Tuesday 4 August 2020

Keramat Riak

In Bengkulu Province there is an area called Keramat Riak. In the past, the area was inhabited by a group of people led by a cruel king named Riak Bakau. Raja Riak Bakau will not hesitate to punish anyone who dares to oppose it. Until one day, there was an event that made Keramat Riak turned into a dense forest and the entire population was transformed into apes.
Keramat Riak

The Mysterious Old Grandfather

Once upon a time, long ago, in a hot afternoon, it appeared an elderly grandfather walked limping while carrying a net through the pavilion of the royal palace of Keramat Riak. The grandfather looked so tired. Apparently, he had just returned from the river in search of fish. He decided to sit and rest in front of the palace pavilion, which was always heavily guarded by two royal soldiers. He put his grandfather's net on a gold chain and put it on the ground. The mesh chain appeared sparkling in the sun so that it attracted the attention of the two soldiers guarding the palace pavilion.

"Grandfather just came home looking for fish huh? Grandfather's net is great, looks sparkling from a distance. " asked a soldier.

"Yes sir! This is the inheritance of Grandfather's parents. Every day Grandfather uses it to look for fish. Oh yeah, can you take the midday prayer in the palace pavilion? " said the grandfather.

"Oh yes, yes ... may ... Please Grandpa pray in the pavilion" answered the two soldiers.

The old grandfather then entered the palace pavilion to perform the midday prayer. While his net was left lying outside the palace pavilion. When the grandfather was praying, the two guard soldiers were curious about the grandfather's net. Both of them looked at the net carefully, it turns out their allegations were both true that the chain was made of gold. However, how shocked they were when they wanted to lift the net, which turned out to be very heavy and seemed to stick to the ground.

"It's no joke, is this chain very heavy?" said one of the soldiers.

Then the two soldiers together tried to lift the grandfather's net. But the net did not move in the slightest. Seeing the strangeness, one of the soldiers immediately rushed into the palace to report the strange incident to King Riak Bakau. Hearing the soldier's report, soon the King of Riak Bakau was accompanied by several of his guards to meet the old man who owned the net.

The King of Ripple Mangrove Asks for Gold Net

"Is it true that Grandfather is the owner of the golden net?" asked the King of Riak Mangrove at the Grandfather.

"Forgive me, sire. True Servant is the owner of the golden net. Thank you for allowing me to perform the Dhuhr prayer in the palace pavilion. Now please let me go. " pleaded grandfather.

"Don't go yet, Grandpa! I have a need with Grandpa. Hi, dear Grandfather. Can I have your gold chain of yours? " said Raja Riak Bakau.

"Forgive me, Your Majesty. It's not that I intend to disappoint His Majesty. I have not been able to fulfill His Majesty's request. This net is my only treasure, "answered grandfather.

Hearing grandfather's answer, Raja Riak Bakau felt very angry because this was the first time anyone dared to refuse his request.

"Hi, Grandfather! You surely know, I am the ruler of this country. Whoever steps on this country's land must submit to me. " answered the King of Riak Bakau, furious.

Grandfather is not afraid of the King's threat. He still did not want to give his golden net to Raja Riak Bakau. Of course the attitude of the grandfather made Raja Riak Bakau even more angry.

"Hi, Grandfather! Give up your night now or I'll take it myself! " shouted the King of Riak Bakau.

"Go ahead, if His Majesty is able to lift it," said grandfather.

Raja Riak Bakau was furiously underestimated by grandfather. He then immediately lifted the golden chain net with all his strength. But strangely, the net did not move in the slightest. Although he had ordered several of his soldiers to help lift him, still the golden net could not be lifted. Nevertheless, Raja Riak Bakau does not run out of ideas.

"Alright, Grandpa! I admit your gold mesh is difficult to lift. How about we just try pitting the chicken. If my fighting chicken loses, grandfather may have all my wealth and power. But, if grandfather's fighting chicken loses, your gold chain nets must be mine ”challenged Raja Riak Bakau.

The Cockfighting

At first the grandfather refused, but because he was constantly urged by King Riak Bakau he finally accepted the King's challenge. Finally it was agreed that the cockfighting match would take place in front of the palace three days later.

