pendek had returned to the ship, Bandarang said to him:
"Lord, if you will permit me to advise, there will be no contest
between Badang and me. I might not conquer, for I have learned how
powerful he is."
"Very well," said the minister; "it is very easy to arrange that."
So the minister said to the King: "It is my opinion that we should
prevent this struggle; for if one of the contestants should be
vanquished in some bad way, a quarrel might arise out of it between
your Majesty and the sovereign your brother."
The King agreed, and the ambassador asked leave to return home. The
prince had a letter written for the King of Perlak. It was carried in
state on board the ship and the envoy, after receiving vestments of
honor, set sail to his own country. Arriving, he told the King all that
had taken place. Later Badang died and was buried at Bourou. When the
news of his death arrived at that country, the King of Kling sent a
carved stone, which is now seen at Bourou.
And now as to the kings of Pasey. The authors of this story declare
that there were two brothers named Marah who lived near Pasangan. They
were originally from the mountain of Sanggong. The elder was named
Mara-Tchaga, and the younger Marah-Silou. Marah-Silou was engaged in
casting nets. Having taken some _kalang-kalang_, he rejected them and
cast his net anew. The _kalang-kalang_ were caught again. After several
attempts with the same result, Marah-Silou had these _kalang-kalang_
boiled. And behold, the wretched things became gold and their froth
became silver. Marah-Silou caught more _kalang-kalang_, boiled them,
and again saw them become gold and silver. He had thus acquired much
store of gold and silver, when one day the news came to Marah-Tchaga
that his younger brother was catching _kalang-kalang_, and he was so
irritated that he wished to kill him. When Marah-Silou learned of this
design, he took refuge in the forest of Djawn. The place where he
fished is still called the Plain of Kalang-Kalang.
Marah-Silou, established in the forest of Djawn, gave gold to those who
dwelt there, and they all obeyed his commands. One day when he was
hunting, his dog, named Si Pasey, began to bark on a slight hill which
one would have believed made by the hand of man. Climbing the small
hill he saw an ant as big as a cat. He took it and ate it up. The place
was afterward called Samodra; that is to say, "The Big Ant." Now it is
said that the prophet of God--blessings be upon him!--once told his
companions:
"There will be a country some day, toward the south, called Samoudra.
When you hear it spoken of, hasten thither to convert the inhabitants
to Islam, for in that country many will become the friends of God. But
there will also be the king of a country called Mataba, whom you must
take with you."
A long time after this decree of the prophet, the fakir Mahomet went to
Samoudra. Reaching the shore, he met Marah-Silou, who was gathering
shells. The fakir asked him:
"What is the name of this country?"
"Its name is Samoudra," answered Marah-Silou.
"And what is the sovereign's name?"
"I am the sovereign of all who dwell here," said Marah-Silou.
The fakir Mahomet converted Marah-Silou to Islam and taught him the
words of the creed. Now Marah-Silou being asleep dreamed that he was in
the presence of the prophet of God, and the prophet said to him,
"Marah-Silou, open your mouth." He opened it and the prophet spat in
it, and Marah-Silou, awaking, perceived throughout his whole body a
perfume like that of spikenard. When day broke he told his dream.
"This is truly the country of Samoudra of which the prophet of God has
spoken," said the fakir Mahomet. Bringing from the ship all the royal
ensigns aboard, he proclaimed Marah-Silou king with the title of Sultan
Melik-es-Salih.
Sultan Melik-es-Salih sent Sidi Ali Ghaiath-ed-Din to the country of
Perlak. This prince had three daughters, two of blood-royal on their
mother's side, and one born of a concubine. The latter was called the
princess Ganggang. When Sidi Ali Ghaiath arrived at Perlak they showed
him the three daughters. The two sisters of the blood-royal were seated
lower than the princess Ganggang, who occupied a high seat. The latter,
by order of her father, was cleaning arec nuts for her two sisters,
like one doing the honors of the household. She wore rose-colored
garments and a violet cloak. Her ears were adorned with _soubangs_ made
with the young leaves of the _lontar_. She was very beautiful.
Sidi Ali Ghaiath-ed-Din said to the King of Perlak, "That one of your
daughters who is seated above is the one I ask in marriage for my
master, your son." The envoy knew not that Princess Ganggang was the
daughter of a concubine.
The King burst out laughing. "Very well," he said, "let the will of my
son be accomplished." Then he gave orders to equip 100 _prahos_, and
Toun Parapatih received the command to accompany the princess to the
country of Samoudra.
Sultan Melik-es-Salih went to meet the princess as far as Djambou Ayer.
