Here is a folklore of Indonesia about the history of Cianjur. Long time ago in the area of West Java today, there lived a rich man. He is the owner of the rice fields in the village. The entire population of the village are just as rice farm field laborers of the landlords. He is known as a stingy. The villagers called him by the nickname, Mr. Stingy. Even to his only boy, he still being stingy. Fortunately, son of Mr. Stingy has a good-natured character. He often helped his neighbors in distress. Of course, without the knowledge of his father.
That said, according to assumptions and beliefs in that village, if we want a good harvest and abundance, then we should have a celebration party. Because of fear if the next harvest fails, then Mr. Stingy forced to hold a celebration party. All the villagers were invited by Mr. Stingy to attend the celebration. The villagers are happy with the invitation of Mr. Stingy. They expect to have a good meal in that salvation event. Turns out they missed estimates. Mr. Stingy provides only perfunctory dish, and even then not enough to entertain all the guests invited. Many of the guests were not getting food.
"Mr. Stingy was really outrageous. Although he has a lot of money, he inviting people but not enough providing food and not worthy, indeed outrageous." Said one guest.
"God will not give blessing on his wealth." Said another guest.
Such gossip of the guests who attended the event held salvation Mr. Stingy.
At the time of salvation feast is in progress, suddenly there came an elderly grandmother to the party. She then ask for donations to Mr. Stingy.
"Sir ... Give me an alms, though only with a mouthful of rice." an old woman pleaded.
"What? An alms? You just ask for alms that easy. To collect all my possessions, I have to work hard, do not you understand?" Snapped Mr. Stingy.
"Give me just a little bit of meals, Mister." Said the old woman.
"No way! Get out of here, or I'll tell the guards to hit you! "Said Mr. Stingy.
The old granny then crying because she does not get alms but instead violently evicted by Mr. Stingy. She then immediately left Mr. Stingy's house. Mr. Stingy's son saw that incident and really feel sad. Quietly he took his own lunch, then he chased the old granny. Then he gave his lunch to the poor grandmother.
"Thank you son, I hope your life will become glorious." Said the old granny.
Old Granny Curse
After the young man left, the grandmother went on her way. She arrived at a hill near the village, she stopped there. From the top of the hill, she saw that house belonging to Mr. Stingy is turns out the most large and majestic in the village. While the houses around it looks shabby. The grandmother angry and said. "Remember Mr. Stingy, your greed will drown yourself. God will inflict punishment to you." The old Grandma then stuck her stick in the ground, then she lift her stick again. From the hole in that hill is gushing a lot of water. In no time, the entire village fill with water.
Great Flood
"Flood! Flood!" Shouted the people in the village. They panicked because the arrival of the flood water from the top of the hill. Son of Mr. Stingy immediately urged people to leave the village by running up the hill." Hurry up and leave the village. Run up the hill because it is safer."
"And what about the rice fields and our cattle?" Asked a villager.
"Will you choose your property or your soul? There was no time to bring our treasure." Says the son of Mr. Stingy. Mr. Stingy's son kept screaming to remind the villagers to go up the hill. He also persuaded his father to leave the house.
"Father, let's leave this house quickly, we have to get out to save ourselves." Said Mr. Stingy's son.
"What? Ran away and leaving my treasure? You stupid kid! I had to take my treasure chests which I keep in the ground." Said Mr. Stingy.
Because there is no time left, Mr. Stingy's son immediately ran fled into the hills. While Mr. Stingy still busy collecting his possessions. Finally, Mr. Stingy submerged by flood water for being late to save himselves.
Most villagers, including Mr. Stingy's son survived. They were sad to see their village drowned. Then they decided to look for new areas. They raised Mr. Stingy's son as the new leader of their village.
The History Of Cianjur
The son of Mr. Stingy then divide the land in the new village to the population equitably. He also advises his citizens to cultivate the land properly. The new village leaders then teach people on how to grow rice and irrigate the fields properly. The village was then called Anjuran village, because the villagers have always adhere to the leaders' recommendation. Over the time, the village was developed into a small town called Cianjur. Ci means the water. Cianjur means the area contains enough water. Anjuran village leaders guiding farmers to cultivate rice. That is why until now Cianjur rice known to be very good and tasty.
More folklore on West Java:
More folklore on West Java:
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