The news about the King Riak Bakau cockfighting match spread to all corners of the country. On the appointed day, the cockfighting match immediately begins with the witness of all the people of the Keramat Riak State. The old grandfather brought a thin-bodied fighting cock, while Raja Riak Bakau's large-sized fighting cock was large. Seeing the old man's complaint cock, Raja Riak Bakau was squeezeda sure will win the match easily.

As soon as the gong sounded as a sign of a cockfighting match, Raja Riak Bakau and the old man immediately released their own fighting chickens in the battle arena. The two fighting chickens face to face directly to fight. Raja Riak Bakau fighting chickens immediately attacked repeatedly so the grandfather's fighting cock had to jump here and there to avoid attacks. The old man's chicken occasionally falls hit by the kick leg of Raja Riak Bakau. However, after some time the cockfighting took place, the cock fight King Riak Bakau began to fatigue. Precisely now the old grandfather's fighting cock that attacked fiercely. Only one kick, Raja Riak Bakau fighting chicken immediately fell. Raja Riak Bakau fighting cock finally could not continue the fight.

Even though the fighting cock lost, Raja Riak Bakau still could not accept his defeat. The king certainly does not want to lose all his power. Then he challenged the old grandfather again to fight. But the grandfather again refused the king's challenge.

"Please forgive His Majesty the King. I don't want to fight because it's of no use. What if the results of the match we consider to be even. I will not demand anything from His Majesty, but allow me to go with my servant's golden chain net. " the grandfather answered carefully.

Raja Riak Bakau finally granted the wish of the old grandfather. Before leaving, the old man stopped by first to pray at the palace pavilion, while his golden net was placed in front of the pavilion. It turned out that Raja Riak Bakau secretly and his bodyguards followed the grandfather. The king still seems interested in having a gold chain. When he saw the old grandfather solemnly praying, Raja Riak Bakau immediately drew a kris tucked at his waist and then stabbed the body of the grandfather from behind. But it's really miraculous, even though seriously injured, the grandfather can still finish his prayer.

The King Becomes Apes

After greeting, the mysterious grandfather then took a stick. He sticks the stick in the four corners of the palace pavilion. The old grandfather then left the sacred land of Riak in a badly injured condition. After the grandfather left, several soldiers tried to pull the stick, but no one succeeded. Finally, King Riak Bakau was forced to revoke himself. As soon as the sticks are pulled out, the water gushes out with swift. The longer the bursts of water getting swift so that in an instant the water inundated the entire country of the Sacred Riak. All the people of Keramat Riak scattered trying to save themselves. Some ran to the mountains, while Raja Riak Bakau and his followers tried to climb tall trees to avoid being hit by the overflowing water that had almost submerged the entire Kerak Riak country.

Raja Riak Bakau and his followers who climbed into the tree survived the flood. However, God was angry at their heinous deeds. Suddenly the sky became dark. A few moments later, heavy rain fell with strong winds. Raja Riak Bakau, who was in the tree and his followers, was swayed by strong winds. At that moment, a mysterious sound echoed from behind the clouds.

"O you people, the cruel King of Ripple Mangrove! O all of you people of Keramat Riak kingdom! Still you are like that, hanging like an ape "those are the words of a mysterious voice.

After the mysterious voice disappeared, suddenly King Riak Bakau and all his survivors were transformed into monkeys. Then the heavy rain subsided. The weather is clear again. The water began to recede so that only monkeys were seen hanging from the trees. Over time the sacred land of Riak turned into a jungle inhabited by monkeys. Meanwhile, the mysterious old grandfather had disappeared somewhere.

The Keramat Riak

A few years later, several crew members from China landed in the dense forest of Keramat Riak. That said, they were traders who had been helped by the mysterious old man. They came to fulfill the message of his grandfather to make a grave in the Sacred Hall of Riak. They also made a magnificent tomb in the sacred forest of Riak. The gravestone is written, Sheikh Abdullatif, which is said to be the name of the mysterious grandfather. Furthermore, the community called the tomb of Sheikh Abdullatif by the name of the tomb of Keramat Riak.

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