The Legend of Bagga Stone
Folklore from Central Sulawesi
ONCE upon a time in Tolitoli, Central Sulawesi, lived a man with his son in a hut.
The man’s name was Intobu and his son’s name was Impalak. Intobu’s wife passed away when Impalak was a baby.
Impalak was a diligent and obedient son. Intobu and Impalak were fishermen and they were poor. They did not have a big ship to go fishing. They only used a small sampan. They really wanted to have a big ship so they could have a lot of fish. The local people there named the big ship as bagga.
Impalak wanted to be rich. He asked permission from his father to leave him to fi nd better life. Though it was very diffi cult, his father let him go. Impalak promised to his father that he would come back after he was rich.
Impalak went to a port. He saw a bagga. He came to the owner and said, “May I join you to sail in your bagga? I will work hard, Sir,” said Impalak.
The owner agreed. He let Impalak join his bagga. Impalak was happy. His dream to be a rich man would soon come true.
Impalak worked very hard. The bagga’s owner was very happy with him. Impalak was also skillful in fi shing. After Impalak joined, they always got a lot of fi sh.
The bagga’s owner planned to ask Impalak to marry his daughter. So when they arrived in the bagga’s owner place, they held a wedding. Impalak’s dream really came true. He was a rich man and he had a big bagga!
Several years had passed, but Impalak never returned home. Sadly he already forgot his promise to his father.
In the mean time, Impalak’s father, Intobu, always thought of his son. Everyday he went to the port. Whenever a bagga came, he always looked for him. But he never found his son.
One day Impalak’s wife asked Impalak to sail in his bagga. Stormed attacked and it accidentally arrived in Impalak’s hometown.
Intobu saw a big bagga. He felt that Impalak was inside the bagga. And he was right! Impalak was there!
“Impalak? Impalak?“ said his father.
“I’m your father!”
“Who is that old man?” asked Impalak’s wife
“I don’t know. Maybe he is just an old crazy man,” said Impalak. Actually he recognized his father. But he was ashamed with his wife.
“Go away, you crazy man! You are not my father!” said Impalak.
“Impalak?. Wait for me!” Intobu rowed his sampan. He wanted to meet his son.
However, Impalak asked his crew to leave. They left Intobu.
Intobu was very sad. He knew Impalak had already forgotten him. He prayed to God to punish him.
Again storm attacked Impalak’s bagga.
This time it was very hard. Finally the bagga was stranded. Slowly the bagga turned into a big stone. Until now the stone is still in Tolitoli, Central Sulawesi.
People named the stone as Bagga Stone. ***
ONCE upon a time in Tolitoli, Central Sulawesi, lived a man with his son in a hut.
The man’s name was Intobu and his son’s name was Impalak. Intobu’s wife passed away when Impalak was a baby.
Impalak was a diligent and obedient son. Intobu and Impalak were fishermen and they were poor. They did not have a big ship to go fishing. They only used a small sampan. They really wanted to have a big ship so they could have a lot of fish. The local people there named the big ship as bagga.
Impalak wanted to be rich. He asked permission from his father to leave him to fi nd better life. Though it was very diffi cult, his father let him go. Impalak promised to his father that he would come back after he was rich.
Impalak went to a port. He saw a bagga. He came to the owner and said, “May I join you to sail in your bagga? I will work hard, Sir,” said Impalak.
The owner agreed. He let Impalak join his bagga. Impalak was happy. His dream to be a rich man would soon come true.
Impalak worked very hard. The bagga’s owner was very happy with him. Impalak was also skillful in fi shing. After Impalak joined, they always got a lot of fi sh.
The bagga’s owner planned to ask Impalak to marry his daughter. So when they arrived in the bagga’s owner place, they held a wedding. Impalak’s dream really came true. He was a rich man and he had a big bagga!
Several years had passed, but Impalak never returned home. Sadly he already forgot his promise to his father.
In the mean time, Impalak’s father, Intobu, always thought of his son. Everyday he went to the port. Whenever a bagga came, he always looked for him. But he never found his son.
One day Impalak’s wife asked Impalak to sail in his bagga. Stormed attacked and it accidentally arrived in Impalak’s hometown.
Intobu saw a big bagga. He felt that Impalak was inside the bagga. And he was right! Impalak was there!
“Impalak? Impalak?“ said his father.
“I’m your father!”
“Who is that old man?” asked Impalak’s wife
“I don’t know. Maybe he is just an old crazy man,” said Impalak. Actually he recognized his father. But he was ashamed with his wife.
“Go away, you crazy man! You are not my father!” said Impalak.
“Impalak?. Wait for me!” Intobu rowed his sampan. He wanted to meet his son.
However, Impalak asked his crew to leave. They left Intobu.
Intobu was very sad. He knew Impalak had already forgotten him. He prayed to God to punish him.
Again storm attacked Impalak’s bagga.
This time it was very hard. Finally the bagga was stranded. Slowly the bagga turned into a big stone. Until now the stone is still in Tolitoli, Central Sulawesi.
People named the stone as Bagga Stone. ***
The stupid Dog
The stupid Dog
Folklore from Central Sulawesi
DEER have horns, right? But long time ago, deer did not have horns. Instead, dogs had horns. How did the deer get the horns? Here is the story. It was a very hot day. A couple of deer went to a river to drink. They were husband and wife. After arrived in the lake, they immediately drank some water. Suddenly, the wife saw an animal coming. “My husband, who is he? Wow! He is very handsome with his horns,” said the female deer. “Oh, that’s my friend. He is a dog. By the way, did you say he is more handsome than me?” asked the male deer. He was jealous. “Of course not, you are still more handsome than he is. But I have to admit that his horns are beautiful. If you have those horns, I think you will look very attractive.” “Ok, then, I have an idea how to take the horns from the dog. Just wait here.” “Hi, how are you?” asked the male deer to the dog. “I’m just fine,” answered the dog. “How about you?” “Not really good. You see my wife over there? He thinks that I cannot run fast like other male deer. Do you mind if we have a running match? I really want to practice,” said the male deer. “Don’t worry, my friend. Let’s have the running match now.” After that, the running match began. The male deer won. Then, he tried to cheer the dog up. “Well, don’t be sad. You cannot run fast because you have your horns on your head. What if you let me wear the horns,” asked the male deer. “OK, but please wear the horns carefully. I don’t want them to be broken.” “Don’t worry. I will be very careful,” replied the male deer. And then he immediately put the horns on his head. “Wow? my wife is right. I really look great with these horns,” said the male deer to himself. Then, they started the running match again. The male deer ran as fast as he could. He ran very fast and did not stop. He was trying to steal the dog’s horns. “Hey come back! Bring back my horns!” the dog was very angry. Until now, dogs always try to catch deer. The dogs want to get their horns back. ***