He introduced her into Samoudra with a thousand honors and splendors,
and married her. The marriage accomplished, the prince gave presents to
the ministers and to the officers, and showed himself lavish in gold
and silver to the poor of the country. As for Toun Parapatih Pendek, he
took leave to return to Perlak. Sultan Melik-es-Salih and the princess
Ganggang had two sons who received from the prince the names of Sultan
Melik-ed-Dhahir and Sultan Melik-el-Mansour. The elder was confided to
Sidi Ali Ghaiath-ed-Din and the other to Sidi Ali Asmai-ed-Din. Years
passed and the two young princes had grown up. Perlak had been
conquered by an enemy come from the opposite coast, and the inhabitants
of the country had migrated to Samoudra. Sultan Melik-es-Salih
conceived the plan of founding a city to establish his sons there. He
said to the great ones, "To-morrow I shall go hunting." The next
morning he set out, mounted on an elephant called Perma Diouana. He
passed to the other side of the water. When he came to land his dog Si
Pasey began to bark. The prince ran up and saw that he was barking
before a hillock, sufficiently extended for the erection of a palace
and its dependencies, level on top and well disposed. Sultan Melik had
the ground cleared and built a palace and a city there. After the name
of his dog he called the palace Pasey, and established as king his son
Sultan Melik-ed-Dhahir, with Sidi Ali Ghaiath as minister. He divided
his men, his elephants, and his royal standards into two parts, one for
each of his sons.
Some time after this, the prince, having fallen ill, commanded the
grandees to assemble and called his two sons and spoke as follows: "Oh,
my two sons, and you all, my companions, my last hour is approaching.
You men be good to those whom I leave behind. And you, my sons, beware
of being envious of another's good, and of the wives and daughters of
your subjects. Maintain between you the union of two brothers, abstain
from all injustice, and avoid between you every cause of quarrel." He
said also to Sidi Ali Gaiath-ed-Din and to Sidi Asmai-ed-Din:
"Oh, my brothers, take care of these two sons. Stir not up trouble
between them. Be faithful to them and never give your allegiance to
another king." The two young princes bowed their heads and wept.
As for the two ministers, "Lord," they said, "light of our eyes, we
swear by the sovereign Master who created the worlds that we will never
break our promises, that we will never lack in our fidelity or render
homage to another king than your two well-beloved sons."
Then Sultan Melik-es-Salih named his son Melik-el-Mansour, King of
Samoudra. Three days later he died and was buried in the interior of
the palace. Their father dead, the two young princes, his sons,
commanded the royal herald to assemble the officers and soldiers,
elephants and horses, as well as the royal insignia of the country of
Pasey. And the two cities grew and flourished more and more. God knows
best the truth. He is our aid and our refuge.
Now this is the story of the King Chehr-en-Naoui. His power was great,
his officers and soldiers innumerable. They told this prince that the
country of Samoudra had a large population, many merchants, and a
powerful king. Chehr-en-Naoui said to his officers:
"Which of you would be able to take the King of Samoudra?"
One of his officers very strong and brave, Aoui Ditchou, bowed and
said: "Lord, if your Majesty will give me 4,000 chosen warriors, I will
take the King of Samoudra alive and bring him to the foot of your
Majesty's throne."
The King gave him the 4,000 warriors and 100 ships. When they were
ready Aoui Ditchou sailed toward Samoudra, feigning that the ships were
bent on commerce up to the very moment when they reached the end of the
voyage. Then he caused it to be said that he was an ambassador of the
King Chehr-en-Naoui, and the King of Samoudra sent some officers to
receive him.
Landing, Aoui Ditchou put into four chests four lusty _houlou-balongs_,
to whom he said: "Presently, when you are in the presence of the King
of Samoudra, open the chests, leap out, and seize the King." The chests
were fastened from within. They took them ashore in state as presents
from the King Chehr-en-Naoui. When they were in the presence of the
prince, a message couched in flattering terms was read, and the chests
were brought in. Immediately the _houlou-balongs_ opened the chests,
sprang out, and seized the sovereign. The soldiers uttered fierce cries
and unsheathed their arms to attack the band of Chehr-en-Naoui's men.
But the latter cried:
"If you fall upon us, we will kill your King."
So the soldiers paused in their attack. Aoui Ditchou and his people
returned, bringing with them the King of Samoudra. They crossed the sea
and regained their own country. There the prisoner-King was conducted
by Aoui Ditchou before King Chehr-en-Naoui, who was very joyful and
loaded the head of the expedition and all his companions with honors.
As for the King of Samoudra, they made him a poultry-keeper.
Now let us talk of Sidi Ali Gaiath-ed-Din. Having consulted with the
principal ministers in the country of Samoudra, he equipped a ship and
purchased a cargo of Arabic merchandise, for the inhabitants of Pasey
at that time all knew the Arabic language. Sidi Ali and the soldiers
whom he embarked on the ship with him took all the ways and manners of
the Arabs. The minister being on board and all being made ready, they
set sail for the country of Chehr-en-Naoui, where they arrived after a
short voyage. Sidi Ali landed and went to present himself to the King,
bearing as a gift a tree of gold, of which the fruits were all sorts of
precious stones, and which was worth an almost inconceivable sum. When
the prince saw this present he asked:
"What do you want of me?"