La Dana and His Buffalo

It is said that according to folklore, long ago in Tanah Toraja, South Sulawesi, there was a farmer named La Dana. La Dana is a smart and shrewd boy. Even so, the local community didn't like him that much, because La Dana often used his ingenuity to deceive others.

Once upon a time, a Toraja person died. According to tradition in the Land of Toraja, if someone dies, the family that is left behind will hold a death feast by slaughtering the buffalo. La Dana and his friends were invited to attend the funeral ceremony.

"La Dana, let's go to our neighbor's funeral party." said his friend.

"Yes friend. Let's go there." La Dana agreed.

After attending the death feast, according to tradition, the family will distribute buffalo meat to the mourners. La Dana and her friends also got a share. La Dana got the back of the buffalo while his friend got the bigger part of the buffalo except for the hind legs.

"How can I only get buffalo legs while my friends get the entire body of the buffalo. I have to find a way." said La Dana to himself.

"Hi friends, I have an idea. What if we exchange the buffalo parts we both have with the live buffalo. So we can take care of the buffalo until it gets fat. After it gets fat, then we cut it." said La Dana to his friend.

"Your idea is very good La Dana. You are a smart boy. Okay, let's exchange it to the person who has a live buffalo." said La Dana's friend.

They both then look for people who want to exchange their live buffalo for buffalo meat that belongs to them both. Finally they found someone who was willing to trade the buffalo. Even though the live buffalo they received were smaller, they were happy.

In short, La Dana and her friends took care of their buffalo. After a while, La Dana went to his friend and persuaded his friend to slaughter the buffalo. La Dana reasoned that she couldn't wait to eat the meat.

"Friends, let's just slaughter our buffalo." said La Dana.

"Not yet. Wait until our buffalo is fat." replied his friend.

"Tell you what, we just cut my share, the hind legs of the buffalo." La Dana didn't lose her mind.

"Ah, you are nonsense La Dana. If the hind legs are cut, the buffalo will definitely die. Be patient until this buffalo is fat La Dana. I'll give you the buffalo forelegs later." his friend replied slightly irritated.

La Dana was happy that his friend was willing to give his buffalo front legs. So now he has the front legs and hind legs of a buffalo.

A few days later, La Dana came back to her friend's house. He asked his friend to slaughter their buffalo. His friend still refused but promised to give him part of the buffalo body as long as La Dana was patient.

Not long after, La Dana came back to persuade her friend to want to slaughter the buffalo. La Dana did not get bored back and forth to her friend's house to annoy her friend.

"How about friends? I've been waiting too long to eat this buffalo meat. Come on, let's just cut our buffalo." persuaded La Dana.

"How are you La Dana? Can't you wait waiting for this buffalo to get fat? Just take this buffalo. You don't try to bother me anymore!" his friend could not stand La Dana's persuasion so he gave the buffalo to La Dana.

La Dana was happy then returned home with the buffalo alive. Such is the bad nature of La Dana, like to use her wits to outwit her own friends.

The folklore La Dana and his buffalo came from the Tanah Toraja area, South Sulawesi. Tells the story of a clever but cunning farmer's boy who uses his wits to deceive his own friends.